Arafat commentary off the mark
Dear Asheville Global Report
Re: Commentary, The truth is that Yasser Arafat died years ago, by
Robert Fisk, AGR #304, Nov. 11-17, 2004.
The commentary, while allegedly about Yasser Arafat, is really about
the supposed illegitimacy of the State of Israel. Mr. Fisk’s commentary
repeats the now-common assertion that everything bad or evil that happens
in the Middle East is Israel’s fault, including Yasser Arafat’s
career. This follows the pattern of outrageous opinion in some circles
that there were Jews who helped the Nazis kill millions of Jews in order
to further the creation of the State of Israel.
In the piece, Arafat’s name is mentioned 12 times, while Israel
or Israeli appears 18 times. Nothing is too far-fetched, with a slam
against Israel in almost every paragraph. The Israeli’s, in Mr.
Fisk’s view, are responsible for (among other things):
1. Killing hundreds of innocent civilians in Beirut in 1982.
2. Making Arafat a dictator.
3. Having the Lebanese Phalange as henchmen.
4. Making sure Arafat never achieved the status of a Che or a Fidel.
5. Not negotiating in good faith by not offering to give up 100% of
“Palestine”
(that is, the entire State of Israel).
6. Reneging on agreements.
7. Linking Arafat with Osama bin Laden.
8. Murdering possible Arafat successors.
9. Imprisoning Marwan Barghouti (OK, this one is true. He was tried
in a legal process very similar to that in the US, and found guilty
of many crimes, including multiple murders.)
Mr. Fisk’s statements demonstrate both a lack of historical knowledge
and of analytical abilities. I wish that AGR would consider its sources
for commentaries more carefully. Please select a commentator who has
the knowledge and ability to present a rational and factual opinion
piece.
Thanks.
Henry Frank,
Asheville, NC
