Yasser Arafat Joke

As told to me last night by Damian Najman, one of the Columbia College Libertarians who hosted my talk:

Arafat has a dream that he is going to die so he goes to see a medium who might be able to explain the circumstances of his death. The medium gazes into her crystal ball and declares, "You are going to die on a Jewish holiday." Arafat replies, "Which one?" The medium responds, "It doesn't matter. Whatever day you die will become a Jewish holiday."

Obits and news here.

Comments

fyodor | November 11, 2004, 7:15pm | #

No offense Nick, but I (first!) heard that one about 35 years ago, only then it was about Nasser. Maybe cause I'm Jewish.

Jason Bourne | November 11, 2004, 7:17pm | #

fyodor,

I've heard it used in reference to other people as well, like Saddam.

drf | November 11, 2004, 7:19pm | #

still, it's a goodie...

(i hadn't heard it before sadly..)

cheerio,
drf

fyodor | November 11, 2004, 7:22pm | #

Actually, it was a better joke 35 years ago.

Nasser walks into a psychic's tent and says, "Do you know me?" The psychic says, "No." Nasser says, "Good. Now tell me when I will die." The psychic studies her crystal ball hard and says, "I see you will die on a Jewish holiday." Nasser say, "Well...there are many Jewish holidays--which one?" The psychic peers harder and says, "I see it is...the Jewish holiday...that celebrates the death of Nasser!"

All laugh. Well you knew how it was going to end already. Really, my father told me this about 35 years ago. I guess the current one is a little meaner cause it implies the medium is in on it and rubbing it in, plus it's a dream implying Arafat's conscience is getting to him. But I like the old version better.

fyodor | November 11, 2004, 7:25pm | #

JB,

Yeah, it gets updated now and again!

Swamp Justice | November 11, 2004, 7:26pm | #

fyodor's version is funnier because the psychic is "actually" seeing into the future. Damian's version is less funny because the psychic is just dissing Arafat, not actually seeing into the future. :)

Jason Bourne | November 11, 2004, 7:27pm | #

fyodor,

I always thought that Sharon and Arafat looked like Jabba the Hut and Jabba's little green buddy. :)

Darnell the Smell | November 11, 2004, 8:44pm | #

Salacious Crumb! That is if you are referring to the little guy who laughs a lot, and then gets electrocuted by R2D2 during the battle at the Sarlac Pit.

Michael Gushulak | November 11, 2004, 9:05pm | #

Another version, maybe the original one, involves Hitler. I think it appears in Leo Rosten's The Joys of Yiddish.

Stevo Threadkiller | November 11, 2004, 9:06pm | #

I haven't heard the joke before, and I vote for the newer version as being the better one, because it is more of a mean zinger.

But voting is immoral anyway ... I should have said, "In the marketplace of jokes, I would choose the fresher one."

Ruthless | November 11, 2004, 9:31pm | #

I hope these are fresh zingers--being Irish, I wouldn't know--seeing as how I just got them today in an e-mail from my buddy, Gofaq Yussef:

Did you hear about the Muslim strip club?
It features full facial nudity!

Why are Palestinian boys luckier than American boys?
Because every Palestinian boy will get to join a rock group!

What does the sign say above the nursery in a Palestinian maternity
ward?
"Live ammunition."

A Palestinian girl says to her mommy:
"After Abdul blows up, can I have his room?"

raymond | November 12, 2004, 12:45am | #

Whatever the origin, it's a lot funnier in ancient-Egyptian.

Dan | November 12, 2004, 2:23am | #

What does the sign say above the nursery in a Palestinian maternity ward? "Live ammunition."

Ouch.

Jason Bourne | November 12, 2004, 4:49am | #

Darnell,

That's the one.

Humbert III | November 12, 2004, 9:52am | #

'Gofaq Yussef' - now I get it.

Fillibert | November 13, 2004, 12:12pm | #

The young Palestinian girl gave a twirl in front of her friends before setting out for the bus stop.

"Does my bomb look big in this?" she asked.

english | November 16, 2004, 1:48pm | #

This will test your knowledge of British culture!

Arafat went to his final resting place wearing a rangers shirt, spurs shorts, one Newcastle sock and one Lazio sock. Why? ...



Because it was his dying wish to be buried in a Gazza strip.