Debka is reporting that Arafat died several days ago, which is contrary to what some Palestinian spokesmen are saying in other press stories. Who knows? I don’t. But the fact that the doctors are not saying anything is highly suspicious.
UPDATE:
Reuters reports that Arafat’s wife is accusing Palestinian officials of trying to bury Arafat alive. That tends to lend some credence to the speculation that he is already brain-dead and she is refusing to allow pulling the plug. If this is true, in the US this would not be her decision beyond perhaps the brief time needed to harvest organs if that were contemplated. But who knows?
Here is Reuters (tip LGF):
Israeli media had reported the 75-year-old president would be taken off life-support equipment after Palestine Liberation Organization (news – web sites) Secretary General Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie and Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath arrived in Paris.
“I appeal to you to be aware of the scope of the conspiracy,” a screaming Suha Arafat said on Arabic Al Jazeera satellite television, monitored in the West Bank.
“They are trying to bury Abu Ammar (Arafat) alive,” she said in comments that flew in the face of efforts by Arafat’s lieutenants to project an image of unity and business as usual at a time when many Palestinians fear chaos if he dies.
“Abu Ammar [Arafat] is well and he is coming back to his homeland,” she said without giving any details about Arafat’s illness and accusing the three leaders of being desperate to succeed him.
It was not immediately clear whether Abbas, Qurie and Shaath would press ahead with their planned trip to Paris.
Palestinian officials have privately accused Mrs. Arafat, who prior to her husband being flown to a Paris military hospital on Oct. 29 had not seen him in three years, of limiting access to and information about the veteran leader.
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