Your Excellency,

On the sad occasion of the death of President Yasser Arafat, we extend our condolences to the Palestinian people and to the leadership of the Palestinian Authority. We also ask God’s comfort for the members of his family in this time of deep grief.

President Arafat will be remembered for bringing the Palestinian people together and for his unique and tenacious contribution to the cause of establishing their national home.

We stand with the Churches of the Holy Land to honour his commitment to their place in the Palestinian society, its affairs and its future. President Arafat often made sure to mention the church as well as the mosque as core institutions of Palestinian national life. True to the customs of mutual respect among his diverse people, he celebrated Christmas with the churches of Bethlehem as circumstances permitted.

On his long road as a leader, Yasser Arafat came to the recognition that true justice embraces peace, security and hope for both Palestinians and Israelis. His path has now ended, amid the rocks and thorns of occupation, at a distance from the goal he sought. As he is laid to rest the world will see - from the location of his final resting place - how far the Palestinian people must still travel together.

In solidarity with the Palestinian people, the World Council of Churches will continue to work for human rights, sustainable livelihoods, medical care and basic freedoms, in the days and years that lie ahead and until there is peace.

Yours truly,

Peter Weiderud
Director
Commission of the Churches on International Affairs
World Council of Churches

- Message of condolence from the World Council of Churches to Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei.

Australian Greens send condolences to Palestinians
11 November 2004

The Greens today sent their condolences to the family of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian people.

"The Greens extend their sympathies to Mr Arafat's family and the Palestinian people at his passing," said Senator Kerry Nettle.

"During this time of mourning it is critical that we continue to work towards achieving peace and justice in the long-running Israel-Palestinian dispute."

- Statement by the Australian Greens, 11.11.04

"I think history will judge him very harshly for not having seized the opportunity in the year 2000 to embrace the offer that was very courageously made by the then Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, that involved the Israelis agreeing to about 90 percent of what the Palestinians wanted."

- Statement by John Winston Howard, 11.11.04

BBC Online has a weblog by their correspondents of reaction in various locations around the world.

More reflections on the life of Yasser Arafat:

Father of the Palestinian Nation - Danny Rubinstein, Ha'aretz
Yasser Arafat: An obituary - Tovah Lazaroff, Jerusalem Post
Yasser Arafat - David Hirst, The Guardian, which also has a good compilation of reaction from leaders around the world (including, unfortunately, JWH).

Wikipedia has updated its entry on Yasser Arafat following his death, which was announced about five and a half hours ago.