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A Difficult Visionary, a Stubborn Vision

(New York Times)Benny Morris - Arafat didn't want and never really acquiesced in the idea of a stunted West Bank-Gaza state, and in his vision accurately reflected the general will of his people. Arafat spoke clearly and insistently of the return of Palestine to its "rightful owners." Nothing less. Whatever deluded Westerners might believe, Arafat was no liberal, taking account of others' views and feelings, and seeking solutions through conciliation and compromise. In Arafat's eyes and those of his people, there is only one justice: Palestinian justice. Arafat was probably the only Palestinian of our time capable of persuading most of the Palestinians to accept the concessions necessary to achieve a two-state solution. His successors may be more amenable to territorial compromise, but they lack the stature to intimidate or persuade their people to accept a two-state settlement or to crush their terror-minded colleagues. So Arafat's death may have done us no good at all.
2004-11-12 00:00:00
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