The following from the Jewish human rights organization, B'Tselem (click on "Siege Policy"), describes what, more than anything Arafat could do or has done, has brought the Palestinian economy to its knees:

Since September 2000, the IDF has erected an extensive network of checkpoints, road blocks, trenches and other obstacles - a virtual siege around every Palestinian community in the West Bank. Most West Bank roads are now reserved exclusively for Jewish travel.

Most checkpoints and physical obstacles do not prevent entry into Israel; they prevent travel between Palestinian cities and villages within the West Bank. They disrupt every aspect of Palestinian daily life. Children cannot get to schools, adults cannot reach jobs, and patients cannot get medical treatment. The restrictions on movement have contributed to a collapse of the Palestinian economy.

The checkpoints do not target only those who pose a security threat to Israel; they target everyone. In fact, those most harmed are people physically unable to bypass the obstacles: families with small children, pregnant women, the sick and the elderly.

When over two million people cannot travel even a few miles down the road, cannot conduct any aspect of their daily lives without encountering innumerable obstacles, such restrictions are no longer legitimate security measures - they are collective punishments.

Here are links to some other Jewish human rights and peace organizations.

Jewish Unity for a Just Peace

Gush Shalom

Refuser Solidarity Network

Jews for Peace in Palestine and Israel (JPPI)

Shalom Achshav

Jewish Voice for Peace http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/ (I can't get this link to work, but copy-pasting the URL has worked for me)

Jews Against the Occupation

Bat Shalom

B'Tselem

European Jews for a Just Peace