American policymakers and statesmen believe the Middle East is better off without Yasser Arafat. Madeline Albright said Arafat "was viewed as an obstacle to peace, both by the Israelis and the United States." The Bush administration refrained from explicitly saying so, but it is well known from its past relations with Arafat that his passing is more welcomed than not.
No doubt his death generates hope in some circles of a peaceful solution in the Middle East. Arafat was known for his ties to Palestinian terrorist networks and attacks on Israel. He is infamously credited for not accepting the "best deal ever seen" for Middle East peace under President Clinton.
But it is as if American statesmen forget that one of the world's most influential -- and controversial -- leaders is dead. And in doing so, they forget the importance of his leadership to the Palestinian people. America joins New Zealand, Malaysia, Israel, England, Australia and others in welcoming Arafat's death. These countries see his death as less heartbreak and more opportunity.
But much of the rest of the world empathizes with the Palestinians for the death of their leader. China joined the Muslim state Indonesia in expressing sympathies for "a symbol of struggle and independence." Jacques Chirac of France went to Arafat's hospital bedside to express his sympathies. President Bush and Prime MinisterTony Blair, on the other hand, skirted a direct acknowledgment of Arafat's death with strategic use of language. "Our sympathies are with the Palestinian people as they begin a period of mourning," said Bush together with Blair. "Yet the months ahead offer a new opportunity to make progress toward a lasting peace."
There was no mention of Arafat or the consequences of his death for the Palestinian people. Instead Bush moved the topic immediately away from Arafat's death and onto hopes of greater opportunity for peace. In the minds of Bush and others it was as if the Palestinians simply forgot about Arafat and suddenly envisioned peace.
And if there was any doubt that Palestinians adored their leader it was erased with the chaos present at his burial. Whereas Americans line up along the street or turn on the television to witness a state funeral, Palestinians tore down fences and shot rifles in the air to witness Arafat's "state" funeral. The pictures showed the raw emotion of Palestinians. In the words of Saeb Erakat: "The chaotic situation reflected the attachment of [Arafat's] people toward him."
Not only was this attachment ignored by statesmen around the world, but it was ignored most peculiarly by the American media. In much the same way Bush moved the topic of Arafat's death away from considerations of mourning, the media followed the President's trail and moved the headlines toward considerations of opportunity. Talk of "peace and opportunity" subordinated talk of heartbreak and sympathy.
Certainly when as large a figure as Arafat dies the world must move on. But the style with which much of the world moved on simply lacked courtesy for the Palestinian people. It must be remembered that Palestinians lost the only leader they have known for generations. This is no trivial loss, especially for a people as distressed as the Palestinians. Western leaders talk about peace and opportunity -- for most Palestinians, Arafat was the only hope of peace and opportunity.
Yes, Arafat condemned numerous opportunities for peace. For that reason alone one feels inclined to show limited respect for his death, if any at all. But it is one thing to show limited respect toward Arafat's death and limited respect toward the sentiments of his people toward his death.
Bush's strategic use of language did exactly that; it expressed sympathies for "the people" and not "the man." But nevertheless this fragile balance between expressing sympathies for Palestinians and sympathies for Arafat was broken by immediate talk of a window-of-opportunity. This makes the United States and other nations appear insensitive and opportunistic.
To many, peace appears more possible now with Arafat's death. No doubt there is a window of opportunity. Nevertheless, he was revered by Palestinians, and that should have been appreciated.
--Michael Huerta is a junior applied mathematics and political science major.
