Following is an exclusive interview with chief Sharon spokesperson Raanan Gissin discussing the current health crisis of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and how it affects the region and the world.
WND: What is the current state of Arafat’s health?
Gissin: We only know what comes from the PA, so our guess is as good as yours. He allegedly lost consciousness and did not regain it; that is the latest. We’re being told he’s being tied to an oxygen machine and is in critical condition. We’re following the news as it comes in.
WND: After a week of hospitalization and extensive testing, Arafat’s doctors have still not announced what is wrong with him. We’re told he’s being transferred to a unit that deals with his “specific pathology,” but what does that mean? With Israel having some of the greatest intelligence capabilities in the world, one would think you’d know a little something about what exactly is wrong with him?
Gissin: Well, this is not an intelligence issue. The people who count right now are the doctors. If they don’t have a diagnosis, even Israel can’t know more than them. We are relying on the doctors. Our only involvement, really, was to facilitate Arafat’s access to medical care after a formal request was received by the PA for his transfer to a hospital abroad. Beyond that, we’re not directly involved in anything.
WND: If Arafat dies, what effect will it have on the Palestinians? The region?
Gissin: It’s hard to speculate right now, but for sure Arafat’s death would signify the end of an era for the Palestinians. They have been betrayed by a failed leader who has caused only damage and suffering. Arafat has taken them from one pitfall to the other, and has avoided and disgraced the road to peace. So the Palestinians will now have an opportunity to change course and so will the region.
The Palestinians can look back on Arafat’s leadership and reflect on the last 50 years of utter disaster and determine where they want their future to go. They have the possibility for a real, true chance to reform, to actually fight terrorism, end incitement and to excise the demons of hatred and anger instilled in their minds by Yasser Arafat.
WND: Could Arafat’s demise have negative political consequences for Israel? Now that Arafat it gone, there may be more pressure to negotiate with a “changed Palestinian leadership” no matter who is in charge.
Gissin: We fully recognize that the Palestinians might not make the right decisions or might try to claim reform but still back the path to terror. But this is not the Oslo years, we are dealing with only the [U.S. backed] Roadmap, which requires real action on the part of the Palestinians before they can progress forward. If they don’t fulfill their obligations of dismantling terrorism, stopping incitement … then they will be treated no differently than Arafat has been treated the past few years. The Palestinians have preconditions now – that’s difference. This time around they can’t get off hook, so to speak.
WND: Could Arafat’s demise affect Sharon’s unilateral withdrawal from Gaza and parts of the West Bank?
Gissin: We are going ahead with disengagement plan regardless. As of now there is no partner on the Palestinian side, and we are not dependent on the specific Palestinian leader. We will not again compromise our security for possibilities and promises.
WND: Are you worried about violence directed at Israel if Arafat dies? What plans are in the works to deal with this?
Gissin: We took the necessary measures, beefing up our forces, putting them on alert. Israel is ready for any contingency. Remember we had planned for this day for a very long time; we’ve had the plans and proper protocol in place. The Palestinians have to understand that starting another uprising will fail and lead nowhere.
WND: Who will take Arafat’s place as head of the PA?
Gissin: That’s really a Palestinian issue. It seems [Former Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud] Abbas is poised to take over.
WND: WorldNetDaily broke the story a few weeks ago that Arafat was endorsing Sen. John Kerry in the presidential race. After being successfully isolated in the international community by Bush and Sharon, backing Kerry obviously made sense. There are reports Arafat was awake and watching the election, and even offered a statement of congratulations to Bush. If Arafat gets better, what will a second Bush term mean for the Palestinian leader?
Gissin: Arafat will not be relevant again. Period. He can certainly not become relevant to a second Bush term. Arafat has refused to adopt the vision of two states for two people. He wants a Palestinian state to replace Israel, and that day will never come. So he will never become relevant again, regardless of the U.S. administration. If Arafat survives and is still heading the PA, he will accomplish nothing besides further contaminating the hearts of the Palestinians.
WND: If he gets better, are you still going to allow Arafat to come back to Ramallah?
Gissin: When it comes down to conditions and recommendations, we stand by our word of re-entry as long as we’re dealing with a medical situation. But any other situation requires real assessment on out part.
WND: Are you afraid if he gets better, now that he’s escaped confinement, Arafat may travel to various Arab and European capitals to try to shore up some support for his return to power?
Gissin: If Arafat is in his right mind and really wants to get back to anything, he had better not try to undermine us by starting a campaign against Israel abroad.
I would hope the next scenario will be a new and bold determined PA leadership taking Arafat’s place and for the first time doing something good for the Palestinian people. The Palestinians can continue in the ways of Arafat and completely self-destruction, or chose the path to peace. The decision is theirs.
