NationStates Jolt Archive

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I just received this in my email box:

-- Yasser Arafat's health deteriorated Wednesday and a team of doctors
was treating the Palestinian leader at his Ramallah compound, Arafat's
senior adviser says.

Watch CNN or log on to http://CNN.com for the latest news.
More Americans watch CNN. More Americans trust CNN.

Is Yasser Arafat dieing and if he does die, what will happen in the Middle East?

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/10/27/arafat.health/index.html

This will in all honesty probably bode well for the entire conflict, for Arafat to die of natural causes.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I just received this in my email box:

-- Yasser Arafat's health deteriorated Wednesday and a team of doctors
was treating the Palestinian leader at his Ramallah compound, Arafat's
senior adviser says.

Watch CNN or log on to http://CNN.com for the latest news.
More Americans watch CNN. More Americans trust CNN.

Is Yasser Arafat dieing and if he does die, what will happen in the Middle East?
We're all dying. That's life.
When Arafat dies, the Israeli/Palestinian conflict will change radically. Arafat has been the leader of the PLO since they formed, and has been the one to bring them international recognition. I have no idea what the result of his death will be; his successor could be more moderate and inclined to negotiation, or more hardline, insisting on the right of return, and possession of Jerusalem. Alternatively, there could be a massive leadership struggle, and a splintering of power. Whatever happens, it'll be a big change, like Cuba will change when Castro dies. Such men fundamentally influence their countries, and leave a major vacuum when gone.

Is Arafat dying?

FINALLY...
Then again, some young radical terrorist next in line might take over...

At least the Israelis will shut up about assassinating the guy. THAT was not helpful.

God I hope so!

I don't want him to die, and I do hope he recovers. However, I hope this forces him to be relieved of his job. He is a terrorist, and has brought nothing but horrors to the Palestinians.

Meh, if Arafat dies some moron terrorist will say 'Israel poisoned him!11oneoneone+shift' and attack

I hope he is. But what i hope for more than that is so that once he dies, a competant leader will arise and lead the palestinian people into talks and get them their own damn country for heavens sake!

I hope he is. But what i hope for more than that is so that once he dies, a competant leader will arise and lead the palestinian people into talks and get them their own damn country for heavens sake!
Amen!

we are all living, and we are all dying. its called "the circle of life"

Amen!
...Then again, what are the chances of that actually happening? And not having another terrorist or puppet put in his place?

Meh, if Arafat dies some moron terrorist will say 'Israel poisoned him!11oneoneone+shift' and attack

you said that already.

Why can't any of you assholes spell dying?

Why can't any of you assholes spell dying?

Now now no need to cuss

...Then again, what are the chances of that actually happening? And not having another terrorist or puppet put in his place?
You're probably right. But we can't just discount the forces of change in the PA, even in Arafat's own Fatah movement. Remember Makmoud Abbas? He definatly seemed like a force for change, as he was actually willing to negotiate with Israel, not bomb them. He resigned when Arafat screwed the peace process up.

This dirt-man should have died years ago. :sniper: Afterall, he is pretty much the father of modern terrorism.

We live in hope.

Yup. Some other terrorist would just take his place. Probably the Hamas leader or something.

Yup. Some other terrorist would just take his place. Probably the Hamas leader or something.

He's dead. He was blown out of his wheelchair while at his morning prayer.

A blind-deaf cripple vs. Israeli helicopters. Good thing they snuck up on him. Might've been a slaughter. ;)

Yup. Some other terrorist would just take his place. Probably the Hamas leader or something.

Doesn't Israel already kill a different Hamas leader every other week? I figure if anyone does replace Arafat, they would face plenty of pressure from any of the Palestinian terror groups.

I hope he dies a slow, painful death for all the shit he created against Israelis and his OWN people

Now now no need to cuss


The word "cuss" is reserved for ignorant rednecks.

Is Arafat Dieing?

I think every day, each and every one of us gets one day closer to death.

He should have died a long time ago. He's been under alot of stress and god knows how he's survived up until now.

If Arafat dies, who will the Israelis then demonize and blame for everything?

If Arafat dies, who will the Israelis then demonize and blame for everything?

If Arafat dies, there could be a major opportunity for peace in the Middle East.

If Arafat dies, there could be a major opportunity for peace in the Middle East.How? There will be no peace in the Middle East as long as Israel does not withdraw from the occupied territories completely. But right now it does not seem like this will ever happen: the proposed withdrawal from the Gaza strip is only a means to divert attention from the steadily proceeding land grab in the West Bank by means of the wall and ongoing Jewish settlement.

If Arafat dies, who will the Israelis then demonize and blame for everything?

If Arafat dies, who will lead terrorists to blow up innocent Israeli women and children?

Is Yasser Arafat dieing?

Is the English language dying?

How? There will be no peace in the Middle East as long as Israel does not withdraw from the occupied territories completely. But right now it does not seem like this will ever happen: the proposed withdrawal from the Gaza strip is only a means to divert attention from the steadily proceeding land grab in the West Bank by means of the wall and ongoing Jewish settlement.

And from my understanding, the Kessnit back a withdrawal plan. I don't know that much about it but I do know that. As for occupied territories, spoils of war or haven't you forgotten that it was the Arabs that started all the wars that Israel has fought in AND left the Palestinians out to dry?

And from my understanding, the Kessnit back a withdrawal plan. I don't know that much about it but I do know that. As for occupied territories, spoils of war or haven't you forgotten that it was the Arabs that started all the wars that Israel has fought in AND left the Palestinians out to dry?No. The Israelis took land that wasn't theirs in the first place. Arabs only reacted. Every time.

No. The Israelis took land that wasn't theirs in the first place. Arabs only reacted. Every time.

No!

Check your history again Ankhar!

No!
Check your history again Ankher!I know history well enough in that regard.

RIP YASSER ARAFAT

Fucking legend.

I just wanted to be the first to say it.

Fucking Legend?
Are you out of your mind? Try "Pyscho nutjob terrorist who's been screwing countries out of their cash for years and killing people with it."

And Ankher, in which war did we attack first?

Fucking Legend?
Are you out of your mind? Try "Pyscho nutjob terrorist who's been screwing countries out of their cash for years and killing people with it."
And Ankher, in which war did we attack first?Declaring statehood in a land that was not rightfully yours, was a declaration of war. And prior to that the UN had made a resolution against those people who actually lived in the land. I would consider that already a intentional act of aggression.

Its not like we marched in, put down a flag and said "We claim this land in the name of Israel" because if we had, the international community would have come down on us like a ton of bricks, if not more, instead it was the international community that gave us the land.

Its not like we marched in, put down a flag and said "We claim this land in the name of Israel" because if we had, the international community would have come down on us like a ton of bricks, if not more, instead it was the international community that gave us the land.
1. What "international community"?
2. The declaration of Israeli statehood reads pretty much like a "claim of the land in the name of Israel".

I know history well enough in that regard.

This I refuse to believe! All of your posts say otherwise.

1. What "international community"?

That would be the United Nations that gave them a small piece of land in the region.

2. The declaration of Israeli statehood reads pretty much like a "claim of the land in the name of Israel".

You really must be a brainwashed Arab.

That would be the United Nations that gave them a small piece of land in the region.
The UN? No. Only those who did not live in the region and would not have to suffer from further Jewish settlement. The Arabs' fate was decided over their heads and against their will.You really must be a brainwashed Arab.No. Just one who can read and knows what happened prior to that unholy declaration.

The UN? No. Only those who did not live in the region and would not have to suffer from further Jewish settlement. The Arabs' fate was decided over their heads and against their will.

It is definitely no use arguing with you over this. The United Nations, in cooperation with the Brits that Held the region, GAVE the land to the Israelis. Look at their original borders. It was a land of NOTHING!!!! Only after the war in 1948 did their territory grow. After the series of wars, in which Israel won all of them, their territory doubled again.

Now let us fast foward. It has come to my mind that a past PM of Israel offered to give back 90% of the so called "occupied lands"! ARAFAT TURNED IT DOWN!!!!! Why did he do this? Because he wants Israel off the face of the planet.

No. Just one who can read and knows what happened prior to that unholy declaration.

This statement did nothing to convience me otherwise. I advise you to re-read the history of the Middle East. Starting with the establishment of Israel and going foward dealing with the wars that Israel won and on through the peace process.

AR, it was 97% actually, no problem though. Either way:)

AR, it was 97% actually, no problem though. Either way:)

Thanks for the correction but I doubt Ankher will agree with you!

It was a land of NOTHING!!!! Only after the war in 1948 did their territory grow. After the series of wars, in which Israel won all of them, their territory doubled again.

Nothing? The Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities living there were nothing?? Shows your extreme disregard for human life.. Which reinforces my earlier decision to ignore your nonsense. But, alas, they are chock full of ignorance, and someone needs to respond to you.

Now let us fast foward. It has come to my mind that a past PM of Israel offered to give back 90% of the so called "occupied lands"! ARAFAT TURNED IT DOWN!!!!! Why did he do this? Because he wants Israel off the face of the planet.

97% of the land, actually. But it did not include Jerusalem. And Jerusalem is at the heart of this conflict. If Arafat had accepted, he would have been killed by his own cabinet/people/Arab/Muslim assassins.. and the intifada that would have resulted would have cost the Israelis dearly. He did them a favor by refusing. But you're too thick to understand that, no?

This statement did nothing to convience me otherwise. I advise you to re-read the history of the Middle East. Starting with the establishment of Israel and going foward dealing with the wars that Israel won and on through the peace process.

I think you need to re-read the history of the Middle Eastern conflict. And not from a Zionist source this time.. kthx.

It is definitely no use arguing with you over this. The United Nations, in cooperation with the Brits that Held the region, GAVE the land to the Israelis. Look at their original borders. It was a land of NOTHING!!!! Only after the war in 1948 did their territory grow. After the series of wars, in which Israel won all of them, their territory doubled again.
Now let us fast foward. It has come to my mind that a past PM of Israel offered to give back 90% of the so called "occupied lands"! ARAFAT TURNED IT DOWN!!!!! Why did he do this? Because he wants Israel off the face of the planet.But the UN or Brits had no right to give any land away. They did so, because they had the power to decide without asking those who would be affected by the decision.
I remember the offer, but I also remember that it was not serious.
This statement did nothing to convience me otherwise. I advise you to re-read the history of the Middle East. Starting with the establishment of Israel and going foward dealing with the wars that Israel won and on through the peace process.I advise you to re-read the history of the Middle East prior to the establishment of Israel.

Nothing? The Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities living there were nothing?? Shows your extreme disregard for human life.. Which reinforces my earlier decision to ignore your nonsense. But, alas, they are chock full of ignorance, and someone needs to respond to you.



97% of the land, actually. But it did not include Jerusalem. And Jerusalem is at the heart of this conflict. If Arafat had accepted, he would have been killed by his own cabinet/people/Arab/Muslim assassins.. and the intifada that would have resulted would have cost the Israelis dearly. He did them a favor by refusing. But you're too thick to understand that, no?



I think you need to re-read the history of the Middle Eastern conflict. And not from a Zionist source this time.. kthx.
Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, you do know that right?
ALso, I could pay an army of little kids to go and attack London or Washington and then demand that I get control of half of it, would you agree? Jerusalem is our capital. If we owned Jerusalem, all faiths would be allowed to come and worship there. If the Al-Fatah owned it, they would bulldoze the Western Wall. So you still haven't told me which of the wars we started?
Seeing as you enjoy this, want to have a one on one Israel debate? (Not with me) I don't yet know who with, but if you are that sure in your belief, it shouldn't be that much of a problem.

But the UN or Brits had no right to give any land away. They did so, because they had the power to decide without asking those who would be affected by the decision.
I remember the offer, but I also remember that it was not serious.
I advise you to re-read the history of the Middle East prior to the establishment of Israel.
It was UN land, therefore they did have the right to give it away. OF COURSE!!! The offer wasn't serious, it was all a trick, a cunning part of our plan to take over the world eh?:rolleyes:

Nothing? The Jewish, Muslim, and Christian communities living there were nothing?? Shows your extreme disregard for human life.. Which reinforces my earlier decision to ignore your nonsense. But, alas, they are chock full of ignorance, and someone needs to respond to you.

I take offense to this actually! I do have regard for human life. If I didn't, I would be for.... Well that is another thread. As for what the Israelis had, look at the terrain that they origionally received. Also, I like to congratulate you of putting meaning behind my words when I was talking geography and not population. Unless you have proof that the geography of what Israel had before the Arab Wars was good enough, then I will retract my statement.

97% of the land, actually. But it did not include Jerusalem. And Jerusalem is at the heart of this conflict. If Arafat had accepted, he would have been killed by his own cabinet/people/Arab/Muslim assassins.. and the intifada that would have resulted would have cost the Israelis dearly. He did them a favor by refusing. But you're too thick to understand that, no?

Jerusalem is at the heart however, when someone offers you nearly all of occupied lands, YOU TAKE IT AND RUN!!!! The world was stunned when Arafat said no. That was their best chance for peace and he let it slip through his fingers. Even the Palestinians were a tad pissed at him for doing that.

I think you need to re-read the history of the Middle Eastern conflict. And not from a Zionist source this time.. kthx.

And what do you consider a Jewish Source? Where I get my information is from the History Channel and a couple of books that I have that are not of Jewish origion but of the history of the area! These books go into the crusades, which started over Jerusalem I might add, to the British occupation of the Middle East.

But the UN or Brits had no right to give any land away. They did so, because they had the power to decide without asking those who would be affected by the decision.
I remember the offer, but I also remember that it was not serious.

Not serious? How would you know it wasn't serious? To me it was! I too remember it and I do know of the outrage against Arafat when he turned it down. It was very very serious offer and a damned good one.

I advise you to re-read the history of the Middle East prior to the establishment of Israel.

Dude, I am a student of History and since that area of the world played a prominent role in the history of the world, I have studied it. From my reading of the Bible, through the Greek and Roman Empires, to the Ottoman Empire, to the Crusades, and on and on. I may not know everything and I won't admit that I do know everything because I dont but what I do know is that the Middle East has been fought over and Occupied by the Greeks, Romans, Persians and the Brits.

...or so say most news sources. Now what happens?

...or so say most news sources. Now what happens?

We wait for confirmation from the French hospital? Just a guess...

Lol - Power vaccum here we come!!!

RIP YASSER ARAFAT

Fucking legend.

I was hoping the first words in this thread would be either "his hair" or "his beard" but w/e.

...or so say most news sources. Now what happens?

I think the usual procedure in cases like this on NS is that one of us adopts an ill-considered, morally indefensible position, and then everybody else argues with them. It normally involves a lot of bad spelling and somewhat dodgy grammar. I hope that helped.

Hmmmm... just after Bush gets elected....

Nah -- even I'm not that stupid.

What News Sources??

I think the usual procedure in cases like this on NS is that one of us adopts an ill-considered, morally indefensible position, and then everybody else argues with them. It normally involves a lot of bad spelling and somewhat dodgy grammar. I hope that helped.
Dude it should be you that takes the morally indefensible position for a change- you never take your turn of being forum clown its not fair;)

French doctors treating Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat have denied Israeli TV reports that he has died. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3980903.stm)

A quick search (http://news.google.com/news?q=arafat&num=100&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&sa=N&tab=nn&oi=newsr) comes up with only Deutsche Welle and Reuters reporting his death.

CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/11/04/arafat.health/index.html) and AP (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041104/D8655TJ00.html) say it's not true.

Dude it should be you that takes the morally indefensible position for a change- you never take your turn of being forum clown its not fair;)

...the ashes of his cremated corpse should be rubbed into the eyes of fluffy kittens at the front of a room full of pre-schoolers...?

He's not even dead yet.

How would you like it if we started talking about you as if you had popped it. i.e. What a bastard! Glad I fiddled with his brakes, yellow bird on the big blue mountain!

Yours,
Mr. Luxury Yacht (It is spelt Luxury Yacht but is actually pronounced Throatwobbler Mangrove)

Well, if he isnt dead then some people have egg on thier face HERE (http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,1564,1385027,00.html).

...the ashes of his cremated corpse should be rubbed into the eyes of fluffy kittens at the front of a room full of pre-schoolers...?
:D

A quick search (http://news.google.com/news?q=arafat&num=100&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&sa=N&tab=nn&oi=newsr) comes up with only Deutsche Welle and Reuters reporting his death.

CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/11/04/arafat.health/index.html) and AP (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041104/D8655TJ00.html) say it's not true.

Yes, but they are going on what Israeli TV is reporting.

How would you like it if we started talking about you as if you had popped it.

Please do. In fact, I shall invite you all to dance on my grave.

Please do. In fact, I shall invite you all to dance on my grave.
Dude didnt you say you were getting buried at sea?

Dude didnt you say you were getting buried at sea?

No, no I didn't. Where's the fun in that?

They're now sure that he's alive, but fragile and unconscious, or something.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/3980903.stm

Dude didnt you say you were getting buried at sea?

Yeah so go back and play with your semen, yellow bird on the big blue mountain with the nice green Orang Utang faced Octopus!

Yours,
Mr. Luxury Yacht (It is spelt Luxury Yacht but is actually pronounced Throatwobbler Mangrove)

No, no I didn't. Where's the fun in that?
The fun would be peeps trying to dance on your grave when its at the bottom of the atlantic yada yada yada

A quick search (http://news.google.com/news?q=arafat&num=100&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&sa=N&tab=nn&oi=newsr) comes up with only Deutsche Welle and Reuters reporting his death.

CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/11/04/arafat.health/index.html) and AP (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041104/D8655TJ00.html) say it's not true.

Reuters simply quotes the Israeli Channel 2...it does not definitively say that he is dead.

The fun would be peeps trying to dance on your grave when its at the bottom of the atlantic yada yada yada

Yeah but I'd be dead. I wouldn't be be able to enjoy watching them drown, would I?

Yes, but they are going on what Israeli TV is reporting.


:confused:

Only if the French military health services equals Israeli TV...

CNN (http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/11/04/arafat.health/index.html)
PARIS, France (CNN) -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has been transferred to another facility to receive treatment more appropriate for his condition, a spokesman for a Paris military hospital said Thursday.

The spokesman told reporters that Arafat is not dead.

AP (http://apnews.myway.com/article/20041104/D8655TJ00.html)
[quote]PARIS (AP) - French doctors announced Thursday that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who is in intensive care at a French military hospital, is still alive.

"The clinical situation of the first fews days following admission has become more complex," Christian Estripeau, head of communications for French military health services.

"The state of health of the patient requires appropriate treatment that required his transfer on Wednesday afternoon of Nov. 3 to a unit adapted to his pathology," Estripeau said.

"Mr. Arafat is not dead," he said, concluding the brief statement.

"This statement has been drafted out of respect for the discretion demanded by his wife," he said.

Yeah but I'd be dead. I wouldn't be be able to enjoy watching them drown, would I?
Depends on your thoughts on the afterlife I suppose- maybe heaven doesnt actually have any harp lessons and its actually a bunch of dead dudes watching folks drown trying to dance on RPPs grave?

Depends on your thoughts on the afterlife I suppose- maybe heaven doesnt actually have any harp lessons and its actually a bunch of dead dudes watching folks drown trying to dance on RPPs grave?


Possibly. I could also fake my own death.

The last I read was that he's in a coma. That's what was on the news and there's a link to a story on my ISP's homepage: Hospital denies reports of Arafat's death (http://www.wanadoo.co.uk/news/national/story.htm?linkfrom=Today&link=newsticker&article=SIN385121)

[EDIT: I'm sure that page has changed since I last read it... it was much much longer last time.....]

Possibly. I could also fake my own death.
And rent a submarine to watch people drown

Hopefully the Israelis won't do anything stupid if Arafat dies.

Hopefully the Israelis won't do anything stupid if Arafat dies.
What like try and mix oil and water or somethin even stupider?

And rent a submarine to watch people drown

What do you think, I'm made of money?

What do you think, I'm made of money?
If you dont rent a submarine how else will you watch the drowning dancers?

Hopefully the Israelis won't do anything stupid if Arafat dies.

They may feel inclined to move in to try and plug the power vaccum; I doubt they will sit and risk Hamas or Islamic Jihad becoming players. Hamas can move themselves in due to the community work (medical centres, schools) they do in the Palestinian cities.

If you dont rent a submarine how else will you watch the drowning dancers?

X-Radiation spectacles. I sent off for a pair today.

Just hope, that when it's offical when Arafat dies, that the power change to whoever, won't result in Hamas or PLO or especially Al-Asqa will attack Israel even harder...otherwise they can definitely forget about getting a state by 2005... which i still think won't happen.

But who else has any legitimacy or support among the population?

But who else has any legitimacy or support among the population?
Hamas.

Perhaps Isreal is trying to get a feel for the Palastinian reaction if he does die.

One hopes that the PM or provisional head of the PLO (or the security service minister) would be able to step in. The former PM also has some cred with the populace.

Hamas has some acumen with the people, but I have trouble seeing the rest of the PA/PLO let them into power - it would get half of them killed.

Hopefully the Israelis won't do anything stupid if Arafat dies.

Given that Israel has been wanting Arafat to die for years now, you would hope that they sit back quietly while someone moves into place. I think they will move against the Palestinians if Hamas seems to be taking over.

Can't say I blame them.

It should also be said that all of this is going on right now anyway, regardless of whether Arafat has died or not. He will never return to power.

RIP YASSER ARAFAT

Fucking legend.

Here, here!

He was an incredible man!

Here, here!

He was an incredible man!

Lets not forget the darker side however, he was pretty adept at supressing opposition, usually by killing them.

Here, here!

He was an incredible man!

I'm stunned. Here it is in black-and-white, the America-haters lauding a terrorist butcher. Showing your true colors finally, eh?

It was UN land, therefore they did have the right to give it away. OF COURSE!!! The offer wasn't serious, it was all a trick, a cunning part of our plan to take over the world eh?:rolleyes:There is no such thing as UN land. The southern part of what was once the Ottoman Empire was under British/French/UN administration, but that did in no way constitute a justification to give the land away to foreigners.

Hmmmm... just after Bush gets elected....

Nah -- even I'm not that stupid.

And so we are one step closer to The Cat in the Hat Conspiracies.

I'm stunned. Here it is in black-and-white, the America-haters lauding a terrorist butcher. Showing your true colors finally, eh?
In this context I think the term you are looking for is "Israel hater//Jew Hater" rather than America hater dude.

Here, here!

He was an incredible man!

Indeed. Even at his age he was able to satisfy a much younger wife. Even if money played a part you have to admire that. :D

Don't jump the gun guys. He's not dead yet. I've waited many years, i'll wait for another 24 hours.

Lets not forget the darker side however, he was pretty adept at supressing opposition, usually by killing them.

He went from being a terrorists to becoming a peacemaker. A lot feel as I do had Yizak Rabin not been killed by his own people and a more hard line Israeli PM put in place, he and Arafat would of come up with a peace deal. There would be peace by now. Sadly with Yizak Rabin's death, it was not to be. :(

In this context I think the term you are looking for is "Israel hater//Jew Hater" rather than America hater dude.

True, but for the most part they're the same people.

yes it did, it was their land!
America could give American soil to the Brits and it would be fully legal.

Don't jump the gun guys. He's not dead yet. I've waited many years, i'll wait for another 24 hours.

If he is, in fact, in a coma, then it is entirely possible that he be kept 'alive' through artificial life support systems for months, if not years to come, until such a time as the powers that be decide would be politically expedient.

If he is, in fact, in a coma, then it is entirely possible that he be kept 'alive' through artificial life support systems for months, if not years to come, until such a time as the powers that be decide would be politically expedient.
I don't care, if he stays in a coma then it'll do me.

He went from being a terrorists to becoming a peacemaker. A lot feel as I do had Yizak Rabin not been killed by his own people and a more hard line Israeli PM put in place, he and Arafat would of come up with a peace deal. There would be peace by now. Sadly with Yizak Rabin's death, it was not to be. :(

I am not denying he did not achieve things, or have the potential to. I am just saying that just because somebody is dead/ near death, things are not black and white; he did good things, he did bad things, why should we only point out the good things?

I am not denying he did not achieve things, or have the potential to. I am just saying that just because somebody is dead/ near death, things are not black and white; he did good things, he did bad things, why should we only point out the good things?

Because I believe that we should remember the best about people not the worst. That includes the living , not just the dead. I also have way to much class to ever wish some one's death. It's not who I am. I could never wish some one dead no matter what they have done. I'm too decent a person to be that petty. I think he did some real bad stuff when he was younger. I think in his later years he did some real great stuff. Heck, he won the Nobel peace prize for his efforts. I just prefer to see the best in people if there is a best. If not, then it's kind of hard to do. Many people as hard as I try I can find no good in, but Arafat is not one of them.

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, you do know that right?
ALso, I could pay an army of little kids to go and attack London or Washington and then demand that I get control of half of it, would you agree? Jerusalem is our capital. If we owned Jerusalem, all faiths would be allowed to come and worship there. If the Al-Fatah owned it, they would bulldoze the Western Wall. So you still haven't told me which of the wars we started?
Seeing as you enjoy this, want to have a one on one Israel debate? (Not with me) I don't yet know who with, but if you are that sure in your belief, it shouldn't be that much of a problem.

Pedantic point here, but Tel Aviv is the capital of Israel, not Jerusalem.

peacemaker?
The guy who signed the Oslo treaty, got a peace=prize and then broke the Oslo treaty, in that order?

Pedantic point here, but Tel Aviv is the capital of Israel, not Jerusalem.
Seriously, don't. Just don't.
I'm Israeli, I live here. It's definitely Jerusalem.

Here, here!

He was an incredible man!

Mohammed Abdel-Raouf Arafat As Qudwa al-Hussaeini (a.k.a. "Yasser Arafat") was the nephew, disciple, and heir of "Haj" Muhammed Amin al-Husseini. The latter, who was entitled the "Grand Mufti of Jerusalem" was a violent terrorist responsible, among other incidences, of massacring Jews praying at the Western Wall in 1920, and the slaughter of around 70 innocent men, women, and children, in 1929 (The Hebron Massacre). Further, those innocent individuals were not Zionists, nor were they even Ashkhenazi (European) Jews. They were Sephardic (Middle Eastern) Jews whose families had lived there peacefully among the Arabs for centuries.

It was the "Haj" who was a principal antagonist against U.N. Resolution 181 (The Partition Plan) providing an independent state for the "Palestinians." His most notable statement thereby was, "I declare a holy war, my Muslim brothers! Murder the Jews! Murder them all!"

He consolidated his power by executing Jews and those Arabs who would not give allegiance to him. After King Abdullah of Jordan refused to allow the Haj back into Jerusalem (having been forced to flee), the Haj arranged for the assassination of the King in 1951. The Haj, as well as his nephew, were known Nazi collaborators. (Ever wonder why the Jordanians quietly seem more friendly toward Israel than the Palestinians? -- "Arab Unity" is a farce.)

There is nothing good or admirable about this family. Thanks to these morons the Palestinian people have been used as pawns for their own personal maniacal egos. They have diverted to their own bank accounts those funds sent by the world to help relieve Palestinian suffering, and they have assassinated any Palestinians who have said, "wait a minute, maybe we should make peace with the Jews if this will validate the recognition of our own independent state."

Good riddance, "Yasser."

Heck, he won the Nobel peace prize for his efforts.

I'm not directly commenting on Arafat here, but it should be borne in mind that Henry Kissinger also won the Nobel Peace Prize, and so to many its pedigree is 'somewhat' tarred.