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Originally Posted by Jenin  Well, it's a bit of a humbling experience standing before his grave. I think every palestinian lived Arafat's last days with him. I remember watching Sharon declare war on Abu Ammar, watch the Muqata Compound get bombed, Israeli troops surrounding it during the Intifada's hottest days. It was emotional for me, watching the old man board that chopper to France, and come back in a casket. I could criticize him for hours, but I do believe he really wanted what was best for palestine. Arafat to palestinians is like a loving father who could not exactly get things done, and I think that is the tragedy. |
I have a problem with this perception of Arafat. It always seemed to me that he loved being on top of the PLO more than Palestine itslef, and that the only thing worse than the Israelis taking the homeland would be its return without him in charge.
I understand why Palestinians love him, my govt professor (a pal/lebanese immigrant) adored him. She talked about how he was a "Palestinian Symbol" and how him being greeted by heads-of-state sorta kinda made up for the lack of a soccer team. But seriously, he talked smack then ran away. Compare his defense of Palestinian immigrants from Israel in the 1980s to that of Hezbullah, and you can see my point.