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| Israel-Palestine |
| Israel says good riddance to Arafat |
| 2004-11-11 |
| Israeli Justice Minister Tommy Lapid on Tuesday welcomed the death of veteran Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, telling military radio that it was "good that the world is rid of him". The Israeli army on Thursday imposed a total security clampdown on the Palestinian Territories due to a fear of attacks following the death, military radio announced. "The sun is shining in the Middle East and around the world, as Arafat was not only the leader of terrorism against Israel, but also the founding father of the terrorism that is running rampant around the world right now, including that of Al Qaeda," Mr Lapid said. "All this terrorism is the fruit of Arafat's work, and it's good that the world is rid of him. Without Arafat there could have already been peace in the region and a Palestinian state. The government of Israel will continue with its efforts to reach peace." Israeli President Moshe Katsav expressed hope that the death of Mr Arafat would allow his successors to open a "new chapter" in their relations with the Jewish state. "The death of Yasser Arafat can constitute the start of a new chapter," Mr Katsav said in a statement. "I hope that the new Palestinian leadership will take a new path with a view to putting an end to terrorism and violence, which would allow a resumption of negotiations," he added. "If this new Palestinian leadership commits to this path, it will find in us a reliable partner aspiring to peace," Mr Katsav noted. "I hope that the Palestinians will quickly know how to overcome their grief, and that their new leaders will act to help them escape the suffering and distress in which they have been plunged," said the president. Israel's army imposed a general closure on the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Thursday after Mr Arafat's death. The army said it the decision was made following security assessments by the Government. "The IDF (Israel Defence Force) is deploying in order to allow for a dignified funeral ceremony for the chairman of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat," a statement said. |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |
| #11 Saw him on a clip last night on Nightline. Ted went to interview him while the al muqata was being dismembered by the IDF demolition team. Pathetic. "I am a general!!!" Shaking, shouting, his head leaning toward Ted, only a foot away. Ted was so intimidated that he was afraid of saying anything that might make to nutjob pounce on him. |
| Posted by: chicago mike 2004-11-11 9:36:41 PM |
| #10 |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-11-11 4:10:55 PM |
| #9 It's easy to mock him but Arafat and Che both managed to create a radical chic with ignorant westerners that allowed them to survive and even prosper despite their sick agenda. Those sun glasses are propoganda body armor. |
| Posted by: rjschwarz 2004-11-11 2:54:34 PM |
| #8 Boom Daddy? |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2004-11-11 11:23:18 AM |
| #7 That pic is priceless. Last night I watched Fox with the sound off, and they kept running old clips of him. The shades are just too, too precious. He looks like a rapper. Wonder what he'd call himself? |
| Posted by: Angie Schultz 2004-11-11 9:41:30 AM |
| #6 Maybe she can afford to dye those roots now. |
| Posted by: Tom 2004-11-11 9:23:48 AM |
| #5 aa may be reading source with a euro-style date, which would translate to 11-9-04 in the US. In any case, the first $22 million raised by the Palestnian Authority each year will be reserved for her royal majesty the grieving widow Suha Arafat (age 41), for the rest of her life. Good gravy. What a scam. |
| Posted by: Seafarious 2004-11-11 9:16:39 AM |
| #4 aa - It seems like a little bit long to carry on a farce. If it were true, the rationale would be that muslims need to be interred within 24 hours of death. Up until recently, there was no agreement wear to bury him. Now there is. And he's officially dead. |
| Posted by: eLarson 2004-11-11 8:57:32 AM |
| #3 Good riddance indeed. BTW MSNBC during its flash coverage called Arafat a Palestinian activist. Activist! The man was a thug and a terrorist! |
| Posted by: Douglas De Bono 2004-11-11 7:18:09 AM |
| #2 Rumours go that Arafat actually died on 911 (09-11-2004) and not on the 11th like the official announcement, could this be true? |
| Posted by: aa 2004-11-11 4:41:43 AM |
| #1 Mohammed Abdel-Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini of Cairo  Old al-Limp-of-Wrist al-Fatah "Any good looking terrorists here"? |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-11-11 2:59:41 AM |