Yasser Arafat, the longtime leader of the Palestinian people, died before dawn Thursday in Paris at the age of 75.
Former Palestinian Authority chairman Yasser Arafat.
Photo: Ariel Jerozolimski
The death of the Palestinian Authority chairman sparked a slew of mixed reactions, including a vow on the part of Palestinian factions to escalate violence and a suggestion by Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that the Middle East may soon see better times.
Arab and Muslim heads of state and government, as well as foreign ministers from Europe and other continents, are expected to attend the funeral in Cairo, but most of the world's heads of state and government are expected to shun the funeral and send instead either foreign ministers or lower-level representatives.
Arafat's coffin will be flown from Cairo aboard an Egyptian military helicopter to Ramallah, where he will be buried in his Mukata compound.
As Arafat's successors on Thursday took pains to stress their commitment to the peace process and a new era, representatives of various factions published a statement vowing to step up the fight against Israel.
A closure was imposed on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip in preparation for the funeral as security forces focused their attention on Ramallah and the Temple Mount, where worshipers will gather for the final Ramadan prayers.
Throughout the day Thursday in Gaza and major West Bank cities, hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets, mourning their leader and torching tires. Security forces were instructed to exercise restraint, but in a number of cases were forced to use rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the mobs, which threw stones, rocks, cement blocks, and in some cases bombs at troops.
On Thursday night, hundreds of young Palestinians converged on the Mukata compound with a similar message: escalate the intifada. "We will march toward Jerusalem, we will sacrifice millions on the way," they chanted, echoing Arafat's famous battle cry.
The mourners demanded an immediate investigation into the circumstances of Arafat's death, saying they believed he had been poisoned by Israel. "Israel will pay a heavy price for this crime," said one of the protesters. "We are convinced that Israel killed the president with the help of Palestinian collaborators."
Former Arafat adviser Bassam Abu Sharif said the Palestinians feel that their leader's absence places "huge" challenges before them.
"If anyone believes that the new Palestinian leadership will accept [Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon's expansionist plans, he is mistaken," said Abu Sharif. "Arafat's positions have become a red line which no Palestinian will be able to cross."
Top Fatah operative Hussein al-Sheikh confirmed that the Palestinians were headed toward an escalation. "We will continue to believe the gun is the way to get rid of the occupation," he said. "This is Abu Amar's promise and this is his will and we will continue to be true to them."
In Jerusalem, however, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon said Arafat's death could signify a "historic turning point" in the Middle East.
"Israel, which is a peace-seeking country, will of course continue with its efforts to reach a diplomatic settlement with the Palestinians without delay," Sharon said, speaking Thursday before a meeting with Italian Deputy Prime Minister Gianfranco Fini.
Sharon also urged the new Palestinian leadership to wage war on terror. "I hope that the new Palestinian leadership that will arise will understand that progress in relations and in the resolution of problems depends - first and foremost - on the cessation of terrorism and their fighting terrorism," Sharon added.
Sharon said that his unilateral disengagement plan's implementation would continue as planned, but that if a new Palestinian leadership emerged which would comply with the requirements of the road map, then the plan may be opened up for negotiations.
Arafat's death was officially announced shortly before 6 a.m. on Thursday in Paris. The cause of death was not disclosed.
"The brother, the president, Yasser Arafat, passed away with God's satisfaction," his aide, Tayyeb Abdel Rahim, announced at a press conference in Ramallah early on Thursday morning.
"He closed his eyes, and his big heart stopped. He left for God, but he is still among this great people," said Abdel Rahim, breaking into tears.
Arafat's body was flown from Paris to Cairo aboard a white Airbus A-319 plane of the French presidency.
Eight French infantry soldiers took out the coffin covered with the Palestinian flag from a military helicopter at the Villacoublay military airport, west of Paris.
Among the mourners was Arafat's widow, Suha, who broke into tears.
In Egypt, security forces were put on maximum alert as workers spruced up the King Faisal bin Abdel Aziz Mosque at Cairo's international airport in preparation for the military funeral, which is due to start at 11 a.m.
Friday's service will be relatively simple, reflecting the security concerns of Egyptian officials, who sought a venue for condolence calls that limited any risk of violence.
Roads near the airport mosque were expected to be closed off during the service.
Arafat's body will be borne by a horse-drawn carriage for a short way after the prayer at the mosque on the airport grounds. It then will be taken to a nearby military base and flown out of Egypt.
In addition to Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, other heads of state who have so far announced they will attend the Cairo funeral are Jordan's King Abdullah II and the presidents of Yemen, Algeria, South Africa, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brazil.
European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana is also slated to attend the ceremony, along with the foreign ministers of Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Iran is also sending its foreign minister, while Pakistan will be represented at the ceremony by its prime minister.
As of Thursday evening, Israel had not received requests by any of these dignitaries to attend the burial in Ramallah.
While the world's statesmen won't be on hand in Ramallah, Government Press Office head Daniel Seaman said that some 700 journalists from around the world have arrived in Israel over the last few days to cover the funeral.
