Where is Middle East heading after Yasser Arafat's death? Correspondent with Wen Wei Po interviewed Pan Guang, vice chairman China's society for Middle East studies and head of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences on November 11.

Correspondent: There is a change in Israel's long tough attitude about the site of Arafats tomb as it allowed that Arafat to be buried at his compound in Ramallah. What does this tell us?

Pan Guang: Israel made the decision based on two considerations. Proceeding from the reality, the Sharon administration needs to maintain good relations with the new Palestinian leaders. Previously Israel has never let go of Gaza. So the agreement for Arafat to be buried at his compound in Ramallah will help create a good atmosphere for the exchanges between Palestine and Israel.

Second, the move is also for building up a relatively good image of Israel in the international community. Most opinions worldwide are that "it is the three-year confinement by Israel that took Arafat's life." Therefore, taking humanitarianism into consideration, Israel finally nodded.

Correspondent: As Palestinian Foreign Minister made clear the stance, any place except Jerusalem is the temporary tomb of Arafat. What difficulty will confront Palestine in the process of transfer?

Pan Guang: It will be a prolonged process. The move for Arafat to be buried at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem is possible only after an independent country of Palestine is officially established, and, with Jerusalem as its capital. That symbolic reaffirmation, giving the Palestinian people a kind of hope and goal, signifies a new round of "soft game" against Israel.

Correspondent: The Sharon administration, calling Arafat "terrorist", has always regarded him as an obstacle to the Middle East peace talks and initiated "go-it-alone policy" at the excuse of "no one to talk with". Now how can Israel go on with such a policy in the absence of Arafat?

Pan Guang: It has always been an excuse for Israel to say so as to press Palestine. The pressure on the policy mainly stems from inside Israel, the intransigent settlers who have quite a lot mouths in the Parliament and the Likud Party. Now Israeli Parliament has passed the plan, which, plus the reelection of George W. Bush, has created a great opportunity. In fact, the left-wingers of Israel, such as present president of Israel Labor Party Shimon Peres, who was one of the signers for Oslo Accords, have always seated Arafat across negotiation table.

Correspondent: How will Israel regard the new Palestinian leadership? What actions will Sharon administration take?

Pan Guang: Compared to Arafat, either Ahmed Qureia or Mohamad Abbas can be the one acceptable for Israel across the table. In post-Arafat period Israel will be facing challenge as well as opportunity. The new Palestinian leaders will remain in a short-term unity and consensus but in the long run, along with the re-distribution of power, there will inevitably be collisions of interest. At last, there is even possibility for a compromised, interim figure at the primary position. Therefore, Israel will have a serious analysis on the internal situation of Palestine before making a political judgment.

In short a major policy turnaround will be seen in Israel in the near future.

By People's Daily Online