The Day After Arafat

"Al-khityar,” “Abu-Ammar,” or “Arafat,” the symbol of Palestinian struggle for liberation and independence, is no more. The father of the Palestinian dream passed away. The voice Palestinians for so long counted on to carry their message to the world faded out. It seems impossible, intangible, but it’s real. We Palestinians have to realize that for Arafat, it is game over, but for us, we just made it to another stage, with the difficulty level up, and with one key player down.

Few leaders in the world have managed to attach their destiny so firmly to the destiny of their people. Arafat was one of them. It has become virtually a habit of the mind to think of Arafat when thinking about the Palestinians. It will take a long time before the world forgets the frail face wrapped in the traditional Palestinian white and black kufaya. That face has brought the Palestinian cause from beneath the rubble to the center of international attention. Despite controversies that have become defining characteristics of his public career, very few deny Arafat’s crucial role in raising international awareness for the Palestinian story.

The legend has come to an end, and it’s time to think of someone who can fill his shoes. Arafat had a miraculous ability to unite all Palestinians despite their differences. The secular, the religious, the leftist, the rightist, the capitalist and the Marxist all had different problems and conflicts of interests with each other and with Arafat. But at the end of the day all came and acknowledged his authority. Arafat to Palestinians, was like God to monotheists. They may all differ in the way they go about their daily lives, the way they solve their problems, raise their children, treat their enemies, but they all believed in one and only one God: Arafat.

Nevertheless, Arafat was far from being perfect. To Israelis and many Americans, he was a liar, an insincere partner for peace. To many Palestinians, he was corrupt and a God-made public relations disaster. Still, Palestinians were in love with him, madly in love with him. He was like that brother who embarrassed you in school and in the neighborhood. But no matter what he did, you were crazy about him. Maybe because in times of distress he gave you faith. And that victory sign he always flashed—no matter how unrealistic it was—gave you hope. And more than hope. It gave you pride, that pride that emerges when you still dare to stand up after being hammered and crushed and killed so many times. It rises from the bottom of wounds, pains, failures and defeats. His mistakes hurt you, bad, but after all he did he came back home, looked you in the eye, cried and embraced you. You and he, in times of hardship, were always together. Whether it was Amman, Beirut, or Ramallah, he was, literally with you in your pain. He held your shoulders and no matter how dark it got, you always knew he was right there next to you, and you were more than ready to take a bullet for him.

This isn’t an attempt to apologize for a man who many claim has failed the world, made way for terror and broken many hearts. This is rather a farewell to a man who answered his people’s call for help, shared their grief, dedicated his life to their cause. Yes, he broke some promises and made a lot of mistakes. But by God, he made enormous sacrifices and made a great difference in the lives of Palestinians who otherwise would have remained in one of the many forgotten books of history. To Arafat’s memory, we Palestinians cannot but show respect and gratitude.

The fact that Arafat has never appointed or endorsed a successor is one of the most difficult challenges that Palestinians have to deal with today. But if the transition is handled smoothly and properly, it could be a new chapter bringing new hope for both Palestinians and Israelis. For this transition to be successful, however, there are things that Israel and the U.S. can do. First, they must ease restrictions on Palestinians. As my father would put it, “let their life go on.” Second, they must help invest in the damaged Palestinian infrastructure, revive businesses and industries and give my people a tangible hope, a concrete plan that can achieve peace and justice for all of them.

Arafat for a long time has been regarded by the governments of Israel and the U.S. as the obstacle for peace in the region. Well, now Arafat is gone, elections in the U.S. are over and the only thing that remains unchanged is Israel’s policies. Unlike others, we moderates in Palestine have the kind of pragmatism that enables us to work with any Israeli or American leader if that’s the way to a better tomorrow. We shall not wait for leaders to die or to be replaced, because we realize that this conflict isn’t about individual leaders, but about people aspiring to justice and peace. Our hands are open, and whoever is willing to negotiate and recognize our rights will have our blessing and good will.

It is time to move on. To my fellow Palestinians, I say let there be no panic. Arafat is dead, but for those who believe in Palestine, Palestine is alive and will never die as long as there are voices that dare to defy indecent men who choose to turn their backs on unfairness and injustice.

Mohammad J. Herzallah ’07, a Crimson editor, is a government concentrator in Adams House.