Speculating on Arafat’s bloated condition
Since the breakdown of the peace process in September, 2000, the opposition – Hamas and Islamic Jihad – have gained serious footholds in the West Bank and Gaza. The day after Arafat goes, Hamas and Jihad leaders would attempt to expand their hold. Even if Arafat were to die of natural causes, there are still serious doubts that the Palestinians could replace him without considerable and sustained chaos.
Rubinstein is the Palestinian Affairs commentator for Haaretz, a daily newspaper published in Israel.
