Yasser Arafat

Yasser Arafat has passed away and this is an important world event. News networks broke into their normal TV lineup to announce his death officially. People question the importance of this event in the United States because the PLO has no country and is more of an organization than a government in all reality. But they are the most civil (if that can be said) of the terrorist organizations in the world. Yes, Yasser Arafat himself created the foundation and set the standard of operation for today's terrorist organizations. Yes, Yasser Arafat's organization has killed thousands of innocent Israelis. But he also along with Yitzhak Rabin created the Oslo Accords in 1993, allowing Palestinian self rule of the West Bank and Gaza Strip for five years (which, I cannot believe this is in parenthesis, earned them each a share of the 1994 Nobel Peace Prize). I am in no way a fan of the man, but he was as good a man as can come from a terrorist organization.

Now, we face a time of uncertainty as the Palestinian Authority must choose a new leader. Can a new leader be chosen that can create a peace in Israel? Does Israel deserve peace since the West is primarily responsible for this horrible mess in the first place (thank you League of Nations)? Let us hope for peace because one less location of complete insanity and violence in the Middle East at this point would be a welcome change in world politics.