The death of Yasser Arafat has brought the second generation of Palestinian leaders, all close associates of Arafat, into the limelight. While the Oslo Accord lies in a shambles, it is up to them to resume and continue the process of negotiations ? with Israel and other countries that neighbour it in west Asia. On the other hand, the new leadership needs to urgently institute systems of internal democracy in Palestine areas; empowerment could possibly lead to a permanent abjuring of the politics of violence.