                                                           B"sd
                      A Voice from Hebron
                     by Gary M. Cooperberg
                        The Next Eulogy
                        February 8, 1999
                                
     I am in receipt Prime Minister Netanyahu's official eulogy of King Hussein.  It occurred to
me that, should Yassir Arafat drop dead tomorrow he would not need to declare a PLO state. The
government of Israel would do it for him.  I can hear the tear-laden words of praise as Prime
Minister Netanyahu eulogizes the terrorist winner of the Nobel Peace Prize (most of the following
was taken from the Prime Minister's eulogy for King Hussein):

     "The government and people of Israel bow their heads in grief over the passing of
Chairman Arafat, a courageous leader, a loyal friend, a maker of peace with Israel. Chairman
Arafat was one of the few leaders who was recognized even in his lifetime as a historic figure. He
will be remembered as the creator of a PLO state and as a major architect of peace in the Middle
East. He will always be remembered as one of the giants of the second half of the 20th century.

     Arafat was committed to a vision of peace, for the PLO and Israel, for the entire Middle
East.  He sought to transform endemic strife to enduring reconciliation. It was clear to all that
when he shook the hand of our prime minister, the late Yitzhak Rabin, he felt that he had reached
a long-sought goal, to which he had dedicated his life. He called me a few days before the peace
treaty was signed, wanting to know whether I, then head of the opposition, would support the
agreement. I told him that I would do it with unbounded enthusiasm.  The people of Israel, I said,
are united in the wish for a true and lasting peace.

     On the personal level there was no one more gracious, considerate and kind; no one more
hospitable and generous; no one more capable of understanding and empathy. He was an apostle
of good will, a visionary with a healthy grasp of the real, a dreamer with a thorough
understanding of the possible, a man of infinite courage who craved peace with all his soul.

     In the difficult moments of the talks at Wye River, it was he who suggested that Jonathan
Pollard be part of the peace formula.  He even sent me flowers for my birthday.  Above all - he
was a human being, a leader who never let the aura of legends obscure his concern for his people. 
He loved them and reached out for them, and they returned his love. Those who cherish peace
will miss him.  Those who want a better world will be guided by his memory. We are certain that
his successor, Abu Mazen,  will continue in his way and strengthen the peace between us.  We all
extend our condolences and deep sympathy to Abu Nadal, Sheik Yassin, George Habash, Saddam
Hussein, President Asad, and all PLO terrorists.  With great sadness we bid farewell to you,
murderer and friend.     The peace between our peoples will be a testament to your abiding belief in
lasting peace among the sons of Abraham.  As such we hereby recognize the establishment of a
PLO state in all of Judea and Samaria, with Jerusalem as its capital.

     Rest in peace, Mr. President."