Frankly, the last view days, Arafats aides tell the media he is doing good and everythign is getting better... I'd give him by the end of the week... and then on with the peace process!
Would that it were so simple. Assuming Arafat goes soon, I think it's gonna get even more unstable for a while. Nobody can accurately predict what's going to happen within the Palestinian community. Even Israeli intelligence was caught a bit off guard when they found out that Arafat was really sick. All sorts of scenarios are possible. It will take some time before the dust settles.
Whats going to occur now is a power struggle. I think that attacks will be imminent and tribal war fare in the West Bank and Gaza will occur. Right now, everyone wants power. Many did not understand it, but Arafat was a central figure in the Palestinian Heirchy government. He ordered the attacks as well as ordered who will serve in his government. Right now, Abu Mazen and Abu Quiera should lead. The thing i fear the most is that there will be internal power sturggles in Fatah and Hamas/Islamic Jihad would want to mkae there own 'fictional' islamic repressive state out of gaza!
Arafat right now is in Intensive care, he has respitory problems and is reported to be ina coma, in critical condition.... More info will be elevated soon!
One would think his death wouldn't be that big of an issue, him getting all of the virgins and all. Oh wait, he wasn't a martyr. He just paid for other people to martyr themselves. He never had the same convictions to strap himself with a bomb and explode it in a bus of Israeli school children like many of his followers. Personally, I hope his final days on earth are slow, ridiculously painful, and makes him reflect upon all that he has done. I won't judge him, but I look forward to when Allah or God or whatever does. By the way, when do the peace talks begin after his death? Over/under? I am sure that Israel will be accused of murdering him. Because hey, they're jews and they're sneaky like that.
The more they kill each other, the less they kill Israeli's and/or blame their problems on the Israel and/or the US. Personally, I hope a true leader steps to the forefront and guides this conflict to the peace table. Pipe dream, I know.
I've got my fingers crossed that Sharon will be joining him. Let Peres and Quirea sit down at a table if you really want anything to get done. As long as men like Arafat and Sharon are in charge there will be violence and death.
Very true Ben. Just so long as proponents of war keep getting elected in, we'll always have war. Just so long as Israelis treat Palestinians as second class citizens we'll always have resistance. I'm not an Arafat supporter, he'll just be replaced, probably with a hardline man first. I don't see things getting any easier there for a while.
Yep. A reporter just told Bush he died within the last few hours and ask Bush to comment at his press briefing. French hospital doctor denying he is dead.
They're still saying coma. It's semantics at this point though PaAlestine's new national vegetable!!! Yassir Arafat!!!
I was going to post this a couple of hours ago but when I heard it in the press conference, I had to run with it. The movement in and out of the hospital tends to lead to speculation. The conflicting reports caused me to wait and see.
So Arafat is dead. Big deal. Peace is not going to break out spontaneously in the region. Arabs aren't going to come to their senses about the right of Israel to exist. Sharon isn't going to tear down the West Bank and Gaza walls. There's still over 50% unemployment in Gaza. There's still five Palestinian children for every Palestinian adult, and they all still hate their lives and hate their secular leaders and hate Israel and see no future. He's just another dead crooked politician.