Crocodile Tears

Before you accept that reports that Arafat’s long confinement in his Ramallah compound contributed to the decline in his health and was strictly the result of the Israeli government, let us remember what really happened when Arafat left his compound as the Israeli Operation "Defensive Shield" wound down. From the Arab News, May 15, 2002:

Arafat cancels visit to Jenin camp of fears of being attacked there

In an exclusive news, the Jordanian paper "al-Arab al-Youm" said that Arafat's cancellation on Monday of his visit to the Jenin camp came after Arafat was informed that real risks exist of him being attacked or even assassinated in this Palestinian camp.

The paper added that an Egyptian advise for Arafat not to enter the camp according to intelligence information made Arafat change his program and limit his tour to pass by in his car at the entrance of the camp.

Moving around the West Bank and Gaza held innate risks for Arafat from the very same people who are busy shedding crocodile tears for him now.