The leaders of various Palestinian groups held a meeting Friday in Gaza City in an attempt to maintain order in the event of Yasser Arafat's death. Arafat remains in a coma in a Paris military hospital and his condition seems irreversable.

Historically, tensions have always existed between Arafat's Fatah faction and other groups like Islamic Jihad and Hamas. While all of these groups have comitted acts of terror, officially, Fatah was in negotiations with Israel during the past decade while Islamic Jihad and Hamas refuse to recognize the existance of the Jewish state. Regardless of politics, Mr. Arafat was always the one voice who could unite most Palestinians to some extent. Now, with Arafat near death, the factions wanted to make sure the transition would not result in chaos.

'We have come here to demonstrate our national unity and show that we are not just scattered tribes,' said Mohammed al-Hindi, the head of Islamic Jihad in Gaza, as he arrived at the meeting.

Officials are trying to ensure peace and stability in the wake of Arafat's imminant death.

'There is a high degree of cooperation between the different factions and the Palestinian security services aimed at controlling the situation and ensuring that order reigns,' a Palestinian security official said. 'All parties are determined to live in peace during the period following president Arafat's expected death,' he said.

The question remained who would take over the leadership of the Palestinain Authority if and when Arafat dies. Reports out of Gaza City indicate that Prime Minister Ahmed Quereia and former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas will emerge as tranistion leaders. Who will hold long term power and how the new leader will be selected are still uncertain. It is also unclear if the new leader will improve the chances for a negotiated peace settlement in the Middle East, something that Mr. Arafat was unwilling to do.