Bassam Zakarneh: Yasser Arafat's absence left a huge void that negatively affected not only the Palestinian arena

Issam Bakr: Abu Ammar, with his charismatic personality and political acumen, has always been a safety valve for national unity.

Dr. Ahmed Rafiq Awad: Arafat was a unique and exceptional leader, distinguished by his unique qualities, and was a maker of events, not a follower of them.

Imad Ghayatha: Abu Ammar was distinguished by his spirit of rebellion against reality, so that the rights of the Palestinian people would always remain at the forefront.

Dr. Qusay Hamed: His leadership acumen was able to prevent a slide into sharp divisions in the fabric of Palestinian society

Akram Atallah: He has a unique ability to formulate a rare symbolism that still has a profound impact on the conscience of the Palestinian people.

The Palestinian cause witnessed dangerous turning points in the two decades following the passing of the late President Yasser Arafat, the “Father of Palestinian Nationalism,” as his absence left an influential void on various levels, in light of the existential war that the Palestinian people are facing.

Politicians, writers and analysts confirmed in separate interviews with “I” that the martyrdom of Yasser Arafat (Abu Ammar) had profound dimensions for the Palestinian people. Arafat was a symbol of Palestinian unity and a global figure that international events could not ignore. His vision represented strength and embrace for the Palestinian people. They pointed out that his personality was unique and event-making, as he was distinguished by his exceptional ability to manage challenges.

They stress that after twenty years, Yasser Arafat's legacy of unity and steadfastness must be preserved, calling for this to be translated into actions to enhance the national position and confront the challenges facing the Palestinian people today.

Deep and sad meanings in the memory of the immortal martyr

Bassam Zakarneh, a member of the Fatah Revolutionary Council, explains that the date of the martyrdom of President Yasser Arafat, “Abu Ammar,” carries deep and sad meanings for the Palestinian people, and it is a black history for the Palestinians.

Zakarna confirms that this anniversary represents a remembrance of the character of Abu Ammar, who was like a second father to every Palestinian. He was known for his embrace of the martyrs and the wounded, and his deep belief in the unity of the Palestinian people, and he is the father of Palestinian nationalism.

Zakarna confirms that Abu Ammar's presence was overwhelming on the international and Arab arenas, as he was not just a Palestinian leader, but a global symbol of unity and steadfastness.

"No one can deny Yasser Arafat's vast influence at the international and regional levels, and his ability to make the Palestinian issue a top priority in global political interests," Zakarna says.

Zakarna asserts that the personality of the late President Yasser Arafat was a unifying force for the Palestinian people, stressing that if Abu Ammar had been alive, the division that the Palestinian arena witnessed after his passing would not have occurred.

He says: "I believe that the division would never have happened under Abu Ammar's presence. He was a source of consensus for all segments of the Palestinian people, and he was always able to unite the word and the ranks."

He stresses that Abu Ammar's absence left a huge void that negatively affected not only the Palestinian arena, but also the positions of Arab leaders and peoples towards the Palestinian cause, which led to a decline in Arab interest and support compared to what it was during his era.

Zakarna points out that the Palestinian cause is suffering today from an unprecedented state of weakness, coinciding with the genocide facing the Palestinian people, especially in light of the absence of a leadership figure of the stature and strength of Abu Ammar.

“The symbolism that Abu Ammar represented cannot be replaced,” Zakarna says. “After his passing, there was an urgent need for a collective leadership to fill his place and restore the Palestinian cause’s momentum and position on the international stage. Unfortunately, the PLO and Fatah have witnessed a significant decline since his absence.”

Zakarna believes that Abu Ammar's great international impact was clear, as he had a strong presence and wide influence on global liberation movements.

Zakarna says: “Abu Ammar managed his international relations shrewdly, investing these relations in the interest of the Palestinian cause, and always placing it at the forefront of the global political scene. There was continuous recruitment to confront American and Israeli pressures, and he knew exactly how to gain the sympathy and support of the international community.”

Zakarna talks about the field role of the late President Yasser Arafat, pointing out that he was always present in the field among his people, especially in critical and difficult moments. Zakarna recalls Abu Ammar’s position during the events in Lebanon, where he was among the fighters, sharing their risks and standing by their side.

Zakarna says: “Abu Ammar was close to the masses. Every Palestinian felt him as a father, and they drew strength and inspiration from him. If he were here today, we would find him among the masses, leading them and strengthening their resolve in Gaza, Jenin, Tulkarm, and Lebanon.”

He stressed that the absence of Yasser Arafat left a void that cannot be easily filled, emphasizing the need to draw inspiration from the lessons of unity and steadfastness that he instilled in the Palestinian people, and to work to restore the strength and status of the Palestinian cause as it was in his time.

Zakarna says: “Today we need to restore the national spirit that Abu Ammar founded, and work hard to reorganize the ranks to confront the challenges that threaten our existence and rights.”

Major repercussions left by Arafat's absence

Issam Bakr, a member of the Central Committee of the People's Party and a member of the Factions Coordination Committee in Palestine, confirms that the impact of the absence of the late President Yasser Arafat on the Palestinian situation was great, and that there are major repercussions left by this absence, recalling the spirit of Yasser Arafat as a symbol of the national cause and as a fighter who devoted his life to achieving freedom for his people.

Bakr points out that Arafat, with his charismatic personality and political acumen, was a safety valve for national unity, as he was able to gather the Palestinian factions under one umbrella, considering that Arafat was a meeting point for the Palestinians, firmly convinced that the fundamental contradiction was with the occupation, regardless of the extent of the internal differences between the parties.

Bakr explains that this base established by Arafat remained the basis of Palestinian national action, as all components agreed on the necessity of confronting the occupation as a priority.

Bakr points out that over the course of twenty years, the Palestinian cause has undergone tremendous local, regional and international changes, describing the period as one burdened with challenges, as the cause suffered from decline and fragmentation, especially due to the Palestinian division that worsened after Arafat’s absence.

This vertical and horizontal division, he says, has had devastating effects on the Palestinian national project, and has allowed the Israeli occupation to double its hostile measures of settlement, Judaization of Jerusalem, demolition of homes, and closure of Palestinian areas and their transformation into enclaves.

Bakr asserts that Arafat had extended his hand for peace until the last moment, but the rise of extremist religious and nationalist forces in Israel, which rely on a discourse denying the existence of the Palestinian people, thwarted all attempts to reach a settlement.

Bakr points out that successive Israeli prime ministers used peace talks as a means of deception and misleading, and had no real intention of achieving a just peace.

Looking at all the stations after Arafat's assassination, Bakr confirms that his loss was a great shock to the Palestinians who stood in amazement at the announcement of his martyrdom, pointing out that the funerals held for him in Paris, Cairo and Ramallah embodied the extent of the loss.

Rebuilding national identity

Bakr stresses that Arafat, with his firm positions in which he refused to compromise on national constants, rebuilt the Palestinian national identity through the PLO, at a time when the occupation tried to erase this identity and return the Palestinians to the status of refugees without national ties.

Bakr says: "Nothing can fill the void left by Arafat, the master of splendid presence. This is what can be said with modesty in the context of trying to assess the loss, a loss on the national, popular and official levels, of his firm positions of not compromising on national constants."

It is believed that Arafat faced this challenge with determination, and was able to establish Palestinian rights in the international arena, shattering the Israeli narrative that sought to deny the existence of a Palestinian people with non-negotiable rights.

Bakr points out that one of Arafat's most important achievements was affirming the unified national identity, which enabled the Palestinians to establish their presence in global geopolitics, especially in the United Nations institutions. Arafat was also vocal in demanding the lifting of the historical injustice against the Palestinian people and the correction of these injustices.

In this context, Bakr believes that the anniversary of Arafat's martyrdom should be an occasion to adhere to the path of national unity, and to emphasize that ending the division has become a matter that cannot be postponed, and that this requires real political will to turn this painful page in Palestinian history.

Bakr believes that the national consensus program, which Arafat emphasized in the Declaration of Independence in 1988 in Algeria, is still the umbrella under which all Palestinian forces meet.

He points out that this programme is based on the right of return, self-determination and the establishment of an independent state with Jerusalem as its capital, citing successive decisions of the Palestinian National Councils.

Bakr stresses that this political program still enjoys the consensus of the Palestinian forces, which was confirmed in the various rounds of reconciliation, calling for building on these foundations to strengthen the continuation of the unity of the PLO as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people, as Arafat was able to build the PLO as a unified framework that includes all Palestinians.

Bakr confirms that the Palestinians do not depend on the individual but on the institution, which is the PLO, the title of the unified Palestinian people and its sole legitimate representative. President Mahmoud Abbas has always declared in this regard his firm adherence to the same goals and his following in the same footsteps that President Arafat had eliminated. There were even translations and movements that led to the recognition of the State of Palestine, obtaining membership in the United Nations and many others, despite the stumbling block of ideologically fueled rejection in Israel with the “ghetto” mentality and denial of the existence of the other, and attempts at uprooting.

Meeting current challenges requires radical changes.

In the context of anticipating future solutions, Bakr believes that confronting the current challenges requires radical changes, starting with dissolving the agreements signed with Israel, and reaffirming that the current stage is a stage of national liberation.

Bakr stresses the need to redirect the function of the Palestinian Authority, which was established by a decision of the Central Council of the Palestine Liberation Organization as a step towards independence, pointing out the importance of changing its function to become a tool for strengthening national steadfastness instead of managing the current crisis.

Bakr believes that the Israeli occupation has exploited the current situation to strengthen its control and expand its settlements, driven by a mentality that rejects coexistence with the Palestinian people and seeks to uproot them.

Bakr believes that the appropriate response should be to turn the tables on the occupation and to free ourselves from the illusions that have been hanging over the political path since the Oslo Accords.

Bakr stresses the importance of unleashing the Palestinian people's energies in a comprehensive confrontation with the occupation, considering that this path is the only way to revive hope among the Palestinian people and achieve their national aspirations.

Major transformations that affected the course of the Palestinian issue

Political analyst Dr. Ahmed Rafiq Awad confirms that during the twenty years following the death of President Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian cause witnessed major transformations and radical challenges that affected its course and future.

Awad explains that one of the most prominent turning points was the decline in the effectiveness of the two-state solution, which was rooted in the Oslo Accords. The agreement became a failed model in achieving Palestinian goals, and at the present time, this solution is witnessing a gradual withdrawal from the international political scene.

Awad points out that the Palestinian issue has noticeably declined on global and regional agendas during Abu Ammar's absence.

Awad asserts that the terrible internal Palestinian division was the most prominent turning point in the events after the martyrdom of Abu Ammar, which has become a real danger, with the possibility of developing into permanent separation, if it is not dealt with carefully. The Israeli arena has also witnessed a political and social upheaval towards extremism, as the idea of coexistence has collapsed, to be replaced by the idea of walls, isolation, and escalating racism.

Over the past two decades, attempts to marginalize the Palestinian cause and abolish the rights of the Palestinian people have increased, according to Awad, but despite these challenges, there are tangible achievements, such as the recognition of the State of Palestine in the United Nations, which established legal and humanitarian recognition of the existence of a Palestinian entity. However, the Palestinian state remains without clear borders, a divided geography, and a scattered demographics.

In the context of the ongoing deterioration, Awad points out that international recognition of Palestine remains surrounded by questions about how to transform it into a reality that ensures stability in the region.

Arafat's passing was an undeniable loss, as he was a unique and exceptional leader, according to Awad, who asserts that the martyr Yasser Arafat played a pivotal role in shaping the modern Palestinian national identity, and that his martyrdom was a turning point in the path to the birth of the Palestinian state as we know it today.

Awad points out that Israel was aware of Arafat's size and power when it decided to assassinate him. He was not just a besieged leader, but was able to besiege the occupation itself and embarrass Israeli policy, which made Israel believe that assassinating him would solve some of its crises.

However, according to Awad, the crisis was not resolved, but rather deepened after his absence. The Palestinian people paid a heavy price and suffered successive disasters as a result of the loss of that leader who was able to bring the parties together and find solutions to the crises, but the people remained steadfast in the face of Israel.

Awad believes that Arafat was distinguished by unique qualities. He was a maker of events, not a follower of them. He was an initiator who did not wait for circumstances, and he possessed a superior ability to maneuver and negotiate in the darkest of circumstances.

Awad describes him as a source of action and movement, capable of turning corners and mobilizing the masses, always maintaining the idea of Palestinian unity, which formed the basis of his strength in facing internal and external challenges.

Awad asserts that the most honest stage in Arafat’s career was the moment of his martyrdom, which established the principles of the Palestinian national movement and proved the strength of the Palestinian struggle. “He was a symbol of national unity, capable of creating hope and solutions, so his martyrdom remains a decisive moment that cannot be compensated for,” Awad explains.

The period following Arafat's martyrdom represents a dangerous turning point.

Imad Ghayatha, a professor of political science at Birzeit University, confirms that the period following the martyrdom of Yasser Arafat represents a dangerous turning point in the course of the Palestinian cause, with the absence of a figure like Yasser Arafat, with his unique negotiating and combative abilities, leaving a void that the Palestinians still suffer from to this day.

Ghayatha explains that Arafat had rare charisma and unique leadership, but his leadership nature did not always conform to the requirements of traditional institutional work, which created a discrepancy in the methods of managing the affairs of the Palestinian cause.

Ghayatha asserts that Arafat was distinguished by his spirit of rebellion against reality, and he challenged the harsh conditions that faced the rights of the Palestinian people in order to keep rights at the forefront.

Although his policies, especially in the last two decades of his life, sometimes seemed like political adventures, Ghayatha confirms that they were carefully considered adventures with deep national dimensions. He was keen to keep the Palestinian cause alive on the international scene, and to emphasize the rights of the Palestinian people, despite the hostility and difficulties he faced.

Ghayatha points out that what we are living today is the legacy of Yasser Arafat, who established a political structure and a national entity, but he also left behind sensitive files and accumulated challenges that need someone to handle them responsibly, and the legacy left by Arafat has not been adequately understood.

Ghayatha believes that despite the presence of leaders who took on the task of completing Arafat’s legacy, these leaders were unable to adequately deal with the complex reality he created, which led to weakness in confronting political changes and international pressures.

Ghayatha stresses that the lessons and morals learned from Arafat’s experience cannot be fully understood or evaluated without working within a solid institutional framework. The absence of institutional work made it difficult to fully benefit from Arafat’s legacy, as Arafat is a founding leader.

Ghayatha stresses the importance of strengthening Palestinian national institutions to ensure the continuity of the struggle and the achievement of national goals.

A pivotal moment in the history of the Palestinian cause

Speaking about the profound impact of the passing of President Yasser Arafat and the effects of his absence over the past twenty years, Dr. Qusay Hamed, Professor of Political Science at Al-Quds Open University, confirms that Arafat’s martyrdom constituted a pivotal moment in the history of the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people as a whole.

Hamed explains that the disappearance of Yasser Arafat, and the developments that followed, brought about radical changes in the Palestinian scene.

Hamed asserts that after Arafat's departure, the Palestinian people lacked leadership acumen that was capable of controlling internal affairs and preventing the slide towards major challenges, most notably the Palestinian division, which remained a central scene during the past two decades.

According to Hamed, the first challenge that the Palestinian people faced after Arafat’s absence was the necessity of choosing a Palestinian leadership with high political competence and acumen, as the roles he held required a large cadre to fill them. The other challenge was the Palestinian division, which became one of the most dangerous scenes negatively affecting the Palestinian cause.

He explains that the ongoing political and geographical division to this day has had an impact on the internal Palestinian situation and on the position of the Palestinian cause on the international and regional levels.

Hamed says: "If Yasser Arafat were alive, he would not have allowed this division to extend to this extent, given his charismatic personality, the weight of his political history, and his ability to remedy and prevent such an unfortunate division from occurring."

Hamed confirms that Arafat had a unique ability to maintain the unity of the Palestinian ranks, and he was keen to ensure that his compass was clear and directed towards the confrontation with the Israeli occupation, not towards internal conflicts, and he did not allow those differences to control the Palestinian people, and without the Palestinians being lost in internal disputes that would drain their energy and their cause.

Hamed confirms that Arafat had a wide network of international relations, including liberation movements and influential forces in the world, and he was able to keep the Palestinian issue present on the agenda of Arab countries and the international community.

Hamed asserts that Yasser Arafat was not just a political leader, but rather a charismatic figure who carried the burden of the Palestinian cause for more than fifty years, during which Arafat was able to build bridges with various countries, including marginal countries and major powers, and established a strong base of support for the Palestinian cause.

Hamed addresses the flaw in the division that occurred between the Fatah and Hamas movements after Arafat's departure, stressing that the political and geographical division was something that should never have happened.

Hamed says: “We were supposed to rebuild the Palestinian leadership on sound foundations, and to respect the results of the elections, to ensure the participation of all forces in making fateful decisions,” stressing that the Palestinian people are still suffering from the effects of this division, despite the clarity of the diagnosis and means of treatment.

Hamed stresses the necessity of drawing lessons from Arafat's experience, pointing out that Arafat combined political, diplomatic and military work with great skill, taking advantage of all the components of the Palestinian people and its factions, and this ideal combination that distinguished Arafat is still absent from the Palestinians today.

Hamed says: “Arafat held all the strings connected to the Palestinian cause, and we may differ on his style of managing affairs, but he ensured that tasks were carried out efficiently, and no one felt that there was any negligence in supporting the cause.”

Hamed stresses that the Palestinian people need to strengthen their unity and respect the popular will to ensure the continuity of the struggle to achieve their aspirations.

The Godfather of the Palestinian Cause

Writer and political analyst Akram Atallah describes the late martyr President Yasser Arafat as the “spiritual father of the Palestinian cause,” pointing out his unique ability to formulate a rare symbolism that still leaves a deep impact on the conscience of the Palestinian people.

Atallah believes that Yasser Arafat's symbolism was not just a personal trait, but rather a combination of the history of struggle and the battles that Arafat fought in order to revive the Palestinian national movement.

Atallah asserts that Abu Ammar’s absence left the Palestinians in a state of political orphanhood, as if they were unable to manage their own affairs after his passing. This feeling of orphanhood was embodied in a state of internal dispersion and division, as the Palestinians fought over his political legacy, like sons fighting over what their father left them after losing him.

He explains that this fighting has led the Palestinians into a dark tunnel with no apparent way out.

Atallah confirms that Arafat's absence opened the door to a state of weakness and exposure, and the Palestinian arena seemed to lack a unified political system that would bring everyone together under one umbrella.

Atallah believes that this dark tunnel that the Palestinians entered after Arafat’s departure shows the importance of Arafat as a symbol that united the Palestinians. Arafat’s absence brought down the curtain on the settlement project that he had launched in the Palestinian arena, as the political path that Abu Ammar had started ended with his departure. There was no longer a clear path to a settlement, and the Palestinian issue was transformed into internal disputes and quarrels between factions, while what remained of the relations with Israel became more like an autonomous administration that lacked any real political dimension, which contradicts the goals of the Palestinian national movement that was established to achieve independence and freedom.

Atallah asserts that if Arafat were present today, the Palestinian situation would be completely different, as Arafat played roles that united the Palestinians, stressing that his paternal symbolism would have prevented the sharp divisions that the Palestinian arena witnessed after his departure.

Atallah believes that Arafat, as a national leader and founder, had the ability to unite all Palestinian factions, such that no party could challenge his authority or symbolism, even in the darkest of circumstances, pointing out that all factions, even those that disagreed with his political approach, found their place under his umbrella.

Atallah shows that Hamas, for example, would not have challenged Arafat's symbolism in the way that happened after his death.

Atallah asserts that the symbolic power that Arafat enjoyed was sufficient to maintain national cohesion, as he recalled the beginning of the emergence of the Hamas movement in its strong political and organizational form, and how it did not dare during Arafat’s era to take extremist positions in the political challenge.

Atallah stresses that Arafat was the true father of the Palestinians, and was able to make the Palestinian political system a unified entity under his leadership, as he knew how to balance the different forces and unite them towards a common goal.