Arafat long ago lost his allure among his people.

Focuses on the political leadership of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat. Reference to a suicide bombing by a Palestinian in Israel on November 1, 2004; Report that Arafat was flown to Paris, France, due to illness; Hope of Israelis that the death of Arafat would lead to renewed peace negotiations with Palestine; Possibility that Arafat's successor will be a nationalist or an Islamist militiaman; Killings of Palestinians by Israelis in the occupied territories; Failure of Arafat to provide Palestinians with protection; Discussion of the impending removal of Israelis from Jewish settlements in Gaza and the West Bank.