Palestinian's plight

The luckless Palestinians marked the fourth death anniversary of Yasser Arafat on November 11. In conditions never experienced before. The crippling blockade of Gaza imposed since November 5, have made the impoverished Palestinians go without food as UN has suspended food distribution to 750,000 people. The area is without electricity and crossings remain closed, cutting off Palestinians from outer world. Israel has continued its indiscriminate air raids, along with the blockade of Gaza. Fifteen Palestinians have been killed during last week without a murmur from international community. Muslim world has also maintained a deafening silence, to their eternal shame.
Yasser Arafat's struggle spanning 40 years failed to bear fruit, but it was more a failure of the international conscience and perfidy of his friends than his leadership. He pursued an armed struggle for three decades but having recognised its futility, he opted for, a peaceful resolution. The Oslo Accords were signed in 1993, through the mediation of the US, but it also failed to bring the cherished goal due to Israel's intransigence.
Despite these reverses and heavy odds against which Arafat had to contend, he placed the dispossessed and besieged Palestinians at par with Israel. Intifada I and II brought Israel to the stark choice of either land or peace and had the Arabs extended due support to the Palestinians or exerted their pressure on the US, the sacrifices would not have been futile. Arafat died as a frustrated man, but not as a failed leader. The greatness of a leader is not measured in terms of success alone but in his commitment to the cause and determination to persevere in his objectives. On this score Arafat would rank among the great leaders of the last century.
During his life, his policies drew criticism, even cynicism both from friends and foes alike. But the decline and disarray that the Palestinians have suffered since his death, as illustrated in the factional fights between Hamas and Fatah deadly silence of international community on Israels escalating cycle of death and destruction visiting the helpless Palestinians in Gaza reveals how critical was his presence to keep the Palestinians united. The Palestinian struggle is unique and different from others as explained by Arafat, himself.