Israeli Mulls over Plans for Post-Arafat Era

The Plan also suggests that when Arafat dies the Palestinian administration will collapse. The Plan urges Israel to prevent Arafat’s burial in Jerusalem. The Abu Dis district on the outskirts of Jerusalem is suggested as an alternative site for Arafat’s funeral.

Israel is currently entertaining three possible scenarios for Arafat’s demise. One scenario has the Palestinian leader being killed during an Israeli military operation. Another has Arafat dying from a chronic illness, while the final scenario envisages a sudden, natural death. The Plan foresees with hope that Arafat might die abroad and urges that permission be granted for the leader to seek treatment abroad.

Palestinian officials on the other hand reacted to the Plan and stressed that Arafat is healthy and powerful. Imad Shakur, one of Arafat advisers, told Israeli army radio that Arafat is in fine health.

Meanwhile, United Nations (UN) Special Envoy to the Middle East Terje Roed-Larsen stressed that Arafat’s lack of political will to conduct reforms drags the Palestinian lands into chaos.