The Moslem faith expects that the dead be buried within 24 hours of death. Folks pretty much know that Arafat is on his last leg, so preparations for an international memorial service are being planned. In fact, I suspect his life is being extended artificially just so the details about where and how he will be buried can be completed and implemented within 24 hours. We now know that the Israelis have agreed to a Ramallah grave site and the Egyptians have offerred a pre-burial memorial so I suspect we will hear of his passing in the next several hours.

While I have no use for Arafat and would have preferred his departure a long time ago, there is no doubt he is loved by many Palestinians and revered by many in the Arab world. With his passing, even those in the Moslem community who have less regard will likely use the occasion of his death to bind Arab resolve in the middle east. He is their perfect martyr.

I can only hope that his passing will create a new opportunity to break the current paradigm and cycle of violence. However, I think it more likely to stimulate civil unrest and violence throughout Gaza and the West Bank as faction struve to gain the upper hand.