The funeral of a terrorist

Arafat was buried in Ramallah after a funeral in Cairo. The press is describing both as “chaotic”:

An Egyptian helicopter flew Arafat’s coffin from Egypt, where a funeral service was held, to his Muqata headquarters. The aircraft was quickly surrounding by a surging crowd of thousands chanting Arafat’s name.

Firing into the air, Palestinian security men struggled earlier to remove the coffin from the aircraft and then held on to it tight as they placed it on a vehicle that plied its way through a dense throng of weeping mourners.

“With our blood and soul we redeem you, Abu Ammar,” the crowd chanted, using the nom de guerre of their leader, who fought for decades for a state he never achieved.

At least nine Palestinians were wounded by shots fired by the security forces or gunmen. Medics said hundreds were treated after fainting or for minor injuries during the crush.

In the meantime, Ma’ariv has printed the details of Suha’s meeting with PA leaders before the announcement of Arafat’s death:

As soon as the delegation arrived in the French Capital, an extremely tense meeting was held between Suha and Arafat’s chief financial advisor and confidante, Mohmmanad Rashid, and the Palestinian leaders.

“The Palestinian people will never forgive you for what you are doing”, they told Suha. The Rais’s wife began crying and told them, after regaining her composure, that she cannot return to live in Gaza with their daughter: “She has no future there”.

Suha told the PA leaders that she was in need of financial security that would allow her to continue living in the same level she has been used to. “We will allow you to live in the same level”, one of the senior leaders told her, “But you must sign an agreement and reveal all of your husband’s bank accounts and investments, and enable the transfer of the funds that belong to the PA. Do not rob this money from the Palestinian people”.

At some point, the leaders even warned her that if she would refuse to sign the papers, “The Palestinian people all over the world will never give you peace and quiet”. She then conferred with her lawyers and family members, after which she returned to the room and signed the papers. As first revealed by NRG Maariv, she received a considerable portion of Arafat’s fortune.

So they paid her off to disappear, essentially. She must be so proud.