Angela Bertz

Adam Weinstein was 14.

A bright ninth grade student, he was a computer prodigy. He liked to play basketball and the piano. His brother described him as a good soul who never cursed and had many friends. On December 1, 2001 this vibrant young teenager had been enjoying a night out with his friends. Just before 11.30 p.m. he spoke to his parents to tell them he was on his way home. Adam never spoke to them again. Shortly after that call two Palestinian Arab homicide bombers detonated an explosive belt and Adam, along with 10 other youngsters, was blown to pieces. The number of wounded was 180.

This is what Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa, had to say about the man that was responsible for Adam's murder. "Yasser Arafat was one of the outstanding freedom fighters of this generation, one who gave his entire life to the cause of the Palestinian people. We honor his memory today."

South African President Thabo Mbeki expressed his "deepest regret" at the death of a "giant of the struggle of the poor and struggle of the oppressed."

This is what Yasser Arafat said "My brothers! With blood and with spirit we will redeem you, Palestine! Yes, with blood and with spirit we will redeem you Palestine!"

Anya Kazachkov was 16.

Anya was a talented 11th grade student whose drawings now decorate the walls of her former school. Her mother described her daughter as full of life. She wanted to study, serve in the army and get married. Anya, born in Russia had only been in Israel for two years. On the first day of June in 2001 Anya was waiting to go into a disco with her friends. Shortly before midnight a Palestinian Arab destroyed not only Anya's life but the life of 19 other teenagers. One hundred more were wounded. Overwhelmed with grief at her daughter's funeral two days later, her mother screamed that all she wanted was to see her daughter's face one more time.

This is what French President Chirac had to say about the man responsible for Anya's murder. "With him disappears a man of courage and conviction who for 40 years incarnated the Palestinians' fight for recognition of their national rights."

This was Yasser Arafat's message to Palestinian Arab children.
"Be a Shahid" (Martyr). Upon hearing the news of yet another attack on Israel he declared: "The heroic martyrdom operation [of the man] that turned his body into a bomb [is] the model of manhood and sacrifice for the sake of Allah and the homeland.”

Malka Roth was 15.

Malka was a beautiful girl who helped her mother care for her severely handicapped sister. Through her experience in the home she became devoted to the needs of special needs children. She was a gifted musician who played the classical flute. Accompanied by her best friend, on August 9, 2002she stopped for lunch at the Sbarro Pizza parlour in Jerusalem. Just before 2 p.m. a Palestinian Arab detonated a 5-10 kg bomb packed with nails and shrapnel. Malka's parents received her phone back with a one inch nail embedded in it. Fourteen others, including her best friend and five members of the same family, were also killed and 132 were wounded.

This is what UN chief Kofi Annan had to say about the man who murdered Malka.

Arafat "symbolized... the national aspirations of the Palestinian people." By signing the Oslo accords, "he took a giant step towards the realization of this vision. It is tragic that he did not live to see it fulfilled."

These are words spoken by Yasser Arafat: "We the PLO will concentrate all our efforts on splitting Israel psychologically into two camps. Within five years we will have six to seven million Arabs living on the West Bank and in Jerusalem. The PLO plans to eliminate the State of Israel and establish a purely Palestinian State. We will make life unbearable for Jews by psychological warfare and population explosion."

Shmuel Taubenfeld was three months old.

There is not much to be said about his short life. He never had a chance to take his first step. He never spoke his first word. He would never have a first day at school. He never understood what it meant to smell a flower. On August 19th a Palestinian Arabhomicide bomber dressed as an orthodox Jew got on the bus. Twenty two people were blown to pieces and 136 were wounded, many of them children.. Some of the victims could only be identified through DNA tests. The rabbi at Shmuel’s funeral said these poignant words: "You will now be an angel who will protect us and strengthen us". Shmuel was buried alongside his mother Goldie in Jerusalem and is survived by his father and 12 siblings.

This is what Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski had to say about the man responsible for the murder of baby Shmuel: "The death of Yasser Arafat is a departure from political life of one of the most charismatic, one of the most colorful and controversial figures, both in the Middle East and the wider political world."

The Spanish government said the following:
"The Spanish government expresses its great sadness at the death of Yasser Arafat, the president of the Palestinian National Authority, and winner of the Nobel peace prize". The statement continued: "Arafat's charismatic personality, the international status that he gave to the Palestinian nation and his unrelenting fight for recognition for his people makes him one of the most relevant leaders of our time."

These are words spoken by Yasser Arafat: "They are waging open war against the Palestinian people...We must confront them, we must confront them, we must confront them. We must confront them in every sense of the word."

Elad Cohen was 20.

A neighbour described him as a quiet and serious boy, who had wanted to serve in a combat unit, where he thrived, making many friends. On May 12, 2004 Elad, along with 5 other soldiers, was on a mission to destroy tunnels used by Palestinian Arabs to smuggle weapons and ammunition. His armoured personnel carrier was hit by an anti-tank rocket and he was blown to pieces. Later the people of Gaza raced through the streets like cannibals with the torn body parts of these young soldiers. They then tried to use the return of these body parts for burial as bargaining chips to force Israel into painful concessions.

This is what Chinese President Hu Jintao had to say about the man responsible for the murder of Elad. Yasser Arafat was "a brilliant leader" and "a great friend" of China.

Communist neighbour North Korea decreed a three day condolence period and issued the following statement: "Yasser Arafat was a close friend of the Korean people as he made ceaseless efforts to develop friendly and cooperative relations between the peoples of North Korea and Palestine. His noble accomplishments will always be remembered by not only Palestinians but also the international community".

These are words spoken by Yasser Arafat: "To Jerusalem we will march — millions of martyrs. And, O God, Master of the Universe, please let me be one of the martyrs. Al-jihad, al-jihad, al-jihad, al-jihad" (Holy war, holy war, holy war, holy war).

The last word belongs to the senior apologist for Palestinian terrorism Hannan Ashrawi. This lady has for years used her oratorical skills to spew out vile lies faster than Palestinians bullets can be plowed into the head of a pregnant mother and her four little daughters.

Commenting on the outpouring of grief at the chaotic funeral in Ramallah she described Arafat as a man of the people, a great leader, a great statesman and a great father.

The funeral, she added, is "Quintessential Arafat—he would have loved it."

Angela Bertz lives in Israel and is a frequent contributor to IsraPundit