Arafat Update
The funeral began over an hour ago and now, looking out our window, I suddenly realize we can see a long line of white planes at the airport. I’ve never noticed this before: the airport must be filled. I don’t even remember being able to see parked planes from here. We are even closer to what is going on than I thought.
A few minutes after writing the above note, I saw a dark green plane taxiing. This may have been the French military jet taking off with Arafat’s body. The funeral, I think is over now. The plan next is to land in the Sinai, then fly him by helicopter to Ramallah. They are going to bury him in a kind of movable stone tomb so that, someday maybe, he can be easily moved to Jerusalem. For now, at least, the Israelis are denying this request.
BBC online says that Arafat’s body has left the airport. That must’ve been him.
It is now 4:45 pm here. I read that Arafat has been buried in Ramallah, his coffin besieged by thousands of his people. With Arafat gone and Bush safely ensconced in his second term, maybe now’s the time for a breakthrough for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. I’m not exactly holding my breath—especially since the Palestinians have a lot to work out amongst themselves first—but Arafat’s death may be a good thing for the region. I guess we’ll see.
A few minutes after writing the above note, I saw a dark green plane taxiing. This may have been the French military jet taking off with Arafat’s body. The funeral, I think is over now. The plan next is to land in the Sinai, then fly him by helicopter to Ramallah. They are going to bury him in a kind of movable stone tomb so that, someday maybe, he can be easily moved to Jerusalem. For now, at least, the Israelis are denying this request.
BBC online says that Arafat’s body has left the airport. That must’ve been him.
It is now 4:45 pm here. I read that Arafat has been buried in Ramallah, his coffin besieged by thousands of his people. With Arafat gone and Bush safely ensconced in his second term, maybe now’s the time for a breakthrough for peace between Israel and the Palestinians. I’m not exactly holding my breath—especially since the Palestinians have a lot to work out amongst themselves first—but Arafat’s death may be a good thing for the region. I guess we’ll see.
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