UPDATES

Palestinians uninterested in Arafat allegations: They already think Israel is “automatically” guilty

Jul 10, 2012 | Or Avi Guy

Palestinians uninterested in Arafat allegations: They already think Israel is "automatically" guilty
news_item/arafat.jpg

As the Arab and Palestinian media went into the usual conspiracy-theory frenzy over yet another attempt to crack the mystery of the death of former PLO head Yasser Arafat, locals in Ramallah, his former city of residence, were not as excited about the “news.”

Arafat’s death is in the headlines again due to a recent al-Jazeera investigation, in which some of his personal items were transferred to a laboratory in Lausanne, Switzerland, in search for toxins which might point at poisoning as the cause of death. The tests seem to have revealed unusually high levels of Polonium, a radioactive substance, sparking major headlines internationally.

Yet a recent Ynet Hebrew-only story (07/04/12), canvassing reactions in Ramallah to the new developments in the 8-years on-and-off poisoning allegations, seems to suggest that the Palestinian public is simply not interested in the al-Jazeera story. Some are already convinced and need no further proof about the cause of death, while others have already moved on and are indifferent. Moreover, some residents were unusually candid in admitting that Palestinians are simply expected to blame Israel “automatically” and actual evidence does not really come into the picture.

Many of the reactions to the renewed al-Jazeera investigation were indifferent simply because local Palestinians felt like they already know the answer – Israel must have killed Arafat. For example, Maher from Ramallah said that:

There was nothing new in this investigation, so I do not understand what is the big deal. It was known that he was poisoned and clear to everyone who is behind this action.

Similar views were expressed by another local resident, Walid Mohammad:

It is true that al-Jazeera expressed doubts about the findings and a decisive answer to the question what was the cause of Arafat’s death was not given, but who holds Polonium? Russia, the United States and Israel. Russia did not want to destroy him and the United States objected to this – who’s left? Those who placed tanks in front of his window at the Mukata’a [Atafat’s Ramallah compound].

A local businessman, Adnan, also believed that there is “no smoke without fire.” He praised al-Jazeera’s credibility and expressed his confidence in the thoroughness of the investigation. When asked why Israel wasn’t explicitly blamed for the alleged poisoning he replied: “They [al-Jazeera] are smart. You could understand what is under the surface”.

But Adnan was particularly candid about the assumptions which shape Palestinian public opinion when he was asked his personal opinion about Arafat’s demise.

‘And what do you think?’ We asked. ‘I am Palestinian. And we’re already used to blaming Israel for everything automatically.’

It seems that with or without the al-Jazeera investigation the Palestinian public already reached a conclusion – one not based on expensive tests and fancy state-of-the-art European labs with authoritative scientists in white lab-coats, but rather on the old axiom that if something goes wrong, it must be Israel’s fault. Same old conspiracy theory, same old scapegoat, and al-Jazeera’s attempt to dress it up as a scientific investigation does not matter much for many.

Happily, Maher, Walid and Adnan were not the only voices in the Palestinian street. In what may be a more positive sign that perhaps old habits and differing narratives can one day be put aside and a two-state peace created, some Palestinians were just indifferent to the renewed investigation. For example Abed, a shopkeeper in one of Ramallah’s main streets, had this to say about the al-Jazeera report:

Khalas! [Enough!] Arafat is dead already and we live on. It is more interesting to look at beautiful women here on the street than on Arafat and the investigation that examined how he died.

(Incidentally, reports say that senior Israeli government figures were given information that Arafat was suffering from a form of leukaemia, but died as a result of a radical treatment he was given in France. Meanwhile, Barry Rubin takes issue with the oft-heard claim that Arafat died of AIDS).

Or Avi-Guy

 

 

Tags:

RELATED ARTICLES


Sderot, Israel. 7th Oct, 2023. Bodies of dead Israelis lie on the ground following the attacks of Hamas (Image: Ilia Yefimovich/dpa/Alamy Live News)

Israel’s Sept. 11, only worse

Oct 11, 2023 | Update
Israeli PM Binyamin Netanyahu (r) gets his long-awaited face-to-face meeting with US President Joe Biden in New York (Photo: Avi Ohayon, Israeli Government Press Office)

Netanyahu meets Biden, other world leaders, in New York

Sep 27, 2023 | Update
Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, who gave an address on Aug. 28 threatening the US and laying out the Iranian-led axis's new "unity of the arenas" doctrine. (Photo: Shutterstock, mohammad kassir)

US-Iran prisoner swap deal set to go through

Sep 12, 2023 | Update
A rally of Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party last year: Yet outside these faithful, Abbas is not only largely unpopular, but his rule over the PA has seen the Palestinian parliament dissolved, judiciary sidelined, and his party hollowed out (Photo: Shutterstock, Anas-Mohammed)

The Crisis in the PA

Aug 28, 2023 | Update
Reports are suggesting a US-Saudi agreement has been reached on the broad outlines of a package that would see Riyadh normalise its relations with Israel, perhaps early next year - though other reports dispute this. (Image: Shutterstock, OnePixelStudio)

Renewed focus on Saudi-Israeli normalisation

Aug 14, 2023 | Update
PM Netanyahu flanked by Justice Minister Yariv Levin (r), the main architect of the judicial reform package, and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant (l), known to favour compromise on the reforms, during the Knesset debate over passage of the "reasonableness" clause" on July 25 (Image: Screenshot, Kan TV).

The aftermath of passage of one judicial reform bill in Israel

Aug 1, 2023 | Update

SIGN UP FOR AIJAC EMAILS

RECENT POSTS

Pro-Palestinian protestors waiting in the lobby for the Israeli families of those murdered or taken hostage by Hamas

AIJAC raises questions about handling of incident involving pro-Palestinian protestors ambushing the families of Israeli murder victims and hostages

Masked members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas (Image: Shutterstock)

A powerless Hamas is the only way this war will end

Pie Chart

News reports whitewash the crimes of Palestinian prisoners being released

(Image: Shutterstock)

The silence about Hamas’ ongoing war crimes

Hamas fighters in the southern Gaza Strip (Image: Abed Rahim Khatib/ Shutterstock)

A permanent ceasefire now would be a victory for Hamas

Pro-Palestinian protestors waiting in the lobby for the Israeli families of those murdered or taken hostage by Hamas

AIJAC raises questions about handling of incident involving pro-Palestinian protestors ambushing the families of Israeli murder victims and hostages

Masked members of the al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas (Image: Shutterstock)

A powerless Hamas is the only way this war will end

Pie Chart

News reports whitewash the crimes of Palestinian prisoners being released

(Image: Shutterstock)

The silence about Hamas’ ongoing war crimes

Hamas fighters in the southern Gaza Strip (Image: Abed Rahim Khatib/ Shutterstock)

A permanent ceasefire now would be a victory for Hamas

SORT BY TOPICS