After a week in hospital, lying in a coma and suffering from a brain
haemorrhage, President of the Palestinian National Authority Yasser
Arafat has finally died. Yossi Schwartz, writing from Jerusalem,
comments on his career.
Following the announcement regarding the selection of the new leader of
the Palestinian Authority, Abu Mazen, the government of Israel
signalled a possible shift in policy toward the Authority. The new PA
leadership seems keen to collaborate with Sharon. The only thing this
proves is that those who in the past promised to liberate Palestine
through the tactics of guerrilla war, which turned into terrorism, are
ready to sell out.
Yesterday marked a grim anniversary for the Palestinian people. On
November 29, 1947, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a
Partition Plan calling for the creation of two States, one Jewish and
the other Arab. Since then there has not been peace between the two
people. Yossi Schwartz in Jerusalem comments.
We have just received this latest update on the situation Tali Fahima
is facing in an Israeli jail. It confirms what we said back in
September. It shows how the Israeli state deals with anyone – even if
they are Jewish – who dares to take up the plight of the Palestinians
in the refugee camps in a serious manner.
No evidence has been produced by the police authorities in Israel to
justify the continued incarceration of Tali Fahima. In spite of this
she is still brutally treated.