Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat unable to shake image of terrorist

Published: 2004-11-11

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was a Nobel peace laureate, but was unable to completely shake off his image of a terrorist and supporter of violence. A Muslim, Arafat was largely supported by the Christian population and knew the importance of maintaining good relations between Christians and Muslims. He met often with delegations of foreign bishops and local Christian leaders. Arafat, 75, died in a Paris military hospital Nov. 11 after being in a coma for more than a week. The cause of death was not immediately announced. Latin Patriarch Michel Sabbah of Jerusalem was among a delegation of five Christian representatives who left Jerusalem for Cairo, Egypt, to attend Arafat's Nov. 12 funeral. Delegation members also planned to attend Arafat's burial in Ramallah, West Bank.

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