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| In ], ] was the target of an ]i attack on the Jordanian village of ], in which 150 ] guerrillas and 29 ]i soldiers were killed. Despite the high death toll sustained, the battle was considered a strong showing for ] because it resulted in withdrawal of the ]i army. This was an important turning point for the resistance movement as it raised the profiles of Arafat and ]. By the late ] ] had come to dominate the ] and in ] Arafat was named chairman of the ]. | In ], ] was the target of an ]i attack on the Jordanian village of ], in which 150 ] guerrillas and 29 ]i soldiers were killed. Despite the high death toll sustained, the battle was considered a strong showing for ] because it resulted in withdrawal of the ]i army. This was an important turning point for the resistance movement as it raised the profiles of Arafat and ]. By the late ] ] had come to dominate the ] and in ] Arafat was named chairman of the ]. | ||
| Arafat became commander in chief of the Palestinian Revolutionary Forces two years later and in ] the head of the ]'s political department. During this same time, tensions between ]s and the ]ian government had greatly increased; heavily armed ] resistance elements ('']'') had created a virtual "state within a state" in ], eventually controlling several strategic positions in ], including the oil refinery near Az Zarq. As ] considered this a growing threat to its sovereignty and security, open fighting erupted in ] of ]. | Arafat became commander in chief of the Palestinian Revolutionary Forces two years later and in ] the head of the ]'s political department. During this same time, tensions between ]s and the ]ian government had greatly increased; heavily armed ] resistance elements ('']'') had created a virtual "state within a state" in ], eventually controlling several strategic positions in ], including the oil refinery near Az Zarq. As ] considered this a growing threat to its sovereignty and security, open fighting between ] and ] resistance erupted in ] of ]. | ||
| Other Arab governments attempted to work out a peaceful solution, but continuing ''fedayeen'' actions in Jordan (such as the destruction of three international airliners hijacked and held in the desert east of Amman) prompted the ] government to take action to regain control over its territory. On ] King Hussein declared martial law. On that same day Arafat became supreme commander of the Palestine Liberation Army (PLA), the regular military force of the PLO. In the ensuing civil war the ] had the active support of ], which invaded ] with a force of around 200 tanks. The fighting was mainly between the ]ian army and the PLA; the ] Navy dispatched the Sixth Fleet to the eastern Mediterranean, and ] deployed its troops to aid Hussein if necessary. By ] the ]ian army had gained the upper hand, and the PLA agreed to a series of ceasefires . See also ] and ]. | Other Arab governments attempted to work out a peaceful solution, but continuing ''fedayeen'' actions in Jordan (such as the destruction of three international airliners hijacked and held in the desert east of Amman) prompted the ] government to take action to regain control over its territory. On ] King Hussein declared martial law. On that same day Arafat became supreme commander of the Palestine Liberation Army (PLA), the regular military force of the PLO. In the ensuing civil war the ] had the active support of ], which invaded ] with a force of around 200 tanks. The fighting was mainly between the ]ian army and the PLA; the ] Navy dispatched the Sixth Fleet to the eastern Mediterranean, and ] deployed its troops to aid Hussein if necessary. By ] the ]ian army had gained the upper hand, and the PLA agreed to a series of ceasefires . See also ] and ]. | ||
| === Lebanon === | === Lebanon === | ||
| Following this defeat, Arafat relocated the ] from ] to ]. Because of ]'s weak central government, the ] was able to operate virtually as an independent state (called "Fatahland" by ]). The ] then began launching artillery and |
Following this defeat, Arafat relocated the ] from ] to ]. Because of ]'s weak central government, the ] was able to operate virtually as an independent state (called "Fatahland" by ]). The ] then began launching artillery and guerilla strikes on ] from there. These ] attacks occurred at the time of far more destructive ]i attacks on ], some of which were retaliatory, but most were offensive. | ||
| In ] of ] the ] group, which |
In ] of ] the ] group, which was believed by some to have been an operational cover for ], kidnapped 11 ]i athletes at the ], and eventually killed them all. International condemnation of the attack made Arafat publicly disassociate himself from similar acts in the future. In ] Arafat ordered the ] to withdraw from acts of violence outside ], the ] and the ]. In the same year Arafat became the first representative of a nongovernmental organization to address a plenary session of the ]. | ||
| ]i critics claim that Arafat's disconnection from violent resistance was illusory. The ] movement continued to launch attacks against ]i targets. In the late ] several new leftist organizations appeared and carried out attacks on ] and ]'s ] ]. ] claimed that Arafat was in ultimate control over these organizations, but Arafat has steadfastly denied these charges. | |||
| In ], ] heads of states declared the ] as the sole legitimate representative of all ]. The ] was admitted to full membership in the ] in ]. | In ], ] heads of states declared the ] as the sole legitimate representative of all ]. The ] was admitted to full membership in the ] in ]. | ||
| There were claims that the ] had played an important part in the ]. Some ] ] allege that Arafat and the ] were responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Lebanese citizens. | |||
| ] allied itself with the ] ], and conducted two major ]s of ]. In the first invasion (] in ]), the ] |
] allied itself with the ] ], and conducted two major ]s of ]. In the first invasion (] in ]), the ]i military and ] (SLA) occupied a narrow strip of land, ostensibly as a security zone. In the second invasion ( in ]), ] expanded its occupation to most of South Lebanon, but was eventually forced to retreat back to the previously occupied area in ]. During this invasion ] helped the ] ] ] militia massacre between 800 and 3,500 ] refugees, mostly civilians (see ]), amplifying the long-lasting bitterness and mistrust between ] and ] (the then minister of Defense ] was found indirectly responsible for the massacre and forced to resign; he is now Prime minister of ]). | ||
| === Tunisia === | === Tunisia === | ||
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| On ], ], the ] proclaimed the ], a government-in-exile for the ]s, under the terms of ] (the "1947 Partition Resolution"). In the ], ] address, Arafat declared acceptance of ], promised future recognition of ] and renounced "terrorism in all its forms, including state terrorism" . On ], ], Arafat was elected by the Central Council of the Palestine National Council (the governing body of the PLO) to be the president of the proclaimed ]. | On ], ], the ] proclaimed the ], a government-in-exile for the ]s, under the terms of ] (the "1947 Partition Resolution"). In the ], ] address, Arafat declared acceptance of ], promised future recognition of ] and renounced "terrorism in all its forms, including state terrorism" . On ], ], Arafat was elected by the Central Council of the Palestine National Council (the governing body of the PLO) to be the president of the proclaimed ]. | ||
| The Arafat's ] statement was dictated by the American administration, which insisted on the recognition of ] as a necessary starting point in the Camp David peace negotiations. The statement indicated a shift from one of the PLO's primary aims - |
The Arafat's ] statement was dictated by the American administration, which insisted on the recognition of ] as a necessary starting point in the Camp David peace negotiations. The statement indicated a shift from one of the PLO's primary aims - ]'s primary aims -- a liberation of the entire ] (which implicitly negates the validity of the proclamation of ], see ]) -- towards the establishment of two separate entities, an ]i state within the 1949 armistice lines and a ] state in the areas assigned to ]s by the ]. | ||
| Subsequently. during the ] Madrid Conference, ] conducted open negotiations with the ] for the first time. | Subsequently. during the ] Madrid Conference, ] conducted open negotiations with the ] for the first time. | ||
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| In ], Arafat moved to the Palestinian Authority (PA) - the provisional entity created by the Oslo Accords. | In ], Arafat moved to the Palestinian Authority (PA) - the provisional entity created by the Oslo Accords. | ||
| On ], ], Arafat was elected president of the PA, with an overwhelming 87% majority (the only other candidate was ]). Independent international observers reported the elections to have been free and fair. However, some critics allege that because most of the opposition movements chose not to participate in the elections the elections were not truly democratic. Further elections were announced for January 2002, but were later postponed, purportedly because of inability to campaign due to ] |
On ], ], Arafat was elected president of the PA, with an overwhelming 87% majority (the only other candidate was ]). Independent international observers reported the elections to have been free and fair. However, some critics allege that because most of the opposition movements chose not to participate in the elections the elections were not truly democratic. Further elections were announced for January 2002, but were later postponed, purportedly because of inability to campaign due to ]i military attacks and restrictions on freedom of movement in the territories occupied by Israel. | ||
| Since ], Arafat's title as Palestinian Authority leader has been the Arabic word ''ra'is'' (or "head", the title translation varies: ] translates it as "chairman" and the ] uses this term, while ]s translate it as "president" and the ] uses this term.) | Since ], Arafat's title as Palestinian Authority leader has been the Arabic word ''ra'is'' (or "head", the title translation varies: ] translates it as "chairman" and the ] uses this term, while ]s translate it as "president" and the ] uses this term.) | ||
| In mid-1996, following multiple suicide bus bombings, in which scores of Israelis were killed, Benjamin Netanyahu was elected Prime Minister of Israel. Palestinian-Israeli relations grew even more hostile as a consequence of continued |
In mid-1996, following multiple suicide bus bombings, in which scores of Israelis were killed, Benjamin Netanyahu was elected Prime Minister of Israel. Palestinian-Israeli relations grew even more hostile as a consequence of continued attacks. Benjamin Netanyahu tried to obstruct the transition to Palestinian statehood outlined in the Israel-PLO accord. In 1998 U.S. President ] intervened, arranging meeting with the two leaders. The resulting ] of ] ] detailed the steps to be taken by the Israeli government and PLO to complete the peace process. | ||
| Arafat continued negotiations with Netanyahu's successor, ]. Due partly to his own politics (Barak was from the leftist Labor Party, whereas Netanyahu was from the rightist Likud Party) and partly due to immense pressure placed by American President Bill Clinton, Barak offered Arafat a Palestinian state in parts of the ] and ] with East Jerusalem as its capital, a return of a limited number of refugees and a compensation for the rest. |
Arafat continued negotiations with Netanyahu's successor, ]. Due partly to his own politics (Barak was from the leftist Labor Party, whereas Netanyahu was from the rightist Likud Party) and partly due to immense pressure placed by American President Bill Clinton, Barak offered Arafat a Palestinian state in parts of the ] and ] with East Jerusalem as its capital, a return of a limited number of refugees and a compensation for the rest. However, as the proposed ] areas were fragmented and surrounded by offer but failing to address other issues seen as vital to the process. Arafat rejected Barak's offer, and refused to make a counter-offer. Following a highly controversial visit by ] to the ] compound and the violence which followed, the ] (2000-present) began. | ||
| == Recent news and commentary == | == Recent news and commentary == | ||
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| In late October 2004 Arafat began to experience health problems, and on ], ] he reportedly vomited during a meeting and lost ] for ten minutes. There was disagreement about the seriousness of his condition, which was initially reported by some as ]. Later, however, Palestinian and ]n medical teams were called to his compound, followed on ] by doctors from ] and ]. According to one of his doctors, Arafat is suffering from ], a blood platelet deficiency. Some contend that this diagnosis does not adequately explain all the symptoms. | In late October 2004 Arafat began to experience health problems, and on ], ] he reportedly vomited during a meeting and lost ] for ten minutes. There was disagreement about the seriousness of his condition, which was initially reported by some as ]. Later, however, Palestinian and ]n medical teams were called to his compound, followed on ] by doctors from ] and ]. According to one of his doctors, Arafat is suffering from ], a blood platelet deficiency. Some contend that this diagnosis does not adequately explain all the symptoms. | ||
| After these reports, ]i government stated that Arafat was free to leave his compound for medical treatment. Initially, he had refused to go because of ]'s stated policy on barring his return. After ] reiterated that Arafat's return to ] would not be prevented if he went abroad for medical treatment, his doctors announced that Arafat would be moved abroad for additional medical tests. On ], Arafat was flown out to ], for medical treatment. | After these reports, ]i government stated that Arafat was free to leave his compound for medical treatment. Initially, he had refused to go because of ]'s stated policy on barring his return. After ] reiterated that Arafat's return to ] would not be prevented if he went abroad for medical treatment, his doctors announced that Arafat would be moved abroad for additional medical tests. On ], Arafat was flown out to ], for medical treatment. | ||
| ==Relations with the Arab world== | ==Relations with the Arab world== | ||
| Line 116: | Line 116: | ||
| The ]i Military Intelligence Chief claimed in ] of ] that Arafat's personal wealth is US$ 1.3 billion, providing no substantiation for this claim. | The ]i Military Intelligence Chief claimed in ] of ] that Arafat's personal wealth is US$ 1.3 billion, providing no substantiation for this claim. | ||
| The ] business magazine "Forbes" |
The pro-Israel ] business magazine "Forbes" Arafat as sixth on its ] list "Kings, Queens and Despots" , estimating his personal wealth to "at least $300 million", without indicating its source for this claim. | ||
| However, as Arafat lives frugally and has no known major possessions, these claims appear to be based solely on Arafat's control over Palestinian public-funds. | However, as Arafat lives frugally and has no known major possessions, these claims appear to be based solely on Arafat's control over Palestinian public-funds. | ||
Revision as of 06:19, 31 October 2004
Yasser Arafat (Arabic: ياسر عرفات) (born August 4 or August 24, 1929 as Muhammad Abd al-Rahman ar-Rauf al-Qudwah al-Husayni, also known as Abu Ammar) is the leader of the Palestinian Authority (leader since 1993, elected President (ra'is) since 1996); Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) (since 1969); leader of Fatah, the largest of the factions within the PLO, and co-winner of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize.
In October 2004, Yasser Arafat became seriously ill and was transported to a military hospital in France.
Biography
Arafat was one of seven children born to a merchant. According to Arafat and other sources, he was born in Jerusalem on August 4, 1929 . His date and place of birth have been disputed; a birth certificate found in Cairo states that Arafat was born in Cairo, Egypt on August 24, 1929.
Claims that Arafat was related to the Jerusalem Husseini clan through his mother have been disputed by Said Aburish, a Christian Lebanese journalist based in London (and holder of an American passport) who is highly critical of Arafat. In a biography written without Arafat's assistance (Arafat: From Defender to Dictator, Bloomsbury Publishing, 1998), Aburish claims that "Arafat insistently perpetuated the legend that he had been born in Jerusalem and was related to the important Husseini clan of that city."
Arafat spent his childhood in Cairo and Jerusalem . He attended the University of Cairo and graduated as a civil engineer.
Arafat married late in life to a Palestinian Christian, Mrs. Suha Arafat. They have a single child, a daughter. His wife and daughter live in Paris, France. Mrs. Suha Arafat recently became a French citizen. Arafat's support of Suha has been claimed to be extravagant by some pro-Israel media.
Political life
As a student, Arafat joined the Muslim Brotherhood and the Union of Palestinian Students, of which he was president from 1952 to 1956. While in Cairo, he developed a close relationship with Haj Amin Al-Husseini, also known as the Mufti of Jerusalem. In 1956 he served in the Egyptian army during the Suez Crisis. At the Palestinian National Congress in Cairo on February 3, 1969 Arafat was appointed Palestinian Liberation Organization leader.
The establishment of Fatah
After Suez, Arafat moved to Kuwait, where he found work as an engineer and eventually set up his own contracting firm. In Kuwait he also helped found Fatah, an organization dedicated to the establishment of an independent Palestinian state. Fatah was allegedly used by Syria as a proxy in an unsuccessful attempt to blow up an Israeli water pump in December 1964. After the Six-Day War, Israel shifted its attention from the Arab governments to the various Palestinian organizations, including Fatah.
In 1968, Fatah was the target of an Israeli attack on the Jordanian village of Al-Karameh, in which 150 Palestinian guerrillas and 29 Israeli soldiers were killed. Despite the high death toll sustained, the battle was considered a strong showing for Fatah because it resulted in withdrawal of the Israeli army. This was an important turning point for the resistance movement as it raised the profiles of Arafat and Fatah. By the late 1960s Fatah had come to dominate the PLO and in 1969 Arafat was named chairman of the PLO.
Arafat became commander in chief of the Palestinian Revolutionary Forces two years later and in 1973 the head of the PLO's political department. During this same time, tensions between Palestinians and the Jordanian government had greatly increased; heavily armed Palestinian resistance elements (fedayeen) had created a virtual "state within a state" in Jordan, eventually controlling several strategic positions in Jordan, including the oil refinery near Az Zarq. As Jordan considered this a growing threat to its sovereignty and security, open fighting between Jordan and Palestinian resistance erupted in June of 1970.
Other Arab governments attempted to work out a peaceful solution, but continuing fedayeen actions in Jordan (such as the destruction of three international airliners hijacked and held in the desert east of Amman) prompted the Jordan government to take action to regain control over its territory. On September 16 King Hussein declared martial law. On that same day Arafat became supreme commander of the Palestine Liberation Army (PLA), the regular military force of the PLO. In the ensuing civil war the PLO had the active support of Syria, which invaded Jordan with a force of around 200 tanks. The fighting was mainly between the Jordanian army and the PLA; the U.S Navy dispatched the Sixth Fleet to the eastern Mediterranean, and Israel deployed its troops to aid Hussein if necessary. By September 24 the Jordanian army had gained the upper hand, and the PLA agreed to a series of ceasefires . See also History of Jordan and Black September.
Lebanon
Following this defeat, Arafat relocated the PLO from Jordan to Lebanon. Because of Lebanon's weak central government, the PLO was able to operate virtually as an independent state (called "Fatahland" by Israel). The PLO then began launching artillery and guerilla strikes on Israel from there. These PLO attacks occurred at the time of far more destructive Isreali attacks on Lebanon, some of which were retaliatory, but most were offensive.
In September of 1972 the Black September group, which was believed by some to have been an operational cover for Fatah, kidnapped 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympic Games, and eventually killed them all. International condemnation of the attack made Arafat publicly disassociate himself from similar acts in the future. In 1974 Arafat ordered the PLO to withdraw from acts of violence outside Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In the same year Arafat became the first representative of a nongovernmental organization to address a plenary session of the UN General Assembly.
Israeli critics claim that Arafat's disconnection from violent resistance was illusory. The Fatah movement continued to launch attacks against Israeli targets. In the late 1970s several new leftist organizations appeared and carried out attacks on Israel and Israel's occupation colonies. Israel claimed that Arafat was in ultimate control over these organizations, but Arafat has steadfastly denied these charges.
In 1974, Arab heads of states declared the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of all Palestinians. The PLO was admitted to full membership in the Arab League in 1976.
There were claims that the PLO had played an important part in the Lebanese Civil War. Some Lebanese Christians allege that Arafat and the PLO were responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of Lebanese citizens.
Israel allied itself with the Lebanese Christians, and conducted two major invasions of Lebanon. In the first invasion (Operation Litani in ]), the Israeli military and South Lebanon Army (SLA) occupied a narrow strip of land, ostensibly as a security zone. In the second invasion ( in 1982), Israel expanded its occupation to most of South Lebanon, but was eventually forced to retreat back to the previously occupied area in 1985. During this invasion Israel helped the Maronite Christian Phalangist militia massacre between 800 and 3,500 Palestinian refugees, mostly civilians (see Sabra and Shatila Massacre), amplifying the long-lasting bitterness and mistrust between Palestinians and Israel (the then minister of Defense Ariel Sharon was found indirectly responsible for the massacre and forced to resign; he is now Prime minister of Israel).
Tunisia
In September 1982, during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the Americans had brokered a cease-fire deal in which Arafat and the PLO were allowed to leave Lebanon; Arafat and his leadership eventually arrived in Tunisia, which remained his center of operations up until 1993.
During the 1980s, Arafat received assistance from Iraq, which allowed him to reconstruct the badly-battered PLO. This was particularly useful during the First Palestinian uprising in December, 1987. Within weeks, Arafat was in control of the revolt, and it was mainly because of Fatah forces in the West Bank that the civil unrest could continue for any length of time.
On November 15, 1988, the PLO proclaimed the State of Palestine, a government-in-exile for the Palestinians, under the terms of UN General Assembly Resolution 181 (the "1947 Partition Resolution"). In the December 13, 1988 address, Arafat declared acceptance of UN Security Council Resolution 242, promised future recognition of Israel and renounced "terrorism in all its forms, including state terrorism" . On April 2, 1989, Arafat was elected by the Central Council of the Palestine National Council (the governing body of the PLO) to be the president of the proclaimed State of Palestine.
The Arafat's December 13 statement was dictated by the American administration, which insisted on the recognition of Israel as a necessary starting point in the Camp David peace negotiations. The statement indicated a shift from one of the PLO's primary aims - PLO's primary aims -- a liberation of the entire Palestine (which implicitly negates the validity of the proclamation of State of Israel, see Palestinian National Covenant) -- towards the establishment of two separate entities, an Israeli state within the 1949 armistice lines and a Palestinian state in the areas assigned to Palestinians by the U.N..
Subsequently. during the 1991 Madrid Conference, Israel conducted open negotiations with the PLO for the first time. Prior to the Gulf War of 1991 Arafat opposed the U.S. attack on Iraq (as the only Arab statesman to do so) and the Americans began boycotting him; this impeded the Israeli-Palestinian negotiations already underway.
Palestinian Authority
The U.S. continued pressing both sides to negotiations and this lead to the 1993 Oslo Accords, which called for the implementation of Palestinian self rule in the West Bank and Gaza Strip over a five year period. The following year Arafat was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize along with Shimon Peres and Yitzhak Rabin.
In 1994, Arafat moved to the Palestinian Authority (PA) - the provisional entity created by the Oslo Accords. On January 20, 1996, Arafat was elected president of the PA, with an overwhelming 87% majority (the only other candidate was Samiha Khalil). Independent international observers reported the elections to have been free and fair. However, some critics allege that because most of the opposition movements chose not to participate in the elections the elections were not truly democratic. Further elections were announced for January 2002, but were later postponed, purportedly because of inability to campaign due to Israeli military attacks and restrictions on freedom of movement in the territories occupied by Israel.
Since 1996, Arafat's title as Palestinian Authority leader has been the Arabic word ra'is (or "head", the title translation varies: Israel translates it as "chairman" and the U.S. uses this term, while Palestinians translate it as "president" and the U.N uses this term.)
In mid-1996, following multiple suicide bus bombings, in which scores of Israelis were killed, Benjamin Netanyahu was elected Prime Minister of Israel. Palestinian-Israeli relations grew even more hostile as a consequence of continued attacks. Benjamin Netanyahu tried to obstruct the transition to Palestinian statehood outlined in the Israel-PLO accord. In 1998 U.S. President Bill Clinton intervened, arranging meeting with the two leaders. The resulting Wye River Memorandum of 23 October 1998 detailed the steps to be taken by the Israeli government and PLO to complete the peace process.
Arafat continued negotiations with Netanyahu's successor, Ehud Barak. Due partly to his own politics (Barak was from the leftist Labor Party, whereas Netanyahu was from the rightist Likud Party) and partly due to immense pressure placed by American President Bill Clinton, Barak offered Arafat a Palestinian state in parts of the West Bank and Gaza Strip with East Jerusalem as its capital, a return of a limited number of refugees and a compensation for the rest. However, as the proposed Palestinian areas were fragmented and surrounded by offer but failing to address other issues seen as vital to the process. Arafat rejected Barak's offer, and refused to make a counter-offer. Following a highly controversial visit by Ariel Sharon to the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and the violence which followed, the Second Palestinian Intifada (2000-present) began.
Recent news and commentary
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Arafat's personal and political survival is taken by most Western commentators as a sign of his mastery of asymmetric warfare and his skill as a tactician, given the extremely dangerous nature of politics of the Middle East and the frequency of assassinations. Some commentators believe his personal survival is largely due to the Israel's fear that he could become a martyr for the Palestinian cause if he were to be assassinated or even just arrested by Israel.
Arafat's ability to adapt to new tactical and political situations is perhaps exemplified by the rise of the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad organizations, fundamentalist groups using Islamic rhetoric to motivate resistance against Israel. In the 1990s, these groups seemed to threaten Arafat's capacity to hold together a unified secular nationalist organization with a goal of statehood. They appeared to be out of Arafat's influence and control, and were actively fighting with Arafat's Fatah group. Some allege that activities of these groups were tolerated by Arafat as a means of applying pressure on Israel (see PLO and Hamas.) Some Israeli government officials opined in 2002 that the Fatah's faction Al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades began attacks on to compete with Hamas.
However, frequent Israeli military strikes against the Palestinian Authority and Arafat's security infrastructure have made it difficult for Arafat to effectively counter the increasing influence of groups like Hamas. And spokesmen for Hamas and Islamic Jihad have at times publicly supported Arafat, suggesting that the common Palestinian goal of freedom looms large over infighting between these factions.
On May 6, 2002, the Israeli government released a report, based in part on documents allegedly captured during the Israeli occupation of Arafat's Ramallah headquarters, with copies of papers allegedly signed by Arafat authorizing funding for the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' resistance activities. These documents, however, drew skepticism from various quarters because the Israeli military had forcefully prevented any independent observers or reporters from observing the operation.
Others point to the constraints of the political situation, and argue that Arafat could neither condemn nor constrain the tactics employed; and that any attempt to do so would endanger his rule or his life. Furthermore, ending violent resistance activities would amount to a de facto surrender to Israel because Israel never ceded anything, and actually expanded its occupation during periods of nonviolent resistance. The use of suicide bombers appears to be a permanent feature of this conflict. The number and intensity of attacks rose sharply in the first months of 2002.
In March 2002, the Arab League made an offer to recognize Israel in exchange for Israeli retreat from all territories captured in the Six-Day War and statehood for Palestine and Arafat's Palestinian Authority. Many saw this offer, which included recognition of Israel by the Arab states, as a historic opportunity for comprehensive peace in the region. However, the Israeli government of Ariel Sharon ignored this offer, with some officials saying that it would constitute a blow to Israel's security, while not guaranteeing Israel the cessation of suicide bombing attacks.
This was followed by a Palestinian attack on Israel (in which Arafat's group Fatah was involved), that led to more than 135 Israelis dead. Ariel Sharon subsequently stated that Arafat "assisted the terrorists and made himself an enemy of Israel and irrelevant to any peace negotiations". This was followed by the major Israeli invasion of the West Bank, during which Israel killed hundreds of Palestinians and razed entire city blocks (see "Operation Defensive Shield".)
There was some speculation that personal animosity between the two men played a part in this escalation.
Attempts by Israel to find another Palestinian leader more pliable by Israel had failed, and Arafat was enjoying the support of the majority of Palestinians, including groups that would normally have been quite wary of supporting him. Israel finally allowed Arafat to leave his compound on May 3, 2002 after intensive negotiations led to a settlement ; six resistance fighters wanted by Israel, who had been holed up with Arafat in his compound, would not be turned over to Israel, but neither would they be held in custody by the Palestinian Authority. Rather, a combination of British and American security personnel would ensure that the wanted men remained imprisoned in Jericho. With that, and a promise that he would issue a call in Arabic to the Palestinians to halt attacks on Israelis, Arafat was released. He issued such a call on May 8, 2002, but, as was the case before, his public call to halt attacks was ignored.
On July 18, U.S. President George W Bush stated regarding Yasser Arafat: "The real problem is that there is no leadership that is able to say 'help us establish a state and we will fight terror and answer the needs of the Palestinians'". (Le Figaro)
In September of 2004 the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) opened an investigation of Arafat's role in the murder of two U.S. diplomats in Khartoum, Sudan on March 1, 1973. On that date, eight members of the Black September organization stormed the Saudi embassy and took as hostages U.S. Ambassador Cleo Noel, Charge d'Affaires George Curtis Moore and Belgian diplomat Guy Eid. The next day these three diplomats were killed by their captors. The FBI is reportedly investigating National Security Agency (NSA) intercepts of conversations in which Arafat was suspected to have ordered the killings. To date, the NSA has not published the intercepts. Arafat's deputy, Saeeb Erekat, has denied these allegations.
Israel has held Arafat in virtual arrest in his Ramallah compound for more than 2 years, by announcing that if Arafat left the compound he would be barred from returning. Israel's Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has hinted on several occassions that Arafat could be assassinated by Israel.
In late October 2004 Arafat began to experience health problems, and on October 27, 2004 he reportedly vomited during a meeting and lost consciousness for ten minutes. There was disagreement about the seriousness of his condition, which was initially reported by some as flu. Later, however, Palestinian and Tunisian medical teams were called to his compound, followed on October 29 by doctors from Jordan and Egypt. According to one of his doctors, Arafat is suffering from ITP, a blood platelet deficiency. Some contend that this diagnosis does not adequately explain all the symptoms.
After these reports, Israeli government stated that Arafat was free to leave his compound for medical treatment. Initially, he had refused to go because of Israel's stated policy on barring his return. After Israel reiterated that Arafat's return to Ramallah would not be prevented if he went abroad for medical treatment, his doctors announced that Arafat would be moved abroad for additional medical tests. On October 29, Arafat was flown out to Paris, France, for medical treatment.
Relations with the Arab world
Many in Europe and the United States assume that all Arab governments equally support Yasser Arafat and share united views and policies. In reality, Arafat has had a mixed relationship with some Arab nations. While most Arab leaders do publicly support him, at various times Arafat has come under withering criticism from Arab press, as in these examples:
- Arab Times (Kuwait): 'Mr Arafat should quit his position because he is the head of a corrupt authority. There is no point for him to remain in politics... He has destroyed Palestine. He has led it to terrorism, death and a hopeless situation... All Arab leaders know this fact. It won't be possible for us to gain from the Middle East road map for peace if this man remains in power.'
- BBC quoted a Jenin Martyrs' Brigade spokesman: 'With all due respect to President Arafat, the Palestinian Authority cannot continue being monopolised by and his relatives...we have our own ways to show our rejection.'
- Al-Quds Al-Araby (London): 'What is happening in Gaza is a healthy phenomenon because it is a revolution against corruption and the corrupt... This is a warning not only to Mr Arafat... but to all Arab regimes which subjugate their people by turning a deaf ear to their calls for comprehensive change.'
Arafat's support from Arab leaders tends to increase whenever he is pressured by Israel, such as when in 2003 Israel declared it had taken the decision, in principle, to remove Arafat from the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Arafat still remains by far the most popular Arab leader among the general populace of Arab nations.
Financial dealings
As the leader of Palestinian resistance Arafat has been subject of Israeli campaigns to discredit him.
The Israeli Military Intelligence Chief claimed in August of 2002 that Arafat's personal wealth is US$ 1.3 billion, providing no substantiation for this claim. The pro-Israel U.S. business magazine "Forbes" Arafat as sixth on its 2003 list "Kings, Queens and Despots" , estimating his personal wealth to "at least $300 million", without indicating its source for this claim.
However, as Arafat lives frugally and has no known major possessions, these claims appear to be based solely on Arafat's control over Palestinian public-funds.
In 2003 the International Monetary Fund (IMF) conducted an audit of the Palestinian Authority and stated that Arafat diverted $900 million in public funds to a special bank account controlled by Arafat and the PA Chief Economic Financial Advisor. The IMF did not claim that there were any improprieties and it specifically stated that most of the funds have been used to invest in Palestinian assets, both internally and abroad. An investigation by European Union of claims of financial improprieties also found no improprieties. According to "Forbes", the new PA Finance Minister is tasked with reviewing PA finances, which may result in weakening of Arafat's control over them.
There were also unconfirmed claims by unnamed sources that Arafat's wife, Suha, receives a stipend of $100,000 each month. In an interview with the London-based newspaper Al Hayat, Mrs. Arafat accused Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of spreading rumors about money-laundering to distract media attention away from corruption allegations against him. In October 2003, French government prosecutors opened an money-laundering probe of Suha Arafat after Tracfin alerted the prosecutors to transfers of nearly $1.27 million each with some regularity from Switzerland to Mrs. Arafat's accounts in Paris.
Views of the peace process
On November 11, 1995, Arafat said on the PA's Voice of Palestine radio station: "The struggle will continue until all of Palestine is liberated." (Voice of Palestine)
On April 18, 1998, in an interview with Egyptian TV, Arafat was asked about his decision to sign the Oslo accords. He replied: "In 1974, at the Palestinian National Council meeting in Cairo, we passed the decision to establish national Palestinian rule over any part of the land of Palestine which is liberated." In an interview with the Palestinian Arab newspaper Al Ayyam on January 1, 1998, when asked his view of the Oslo agreement, Arafat replied: "Since the decision of the Palestinian National Council at its 12th meeting in 1974, the PLO has adopted the political solution of establishing a National Authority over any territory from which the occupation withdraws."
On June 30th, 2001, Yasser Arafat addressing the Conference of the Council of the Socialist International said "Peace cannot be achieved except after the cessation of military escalation and the economic and financial siege, the demise of occupation, the removal of settlements and ..."
On December 16 2001, Yasser Arafat proclaimed in Arabic, on PA television: "Once again, I call for a complete halt to all operations, especially suicidal operations, which we have always condemned. We will punish all those who carry out and mastermind such operations." ()
On February 3, 2002, Arafat stated: "The Palestinian vision of peace is an independent and viable Palestinian state on the territories occupied by Israel in 1967, living as an equal neighbor alongside Israel with peace and security for both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples. In 1988, the Palestine National Council adopted a historic resolution calling for the implementation of applicable United Nations resolutions, particularly, Resolutions 242 and 338. The Palestinians recognized Israel's right to exist on 78 percent of historic Palestine with the understanding that we would be allowed to live in freedom on the remaining 22 percent under Israeli occupation since 1967. Our commitment to that two state solution remains unchanged, but unfortunately, also remains unreciprocated."
Quotes
These are some of the notable statements Yasser Arafat made over the years:
1972: "Today I have come bearing an olive branch and a freedom fighter's gun. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand. I repeat: do not let the olive branch fall from my hand."
November 13, 1974: "Those who call us terrorists wish to prevent world public opinion from discovering the truth about us and from seeing the justice on our faces. They seek to bide the terrorism and tyranny of their acts, and our own posture of self-defence." Speech to the United Nations, New York
January 15, 2002: "This child, who is grasping the stone, facing the tank, is it not the greatest message to the world when that hero becomes a martyr? We are proud of them." (Palestinian Authority Television)
September 11, 2003: "This is my homeland; no one can kick me out." Yasser Arafat's reply to Ariel Sharon's threat to expel him from the occupied territories.
February 29, 2004: "Let it collapse, it will be the fault of Israel and the Americans." Yasser Arafat to Edward G. Abington, a former State Department official who is now a consultant to the Palestinian Authority
External links
- The Nobel e-Museum - Biography of Yasser Arafat
- Life and times of Yassir Arafat, Times Online, UK
- Profile: Yassir Arafat from Times Online, UK
- ABC News - Arafat Biography
- Trailer of a documentary with clips of Arafat's speeches, mostly towards the end of the trailer
- Yasir Arafat: Psychological Profile and Strategic Analysis
- Yasser Arafat from the Open Directory Project
- Yasser Arafat -- Yahoo!
- The Israeli Reference Site on Arafat
- Interview with Israeli Major General Amos Gilad in HaAretz
- Interview with Gilad's superior Amos Malka, accusing Gilad of misrepresenting the evidence
- Someone Was Going to Kill Newsweek Interview of Mahmoud Abbas (June 21 Issue)