Behind the News

In this issue issued by Dar Kanaan, the Palestinian researcher Majed Kayali presents an unconventional approach to the personality of Yasser Arafat, moving away from the usual political assessments, delved into how the “Israeli establishment” perceives this exceptional phenomenon. ## The most prominent themes of the book - Arafat...the phenomenon and legitimacy: Kayali starts from the idea that Arafat was not just a party leader, but rather he was the embodiment of a national movement similar to its people. He gained his legitimacy from the field and not from the “back of a tank,” and he succeeded in internationalizing the Palestinian cause to the point that put the Zionist project in a state of permanent doubt about its legitimacy. - Psychology of Siege (Intelligence Report): The book reviews striking Israeli intelligence analyses, indicating that military pressure was “revitalizing” Arafat instead of breaking him; At the height of the siege, he was inclined to take risks and felt psychological satisfaction when confronting a great power, which thwarted attempts at Israeli political blackmail. - Confrontation from within: The book focuses on the Israeli elites’ view (through newspaper articles) of Arafat during the “Second Intifada”, as they considered him a puzzle that was difficult to decipher at the height of the armed conflict. - Behind the scenes of the liquidation and maneuvering: The book documents dramatic details of the assassination attempts (such as the 1982 Olympia operation) and the scenes of the arduous negotiations, and concludes with an important historical document, which is a translation of Arafat’s article in the “New York Times” (2002), in which he presented his vision for peace before his final siege. In short: The book is neither praise nor condemnation, but rather an "Israeli mirror" that reflects how one man was able to disturb the security and intellectual institutions of the Hebrew state for decades.