Why Didn’t Yitzhak Rabin Prevent His Own Killing?

Yasser Arafat is being told that he is directly responsible for the suicide bombings this past weekend. That Hamas promised this retribution for the Israeli assassination of its top military leader is irrelevant. That Palestinians have no army and get no weaponry to defend themselves against Israeli aggression, thus encouraging the creation of human bombs — right or wrong, is not worth a bleep on the radar screen. It is Yasser Arafat who is responsible for the actions and feelings of every member of Palestinian society. From feeling anger at the lack of freedom to crying at the destruction of one’s home by an Israeli bulldozer, it is Arafat and Arafat alone who decides if people can feel such emotions. When he doesn’t have time, Palestinian textbooks come to the rescue as they are also “responsible” for inciting hatred, as opposed to Israel’s humiliating policies.

Yes, indeed, it is truly remarkable that only Yasser Arafat seemingly has a remote control box which directs the emotions and actions of millions of Palestinians. I wonder if ungrateful Palestinians realize that God has graced the Palestinian people with a man who possesses power never before seen in the history of mankind.

But if Arafat is responsible for the emotion and decision of every Palestinian, isn’t it time we held Israeli leaders to the same standards? After all, we must be honest brokers.

Ariel Sharon was/is directly responsible . . .

And since we apparently believe that a leader is responsible for the actions of every one of their citizens, why didn’t the late Yitzhak Rabin prevent his pre-meditated murder at an Israeli peace rally by Israeli assassin, Yigal Amir? He could have tipped off agents of Mossad, and he would still be alive. But since he knew ahead of time, are we to assume that maybe the assassination was more of a complex suicide/assassination?

Should Pope John Paul II have been excommunicated when the bomber of an abortion clinic was found to be Roman Catholic several years ago?

Closer to home, why wasn’t President Bill Clinton imprisoned for his previously unknown but apparent role in the Oklahoma City bombings?

Does this sound ridiculous? It should and it is no less ridiculous that Yasser Arafat is responsible for the actions and feelings of every Palestinian. Oh, wait. Since I’m of Palestinian descent, I have to contact Chairman Arafat to find out if I can think that this concept is ridiculous. I’m apparently incapable of my own thoughts.

Sherri Muzher is a Palestinian-American activist, lawyer, and freelance journalist.

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