Palestinians
under siege
Israel says it must defend itself from attacks.
By WAYNE ANDERSON Special to the Tribune
Published Sunday, December 8, 2002
Yasser Arafat wanted to say thanks.
During a trip to Ramallah in November, members of the University of Missouri-Columbia’s
International Center for Psychosocial Trauma were invited to meet with the
Palestinian leader in his crumbling compound.
Arafat said he had heard about our program to train mental health workers to
treat traumatized children and wanted to personally express his appreciation
for our efforts. He also took the opportunity to criticize Israel’s ongoing
assault on Palestinians.
Israeli troops took over Ramallah and most other areas of the West Bank several
months ago in an attempt to halt suicide bombings and other attacks targeting
Israelis. Since Israeli-Palestinian violence broke out in September 2000, more
than 1,950 people have been killed on the Palestinian side, while at least
680 on the Israeli side have died, according to the Associated Press.
When we visited, much of the Palestinian Authority’s compound had been
reduced to rubble by Israeli forces. Led by MU Professor Arshad Husain, our
team drove into an area that had been recently cleared of debris. Our guide
said that whenever Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon got upset, he would
send in tanks and helicopters to destroy another part of the compound.
Some 300 vehicles that had been destroyed by the Israeli military surrounded
the compound. The wrecked autos were stacked on top of one another to fortify
the perimeter. In Arabic, signs affixed to some of the cars said, "We
still have something to talk about. Yasser Arafat."
Dirt was piled up around the remaining buildings along with assorted rubble
and barbed wire. Behind mounds of sandbags, Arafat’s guards were equipped
with Uzis and AK47s, providing little protection from tanks and helicopters.
It seemed obvious that the Israelis could take Arafat out whenever they wanted
to, were it not for international pressure. Essentially under house arrest,
the Palestinian leader cannot meet with his Cabinet because of travel restrictions.
Arafat’s remaining staff members sleep on the floor in cramped quarters.
The guards led us through narrow halls and up a staircase to the floor where
Arafat lives in virtual in-house arrest. After a brief wait, we were led into
a long room with a table for 18, where Arafat was seated at one end behind
a stack of papers. He was in the costume in which he is usually photographed,
an old army uniform and the black and white headdress.
He greeted each of us individually with a handshake, hug or kiss on the cheek.
His grip was soft, and he came across as a polite, soft-spoken person with
a direct gaze. He hardly fit my image of a former terrorist and Nobel winner.
Arafat said he has been troubled by the recent occupation of Palestinian settlements
in Hebron and by Israel’s unwillingness to adhere to peace agreements.
He was distressed that developers of new Israeli settlements are bulldozing
the Palestinian villagers’ olive trees. He pointed out that the Israelis
have taken control of the aquifers that are so important to Palestinian farmers
and are now selling the water back to them.
Westerners should be aware, Arafat added, that the Christian Palestinians are
just as mistreated as the Muslims. "Jerusalem is the world’s most
holy city," he said. "All religions should be allowed access."
