The rapidly deteriorating health of Palestinian leader Yasser
Arafat has provoked mixed reactions from both sides of the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Both groups have expressed concern as
well as hope regarding future relations within the region in the
event of Arafat’s death.
Arafat, 75, was transferred to a French military hospital last
Friday after losing consciousness and now reportedly suffers from
mental incapacitation. The source of his illness remains
unknown.
Arafat was reported to have lost consciousness at some point
Thursday, and his health has continued to worsen in the past 24
hours. There have been conflicting reports as to whether or not
Arafat was in a coma at any point and what his exact condition
is.
There were also rumors that Arafat had died, which were promptly
denied by the hospital and Palestinian officials. Luxembourg Prime
Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, who reported this to the press, later
retracted his statement. Israeli television reported that Arafat
has lost mental capacity.
Though the cause of Arafat’s illness is unknown,
Palestinian officials say cancer has been ruled out.
Arafat has been the leader of the Palestinian Liberation
Organization since 1969.
David Keyes, a third-year political science student and former
Daily Bruin employee who is currently studying at Hebrew University
of Jerusalem, said there was little grief regarding the possible
end of Arafat’s leadership.
“Nearly every single one of my Arab and Israeli friends
over here despise Arafat. He will not be missed,” Keyes
said.
Faysal Saab, president of the UCLA United Arab Society, predicts
a different reception to the likely leadership change.
“Arafat is a symbol of the Palestinian struggle,”
said Saab. “If Arafat dies, there will certainly be grief
expressed and anger felt toward the Israelis, who have kept him
under house arrest” prior to his illness.
Despite his significance to the Palestinians, Saab does not
think Arafat has helped the Palestinian people.
“In terms of the future, I hope that they can find someone
who can (benefit) them more than Arafat has,” Saab said.
Subhan Ali, programming chair for the Muslim Student Association
of UCLA, believes the demise of Arafat would be negative, calling
him an effective leader.
But others believe Arafat has been holding back the Palestinian
people from reform.
“The Palestinian people really do want peace,” said
Arash Nafisi, vice president for Bruins for Israel. He hopes under
new leadership “the new generations can learn that it’s
not all about hate but about compromise.”
UCLA political science Professor Steven Spiegel holds similar
views of Arafat’s actions.
“In the long-term, Arafat’s demise creates an
opportunity for a return to negotiations … if the new government
ends violence and tends toward reform,” Spiegel said.
Arafat has neither told his own government nor the international
community who he feels his successor should be, Spiegel said.
There has been some question as to the role that Hamas, the
Palestinian radical faction, will play if there is a power
change.
“Israel is bracing for trouble due to the jockeying for
power that will occur,” Spiegel said. “Initially there
may be considerable chaos. Hamas will not make an explicit grab for
power, but will attempt to defeat the new powers by increasing
suicide bombings.”
Keyes said though life is continuing as normal, the security
establishment is preparing for all possibilities, mirroring the
mixture of relief and concern that exists in Israel.
“Such is the paradox of life in the Middle East,”
Keyes added.
With reports from Bruin Wire Services.