Yasser Arafat brought untold misery to his own people. He turned them into a people that could not accept peace. He turned them into a people that hated other humans enough to want them exterminated off the face of the planet. He was a terrorist to the bitter end. He sent children off to blow themselves up, either directly or by proxy.
If there was ever a man to an eternity in hell, Arafat would be the one. I see it this way.
With people like Arafat I primarily wish them incapable of continuing their damage. Once they are dead, I commend their fate to God in heaven. Then I dismiss them from my mind and let Him handle it.
Wishing anything for Yasser Arafat positive or negative, is a waste of time. Thank God he is gone.
I have to argue that it is not what is termed here as "theologically acceptable" to wish anyone to hell. As the Bible says "Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" (Ezekiel 18:23). Therefore, as the LORD does not take pleasure in the death of the wicked, neither should we. Rather, we should hope and pray that all find forgiveness (though we know that not all will). All that said, it is proper to look at Arafat and judge him on his merits (or, in this case, the lack thereof). We know that he was a murderous traitor who deserved a bullet from an Israeli assassin through his head decades ago. Yet, we do not wish hell on him.
I think many people say such things, not truly understanding what they are saying. As heaven is beyond the human mind's comprehension in its goodness, so hell is beyond the human mind's comprehension in its terrors.