Early Thursday afternoon the Internet blogs and news services lit up with the news that Yasser Arafat had died. The report was denied outright at first, but sources close to Arafat said that he is in “an irreversible coma.” The Palestinian terrorist leader was admitted to a Paris hospital last week for treatment of a blood disorder. It has been reported that Arafat has sole control over an estimated $3 billion dollars meant to aid the people he governs.

If he should die in the next few days, it will be cause for both relief and sorrow. The relief will come because Arafat initiated al Fatah, which has resulted in horrible suffering by Israelis and Palestinians alike. Arafat has personally sent young “martyrs” to die while he cowered in his bunker. One less terrorist sponsor means fewer children wearing RDX vests.

The great tragedy is that even though Palestinians have suffered under his rule, the leader keeps their internal situation somewhat stable. The death of Arafat may send the entire region into a storm of violence that could ultimately end the peace process. Also, with the money cut off, even more hardships will be faced by Palestinians in need of aid. It is a lose-lose situation, but, if the world shows courage and steps in to help, perhaps the damages can be minimized.

Though I shed no tears for Arafat, I weep for the lives he has destroyed.

Mark Mogler

Sophomore

Microbiology