Posted on 11/11/2004 7:16:53 AM PST by SJackson
The Vatican has praised Yasser Arafat as a charismatic leader who struggled to win independence for his people, and repeated its support of a sovereign Palestinian state alongside Israel.
Pope John Paul, who last met Arafat in 2001, retreated into private prayer when he was told of the death of the Palestinian leader earlier on Thursday in Paris, a Vatican source said.
The Pope, who made a historic trip to Israel and the Palestinian territories in 2000, sent a message saying he was particularly close to the Palestinian people "in this hour of sadness".
The 84-year-old Pope's message said he prayed that the "star of harmony" would soon bring peace to the Holy Land and that both Israelis and Palestinians could live "reconciled among themselves as two independent and sovereign states".
Earlier, a statement by the Vatican's chief spokesman called Mr Arafat the "illustrious deceased" and asked God to grant eternal rest to his soul.
"The Holy See joins the pain of the Palestinian people for the passing of President Yasser Arafat. He was a leader of great charisma who loved his people and tried to guide them towards national independence," said the statement by chief spokesman Joaquin Navarro-Valls.
The official statement was bound to displease Israel because it made no mention of militant attacks, which the Jewish state blamed on Mr Arafat and insists must stop before the stalled peace process can get back on track.
In recent years the Vatican continued to recognise Mr Arafat as the legitimate leader of the Palestinians after Washington and Israel had written him off.
But Vatican officials privately criticised him for what one called "jumping off the peace train".
"There is no doubt that he was a towering figure for his people but his great mistake was not to sign on at Camp David," a senior Vatican prelate told Reuters.
"That was a great failure and a lot of problems stemmed from that," he said. "He missed his date with history."
At a US-brokered a peace summit in 2000 both sides came close to a final accord that would have established an independent Palestinian state, but the talks broke down over the status of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees.
Washington and Israel blamed Mr Arafat for the failure.
Over the past four years, the Vatican's improvement in relations with the Palestinian Authority coincided with a deterioration of relations with Israel.
The Pope repeatedly criticised Israeli incursions into Palestinian territories and last November, the Vatican was shocked when Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon came to Rome for several days but did not ask to see the Pope.
Consoling the Palestinian people is not a work of mercy. Illuminating them as to the history of the monster who led them would be. Perhaps then they would follow a leader who would bring them true peace and a better life. To quote you that would be....
Nice.
Thank you for posting. As an Evangelical, if I'd read about Billy Graham saying such things, I'd be completely disgusted, clearly distance myself from his viewpoint, and demand he retract his words. Some people seem to think this is "just another anti-Catholic thing". But it isn't.
I think you get further on the human scale if you offer a shoulder and not a lecture. But that's just me.
SD
Giving them a shoulder to mourn the death of the man who kept them from establishing a homeland and peace in their lives? The collective shoulders of diplomats from around the world are all there, yet in the end nothing will have been accomplished once they finish eulogizing this monster. Do them a favor and let them see the truth of who Arafat was, now that's a work of true mercy.
It's really about truth. The empathy and praise for Arafat being sent by not only the Vatican, but democratic governments from around the world is one large collective LIE! Michael Moore would be proud to make a film tribute so it could be included in our children's history lessons.
Yes, exactly. It helps to see them as humans and not as "the enemy."
I don't know why so many seem to want to use this moment to express their superiority. It certainly isn't a Christian attitude.
SD
Where in my statement have I said they are the 'enemy'? Seeking to tell the truth is not a superior attitude, and it most certainly is Christian. Apparently you would prefer to hug them and lie to them at the same time. Maybe you could take Arafat's place, after all that is what he did to them. He hugged their children, right before he showed them how to strap on explosives and board an Israeli bus.
I very much doubt this came from the Pope. There are some terrorist-appeasers at the Vatican, that's for sure.
Thank you... I agree.
Umm, Jewish history, which sites that the Old Testiment or the Kabala and such were not penned until the exile to Babylon.
It's all over your patronizing attitude.
Seeking to tell the truth is not a superior attitude, and it most certainly is Christian. Apparently you would prefer to hug them and lie to them at the same time.
I would prefer to treat them as human, feel for their grief and then begin working on bringing them into the world of reality.
Coming in blazing with lectures about how stupid and evil they are is no way to go about things.
Really, you would think an expression of sympathy for people grieving would be unexceptional.
SD
Well, we all have our own take and it’s praise to me. Frankly the idea that he “loved his people” and “guided them to independence” is repulsive. Like most tyrants, Arafat trampled his “people” in pursuit of power.
The death of Yasser Arafat is a significant moment in Palestinian history. We express our condolences to the Palestinian people. For the Palestinian people, we hope that the future will bring peace and the fulfillment of their aspirations for an independent, democratic Palestine that is at peace with its neighbors. During the period of transition that is ahead, we urge all in the region and throughout the world to join in helping make progress toward these goals and toward the ultimate goal of peace.
The Pope:
In this hour of sadness at the passing of President Yasser Arafat, His Holiness Pope John Paul II is particularly close to the deceased's Family, the Authorities and the Palestinian People. While entrusting his soul into the hands of the Almighty and Merciful God, the Holy Father prays to the Prince of Peace that the star of harmony will soon shine on the Holy Land and that the two Peoples dwelling therein may live reconciled among themselves as two independent and sovereign States.
SD
Guess the Midrash got it wrong.
Before his death, Moses wrote 13 Torah Scrolls. Twelve of these were distributed to each of the 12 Tribes. The 13th was placed in the Ark of the Covenant (with the Tablets). If anyone would come and attempt to rewrite or falsify the Torah, the one in the Ark would "testify" against him.
Devarim Rabba 9:4
"The Holy See joins in the pain of the Palestinian people for the death of President Yasser Arafat. He was a leader of great charisma who loved his people and sought to lead them towards national independence. May God welcome in His mercy the soul of the illustrious deceased and give peace to the Holy Land, with two independent and sovereign States, fully reconciled with each other."
sJackson: Frankly the idea that he “loved his people” and “guided them to independence” is repulsive.
It says "he sought to lead them towards national independence." This is undoubtedly true. Whether or not he "loved" them is neither something we can assess, nor is it approriate for a consolation message.
It continues to stun how many here lack basic human sympathy, yet feel assured that they can read hearts and minds and tell who is damned and saved.
SD
Exactly!!!
To condone this by "joining in the pain of the Palestinian people" for his death is simply evil.
You don’t have to read his heart or mind. Read the PLO Charter or the Phased Plan of 1974. He laid out his objectives, and was consistent in achieving them. “National Independence” in a state next to Israel was never an issue, to his dying day. His objective was the destruction of Israel. He needed a “state” as a platform. It didn’t have to be in the West Bank. That’s why he started his career attempting to establish himself in Lebanon and Jordan. BTW, overthrow of the Jordanian government was a formal aim of Yasser’s as well.
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