Posted on 11/07/2004 8:51:28 PM PST by Flavius
Yasser Arafat is all but dead with only the time of death and place of burial to be determined.
Conflicting reports over the Palestinian president's health have hugged headlines for days. Arafat's health was described initially two weeks ago as the flu, it then became a stomach ailment, and as he was being flown on October 29 to the Percy military training hospital in Paris there was the suggestion of a virus. Then it came down to a blood disorder and possibly leukemia, which was later ruled out. He was then described as being in a coma, firstly an irreversible coma, then a reversible one. He was invariably described as being "on life support", that he was "in intensive care", in "critical condition", he was "fighting for his life", and that he was "brain dead."
Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker and Israeli media went so far as to say that he had "died". Juncker said in Brussels at 1640 GMT on Thursday, "Mr. Arafat passed away a quarter of an hour ago." His aides later retracted the statement. French President Jacques Chirac, who made a half-hour visit to the hospital refused to answer journalists' questions as to whether Arafat was dead.
French officials have refused to take questions, as have hospital staff. Official statements have described the 75-year old leader's condition as "complex", "stable", and "not having deteriorated."
Reports as of last Thursday from various anonymous sources, Israeli officials and U.S. administration sources (unnamed) support the basis that Arafat's condition is terminal and that he is on life-support. Palestinian officials and Arafat's wife Suha are discussing plans for him to be taken off life-support, probably later this week. Negotiations though are believed to be tense as Suha Arafat went public Monday accusing Palestinian officials of wanting to "bury" her husband "alive."
In a telephone call from Arafat's bedside to al-Jazeera's office in Ramallah she said, "You have to realize the size of the conspiracy. I tell you they are trying to bury Abu Ammar alive." A producer from Al-Jazeera told The Associated Press they were confident it was Suha Arafat and that she had called from the hospital.
Former and current Palestinian prime ministers Mahmud Abbas and Ahmed Qorei are expected in Paris later on Monday, French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier confirmed.
Two weeks ago rumours swept the United Arab Emirates that the President of the UAE Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan had died. That was a week before his death. There is no verification that the highly regarded 86 year old leader was kept alive on life support whilst preparations were made for his death but under Islamic tradition burial is required within 24 hours of death so it is possible.
Palestinian leaders have been holding talks for days to organise a restructuring of the Palestinian Authority post-Arafat. There are also intensive negotiations underway with Israel to determine his burial place. Arafat had a last wish to be buried in Jerusalem but Israeli Justice Minister Yosef Lapid slammed the idea. "Jerusalem is the city where Jewish kings are buried, not Arab terrorists," he said. Israel insists Arafat when he "dies" will be buried in the Gaza Strip.
Palestinian negotiations minister Saeb Erakat said, "It's not appropriate to speak about someone's burial while he is still alive. President Arafat is alive," he said.
The cause of Arafat's illness remains a mystery.
snicker, snicker, grin ;~) Actually, I really enjoy the Arafat's dead, not dead threads. They're hysterical and I get a little thrill every time a new headline pops up announcing he's dead - again.
They'll declare him dead when the body starts to smell. But since its France it could be a while before anyone notices.
My wife talked with some recent immigrants from Cuba. It's the consensus that Raul will not be able to hold on and that there will be a real power struggle among various factions in the Cuban government, possibly resulting in civil war.
Does that mean deader than yesterday?
=)
no, must resuscitate. then execute him.
Oriana Fallaci, the Itallian journalist, exposed Arafat 25 years ago as Gay. The MSM always covered for him. You could say they had his back.
To be followed immediately with reports that he has made a full recovery. (They need time to call in the taxidermist so that ol' Yassr can live on indefinitely.)
And his rotting corpse stinks on.
"French President Jacques Chirac, who made a half-hour visit to the hospital refused to answer journalists' questions as to whether Arafat was dead. "
Duh...only the international media cannot see that when a major political figure won't say someone is even remotely alive, he is obviously dead.
Regards,
Lenny
Sounds just like Hilary!
Actually Arafat is refusing to concede his death. He's demanding that the provisional doctors on the West Bank be consulted first. But personally, I'm of the opinion he knows he dead - he just wants to deny us our celebration.
Who here even considered that they could be on the same side as Palestinian officials?
They are going to announce he is dead again? This is the longest opus in history.
Definitely a lot deader than half-dead;)
Right now he is like Lenin without an aquarium to rest in.
Yep, it takes time to clear all of Yasser's funds out of the French banks.
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