It was confirmed a few minutes ago. Don't have any links yet, haven't seen it anywhere other than TV. I honestly half-believed he was immortal. I'm surprised he's dead even though I knew his condition was deteriorating rapidly.
Anyway, that's all I wanted to say.
Posted by newfoundlogic (Member # 3907) on :
Hopefully the Palestinians will now find a leader dedicated to peace instead of enlarging his bankroll.
[ November 10, 2004, 11:19 PM: Message edited by: newfoundlogic ]
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
Doubtful, unfortunately.
Posted by Jaiden (Member # 2099) on :
nytimes has a news alert on their webpage
Posted by TMedina (Member # 6649) on :
Lessee...
Outrage Blame the Israelies Feuding and infighting for top dog spot Consolidate power by blaming the Israelies Shake well and light match
-Trevor
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
speaking selfishly, from the standpoint of someone who works at a newspaper, the whole "he's dead," "he's not dead," "he's in a coma," "he's not in a coma," "okay he's really dead now" thing has been wearing on the nerves. Every night we were checking on updates to make sure that if he really died, we could get it in the newspaper. The Associated Press had stories saying he was dead last week.
[ November 11, 2004, 01:22 AM: Message edited by: CaySedai ]
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
If you get into a cab in Amman, Jordan, and ask to go to -- say -- the Seventh Circle, the driver will tell you "inshalla." Which is to say "we'll get there, god willing." It is Middle Eastern custom to always say "hopefully, everything will work out." It is flagrantly rude to say that there is no hope.
The Western media totally missed that.
Posted by Book (Member # 5500) on :
I like the idea of despair as impolite.
Posted by newfoundlogic (Member # 3907) on :
Did anyone else find it suspicious that he died shortly after Israel granted permission for him to buried in Ramallah and he remained in limbo while his funeral plans were in limbo? I wouldn't be suprised if he's been dead for days, but they've been holding off the news which would confirm the early reports from the Swiss PM and the AP. Its either that or they just decided that it was a oppurtune time to take him off life support.
Posted by Raia (Member # 4700) on :
I just watched it on the news. *just woke up*
*wonders* So, now what? What is going to happen to this country?
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
*shake head* They would not have taken him off life support. It goes against very strong religious beliefs.
Posted by newfoundlogic (Member # 3907) on :
You'd think that, but so are a lot of things the Palestinian leadership has engaged in.
I don't think there will be any major problems within Israel in the immediate future. The funeral will be in the West Bank and the IDF is not going to allow a march on Jerusalem. I'd be suprised if there wasn't at least some rioting or violence in the Palestinian territories and I think we could have full scale anarchy.
Posted by newfoundlogic (Member # 3907) on :
New problem: what foreign dignitaries to let into the country?
Posted by CaySedai (Member # 6459) on :
Question: what foreign dignitaries want to go into the country, considering the likelihood of violence?
Posted by newfoundlogic (Member # 3907) on :
Well most Arab leaders like to pretend that they like the Palestinians and definitely do like to spite Israel. Israeli leaders have already said for example, that they won't let Moammar Quadafi in.
Posted by Elizabeth (Member # 5218) on :
As for Yasser being dead for days, I think not. have you ever noticed that terminally ill people will often hang on and hang on. Then, someone visits them, or it is Christmas, or their birthday, or some other significant time, as if they have been waiting for that before they let go. Maybe he was just holding on.
I am going to latch on to the "despair is impolite" idea, and keep it with me every day. Thank you for that!
Posted by Scott R (Member # 567) on :
I wonder if folks in the Middle East look at Bush et al. the same way we look at Arafat?
Posted by twinky (Member # 693) on :
Yes, as do many Arabs living abroad.
Posted by Sara Sasse (Member # 6804) on :
I think so, Scott. It is a very different perspective.
Posted by Papa Moose (Member # 1992) on :
Apologies up front.
quote:I wonder if folks in the Middle East look at Bush et al. the same way we look at Arafat?
You mean they think he's actually brain dead, but the RNC is waiting for a politically opportune time to pull the plug?
If that's over the line, I'm happy to delete it. It's just the first thing I thought of when I read the comment. Sorry.
--Pop
Posted by Jonathan Howard (Member # 6934) on :
I live in Israel.
I know Israeli politics and socio-economic statuses pretty well.
I know the leaders of both sides.
Arafat was what I'd call the stone in the middle of the stream of peace-quests troubling the waters.