Yasser Arafat passed away in France on Thursday, November 11, 2004.

Upon his passing, the British Government said that "President Arafat played such a dominant role on behalf of the Palestinians over so many decades that it is hard to imagine the Middle East without him. As the leader of his people, he created an international awareness of, and concern about, the plight of the Palestinian people. He displayed unquestionable devotion to his work. President Arafat led the Palestinian national movement through the 1980s and 1990s to an acceptance of Israel, a two state solution, and negotiation as the means to achieve that goal. He died knowing that the international community had committed itself to a viable Palestinian state alongside a secure state of Israel. As the Prime Minister has made clear, the United Kingdom will continue to do all it can to strive for that outcome."

The American Jewish Committee issued a statement saying that "the passing of Yasser Arafat today ends a tragic chapter in the history of the Middle East and presents a potentially new opportunity for a long overdue peace in the region. As a symbol of Palestinian political aspirations, Arafat was undeniably a figure of significance. But given an historic test -- the chance to evolve from revolutionary apparatchik and terrorist par excellence to democratic ruler of a nascent state -- he failed. As the Palestinians mourn the passing of Arafat, we hope they are resolved that the next individual who rises to lead them will deliver the responsible governance, transparency and accountability, prosperity, and, ultimately, peaceful, democratic state alongside Israel that represents the only viable political solution for the region."