On the radio today, I heard reports that Ahmad Jibril, leader of the PFLP has said that senior officials in Fatah have confirmed that Arafat has died of AIDS.

A quick goggle revealed no particularly mainstream reports of this. I know nothing of the provenance of Israel Today, the source of the above link, and Mr. Jibril would have a number of reasons to lie anyway.

That being said, I do have my definitive opinion on the significance of this report.

It has no significance at all.

What is significant about Yassir Arafat is that he was an incompetent, corrupt, and cowardly figure whose position in life derived from who he was related, his uncle was mufti of Jerusalem, rather than any abilities on his own.

He pretty much failed, and failed spectacularly at everything he did, though he did manage to spin things to his favor.

In a word, he is not the Palestinians George Washington, but rather he is the Palestinians George W. Bush.