A POSITIVE note: there's a real chance Arafats successor will be able to accept a peace proposal (whereas Arafat himself was offered soooo many chances and refused them all to stay in power).
Truly, Israel's offer of medical aid to Arafat was hte smartest pplitical move I've seen this year: Arafat dying of natural causes allows for a peaceful handover of power to a new Palestenian leader (hopefully someone rational enough to accept a lasting peace for their people).
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
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Whoever succeeds Arafat in the PLO and/or Palestinian Authority will have to gain support from the populace by taking a hard line in negotiations with Israel -- the same hard line that Arafat was taking. I expect there will be absolutely zero progress with any new Palestinian leader; indeed, things will probably get worse because there won't be any single figure to unite all the factions.
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
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quote:Originally posted by Lee: His condition is said to be satisfactory.
"Satisfactory" to the Israelies!
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
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quote:Originally posted by MinutiaeMan: Whoever succeeds Arafat in the PLO and/or Palestinian Authority will have to gain support from the populace by taking a hard line in negotiations with Israel -- the same hard line that Arafat was taking. I expect there will be absolutely zero progress with any new Palestinian leader; indeed, things will probably get worse because there won't be any single figure to unite all the factions.
Well, if Israel does not use this as an excuse for all-out invasion of palestenian held territories, they can at least avoid an esclation in violence by offering an olive branch to whomever seems to have the people's support.
Remember though, peace is NOT in Hamass' financial intrests so they'll try to instigate something (if Israel does not first).
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
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According tho the newspaper article I read today, it's Muslim tradition that a person has to be buried by sundown on the same day they die. And, since they want to bury him in Jerusalem and Sharon says he won't let them, I think that, when he does die, it will be obvious within a day.
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TSN: You sure it has to be the same day? As I recall, a couple of Reuters articles I read today mentioned something about lying in state for a while first... But I might have interpreted something wrong.
-------------------- “Those people who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.” — Isaac Asimov Star Trek Minutiae | Memory Alpha
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Even if Sharon let them bury Arafat in Jerusalem, it'd only be a matter of time before someone dug him up and played kick the can with his head.
A more reviled figure (to many) in that region is tough to imagine.
It'd be asking for violence to have the funeral there.
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
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"The Palestinian leader has said he wants to be entombed in Jerusalem, but Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said he would not allow it. Muslim tradition holds that a person should be buried by sundown on the day of his death."
posted
Arafat is not liked in Israel, and rather well-liked among Palestinians. (Especially now that he's dying.) How is that any different than, say, Sharon, or virtually any other controversial figure in the region?
Registered: Mar 1999
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A friend of mine thaat hails froim Usrael said it would be like Bin Laden asking to be buried at the WTC site....and new Yoorkers being asked to consider it "for peace's sake".
A grim comparison to be sure.
Obviously if most Isralies feel that stongly, it'll never happen.
-------------------- Justice inclines her scales so that wisdom comes at the price of suffering. -Aeschylus, Agamemnon
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