Who’ll Replace Arafat? ‘Prime Minister Ariel Sharon won’t order Arafat’s assassination anytime soon — the missile that exploded 50 yards from Arafat on Tuesday was a signal, not a miss. The rest of the world, including the United States, wouldn’t brook Arafat’s murder, and Sharon isn’t willing to make his nation a pariah again. Still, Israelis are ready for the devil they don’t know to replace Arafat. Palestinians, too, are worrying about who’s next when the frail 72-year-old Arafat does go, whether by Israeli missile, Palestinian coup, or sickness.

The short answer to the question “Who’s next?” is: Who knows? There’s no obvious heir.’ Slate