Yasser Arafat was buried on Friday in chaotic scenes of grief and gunfire at the compound where he spent his final years encircled by the Israeli army and powerless to realize his dream of a Palestinian state. It was the end of an era for Israelis and Palestinians locked for decades in a conflict of which Arafat was one of the most recognized symbols, and stirred hopes for reviving Middle East peacemaking for the first time in years. Offering condolences to the Palestinians, President Bush said he saw a “great chance” for work toward lasting peace and creation of a Palestinian state. Bush had in the past shunned Arafat, branding him an “obstacle to peace.” But fears remained of an internal power struggle that could thrust Palestinian territories into chaos and block diplomacy. Full Story
About OODA Analyst
OODA is comprised of a unique team of international experts capable of providing advanced intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning support, risk and threat management, training, decision support, crisis response, and security services to global corporations and governments.