The death of Yasser Arafat in 2004 created a power vacuum in Palestinian politics. This absence of strong leadership within the Palestinian Authority paved the way for Hamas's rise to power in the Gaza Strip.

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The death of Yasser Arafat in 2004 created a power vacuum in Palestinian politics. This absence of strong leadership within the Palestinian Authority paved the way for Hamas's rise to power in the Gaza Strip.

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Supporting arguments

With Yasser Arafat, 75, thought to be near death, Abbas, a founder of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, is a leading contender to become president of the 3.6-million Palestinians. But the doubts Palestinians have about Abbas illustrate the great dilemma of the post-Arafat era: finding a leader flexible enough to be accepted by Israel and the United States, yet strong enough to convince Palestinians that he is not selling them down the river.
On Friday evening a French medical spokesman, Gen. Christian Estripeau, said only that Arafat's "health has not worsened since yesterday." Arafat is among the best-known people in the world, and "his face was like the flag of Palestine," said Shibley Telhami, a political scientist at the University of Maryland. No one else will have his credibility with the Palestinians, who gave him, like a father, the benefit of the doubt on major choices.

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Factor leading to the 2006 Gaza strip takeover by Hamas

Referenced by

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who died on November 11, has left the Middle East a more brutal, nasty, and toxic place.

Defense

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On Friday evening a French medical spokesman, Gen. Christian Estripeau, said only that Arafat's "health has not worsened since yesterday." Arafat is among the best-known people in the world, and "his face was like the flag of Palestine," said Shibley Telhami, a political scientist at the University of Maryland. No one else will have his credibility with the Palestinians, who gave him, like a father, the benefit of the doubt on major choices.

Defense

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With Yasser Arafat, 75, thought to be near death, Abbas, a founder of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, is a leading contender to become president of the 3.6-million Palestinians. But the doubts Palestinians have about Abbas illustrate the great dilemma of the post-Arafat era: finding a leader flexible enough to be accepted by Israel and the United States, yet strong enough to convince Palestinians that he is not selling them down the river.

Defense

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