Mau tau sifat asli kita? Cobain deh kuis yang satu ini. Kuisnya agak sedikit butuh Kerajinan, ambil bolpen catet nama binatangnya dan no.urut untuk hasil
terakhir. Kayaknya hasilnya nggak jauh banget dech dari sifat kita. Selamat mencoba ..
1. Bentar lagi mau kiamat nih. Kalo kamu bisa nyelametin satu jenis binatang, binatang manakah yang beruntung?
a. Kelinci
b. Domba
c. Rusa
d. Kuda
2. Kamu lagi maen ke Afrika, eh trus dipaksa bawa binatang pulang buat souvenir. Kamu akan pilih?
a. Monyet
b. Singa
c. Ular
d. Jerapah
3. Ceritanya kamu dikutuk sama Tuhan jadi binatang. Kamu milih Jadi apa?
a. Anjing
b. Kucing
c. Kuda
d. Ular
4. Jika kamu diberi kekuatan untuk memusnahkan suatu spesies, spesies mana yang akan jadi korban?
a. Singa
b. Ular
c. Buaya
d. Hiu
5. Suatu hari, kamu nemu binatang yang bisa bicara. Kamu berharap binatang itu adalah?
a. Domba
b.. Kuda
c. Kelinci
d. Burung
6. Kalo kamu ada di pulau terpencil dan cuman bisa punya 1 teman, pilih yg mana?
a. Manusia juga
b. Babi
c. Sapi
d. Burung
7. Andaikan kamu bisa bikin binatang buas jadi jinak, kamu akan pelihara?
a. Dinosaurus
b. Harimau putih
c. Beruang kutub
d. Leopard
8. Kalo kamu bisa jadi binatang selama 5 menit, mau jadi yang mana?
a. Singa
b. Kucing
c. Kuda
d. Merpati
JAWABANNYA :
1. Pada dasarnya kamu tertarik dengan orang yang.
a. KELINCI - orang yang susah ditebak, contoh: keliatannya cuek banget padahal aslinya super perhatian
b. DOMBA - patuh..dan ramah... (bulunya putih ya?? hehehheh)
c. RUSA - elegan dan sopan
d. KUDA - mereka yang tidak terkekang dan bebas
2. Dalam masa pendekatan, cara pendekatan yang paling bisa bikin Kamu jatuh hati.
a. MONYET - kreatif, ngga pernah bikin ! kamu bosen
b. SINGA - to the point, langsung nyatain tanpa spik yang bebelit
c. ULAR - ulur... tarik... ulur lagi... tarik lagi..., layangaaaan kali
d. JERAPAH - sabar... tapi never give up.
3. Kesan yang pengen kamu kasih liat ke pacar kamu, bahwa kamu adalah orang yang.
a. ANJING - setia dan bisa dipercaya
b. KUCING - gaya
c.. KUDA - optimis
d. ULAR - fleksibel
4. Situasi yang paling kamu benci, yang bisa jadi masalah dalam hubungan kamu.
a. SINGA - kesombongan pacar kamu dan sikapnya yang sok diktator
b. ULAR - emosional, moodmood-an, sehingga kamu ngga tau lagi musti gimana buat nyenengin dia
c. BUAYA - sadis (jangan diartikan secara fisik yah), berhati dingin, trus suka ngejek
d. HIU - insecure (apa yah bahasa indonya yang pas, ketidakamanan? ketidakstabilan? ketidakpastian?)
5. Hubungan yang pengen kamu jalanin dengan pacar kamu.
a. DOMBA - walaupun ngga ngomong tapi kalian saling tau isi hati masing2, dengan kata lain kalian tuh communicate by hearts
b. KUDA - saling terbuka, kebebasan mengungkapkan pendapat, ngga ada rahasia-rahasiaan
c. KELINCI - hubungan yang bisa bikin kamu selalu merasa nyaman dan saling mencintai
d. BURUNG - hubungan jangka panjang
6. Tentang perzinahan.
a. MANUSIA - kamu perduli dengan lingkungan dan moral, jadi kamu nggak akan macem-macem kalo nanti udah nikah (amieenn).
b. BABI - walaaahhh!! Kamu nggak bisa nahan godaan nih...
c. SAPI - sebisa mungkin sih kamu berusaha untuk tidak melakukannya
d. BURUNG - tidak stabil. Sebenernya kamu bukan orang yang cocok menikah dan membuat sebuah komitmen.
7. Pernikahan buat kamu .
a. DINOSAURUS - sedikit pesimis, kamu ngerasa sekarang ini udah ngga ada tuh yang namanya happy marriage.
b. HARIMAU PUTIH - buat kamu pernikahan adalah sesuatu yang berharga dan setelah kamu m! arried kamu bakalan ngejaga banget
c. BERUANG KUTUB - kamu takut akan pernikahan
d. LEOPARD - kamu pengen banget nikah, tapi sebenernya kamu juga nggayakin betul apa sih pernikahan itu?
8. Saat ini, kamu menganggap cinta adalah.
a. SINGA - kamu selalu haus akan cinta. Tapi bukan berarti mudah jatuh cinta, tapi selalu ingin dicintai.
b. KUCING - kamu sedikit egois. Kamu melihat cinta sebagai sesuatu yang mudah didapat dan dibuang kapanpun kamu mau.
c. KUDA - kamu engga mau dikekang oleh hubungan yang terlalu serius. Kamu masih pengen juga "gebet sana gebet sini"
d. MERPATI - cinta buat kamu adalah sebuah komitmen yang dilakukan oleh kedua pihak.
Gimana? Cocok ngga?
Sabtu, Desember 01, 2007
Sifat Asli
Serangan Jantung dan kebiasaan Minum Air Panas / hangat....
Faktor-faktor Resiko Penyakit Jantung Koroner
Sabtu, November 24, 2007
Pelukan yang Menyelamatkan
Asal Muasal Kata King Kong
Mengapa King Kong digunakan untuk nama Kera atau Monyet Raksasa ?
Mengapa tidak digunakan nama Great Ape, King Monkey, Giant Ape, Giant
Mongkey atau yang lainnya ?
Menurut ahli bahasa, kata King Kong berasal dari bahasa Inggris dan
bahasa Latin, yang artinya Raja Monyet. King artinya Raja (bahasa
Inggris) dan Kong artinya Monyet (bahasa Latin).
Berikut adalah kata-kata yang terkait dengan Kong :
1. Kong Kali Kong:
Artinya banyak Monyet ! Bayangin , Monyet dikalikan dengan Monyet !
2. Kong Res (Kongres) :
Artinya Monyet Ngumpul ! Res singkatan dari Residu, sisa yang terkumpul.
3. Kong Kow :
Artinya, Monyet Gaul ! Kow dari bahasa Mandarin non-formal yang
artinya main, bergaul atau ngerumpi.
4. Ngong Kong :
Artinya Monyet Jongkok ! Ngong artinya duduk atau Jongkok dalam bahasa
Sanskerta.
5. Kong Guan :
Artinya Biskuit Monyet, atau Biskuit kesukaan Monyet !
6. Kong Lomerat :
Artinya Kumpulan besar Monyet! Glomerat artinya menggelinding menjadi
bola yang besar.
7. Kong Si (Kongsi) :
Artinya Empat Monyet pengusaha! Si adalah bahasa Mandarin artinya empat.
8. Cu Kong :
Monyet banyak duitnya! Cu artinya banyak duit menurut bahasa Mandarin
kuno yang sudah kadaluarsa.
9 . Eng Kong :
Artinya Mbahnya Monyet !
10. Sing Kong :
Akar umbi ngumpet dalam tanah, takut ama monyet! Sing = singitan (bhs
Jawa) = ngumpet.
11. Bo Kong :
Bagian tubuh belakang monyet di bagian bawah yang kelihatan bengkak.
Bo = aboh (bahasa Jawa) = bengkak.
13. Jerang Kong :
Kerangka monyet ! Jerang = tulang belulang menurut bahasa antah berantah.
14. Bang Kong :
Monyet bangun kesiangan ! Bang = singkatan dari bangun.
15. Sun Go Kong :
Sun = cium
Go = pergi atau Hayo
Kong = monyet
Sun Go Kong= Hayo cium Monyet
10 Tips untuk Berselingkuh Dengan Aman
akan berbicara. Kalau udah begini tahi kuda bisa serasa coklat.
Keluarga dirumah bisa nggak diingat.
mental. Kalau partner selingkuh Anda ekonomi lemah, Anda akan diporoti
habis-habisan. Anda akan ditelpon 57x sehari. Kursi yang Anda duduki
bisa terasa panas bagai bara.
tinggalkan. Kalau Anda terlambat maka partner selingkuh Anda akan
berubah jadi "ingus". Kalau udah nempel ditangan, dikibas-kibas kagak
mau lepas... ampuuun.
cantik/ganteng tapi IQ jongkok. Anda bisa dikejar terus dengan janji
Anda yang mau mengawini, membelikan ini, itu, dll.
Bahwa hubungan ini hanya akan begini dan begitu dan tidak lebih dan
tidak kurang dari itu.
cinta. Kalau Anda type yang mesti jatuh cinta kalau selingkuh, lebih
baik Anda kawin lagi atau cerai dan kawin lagi.
Anda tipe pelit lebih baik tidak usah coba-coba selingkuh, kecuali kalau
Anda dipihak yang "diongkosi".
banyak waktu untuk menghilangkan jejak.
selingkuh Anda. Sehingga score tetap 1:1 terus.
The Young Indonesian Jones
Kamis, Oktober 11, 2007
fun strories
D.O. Setelah belajar 1 satu tahun BAHASA INGGRIS
("nggak usah ikut campur Pak! Yg bawa Mobil itu kalo nggak salah anak buah dari manajer keuangan, dia memang goblok bukan main! Biar tahu rasa.")
Tapi bule itu diam saja karena nggak tau mau jawab apa, shg Paijo jadi ngedumel,
9 Tipe Kepribadian Entrepreneur
9 Tipe Kepribadian Entrepreneur –
Yang Manakah Tipe Kepribadian Arafat?
1. The Improver.
Anda memiliki kepribadian ini jika Anda menjalankan bisnis dengan
menonjolkan gaya improver alias ingin selalu memperbaiki.
Anda menggunakan perusahaan Anda untuk ‘memperbaiki dunia’.
Improver memiliki kemampuan yang kokoh dalam menjalankan bisnis.
Mereka juga memiliki intergritas dan etika yang tinggi.
Personality Alert: Waspadai sifat Anda yang cenderung
menjadi perfeksionis dan terlalu kritis terhadap karyawan
dan pelanggan Anda. Contoh Entrepreneur: Anita Roddick,
pendiri The Body Shop.
2. The Advisor.
Tipe kepribadian pebisnis seperti ini bersedia memberikan
bantuan dan saran tingkat tinggi bagi para pelanggannya.
Motto dari advisor ini yaitu pelanggan adalah benar dan kita
harus melakukan apa saja untuk menyenangkan mereka.
Personality Alert: Seorang advisor bisa jadi terlalu fokus
pada kebutuhan bisnis mereka dan pelanggan, sehingga
cenderung mengabaikan kebutuhan mereka sendiri dan
bisa-bisa malah cape hati sendiri. Contoh Entrepreneur:
John W. Nordstrom, pendiri Nordstorm.
3. The Superstar.
Inilah bisnis yang pusatnya dikelilingi oleh karisma dan energi
tinggi dari Sang CEO Superstar. Pebisnis dengan kepribadian
seperti ini biasanya membangun bisnis mereka dengan personal
brand mereka sendiri.
Personality Alert: Pebisnis dengan tipe ini bisa menjadi
terlalu kompetitif dan workaholics.
Contoh Entrepreneur: Donald Trump, CEO Trump Hotels &
Casino Resorts.
4. The Artist.
Kepribadian pebisnis seperti ini biasanya senang menyendiri
tapi memiliki kreativitas yang tinggi. Mereka biasanya sering
kali ditemukan di bisnis yang membutuhkan kreativitas seperti
pada perusahaan agen periklanan, web design, dll.
Personality Alert: Pebisnis tipe ini bisa jadi terlalu
sensitif terhadap respon pelanggan Anda, walaupun kritik
dari mereka bersifat membangun.
Contoh Entrepreneur: Scott Adams, pendiri dan penggagas
Dilbert.
5. The Visionary.
Sebuah bisnis yang dibangun oleh seorang visioner biasanya
berdasarkan visi masa depan dan pemikiran pendirinya. Anda
memiliki keingintahuan yang tinggi untuk mengerti dunia di
sekeliling Anda dan akan membuat rencana untuk menghindari
segala macam rintangan.
Personality Alert: Seorang visioner bisa jadi terlalu fokus
pada mimpi mereka dan kurang berpijak pada realitas. Dan
jangan lupa, menyertai visi Anda dengan melakukan tindakan
nyata. Contoh Entrepreneur: Bill Gates, pendiri MicroSoft
Inc.
6. The Analyst.
Jika Anda menjalankan bisnis sebagai seorang analis, perusahaan
Anda biasanya memfokuskan pada penyelesaian masalah dalam
suatu cara sistematis. Seringkali berbasis pada ilmu pengetahuan,
keahlian teknis atau komputer, seorang analis perusahaan biasanya
hebat dalam memecahkan masalah.
Personality Alert: Hati-hati dengan kelumpuhan analisa.
Bekerjalah dengan mempercayai orang lain. Contoh Entrepreneur:
Gordon Moore, pendiri Intel.
7. The Fireball.
Sebuah bisnis yang dimiliki oleh si ‘Bola Api’ ini biasanya
dioperasikan dengan penuh hidup, energi dan optimisme.
Pelanggan merasa perusahaan Anda dijalankan dengan tingkah
laku yang fun.
Personality Alert: Anda bisa jadi berkomitmen yang
berlebihan terhadap tim Anda dan bertingkah laku terlalu
impulsif. Seimbangkan keimpulsivan Anda dengan rencana
bisnis.
Contoh Entrepreneur: Malcolm Forbes, penerbit dan pendiri
Forbes Magazine.
8. The Hero.
Anda memiliki kemauan dan kemampuan yang luar biasa dalam
memimpin dunia dan bisnis Anda melalui segala macam tantangan.
Anda adalah inti dari kewirausahaaan dan bisa mengumpulkan
banyak perusahaan besar.
Personality Alert: Terlalu mengumbar janji dan menggunakan
taktik kekuatan penuh untuk mendapatkan sesuatu dengan cara
Anda tidak akan berhasil dalam jangka waktu panjang. Untuk
menjadi sukses, percayailah keterampilan kepemimpinan Anda
untuk menolong orang lain menemukan jalan mereka.
Contoh Entrepreneur: Jack Welch, CEO GE.
9. The Healer.
Jika Anda adalah seorang ‘penyembuh’, Anda bersifat
pengasuh dan penjaga keharmonisan dalam bisnis Anda. Anda
memiliki kemampuan bertahan yang luar biasa dan keteguhan
disertai dengan ketenangan dari dalam.
Personality Alert: Karena sifat perhatian Anda dan
‘kepenyembuhan’ Anda dalam menjalankan bisnis, Anda bisa
jadi menghindari realitas di luar sana dan selalu terlalu
berharap. Gunakan skenario perencanaan untuk persiapan
datangnya masalah.
Contoh Entrepreneur: Ben Cohen, salah satu pendiri Ben &
Jerry’s Ice Cream.
It only happens in...
Some pictures show the specialty of a country which happens only in that country...
This happens only in India---
This happens only in India---->
This happens only in China...*
This happens only in Hawaii...!!! ---->>
This happens only in Indonesia---->>
This happens only in Texas....hmmm... ---->>
This happens only in Thailand..... :-0---->>
This happens only in Australia.... smart---->>
This happens only in India.. A---->>
This happens only in Japan....scrupulous ---->>
This happens only in Pakistan..
8 Kiat Sukses Menjadi Netpreneur!
Berikut ini, kami akan berbagi kiat-kiat sukses menjadi
netpreneur, diantaranya adalah:
1. Kecepatan.
Dengan segala percepatan perkembangan teknologi, globalisasi,
dan internet, laju perubahan pun semakin cepat dari yang pernah
dibayangkan. Karena itu, Anda harus bisa mengantisipasinya
dan sanggup bereaksi cepat, tapi juga penuh perhitungan.
2. Kemampuan Beradaptasi.
Laju perubahan yang terjadi pada dunia internet membutuhkan
bisnis yang lebih fleksibel dan adaptif dibandingkan sebelumnya.
Anda harus menambah pengetahuan dan mampu menginterpretasinya,
serta secara cepat merespon perubahan tersebut dimanapun
terjadinya –baik dalam teknologi dan kompetisi, juga pada
pergantian pola pasar dan pembeli-.
3. Eksperimen.
Seorang netpreneur harus bersedia mencoba ide-ide baru di pasar
yang dibidiknya. Anda tidak memiliki banyak waktu atau hanya
mengandalkan “market research” yang sudah tidak up to date
untuk mengevaluasi tindakan-tindakan Anda . Eksperimen dan
siap bergerak cepat untuk beradaptasi dengan apa yang
dibutuhkan dan diinginkan pasar kepada Anda .
4. Inovasi Yang Konstan.
Meluncurkan produk ke pasar hanyalah sebuah permulaan.
Dorongan kompetisi yang tak kenal henti dan tuntutan pasar
terhadap perbaikan membuat fokus bisnis pada inovasi sangat
penting.
5. Kolaborasi.
Sudah menjadi sifat dari netpreneur menjadi kolaboratif. Anda
tidak bisa bekerja sendiri di pergerakan dengan kecepatan
seperti ini. Internet memungkinkan Anda melibatkan banyak
pemilik perusahaan dalam setiap langkah. Mulai dari kelahiran
sebuah produk melalui riset, pembangunan produk, pengemasan,
pengiriman, support dan proses perbaikan yang terus berjalan.
6. Jadilah Penggerak Distribusi.
Tantangan nyata dari dunia bisnis saat ini adalah distribusi
–penyebaran merek serta identitas produk dan jasa Anda -.
Satu hal yang paling terasa, internet memperkecil hambatan
distribusi. Untuk itu, Anda harus membangun merek dan saluran
distribusi demi kesinambungan kesuksesan bisnis.
7. Fokus Pada Niche Market.
Internet menjangkau dan mendistribusi kesempatan bisnis pada pasar
baru yang terbuka. Karena itu, netpreneur harus memfokuskan pada
sektor pasar yang terdefinisi dengan baik -yaitu pada niche market
atau pasar ceruk- agar dapat meraih posisi dominan atau menemukan
pasar yang belum atau kurang terlayani. Walau kenyataannya,
kesempatan yang paling menggairahkan terletak pada menciptakan
pasar yang baru.
8. Jadilah Multidisipliner.
Perusahaan dalam era ekonomi baru seperti sekarang menciptakan
solusi dengan mengintegrasikan berbagai disiplin ilmu seperti
teknologi, content, grafis, layanan dan hubungan. Karena itu,
seorang netpreneur sukses biasanya memahami berbagai disiplin
ilmu.
Faktor V - Kunci Sukses Utama Dalam Bisnis
Di edisi sebelumnya kami sudah menjelaskan tentang karakter
yang harus Arafat miliki untuk menjadi seorang Entrepreuneur,
Namun dibalik semua karakter yang harus dimiliki, pastikan juga
Arafat memiliki faktor “V” yang banyak dimiliki oleh para
entrepreneur sukses. Faktor “V” ini adalah VISI.
Walt Disney –penggagas Disneyland- adalah salah satu contoh
entrepreneur yang memiliki visi. Dalam perayaan pembukaan
Disneyland, seseorang menyayangkan Disney yang tak sempat
melihat Disneyland berdiri karena terlanjur dipanggil yang
Maha Kuasa. Tetapi istrinya berkata, “Percayalah, dia sudah
melihatnya”.
Di masa sekarang, entrepreneur seperti Jeff Bezos pendiri
Amazon.com, Jerry Yang pendiri Yahoo!, Meg Whitman pendiri
eBay, Steve Case pendiri America Online menjadi milyuner
dalam waktu kurang dari 5 tahun. Faktor utama penentu
kesuksesan mereka adalah *visi kreatif* mereka.
Suatu persamaan yang membuat para entrepreneur tersebut
sukses dalam waktu lebih singkat dibandingkan entrepreneur
di masa sebelumnya yang membutuhkan waktu belasan bahkan
puluhan tahun untuk sukses adalah keberhasilan
mengidentifikasi dan mengeksploitasi kesempatan-kesempatan
baru yang muncul dari era ekonomi baru, era internet!
Nah… sudahkah Arafat bergabung menjadi anggota Asian Brain
Internet Marketing Center? Karena dengan perubahan pasar
dan teknologi baru yang sangat cepat, visi Arafat akan
semakin tajam jika dilengkapi pengetahuan.
Dan hanya di Asian Brain Internet Marketing Center Arafat
bisa mempelajari pengetahuan tentang internet marketing
secara lengkap dan detil. Pengetahuan yang harus dimiliki
oleh para entrepreneur yang ingin sukses memasarkan produk
dan jasanya melalui internet -lokasi yang akan menjadi
tempat utama pemasaran di masa depan-.
Jika belum, segera daftarkan diri Arafat ke Asian Brain IMC
melalui link ini:
http://www.asianbrain.com/index.php?aff_code=217117
Keuntungan lainnya, Arafat bukan saja mendapat ilmu bagaimana
memasarkan bisnis melalui internet, tetapi sekaligus
memiliki kesempatan mempraktekannya dan menghasilkan uang.
Yaitu dengan cara mengikuti "Asian Brain Pay Per Sale
Affiliate Program Recurring Comission".
Melalui program affiliate ini, Arafat memiliki kesempatan
mendapatkan komisi sebesar 25% setiap bulan jika berhasil menjual
keanggotaan Asian Brain IMC. Arafat belajar internet marketing
sambil menghasilkan uang setiap bulan.
Lumayan ‘kan?! :-)
Ingat, Faktor 'V', VISI. Dengan mengikuti program pembelajaran
Internet Marketing, yang notabene merupakan hal baru bagi
kebanyakan orang Indonesia, berarti Arafat sudah
memiliki VISI ke depan.
Terbayang dalam jarak beberapa tahun lagi Internet akan
'merajalela' di Indonesia seperti layaknya 'handphone' dulu?
Nah, kesempatan bagi Arafat untuk memulainya sekarang!
Okay! Kami tunggu keikutsertaan Arafat di Asian Brain IMC.
Bersama-sama kita membangun VISI untuk masa depan kita
ke arah yang lebih baik!
Kamis, Oktober 04, 2007
Makan Sahur Dalam Syari'at Islam
Keutamaan Makan Sahur
Makan Sahur Adalah Barokah.
Keberadaan sahur sebagai barakah sangatlah jelas, karena dengan makan sahur berarti mengikuti sunnah, menguatkan dalam puasa, menambah semangat untuk menambah puasa karena merasa ringan orang yang puasa.
Dari Salman Radhiyallahu ‘anhu, Rasululloh Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam bersabda yang artinya: “Barokah itu ada pada tiga perkara : Al-Jama’ah, Ats-Tsarid dan makan Sahur” (HR: Thabrani)
Dari Abu Hurairah Radhiyallahu ‘anhu, Rasululloh Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam bersabda, yang artinya: “Sesungguhnya Allah menjadikan barokah pada makan sahur dan takaran” (HR: As-Syirazy [Al-Alqzb])
Dari Abdullah bin Al-Harits dari seorang sahabat Rasululloh Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam bahwa Aku masuk menemui Nabi Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam ketika itu beliau sedang makan sahur, beliau bersabda, yang artinya: “Sesungguhnya makan sahur adalah barakah yang Allah berikan kepada kalian, maka janganlah kalian tinggalkan’” (HR: Nasa’i 4/145 dan Ahmad 5/270 sanadnya SHAHIH)
Dalam makan sahur juga (berarti) menyelisihi Ahlul Kitab, karena mereka tidak melakukan makan sahur. Oleh karena itu Rasululloh Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam menamakannya dengan makan pagi yang diberkahi sebagaimana dalam dua hadits Al-Irbath bin Syariyah dan Abu Darda ‘Radhiyallahu ‘anhuma, yang artinya “Marilah menuju makan pagi yang diberkahi, yakni sahur” (HR: Ahmad 4/126 dan Abu Daud 2/303, Nasa’i 4/145)
Allah dan Malaikat-Nya Bershalawat Kepada Orang-Orang yang Sahur.
Mungkin barakah sahur yang tersebar adalah (karena) Alloh Subhanahu wa Ta’ala akan meliputi orang-orang yang sahur dengan ampunan-Nya, memenuhi mereka dengan rahmat-Nya, malaikat Alloh memintakan ampunan bagi mereka, berdo’a kepada Allah agar mema’afkan mereka agar mereka termasuk orang-orang yang dibebaskan oleh Allah di bulan Ramadhan. Dari Abu Sa’id Al-Khudri Radhiyallahu ‘anhu, Rasululloh Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam bersabda, yang artinya: “Sahur itu makanan yang barakah, janganlah kalian meninggalkannya walaupun hanya meneguk setengah air, karena Allah dan malaikat-Nya bershalawat kepada orang-orang yang sahur”
Oleh sebab itu seorang muslim hendaknya tidak menyia-nyiakan pahala yang besar ini dari Rabb Yang Maha Pengasih. Dan sahurnya seorang muslim yang paling afdhal adalah korma.Bersabda Rasululloh Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam. yang artinya: “Sebaik-baik sahurnya seorang mukmin adalah korma” (HR: Abu Daud 2/303, Ibnu Hibban 223, Baihaqi 4/237)
Barangsiapa yang tidak menemukan korma, hendaknya bersungguh-sungguh untuk bersahur walau hanya dengan meneguk satu teguk air, karena keutamaan yang disebutkan tadi, dan karena sabda Rasululloh Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam, yang artinya: “Makan sahurlah kalian walau dengan seteguk air”
Mengakhirkan Sahur
Disunnahkan mengakhirkan sahur sesaat sebelum fajar, karena Nabi Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam dan Zaid bin Tsabit Radhiyallahu ‘anhu melakukan sahur, ketika selesai makan sahur Nabi Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam bangkit untuk shalat subuh, dan jarak (selang waktu) antara sahur dan masuknya shalat kira-kira lamanya seseorang membaca lima puluh ayat di Kitabullah. (Jadi bukan sebagaimana ketentuan yang diberlakukan di Indonesia yaitu adanya waktu Imsak dengan jangka waktu tertentu, umumnya 10 menit sebelum sholat Subuh, hal ini bukanlah ajaran dan syariat Islam, melainkan sebuah perkara baru yang akan menyebabkan semakin terbukanya bagi umat Islam yang mengamalkannya untuk terjerumus dalam jurang kehinaan akibat mengada-ngadakan suatu perkara Ibadah)
Anas Radhiyallahu ‘anhu meriwayatkan dari Zaid bin Tsabit Radhiyallahu ‘anhu, yang artinya: “Kami makan sahur bersama Rasululloh Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam kemudian beliau shalat” Aku tanyakan (kata Anas), “Berapa lama jarak antara adzan dan sahur?” Zaid menjawab, “kira-kira 50 ayat membaca Al-Qur’an” (HR: Bukhari 4/118, Muslim 1097)
Ketahuilah wahai hamba Alloh -mudah-mudahan Alloh membimbing kita- kita diperbolehkan makan, minum, jima’ selama (dalam keadaan) ragu fajar telah terbit atau belum, dan Alloh serta Rasul-Nya telah menerangkan batasan-batasannya sehingga menjadi jelas, karena Allah Jalla Sya’nuhu mema’afkan kesalahan, kelupaan serta membolehkan makan, minum dan jima, selama belum ada kejelasan, sedangkan orang yang masih ragu (dan) belum mendapat penjelasan. Sesunguhnya kejelasan adalah satu keyakinan yang tidak ada keraguan lagi.
Hukumnya
Oleh karena itu Rasululloh Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam memerintahkannya - dengan perintah yang sangat ditekankan-. Beliau bersabda, yang artinya: “Barangsiapa yang mau berpuasa hendaklah sahur dengan sesuatu” (Ibnu Abi Syaibah 3/8, Ahmad 3/367, Abu Ya’la 3/438, Al-Bazzar 1/465 dari jalan Syuraik dari Abdullah bin Muhammad bin Uqail dari Jabir.)
Dan beliau bersabda, yang artinya: “Makan sahurlah kalian karena dalam sahur ada barakah” (HR: Bukhari 4/120, Muslim 1095 dari Anas)
Kemudian beliau menjelaskan tingginya nilai sahur bagi umatnya, beliau bersabda, yang artinya: “Pembeda antara puasa kami dan Ahlul Kitab adalah makan sahur”
Nabi Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam melarang meninggalkannya, beliau bersabda., yang artinya: “Sahur adalah makanan yang barakah, janganlah kalian tinggalkan walaupun hanya meminum seteguk air karena Allah dan Malaikat-Nya memberi sahalawat kepada orang-orang yang sahur” (HR: Ibnu Abi Syaibah 2/8, Ahmad 3/12, 3/44 dari tiga jalan dari Abu Said Al-Khudri)
Rasululloh Shallallahu ‘alaihi wa sallam bersabda, yang artinya: “Sahurlah kalian walaupun dengan seteguk air” (HR: Abu Ya’la 3340 dari Anas, ada kelemahan, didukung oleh hadits Abdullah bin Amr di Ibnu Hibban no.884 padanya ada ‘an-anah Qatadah. Hadits Hasan)
Karakter yang harus dimiliki untuk menjadi seorang Entrepreuneur
Arafat miliki untuk menjadi seorang Entrepreuneur.
Bagaimanapun, untuk menjadi entrepreneur, tak cukup memiliki
pengetahuan tentang bisnis. Karakter atau jiwa entrepreneur
juga sangat dibutuhkan. Karena itu penting sekali mengajukan
pertanyaan-pertanyaan berikut pada diri Arafat sendiri
untuk mengetahui seberapa besar karakter entrepreneur Arafat.
1. Berapa besar komitmen Arafat?
Seorang entrepreneur sukses memiliki komitmen yang besar
terhadap bisnisnya. Mudah dipahami memang, tapi sulit dalam
prakteknya. Jika Arafat masih berangan-angan memiliki bisnis
sendiri dan belum memulainya, barangkali Arafat mesti memperkuat
komitmen Arafat dan siap dengan segala resikonya. Bagaimanapun,
tak satupun bisnis di dunia ini yang aman dari resiko. Walau
begitu, resiko juga bisa dimanajemen bukan?!
2. Apakah gelas Arafat setengah penuh atau setengah kosong?
Tidak semua orang optimis adalah entrepreneur, tetapi
hampir semua entrepreneur adalah orang-orang optimis.
Setiap entrepreneur biasanya memiliki kemampuan melihat
kesempatan positif dari suatu tantangan situasi. Tanpa
keyakinan optimistis, maka akan sulit memotivasi karyawan,
bertahan pada masa-masa sulit dan mengembangkan bisnis.
3. Apakah Arafat senang membuat keputusan?
Keputusan berarti komitmen. Keputusan yang salah bisa mengarah
pada masalah dan menghilangkan rasa hormat dari suatu kelompok.
Memiliki sebuah bisnis -khususnya yang modalnya tidak besar-
berarti harus siap membuat keputusan dengan market research
terbatas dan informasi yang kurang lengkap. Nah, kira-kira
apakah Arafat senang membuat keputusan-keputusan demikian?
4. Apakah Arafat memiliki uang untuk membuat cita-cita bisnis
Arafat terwujud?
Jangan berhenti dulu dari pekerjaan sehari-hari, sampai
Arafat memiliki modal yang cukup untuk kelangsungan bisnis.
Memenuhi
kebutuhan keuangan untuk bisnis tidaklah mudah dan perlu
pengorbanan pribadi –apakah itu dari tabungan, pinjaman bank,
dll-. Arafat juga harus siap jika ternyata ada yang tidak berjalan
sesuai rencana. Nah, apakah Arafat sanggup menyokong
kelangsungan business plan agar bisnis Arafat tetap bertahan?
5. Apakah Arafat senang menjual?
Dalam bisnis, penjualan adalah bagian alami dari segala pekerjaan
–bahkan jika mereka tidak pernah bekerja di bidang penjualan
sekalipun-. Sebagai seorang entrepreneur, pekerjaan Arafat adalah
‘menjual’. Menjual produk Arafat, visi perusahaan dan diriArafat
sendiri. Dan Arafat harus melakukan ini setiap hari, dalam setiap
waktu. Jika Arafat menikmatinya, Arafat memang seorang
entrepreneur sejati.
Arafat, jika Arafat menjawab YA pada sebagian besar
pertanyaan-pertanyaan di atas, berarti Arafat memiliki
karakter entrepreneur dan siap untuk memiliki bisnis
sendiri.
Tetapi jika sebagian besar jawabannya adalah TIDAK,
sebaiknya pertimbangkan untuk menggaet partner bisnis untuk
membantu membuat rencana bisnis Arafat menjadi kenyataan.
Dan setelah Arafat siap meluncurkan bisnis, jangan lupa
untuk mendaftarkan diri menjadi anggota Asian Brain
Internet Marketing Center! Bagaimanapun, bisnis Arafat tidak
akan berkembang tanpa strategi marketing yang jitu.
Karena itu, kami memberi solusi dengan memberi panduan
internet marketing yang lengkap dan detail PLUS tips, artikel,
case study dari marketer dunia serta ide-ide bisnis niche market-
yang akan sangat berguna bagi Arafat.
7 Alasan Utama Mempromosikan Suatu Bisnis Melalui Internet
Walaupun Arafat sudah memiliki bisnis ‘offline’ sendiri,
mempromosikan bisnis Arafat melalui internet tetap PENTING.
Karena hal ini yang akan membuat Arafat selangkah lebih maju
daripada kompetitor. Bahkan juga bisa melipatgandakan
keuntungan Arafat. Mengapa begitu?
Karena internet memiliki kelebihan-kelebihan berikut ini:
1. Siap Sedia 24 Jam
Tidak seperti praktek bisnis offline lainnya yang layanannya
tergantung pada hari kerja dan jam kerja, web site Arafat
selalu siap sedia 24 jam serta bisa diakses oleh pelanggan
dari mana saja dan kapan saja.
2. Menjangkau Pangsa Pasar Yang Tertarget
Melalui promosi online, Arafat bisa secara efektif memasarkan
bisnis berdasarkan pangsa pasar yang ditargetkan. Baik dari
segi area, minat, kebutuhan pelanggan, bahasa, dan lain-lain.
3. Mengangkat Citra Bisnis Arafat
Dengan memiliki sebuah web site, citra (image) bisnis Arafat
bisa terangkat. Walau bisnis Arafat tidak besar, tetapi
melalui kehadiran secara online, citra bisnis Arafat akan
terangkat dibandingkan kompetitor lain dan bisa bersaing
dengan perusahaan besar.
4. Biaya Pemasaran Yang Lebih Efektif Dan Efisien
Karena pemasaran melalui internet sangat tertarget dan biaya
relatif lebih rendah dibanding pemasaran offline, sehingga
biaya yang dikeluarkan untuk pemasarannya juga lebih
efektif dan efisien.
5. 'Memposisikan' Bisnis Arafat Di Masa Depan!
Semakin hari, semakin banyak bisnis yang hadir secara online.
Demikian juga kompetitor Arafat. Kalau tidak sekarang,
kelak pun mereka akan menghadirkan bisnisnya melalui internet.
Karena itu, kehadiran situs bisnis Arafat di internet,
setidaknya telah menolong memposisikan bisnis Arafat
di masa depan.
6. Mempermudah Arafat Dalam Membangun Hubungan Baik
Dengan Pelanggan.
Karena internet adalah media yang interaktif, Arafat dengan
mudah menjalin komunikasi dan menjaga hubungan baik dengan
pelanggan. Baik itu melalui newsletter, ‘kotak saran’,
survey/polling, forum,dll. Kelebihan macam-macam ‘perangkat’
ini, Anda bisa melayani banyak pelanggan dalam satu waktu.
Lebih hemat waktu, tenaga dan biaya, bukan ?!
7. Sistem Otomatisasi Yang Responsif
Melalui sistem otomatisasi, web site Arafat bisa memberikan
respon dengan cepat jika datang ‘pesanan’ atau permintaan
informasi bisnis Arafat yang lebih lengkap dari pelanggan.
Di jaman yang serba instan ini, kecepatan layanan adalah
kemutlakan, bukan?!
4 Pertanyaan Yang Harus Ketahui Sebelum Membuat Hobi Menjadi Bisnis
Hello Arafat
Hari ini kami mau berbagi informasi mengenai hal-hal apa
saja yang perlu Arafat ketahui sebelum terjun ke dunia
bisnis yang berasal dari hobi. Mudah-mudahan informasi ini
bermanfaat untuk Arafat
Memang sih, KELEBIHAN dari membuka bisnis yang berasal
dari hobi, kita tahu betul bahwa kita akan menikmatinya. Kita
juga akan merasa lebih ‘fun’ dalam mengerjakannya. Jauuhhh…
dari rasa bosen!
Tapi apa benar begitu? Sebelum memutuskan untuk membuat
hobi Arafat menjadi bisnis, coba ajukan pertanyaan-pertanyaan
ini ke diri sendiri terlebih dulu.
1. Apakah Arafat bersedia melakukan sesuatu yang
berulang-ulang terus?
Diharuskan mengerjakan sesuatu secara berulang-ulang dengan
baik tentu sangat berbeda dengan mengerjakan aktivitas rekreasi
(hobi) tanpa tekanan dan tanpa target bisnis.
Tentu saja jika ingin mengubah hobi menjadi bisnis, Arafat
harus siap dengan konsekuensi ini.
2. Apakah hobi Arafat cukup berharga untuk dijadikan bisnis?
Jangan hanya memikirkan kesenangan Arafat semata. Lakukan
"market research" sebelum membuat hobi Arafat menjadi bisnis.
Jika ternyata prospeknya kurang menguntungkan, sebaiknya jangan
dipaksakan.
3. Apakah hobi Arafat bisa tetap memotivasi Arafat dalam
menjalankan bisnis hingga 15-20 tahun mendatang?
Tantangan nyata dalam menjalani bisnis yang berasal dari
hobi adalah bagaimana membuat hobi tersebut tetap
menantang, menarik dan berarti sebagai bisnis dalam 15-20
tahun mendatang. Untuk itu, buat daftar mengenai hal-hal
yang paling menarik dan menantang bagi Arafat. Lalu tetapkan
satu atau dua ide paling potensial yang bisa memotivasi
Arafat dalam menjalankan bisnis.
4. Apakah Arafat tetap akan menikmatinya walau...
Jika kelak Arafat diharuskan menghasilkan 10 ribu karya atau
melakukan hobi Arafat ratusan kali setiap tahun, apakah Arafat
akan tetap menikmati hobi Arafat?
Intinya, memang tidak ada yang salah dengan membuat hobi
menjadi bisnis. Hanya saja matangkan konsep, lakukan market
research dan rancang business plan sebelum menjalankannya.
Hal penting lainnya adalah memiliki pengetahuan bagaimana
memasarkan bisnis Arafat baik secara offline maupun online.
Karena tanpa marketing yang tepat, tidak ada orang yang
akan membeli produk Arafat.
Rabu, Oktober 03, 2007
Sabtu, September 22, 2007
Kobe_Bryant_Photo.jpg)
Yasser Arafat
Mohammed Abdel Raouf Arafat al-Qudwa al-Husseini (August 24, 1929 – November 11, 2004; Arabic: محمد عبد الرؤوف القدوة الحسيني), popularly known as Yasser Arafat, was Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization and President of the Palestinian National Authority.[2] In 1994, Arafat received the Nobel Peace Prize, together with Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres, for the negotiation of the 1993 Oslo Peace Accord.[3] Arafat has been widely recognized for leading the Fatah organization, which he founded between 1958–1960.[4]
From leading his forces in civil wars and uprisings against Israel, Jordan and Lebanon, to his role in striving to establish peace with the Israelis and an independent state for the Palestinian people, Arafat lived a very controversial lifestyle. The majority of Palestinian, Arab and Islamic people – regardless of political ideology or faction – viewed him as a heroic freedom fighter and martyr who symbolized the national aspirations of his people.[5] However, most Israelis have described him as an unrepentant terrorist.[6] Throughout Arafat's lengthy career, his political rivals, including Islamists and several PLO leftists, denounced him for being corrupt or too submissive in his concessions to the Israeli government.[7]
Early life
Birth & Childhood
Arafat was born in Cairo to Palestinian parents.[1][8] His father, Abdel Raouf al-Qudwa al-Husseini, was a Gazan with an Egyptian mother. He worked as a textile merchant in Cairo's culturally mixed Sakanini District. Arafat was the second-youngest of seven children and was (along with his younger brother Fathi) the only offspring born in Cairo. His mother, Zahwa Abul Saoud, died from a kidney ailment in 1933, when Arafat was five years of age. Arafat's first connection to Jerusalem came when his father, unable to raise seven children, sent him and his brother Fathi to their mother's family in the Old City. There they lived with their uncle Selim Abul Saoud for four years. In 1937 their father recalled them to be taken care of by their older sister Inam. Arafat had a deteriorating relationship with his father; when he died in 1952, Arafat did not attend the funeral. Neither did he visit his father's grave upon his return to Gaza.[8]
Education and 1948 Arab Israeli War
In 1947, Arafat enrolled in the University of King Fuad I. He graduated from the university in 1950 with a passing grade. He later claimed to have sought a better understanding of Judaism and Zionism by engaging in discussions with Jews and reading publications by Theodor Herzl and other prominent Zionists.[9] However, during this period in his life he became an Arab nationalist and began procuring weapons to be smuggled into the former British Mandate of Palestine, for the use of irregulars in the Arab Higher Committee and the Holy War Army militias.[10] During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, Arafat left the University and along with other Arabs, sought to enter Palestine to join Arab forces fighting in the name of Palestinian independence against Israeli troops. However, instead of joining the ranks of the Holy War Army, Arafat fought alongside the Muslim Brotherhood, although he did not officially join the organization.[8] He took part in combat in the Gaza area, (which was the main battleground of Egyptian forces during the conflict). In early 1949 the war was waning down in Israel's favor and Arafat returned to Cairo from a lack of logistical support.[8]
After returning to the University, Arafat served as president of the Union of Palestinian Students from 1952 to 1956. In his first year as president of the union the University was renamed Cairo University after a coup was carried out by the Free Officers Movement overthrowing King Farouk I. By that time, Arafat had graduated with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering and was called to duty to fight with Egyptian forces during the Suez Crisis; however, he never actually fought on the battlefield.[8] Later, in that same year, at a conference in Prague, he donned a solid white keffiyeh – different from the checkered one he adopted later in Kuwait, which became his emblem.[11]
Name
Arafat's original full name was Mohammed Abdel Rahman Arafat Raouf al-Qudua al-Husseini. Mohammed Abdel Rahman was his first name; Abdel Raouf was his father's name and Arafat his grandfather's. Al-Qudua was the name of his family and al-Husseini was that of the clan to which the al-Quduas belonged.[8] It should be noted that Arafat's clan, al-Husseini was based in Gaza and should not be confused with the well-known but unrelated al-Husseini clan of Jerusalem. However, since the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem, Hajj Amin al-Husseini and the Palestinian nationalist fighter Abd al-Qadr al-Husseini belonged to this clan, he at times claimed to be related for the purpose of entwining his heritage with Palestinian political lore.[8]
Since Arafat was raised in Cairo, the tradition of dropping the Mohammed or Ahmad portion of one's first name was common; notable Egyptians such as Anwar Sadat and Hosni Mubarak did so. However, Arafat did not use the Abdel Rahman part of his name either, and it too was dropped. During the early 1950s Arafat adopted the name Yasser after Yasser bin Ammar, a celebrated Muslim warrior. (In the early years of Arafat's guerrilla career he assumed the nom de guerre of Abu Ammar for the same reason.) He dropped most of his other names but kept Arafat due to its significance in Islam.[8]
Formation of Fatah
As a result of the Suez Crisis in 1956, Egyptian president Gamal Abdel Nasser a leader of the Free Officers Movement, agreed to allow the United Nations Emergency Force to establish itself in the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza Strip, causing the expulsion of all guerrilla or "fedayeen" forces there – including Arafat. Although he originally struggled to obtain a visa to Canada and later Saudi Arabia, Arafat was unsuccessful in both attempts.[8][12] In 1957, he applied for a visa to Kuwait (at the time a British protectorate) and was approved, based on his work in civil engineering. There he encountered two Palestinian friends he had met in the Cairo University, Salah Khalaf (Abu Iyad) and Khalil al-Wazir (Abu Jihad), both official members of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood. They became Arafat's right-hand men in future politics. Abu Iyad traveled with Arafat to Kuwait in late in 1957 and Abu Jihad, also working as a teacher, had been living there.[4][13] In 1960, Abu Iyad helped Arafat obtain a temporary job as a schoolteacher.
As Arafat began to develop friendships with other Palestinian refugees from Gaza (some of whom he also knew from his Cairo days), he gradually founded the group that became known as Fatah. There is no exact date of Fatah's establishment; however, in the years 1958–1960, the group began to emerge from a Palestinian nationalist magazine, Filastununa, Nida al-Hayat which was written and edited by the organization's founding members. FaTaH is a reverse acronym of the Arabic name Harakat al-Tahrir al-Watani al-Filastini which translates into "The Palestinian National Liberation Movement".[4][14] Fatah is also a word which was used in early Islamic times to refer to "conquest".[4]
Fatah dedicated itself to the liberation of Palestine and subsequent destruction of Israel by an armed struggle carried out by the Palestinians themselves. This differed from other Palestinian political and guerrilla organizations, most of which firmly believed in a united Arab response.[4][15] Arafat's organization never committed to the ideologies of major Arab national governments of the time, while other Palestinian factions formed satellites of nations such as Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria and others.[16]
In accordance with his own ideology, Arafat generally refused to accept donations to his organization from major Arab governments, in order to act independently of them. He did not want to alienate them, and sought their undivided support by avoiding alliances with groups loyal to other ideologies. He worked hard in Kuwait, however, to establish the groundwork for Fatah's future financial support by enlisting contributions from the many wealthy Palestinians working there and other Gulf States, such as Qatar (where he met Mahmoud Abbas in 1961).[17] These businessmen and oil workers contributed generously to the Fatah organization. Arafat continued this process in other Arab countries such as Libya and Syria.[4]
During the 1962–1966 period, Arafat and his closest companions immigrated to Syria, a country sharing a border with Israel which had recently seceded from a union with Nasser's Egypt. In Syria he was able to recruit members with a higher outcome and eventually commence his armed struggle against Israel. By this time, Fatah had approximately three hundred members but no fighters.[4] Gradually, however, Fatah's manpower increased as a result of Arafat's decision to offer much higher salaries to members of the Palestine Liberation Army (PLA), a military branch of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), which was created by the Arab League in the summer of 1964.[4] On December 31 of that same year, al-Assifa, the armed branch of Fatah at the time, attempted to infiltrate Israel, but they were intercepted and detained by Lebanese security forces. Several other successful and failed raids, many times personally led by Arafat himself, took place after this incident with Fatah's poorly-trained and badly-equipped fighters.[4]
On November 13, 1966, Israel launched a major raid against the Jordanian administered West Bank town of as-Samu, in response to a Fatah-implemented roadside bomb attack which killed three of its security forces near the southern Green Line border. The resulting skirmish had killed scores of Jordanian security forces and 125 homes were razed.[18] This raid was one of several factors that led to the 1967 Six Day War.[18]
Israel launched an preemptive air strike against the Egypt's air force on June 5, 1967, commencing the Six Day War. The war ended in Arab defeat and Israel seizing several Arab territories, including the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Although Nasser and his Arab allies were defeated, Arafat and Fatah were in a way victorious, as the majority of Palestinians – once siding and sympathizing with individual Arab governments – began to agree with a "Palestinian" resolution to their dilemma.[19] Many primarily Palestinian political parties, including George Habash's Arab Nationalist Movement, Hajj Amin al-Husseini's Arab Higher Committee, the Islamic Liberation Front and several Syrian-backed groups, virtually crumbled after their sponsor governments' loss.[19] Just a week later, a disguised Arafat crossed the Jordan River into the West Bank and set up recruitment centers in Hebron, the Jerusalem area and Nablus, and began recruiting fighters and financiers.[19]
Nasser contacted Arafat through Mohammed Heikal (one of his advisers) and Arafat was declared by Nasser to be the leader of the Palestinians.[20] In December of that same year, Ahmad Shukeiri resigned his post as PLO Chairman. Yahya Hammuda took his place and invited Arafat to join the organization. Fatah was allocated 33 of 105 seats of the PLO Executive Committee while the remaining 57 were left for several other guerrilla factions.[19]
Battle of Karameh
Throughout 1968 Fatah as well as other Palestinian armed groups, was the target of a major Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operation in the Jordanian village of Karameh, where the Fatah headquarters – as well as a mid-sized Palestinian refugee camp – were located. The town's name is the Arabic word for "dignity", which elevated its symbolism to the Arab people, especially after the Arab defeat in 1967.[19] The operation was in response to attacks against Israel, including rockets attacks from Fatah and other Palestinian militias into the occupied West Bank. Knowledge of the operation was available well ahead of time, and the government of Jordan – as well as a number of Fatah commandos – informed Arafat of Israel's large-scale military preparations. Upon hearing the news, many guerrilla groups in the area, including George Habash's newly formed group the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and Nayef Hawatmeh's breakaway organization the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), withdrew their forces from the town. Arafat was advised by a pro-Fatah Jordanian divisional commander to withdraw his men and headquarters to nearby hills but Arafat refused,[19] stating, "We want to convince the world that there are those in the Arab world who will not withdraw or flee".[21] So on Arafat's orders, Fatah remained, and the Jordanian Army agreed to back them if heavy fighting ensued.[19]
On the night of March 21, the IDF attacked Karameh with heavy weaponry, armored vehicles and fighter jets.[19] Fatah held its ground, surprising the Israeli military. As Israel's forces intensified their campaign, the Jordanian Army became involved, causing the Israelis to retreat in order to avoid a full-scaled war.[22] By the end of the battle nearly 150 Fatah militants were killed as well as twenty Jordanian soldiers and twenty-eight Israeli soldiers.[19] Despite the higher Arab death toll, Fatah considered themselves victorious because of the Israeli army's rapid withdrawal. Arafat himself was on the battlefield, but the details of his involvement are unclear. However, his allies – as well as Israeli intelligence – confirm that he urged his men throughout the battle to hold their ground and continue fighting.[23][19]
The battle was covered in detail by Time, and Arafat's face appeared on the cover of the December 13, 1968 issue, bringing his image to the world for the first time.[24] Amid the post-war environment, the profiles of Arafat and Fatah were raised by this important turning point, and he came to be regarded as a national hero who dared to confront Israel. With mass applause from the Arab world, financial donations significantly increased and Fatah's weaponry and equipment improved. The group's numbers swelled as many young Arabs, including thousands of non-Palestinians, joined the ranks of Fatah.[25]
At the Palestinian National Council in Cairo on February 3, 1969, Yahya Hammuda ceded his duty as chairman of the PLO to Arafat. He became commander-in-chief of the Palestinian Revolutionary Forces two years later, and in 1973 he became the head of the PLO's political department.[19]
Jordan
In the 1960s, tensions between Palestinians and the Jordanian government increased greatly; heavily armed Arab resistance elements had created a virtual "state within a state" in Jordan, eventually controlling several strategic positions in that country. These included the oil refinery near az-Zarqa, as well as the bulk of the Palestinian refugee camps, several neighborhoods, and other areas in northern Jordanian cities such as Amman and Irbid. After their victory in the Battle of Karameh, Fatah and other Palestinian militias began taking control of civil life in Jordan. They set up roadblocks, publicly humiliated Jordanian police forces, molested women and levied illegal taxes – all of which Arafat either condoned or ignored.[21] King Hussein considered this a growing threat to his kingdom's sovereignty and security, and attempted to disarm the militias.[26] However, in order to avoid a military confrontation with opposition forces, Hussein dismissed several of his anti-PLO cabinet officials, including some of his own family members, and invited Arafat to become Prime Minister of Jordan.[26] Arafat refused, citing his ideology of a Palestinian state with Palestinian leadership.[26]
Despite Hussein's intervention, militant actions in Jordan continued. On September 15, 1970, the PFLP hijacked five planes and landed three of them at Dawson's Field, located 30 miles (48 km) east of Amman. After the passengers were moved to other locations, three of the planes were blown up. This tarnished Arafat's image to many western nations including the United States who held him responsible for controlling Palestinian factions that belonged to the PLO.[27] Arafat, bowing to pressures from Arab governments, publicly condemned the hijackings and suspended the PFLP from any guerrilla actions for a few weeks. (He had taken the same action after the PFLP attacked Athens Airport.) The Jordanian government moved to regain control over its territory, and on September 16 King Hussein declared martial law.[26] On the same day, Arafat became supreme commander of the Palestine Liberation Army (PLA), the regular military force of the PLO.
In the ensuing civil war, the PLO had the active support of Syrian President Salah Jadid, who authorized a contribution force of around 200 tanks into Jordan to aid Palestinian forces. However, the country's air force commander, Hafez al-Assad, who was at odds with Arafat, refused to aid the PLO with air support.[26] The fighting was primarily between the Jordanian army and PLA; the U.S. Navy dispatched the Sixth Fleet to the eastern Mediterranean Sea, and Israel agreed to deploy troops to aid Hussein if necessary.[26]
As the conflict raged, other Arab governments attempted to negotiate a peaceful resolution. As part of this effort, Gamal Abdel Nasser led the first ever emergency Arab League summit, in Cairo on September 21, 1970. Arafat's speech drew sympathy from attending Arab leaders; other heads of state took sides against Hussein, even mocking him and his father King Talal. The attempt to establish a peace agreement between the two sides failed. Nasser died of a massive heart attack hours after the summit.[26]
By September 24, the Jordanian army achieved dominance, and the PLA agreed to a series of ceasefires.[28] The Jordanian army inflicted heavy casualties upon the Palestinians – including civilians – who suffered approximately 3,400 fatalities.[29] Arafat and a number of his Fatah forces, including two high commanders, Abu Iyad and Abu Jihad, were forced into the northern corner of Jordan. They relocated near the town of Jerash, which borders Syria and Israel. With the help of Munib Masri, a pro-Palestinian Jordanian cabinet member, and Fahd al-Khomeimi, the Saudi ambassador to Jordan, Arafat managed to enter Syria with nearly two thousand of his fighters. They crossed the border into Lebanon to join Fatah forces in that country, where they set up their new headquarters.[29]
Lebanon
Black September and official recognition
Because of Lebanon's weak central government, the PLO was able to operate virtually as an independent state. The group mounted intermittent cross-border attacks against Israeli targets – including civilians – from there.[7]
In September 1972, the Black September group kidnapped and killed 11 Israeli athletes at the Munich Olympic Games. A number of sources – including Mohammed Oudeh (Abu Daoud), one of the masterminds of the Munich massacre, and Benny Morris, a prominent Israeli historian – have stated that Black September was an armed branch of Fatah used for paramilitary operations. According to Abu Daoud's 1999 book, "Arafat was briefed on plans for the Munich hostage-taking."[30] The killings were internationally condemned. In 1973–4, Arafat closed Black September down, ordering the PLO to withdraw from acts of violence outside Israel, the West Bank and Gaza Strip.[31]
Also in 1974, the Palestinian National Council approved the Ten Point Program (drawn up by Arafat and his advisers), and proposed a compromise with the Israelis. It stated that there be a Palestinian national authority over every part of liberated Palestinian territory,[32] referring to areas captured by Arab forces in the 1948 Arab-Israeli War (present-day West Bank and Gaza Strip). This caused discontent among several of the PLO factions; The PFLP, DFLP and other parties formed a breakaway organization, the Rejectionist Front.[7] The Fatah movement continued to launch attacks against Israeli civilians and security forces from Lebanon. In the late 1970s, numerous leftist Palestinian organizations appeared on the armed front against Israel, carrying out attacks against civilian targets both within Israel (including a school) and outside of it. Israel and the United States claimed that Arafat was in ultimate control over these organizations, and therefore had not abandoned terrorism.[33]
Israel and the US also alleged that Arafat was involved in the Khartoum diplomatic assassinations, in which 5 diplomats and 5 others were killed. Arafat denied any involvement in the operation and insisted it was carried out independently by the Black September group. However, a 1973 United States Department of State document, declassified in 2006, concluded "The Khartoum operation was planned and carried out with the full knowledge and personal approval of Yasser Arafat."[34]
In the same year, Arafat became the first representative of a non-governmental organization to address a plenary session of the UN General Assembly. In his UN address, Arafat condemned Zionism, but said, "Today I have come bearing an olive branch and a freedom fighter's gun. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand."[35] His speech increased international support for the Palestinian cause. The PLO was admitted to full membership in the Arab League in 1976.[36]
Fatah involvement in Lebanese Civil War
Although hesitant at first to take sides in the conflict, Arafat and Fatah played an important role in the Lebanese Civil War. Succumbing to pressure from PLO sub-groups such as the PFLP, DFLP and the PLF, Arafat aligned the PLO with the Lebanese Nasserist Sunni group, al-Murabitun and the primarily Druze, Progressive Socialist Party (PSP). A major element of the Lebanese National Movement (LNM), the PSP was led by Kamal Jumblatt, who had a friendly relationship with Arafat. Although originally aligned with Arafat's Fatah group, Syrian President Hafez al-Assad feared a loss of influence in Lebanon and switched sides. He sent his army, along with Syrian backed PLO forces, as-Sa'iqa and the PFLP-GC, to fight alongside the radical right-wing Maronite Christian Phalangists against Arafat's forces.[37]
PLO attacks against Israel also grew dramatically during the 1970s. In response, the IDF launched Operation Litani in 1978, with the goal of taking control of Southern Lebanon up to the Litani River. The IDF achieved this goal, and Arafat withdrew PLO forces north into Beirut. After Israel withdrew from Lebanon, PLO forces fired rockets into Israel-occupied Galilee, prompting another Israeli invasion in 1982. Beirut was soon besieged and bombarded by the IDF;[37] Arafat declared the city to be the "second Hanoi and Stalingrad."[37] The Civil War's first phase ended and Arafat who was commanding Fatah forces at the Palestinian refugee camp of Tel al-Zaatar (which is located in Beirut) narrowly escaped with assistance from Saudi and Kuwaiti diplomats.[38] To end the siege, the United States and European governments brokered an agreement guaranteeing safe passage for Arafat and the PLO – guarded by a multinational force of 800 US Marines supported by the US Navy – to exile in Tunis. At the siege's end, Beirut was in ruins, with close to 17,000 civilians dead.[39]
Arafat returned to Lebanon a year after he was evicted from Beirut, this time establishing himself in the northern city of Tripoli. Instead of being expelled by Israel, in this case, Arafat was expelled by a fellow Palestinian working under Hafez al-Assad. Arafat did not return to Lebanon after his second expulsion, though many Fatah fighters did.[37]
Tunisia
Tunis, the capital of Tunisia, was the center of operations for Arafat and his fighters until 1993. In 1985 he narrowly survived an Israeli assassination attempt when Israeli Air Force F-15s bombed his headquarters in Tunis as part of Operation Wooden Leg, leaving 73 people dead. Arafat had gone out jogging that morning.[40]
During the 1980s, Arafat received financial assistance from Libya, Iraq and Saudi Arabia, which allowed him to reconstruct the badly-battered PLO. This was particularly useful during the First Intifada in December 1987, which began as an uprising of Palestinian youth against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The first stages of the Intifada was a response to an incident in the Erez checkpoint where an Israeli truck unintentionally hit a group of Palestinian laborers, killing four of them. However, within weeks Arafat was attempting to direct the revolt which lasted until 1992-1993, and Israelis believe that Fatah forces in the West Bank formerly set up by Abu Jihad were essential for continuing the civil unrest for the duration.[41] On April 16, 1988, as the Intifada was raging, Abu Jihad was assassinated by an Israeli hit squad. Arafat publicly mourned Abu Jihad as a PLO counterweight to local West Bank leadership, and led a funeral procession for him in Damascus.[41] The most common tactic used by Palestinians was throwing stones at IDF tanks, which became a symbol of the uprising. The local leadership in Beit Sahour, a large town adjacent to Bethlehem, commenced non-violent protests against Israeli occupation by engaging in tax resistance and other boycotts. Israel responded by blockading the town and confiscating large sums of money in house-to-house raids.[41][42] In the last years of the Intifada, armed Palestinian groups – in particular Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ) – began targeting Israeli civilians with the new tactic of suicide-bombing. Also, as the intifada came to an end, internal fighting amongst the Palestinians increased dramatically.[41]
On November 15, 1988, the PLO proclaimed the independent State of Palestine. In speeches on December 13 and December 14, 1988, Arafat accepted UN Security Council Resolution 242, Israel's right "to exist in peace and security" and renounced "terrorism in all its forms, including state terrorism".[43][44] Arafat's statements were greeted with approval by the US administration, which had long insisted on these statements as a necessary starting point for official discussions between the US and the PLO. These remarks from Arafat indicated a shift away from one of the PLO's primary aims – the destruction of Israel (as in the Palestinian National Covenant) – and toward the establishment of two separate entities: an Israeli state within the 1949 armistice lines, and an Arab state in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. On April 2, 1989, Arafat was elected by the Central Council of the Palestine National Council, the governing body of the PLO, to be the president of the proclaimed State of Palestine.
In 1990 Arafat married Suha Tawil, a Palestinian Greek Orthodox Christian when he was 61 and Suha, 27. Suha converted to Islam before marrying him. Before their marriage, Suha was working for the PLO in Tunis after meeting Arafat in France.[45][46] Prior to the couple's marriage in 1991, Arafat adopted fifty Palestinian war orphans.[47]
Arafat narrowly escaped death again on April 7, 1992, when his aircraft crash-landed in the Libyan Desert during a sandstorm. The pilot and several passengers were killed; Arafat suffered broken bones and other injuries.[48]
Palestinian Authority and peace negotiations
1993 Oslo Accords
In the early 1990s, Arafat and leading Fatah officials engaged the Israeli government in a series of secret talks and negotiations that led to the 1993 Oslo Accords.[49][7] The agreement called for the implementation of Palestinian self-rule in portions of the West Bank and Gaza Strip over a five year period, along with an immediate halt to and gradual removal of Israeli settlements in those areas. The accords called for a Palestinian police force to be formed from local recruits and Palestinians abroad, to patrol areas of self-rule. Authority over the various fields of rule, including education and culture, social welfare, direct taxation and tourism, would be transferred to the Palestinian interim government. Both parties also agreed on forming a committee that would establish cooperation and coordination dealing with specific economic sectors, including utilities, industry, trade and communication.[50][51]
Prior to signing the accords, Arafat – as Chairman of the PLO and as its official representative – signed two letters renouncing violence and officially recognizing Israel on September 9, 1993. In return, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, on behalf of Israel, officially recognized the PLO.[52]
The following year Arafat and Rabin were awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, along with Shimon Peres. Arafat returned to the Palestinian territories as a hero to the members and supporters of Fatah. He was considered a traitor and collaborator by other factions, in particular the Islamists and Arab nationalists which made up the majority of the Palestinian left.[7] In 1994, Arafat moved to Gaza City, one of the territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority (PA) – the provisional entity created by the Oslo Accords.[3] On July 24, 1995, Arafat's wife Suha gave birth to a daughter, who was named Zahwa after his deceased mother.[46]
Palestinian elections and other peace agreements
On January 20, 1996, Arafat was elected president of the PA, with an overwhelming 88.2% majority (the only other candidate was the charity organizer Samiha Khalil). However, because Hamas and other popular opposition movements chose not to participate in the presidential elections, the choices were limited. Arafat's landslide victory guaranteed Fatah 51 of the 88 seats in the Palestinian Legislative Council.[7] The following elections scheduled for January 2002 were later postponed – the stated reason was an inability to campaign due to the emergency conditions imposed by the al-Aqsa intifada, as well as IDF incursions and restrictions on freedom of movement in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.[53]
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In mid-1996, Benjamin Netanyahu was elected Prime Minister of Israel by a margin of just one percent. Palestinian-Israeli relations grew even more hostile as a result of continued conflict.[54] Despite the Israel-PLO accord, Netanyahu opposed the idea of Palestinian statehood.[55] In 1998, US President Bill Clinton persuaded the two leaders to meet. The resulting Wye River Memorandum of October 23, 1998 detailed the steps to be taken by the Israeli government and PA to complete the peace process.[56]
Arafat continued negotiations with Netanyahu's successor, Ehud Barak, at the Camp David 2000 Summit. Due partly to his own politics (Barak was from the leftist Labor Party, whereas Netanyahu was from the rightist Likud Party) and partly due to insistence for compromise by American President Bill Clinton, Ehud Barak offered Arafat a Palestinian state in 73% of the West Bank and all of the Gaza Strip. The Palestinian percentage of sovereignty would extend to 90% over a ten to twenty-five year period. In the negotiation over Jerusalem's sovereignty, Barak insisted on annexing "Greater Jerusalem" cities such as Ma'ale Adumim and Givat Ze'ev to Israel, while handing over control of certain small towns and cities that had been attributed to Jerusalem after 1967. Israel's proposal included dismantling sixty-three settlements in the West Bank and all settlements in the Gaza Strip. Israel would control the border between what would have been the newly created state of Palestine and Jordan. This, however, would only last for a 10 year period until the PLO gained enough credibility to control its own border. Also included in the offer was the return of a small number of refugees and compensation for those not allowed to return.[49] In a move widely criticized – even by a member of his own negotiating team and cabinet, Nabil Amr – Arafat rejected Barak's offer and refused to make an immediate counter-offer.[49]
Negotiations continued at the Taba summit in January 2001; this time Ehud Barak pulled out of the talks to campaign in the Israeli elections. Throughout 2001, the al-Aqsa Intifada – the Second Palestinian Intifada – grew in intensity, and following the election of Ariel Sharon, the peace process took a steep downfall. Sharon ordered Arafat to be confined to his Mukata'a headquarters in Ramallah; US President George W. Bush supported Sharon's action, claiming that Arafat was "an obstacle to the peace".[57]
Political survival, marginalization and controversy
Arafat's long personal and political survival was taken by most Western commentators as a sign of his mastery of asymmetric warfare and his skill as a tactician, given the extremely dangerous nature of politics of the Middle East and the frequency of assassinations.[58] Some commentators believe his survival was largely due to Israel's fear that he could become a martyr for the Palestinian cause if he were assassinated or even arrested by Israel.[59] Others believe that Israel refrained from taking action against Arafat because it feared Arafat less than Hamas and the other Islamist movements gaining support over Fatah. The complex and fragile web of relations between the US, Israel, Saudi Arabia, and other Arab states also contributed to Arafat's longevity as the leader of the Palestinians.[58]
Arafat's ability to adapt to new tactical and political situations was perhaps tested by the rise of the Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad organizations, Islamist groups espousing rejectionist opposition to Israel and employing new tactics such as suicide bombing, often intentionally targeting non-military targets, such as malls and movie theaters, to increase the psychological damage. In the 1990s, these groups seemed to threaten Arafat's capacity to hold together a unified secular nationalist organization with a goal of statehood.[58] They appeared to be out of Arafat's influence and control, and were actively fighting with Fatah. Some allege that activities of these groups were tolerated by Arafat as a means of applying pressure on Israel.[41]
Some Israeli government officials opined in 2002 that the armed Fatah sub-group al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades commenced attacks towards Israel in order to compete with Hamas.[60] On May 6, 2002, the Israeli government released a report, based in part on documents captured during the Israeli occupation of Arafat's Ramallah headquarters, which included copies of papers signed by Arafat authorizing funding for the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' activities.[61]
In March 2002, the Arab League made an offer to recognize Israel in exchange for an Israeli retreat from all territories captured in the Six-Day War and statehood for Palestine and Arafat's Palestinian Authority. Supporters of this declaration saw this offer, which included recognition of Israel by the Arab states, as a historic opportunity for comprehensive peace in the region, while critics said it would constitute a heavy blow to Israel's security and not guarantee Israel an end to suicide bombing attacks. Israel ignored what it deemed to be a facile offer.[62] Shortly afterward, attacks carried out by Hamas militants killed twenty-eight Israeli civilians celebrating Passover.[63] In response, Israel launched Operation Defensive Shield, a major military offensive into key West Bank cities.
Persistent attempts by the Israeli government to identify another Palestinian leader to represent the Palestinian people failed. Arafat was enjoying the support of groups that, given his own history, would normally have been quite wary of dealing with or supporting him. Marwan Barghouti emerged as a possible replacement during the al-Aqsa Intifada, but Israel had him arrested and sentenced to five life terms.[64]
Arafat was finally allowed to leave his compound on May 3, 2002, after intense negotiations led to a settlement: six militants wanted by Israel, who had been holed up with Arafat in his compound, would not be turned over to Israel, but neither would they be held in custody by the Palestinian Authority. Rather, a combination of British and American security personnel would ensure that the wanted men remained imprisoned in Jericho. With that, and a promise that he would issue a call in Arabic to the Palestinians to halt attacks on Israelis, Arafat was released.[65] He issued such a call on May 8, 2002, but as with previous attempts, it was largely ignored. Many feel this was because he secretly supported the attacks, a belief that was widespread among the Palestinian militant organizations which did not take Arafat's call seriously.[citation needed]
On July 18, 2004, in an interview in Le Figaro, U.S. President George W. Bush dismissed Arafat as a negotiating partner: "The real problem," he said, "is that there is no leadership that is able to say 'help us establish a state and we will fight terror and answer the needs of the Palestinians'".[66] This comment was criticized by the European Union and Russia, components of the quartet leading negotiations between Israel and the PLO.[citation needed]
Arafat had a mixed relationship at best with the leaders of other Arab nations. However, in the post-Nasser era he remained by far the most popular Arab leader among the general populace, and was for many years the only elected Arab leader.[citation needed] The most frequent criticism of Arafat by the Western and Israeli media was that he was corrupt to the detriment of the Palestinian people.[citation needed] Arafat's support from Arab leaders tended to increase whenever he was pressured by Israel; for example, when Israel declared in 2003 it had made the decision, in principle, to remove him from the Israeli-controlled West Bank.[citation needed]
Financial dealings
In August 2002, the Israeli Military Intelligence Chief claimed that Arafat's personal wealth was USD $1.3 billion.[67] However, he provided no material evidence for this claim. In 2003 the International Monetary Fund (IMF) conducted an audit of the Palestinian Authority and stated that Arafat diverted $900 million in public funds to a special bank account controlled by Arafat and the PA Chief Economic Financial adviser. However, the IMF did not claim that there were any improprieties and it specifically stated that most of the funds have been used to invest in Palestinian assets, both internally and abroad.[68]
Also in 2003, a team of American accountants – hired by Arafat's own finance ministry – began examining Arafat's finances. The team claimed that part of the Palestinian leader's wealth was in a secret portfolio worth close to $1 billion, with investments in companies like a Coca-Cola bottling plant in Ramallah, a Tunisian cell phone company and venture capital funds in the US and the Cayman Islands. The head of the investigation stated that "although the money for the portfolio came from public funds like Palestinian taxes, virtually none of it was used for the Palestinian people; it was all controlled by Arafat. And none of these dealings were made public."
Although Arafat always lived modestly, Dennis Ross, former Middle East negotiator for Presidents Bush and Clinton, stated that Arafat's "walking-around money" financed a vast patronage system known as neopatrimonialism. According to Salam Fayyad, a former World Bank official whom Arafat appointed finance minister in 2002, Arafat's commodity monopolies could accurately be seen as gouging his own people, "especially in Gaza which is poorer, which is something that is totally unacceptable and immoral."[69] According to Hanan Ashrawi, a former member of Arafat's cabinet, "Getting Mr. Arafat to hand over the holdings was like pulling teeth. Mr. Arafat gave in to pressure from aid donors such as the European Union and from his finance minister, Salam Fayyad, the IMF's former representative in the territories. They demanded that Mr. Arafat turn over the investments as a condition of further aid."[70]
An investigation by the European Union into claims that EU funds were misused by the Palestinian Authority found no evidence that funds were diverted to finance terrorist activities.[citation needed] The EU "remains convinced that deepening reform in the PA and improving its financial management and audit capacities is the best preventive strategy against the misuse of funds and corruption. The reform of the financial management of the PA is the objective of several key conditions attached to the EU financial assistance."[71] Fuad Shubaki, former financial aide to Arafat, told the Israeli security service Shin Bet that Arafat used several million dollars of aid money to buy weapons and support militant groups.[72]
Claims by unnamed sources in the PA Finance Ministry stated that Arafat's wife, Suha, receives a stipend of $100,000 each month from the PA budget. In an interview with the London-based newspaper Al Hayat, Mrs. Arafat accused Ariel Sharon of spreading rumors about money-laundering – involving the transfer of funds to herself – to distract media attention away from corruption allegations against him.[citation needed] In October 2003, French government prosecutors opened a money-laundering probe of Suha Arafat after the French finance service Tracfin alerted the prosecutors to a series of untaxed transfers of nearly $1.27 million each, from Switzerland to Mrs. Arafat's accounts in Paris.[citation needed]
Illness and death
First reports of Arafat's treatment by his doctors for what his spokesman said was the 'flu' came on October 25, 2004, after he vomited during a meeting. His condition deteriorated in the following days, and he fell unconscious for 10 minutes on October 27. Following visits by other doctors, including teams from Tunisia, Jordan, and Egypt – and agreement by Israel not to block his return – Arafat was taken on October 29 aboard a French government jet to the Percy military hospital in Clamart, near Paris. According to one of his doctors, Arafat was suffering from Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), an immunologically-mediated decrease in the number of circulating platelets to abnormally low levels.[73] On November 3 he lapsed into a gradually deepening coma. In the ensuing days, Arafat's health was the subject of some speculation, with suspicion that he was suffering from poisoning or AIDS.[citation needed] Various sources speculated that Arafat was comatose, in a "vegetative state", or dead. Palestinian authorities and Arafat's Jordanian doctor denied reports that Arafat was brain dead and had been kept on life support.
A controversy erupted between officials of the Palestinian Authority and Suha Arafat, Yasser Arafat's wife. On November 8, officials of the Palestinian Authority traveled to France to see Yasser Arafat. Suha Arafat stated "They are trying to bury Abu Ammar [Arafat] alive". Palestinian officials expressed regret that the news about Yasser Arafat was "filtered" by his wife. French law forbids physicians from discussing the condition of their patients with anybody with the exception, in case of grave prognosis, of close relatives.[74] Accordingly, all communications concerning Yasser Arafat's health had to be authorized by Arafat's wife.
On November 9, at 10 AM, chief surgeon Estripeau of Percy reported that Arafat's condition had worsened, and that he had fallen into a deeper coma. On November 10, a "high religious dignitary" visited Arafat and declared that it was out of the question to disconnect Arafat from life support machines since, according to him, such an action would be prohibited by Islam.[citation needed]
Arafat was pronounced dead at 03:30 AM UTC on November 11 at the age of 75. The exact cause of his illness is unknown. Sheikh Taissir Tamimi, the head of the Islamic court of the Palestinian territories – who held a vigil at Arafat's bedside – described it as "a very painful scene. There was blood everywhere on his face. The blood was coming from every possible place. My first reaction when I saw the scene was that I didn't understand what was going on. I closed my eyes, and I started reading from the Quran…".[citation needed] When Arafat's death was announced, the Palestinian people went into a state of mourning, with Qur'anic mourning prayers emitted from mosque loudspeakers and tires burning in the street as a sign of remorse. The PA declared an official mourning that lasted for forty days. However, a straightforward linear response to the death of Arafat, involved in controversy, conflict and the struggle for national identity as he had been, was unlikely.[clarify] One obituary at SocialistWorld said: "Many Palestinians will view the death of Yasser Arafat with a mixture of sadness and a wish that the Palestinian Authority he led, had done much more to end the poverty and oppression that blights their lives".[75]
In September 2005, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported that French experts could not determine the cause of Arafat's death. The paper quoted an Israeli AIDS expert who claimed that Arafat bore all the symptoms of AIDS, a hypothesis later rejected by the New York Times.[citation needed] Ion Mihai Pacepa, a Romanian intelligence chief, recorded in his memoir "Red Horizons", that Arafat had homosexual tendencies. He alleged that intelligence on the "Tiger" (an English translation of Arafat's common Arabic nickname, Nimr) gathered in the 1970s indicated Arafat had had frequent sexual trysts with his male bodyguards and protégés.[76] In his autobiography, Terry McAuliffe, former US Democratic Party leader and close aide to President Bill Clinton writes that Arafat made a pass at him by rubbing his leg at a dinner.[77]
It has been alleged that the PLO's leader may have contracted HIV as the result of risky homosexual behavior in the years preceding the AIDS scare of the late 1980s. Arafat's sexual proclivities may have been largely ignored by Arab, and indeed other, state leaders.[78]
Dr. Ashraf al-Kurdi, a personal physician of Arafat for 20 years, later declared that nothing in Arafat's medical report mentioned the existence of such a disease.[citation needed] Another "senior Israeli physician" claimed in the Haaretz article that it was "a classic case of food poisoning", probably caused by a meal eaten four hours before he fell ill that may have contained a toxin such as ricin, rather than a standard bacterial poisoning. However, in the same week as the Haaretz report, the New York Times published a separate report, also based on access to Arafat's medical records, which claimed that it was highly unlikely that Arafat had AIDS or food poisoning.[citation needed] Both Haaretz and the New York Times further speculated that the cause of death may have been an infection of an unknown nature or origin. However, rumors of Arafat's poisoning have remained popular around the world, and especially among the Arab populace. Dr. al-Kurdi, who also treats the Hashemite kings, lamented the fact that Arafat's wife Suha had refused an autopsy, which would have answered many questions in the cause of death case.[citation needed] Calling for the creation of an independent commission to carry out investigations concerning Arafat's suspicious death, Dr. al-Kurdi declared to Haaretz on September 9, 2005 that "any doctor would tell you that these are the symptoms of a poisoning".[79] He had previously told the Associated Press that Arafat had the AIDS virus and that "it was given to him to cover up the poison".[80]
Aftermath
Israel refused Arafat's wish to be buried in or near the al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem, citing widespread security concerns.[81] Following a state funeral in Cairo attended by many world leaders, Arafat was "temporarily" laid to rest on November 12 within his former headquarters in Ramallah in the West Bank; the ceremony was watched by a large crowd. After Sheikh Taissir Tamimi discovered that Arafat was buried improperly and in a coffin – which is not in accordance with the Muslim religion – Arafat was reburied on the morning of November 13, at around 3:00 AM.[82]
On November 16, 2004, the Canard Enchaîné newspaper reported alleged leaks of information by unnamed medical sources at Percy hospital who had access to Arafat and his medical file. According to the newspaper, the doctors at Percy hospital suspected, from Arafat's arrival, grave lesions of the liver responsible for an alteration of the composition of the blood; Arafat was therefore placed in a hematology service. Leukemia was soundly ruled out. According to the same source, the reason why this diagnosis of cirrhosis could not be made public was that, in the mind of the general public, cirrhosis is generally associated with the consequences of alcohol abuse. Even though the diagnosis was not of an alcoholic cirrhosis and Arafat was not known for consuming any alcohol, there was a likelihood of rumors. The source explained that Arafat's conditions of life during the last three years did not improve the situation: Arafat did not get health care appropriate to his state. Thus, according to the source, the probable causes of the disease were multiple; Arafat's coma was a consequence of the worsened cirrhosis. Finally, he had a brain hemorrhage and died on November 11, 2004. The French newspaper Le Monde quoted doctors as saying that he suffered from "an unusual blood disease and a liver problem".[citation needed]Paris deputy Claude Goasguen asked for a parliamentary inquiry commission on the death of Arafat in an attempt to quell rumors. On November 17, the French government insisted that there was no evidence Arafat had been poisoned; otherwise, a criminal investigation would have necessarily been opened.[83]
After Arafat's death, the French Ministry of Defense said that Arafat's medical file would only be transmitted to his next of kin. It was determined that Arafat's nephew and PA envoy to the UN, Nasser al-Qudwa, was a close enough relative, thus working around Suha Arafat's mutism on her husband's illness. On November 22, Nasser al-Qudwa was given a copy of Arafat's 558-page medical file by the French Ministry of Defense.[84]
A controversy erupted around Arafat's death certificate. While Arafat's own personal biography listed Cairo as his place of birth, French authorities chose to note his place of birth as Jerusalem instead. French officials claimed that Jerusalem was specified by the documents provided to the French ministry of foreign affairs when Arafat's wife acquired French citizenship; however, France has refused all requests to make these documents public. French officials flatly refused Israel's request to provide proof that Arafat was born in Jerusalem and not Cairo.[85] The Simon Wiesenthal Center later called on France "to investigate the circumstances of the false and incomplete registration of Arafat's death certificate, to correct the erroneous details of his birthplace, adding the truth of his parentage and the cause of his death."[86] Many of Arafat's biographers, as well as Egyptian authorities, have maintained that Arafat's birthplace was Cairo.[1] So far, no party to the controversy has brought the case to a court to ask for a rectification of the certificate.[87]
Upon Arafat's death, Speaker Rawhi Fattouh succeeded Arafat as interim President of the Palestinian Authority (PA). PLO Secretary-General Mahmoud Abbas was selected Chairman of the PLO, and Foreign Minister Farouk Kaddoumi became head of Fatah. Ahmed Qurei remained as Prime Minister, and took on additional security responsibilities. Abbas won the January 2005 presidential election by a comfortable margin, solidifying himself as the successor to Arafat as leader of the Palestinians.
