Arafat and his associates have been responsible for putting their cause on the world stage by quite often killing innocent people (mostly Jews). This is some way to prove a just cause! I believe they should have a state but The Palestinian cause lost me and my sympathy way back when they murdered the Isreali athletes at the Olympics.
He has constantly blown his legimate chances of negotiating real peace and has put his own Palestinian people in despair for more than a generation because of the consequences. Now a new generation who knows nothing about living a peaceful and prosperous life will probably want to continue the hatred toward their Jewish neighbors without end. He runs a corrupt government and cannot seem to shake the freedom fighter terrorist struggle that he supports. This is their Palestinian Hero. He has been an utter failure for his people- and the results are obvious, and why so many in the world can't see that is beyond me. Hopefully some brighter and genuine leaders who can seriously negotiate peace will emerge and positive changes can happen on both the Israeli and Palestinian sides.