I keep seeing and hearing commentaries about the political vacuum that will be created when Yasser Arafat dies. I couldn't disagree more. Arafat has been a relatively insignificant political figure for Palestine since he agreed to turn the PLO into the Palestinian Authority. The 'man-on-the-street' in Palestine has come to view Arafat as the sell-out figure-head. The real political clout lies in the hands of Hamas. The Hamas organization did not make the error that the PLO did in attempting to communicate with the international community. Hamas has worked hard to assist the people of Palestine by bringing doctors, medicine, food, and other essentials into the communities where they are needed. All the while, Hamas has battled against the domination of the Israeli government through suicide bombings and carefully planned terrorist attacks. I think Hamas has become the Palestinian equivalent of the Irish Republican Army, and they have earned the respect of the people of Palestine. There is no void to be filled when Arafat dies, that void was filled many years ago!
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