Arafat’s widow calls for negotiations instead of armed struggle

(JTA) — The widow of deceased Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat denounced violence and accused Hamas of “genocide” in an interview on the 10th anniversary of his death.

In an interview with the Italian newspaper La Repubblica, Suha Arafat argued that the Palestinians’ best hope lies in negotiation rather than armed struggle. She said that the unequal strengths of the Israelis and Palestinians would lead to the Palestinians being crushed in an armed fight, while negotiations would expose Israel’s unwillingness to make peace. She said she was pleased that Switzerland has recently recognized the Palestinian state and urged Italy to do the same.

Suha Arafat also denounced Hamas, which cancelled a celebration in memory of Yasser Arafat in Gaza earlier this week. She accused Hamas of taking the people of Gaza hostage and argued that the current desperate conditions in the territory amount to genocide. She also said that the current generation of young Palestinians growing up in Gaza, with only violence and no education, have no hope but emigration.

Suha Arafat, who has been accused of embezzlement from the Palestinian state and currently lives in Malta, said she has no plans at this time to return to the West Bank or Gaza.


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