Ever since the creation of Israel the Palestinians in diaspora were virtually subsumed in a notoriously divisive Arab politics and had been little more than pawn in intra-Arab feuds. The feuding Arab leaders used them only to advance their political interests and their attitude towards these stateless people had not always been charitable. Arafat, for the first time, gave them the identity of their own and tirelessly promoted their cause. Henceforth the Palestinians were looked upon as a separate national entity. During his life time Arafat occupied the centre stage of Palestinian affairs and his was the last word in making decision affecting his people although he did it through consensus by virtue of his unique personal chemistry. With his permanent departure from the scene now, that Palestinian identity may somewhat erode and the consensus making tradition of Arafat suffer a setback.

With Arafat gore it is only apt that the sly and superior enemies of the Palestinians would exploit the weakness and infuse a divisiveness within the ranks of PLO leadership as well as the power structure of Palestinian authority. Only months before they propped up an alternative leadership with which they could do business by sidelining Arafat -- "the only obstacle to peace". They failed and a virtually captive Arafat had sprung back to centre stage. It is axiomatic that the US-Israeli axis will surely repeat the efforts. The sinister shadow of their renewed alacrity is starkly visible as Bush-Blair duo, apparently happy at the permanent removal of the only obstacle to peace, broached the idea of yet another peace process culminating in an independent Palestinian state while the Palestinians are still mourning their leader's demise.

Peace is however a cherished objective of every people. For the Palestinians it is inescapable first step for their statehood. It is equally an imperative for the conflict-weary Israelis. There has never been any dispute about peace but there is dispute about what that peace would be like. Arafat created 'problems' for the peace makers -- but why? 'Arafat was the only obstacle to peace' -- the peace to be established on Washington-Tel Aviv's term only to put in place their Middle-East game plan with a view to ensuring 'greater Israel' envisioned by paranoid Likudists and securing Israel -- the US' strategic outpost in the equally

strategic hub of the world at any cost. This is while offering the Palestinians a disconnected line of Israel encircled ghettos in the name of peace and a sovereign Palestinian state without addressing the key questions of such statehood: the Jewish settlements, return of refugees, Jerusalem and soon.

A long arduous way has already been traversed in the name of peace process but peace eluded both the Palestinians and Israelis because of the peace-brokers' carefully concealed chicanery right from the beginning. Arafat knew them to their backbone and could zealously guard the Palestinians' interests against all odds. He refused to yield to American pressure to sign on the dotted lines. The second Camp David in the summer of 2000 was the breaking point when Arafat earned the ire of Bill Clinton who apparently laid a trap for Arafat in Camp David but failed. The Camp David broke down and Arafat returned to his people with second intifada erupting in full fury.

None knew better than Arafat, a born revolutionary, that peace is never on the platter and it has to be bargained from a position of strength, but as a visionary he always favoured giving peace a chance. It was misunderstood by Israel and her Western patrons who wanted to exploit Arafat's stature among the Palestinians during his weakest time. They pitchforked him from far-off Tunis where he was licking his wounds after the PLO's ouster from its sanctuaries in Arab heartland. Arafat was virtually abandoned by the Arabs by then and lost the Soviet support with its disintegration after the cold war. Yet the peace brokers catapulted him to Clinton's White House -- the centrestage of Oslo peace process -- only to discover what mettle he was made of. To their disappointment they found Arafat unbending and uncompromising on the question of Palestinian cause.

That's what is the legacy of Arafat which he left for his people. Indoctrinated by Arafat's mantra the Palestinians are highly unlikely to be dislodged from their long held position -- no matter who puts on the mantle of Arafat. It may be possible to hoodwink the leaders by dangling carrots and stick but the Palestinians baptised to Arafat's way can hardly be deflected from their cause and conviction. If the history of Palestinian struggle is any guide an independent Palestinian state is a certainty even if distant. Arafat taught them with his life how to generate strength from nothing to bargain peace with a sly enemy. Arafat, the stateless head of the state had been instinctively treated at par with most powerfuls of the world both in life and death. Those who ignored him only trivialised themselves.

The long oppressed and dispossessed people of an occupied Palestine have already been through series of trials and tribulations. And surprisingly they always refused to succumb to them -- thanks to Arafat's inspiring leadership. True, with Arafat gone they are again plunged into the choppy dark water of Middle East politics while facing diabolic opponents. But fired with Arafat's legacy they will, as before, fight for just peace and not an imposed one from outside. For they know they have nowhere to fall back upon. In the meantime, those who are crowing that a new opportunity has arrived for peace with Arafat's death would soon realise that the golden opportunity for peace has already been missed because none else could be better equipped than Arafat to deliver it.

Brig ( retd) Hafiz is former DG of BIISS.