TEL AVIV, Oct 29: Many in Israel hope they have seen the last of Yasser Arafat. "We will not miss him," said Ehud Yaari, a commentator for the private Channel Two television network.
Mr Yaari's comments appear to reflect general sentiment among Israelis, 47 per cent of whom want Mr Arafat dead, according to an opinion poll conducted for the television station.
The poll also showed that 32 per cent of those questioned hoped the Palestinian leader would continue to suffer. The top-selling Yediot Aharonot daily wished Mr Arafat "good riddance" in an editorial that described him as the "biggest murderer of Jews of this generation".
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom, who has frequently called for Mr Arafat's expulsion, made clear that he wanted Israel to be shot of him permanently.
NO REGRET: Few Palestinians in Jerusalem's Old City expressed regret at the departure of Mr Arafat, with many saying he had betrayed their cause and some pledging allegiance to Osama bin Laden.
"Why should I be sad?" questioned one shopkeeper, who did not want his name used. "He hurt our cause a lot and if you ask 10 people here if they like him, 11 will say 'no'. "He was a symbol of betrayal to the Palestinian cause and (Osama) bin Laden is now our symbol," he added, referring to the Al Qaeda chief. -AFP
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