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Speculation runs wild about Arafat's medical status
 CLAMART, France - Yasser Arafat's French physicians are refusing to discuss his health crisis, leading to rampant speculation about the Palestinian leader's dramatic deterioration. One Palestinian official ruled out leukemia, while another said it was not a concern "for the time being." A medical wishing guessing game has ensued, with talk of possible blood disorders, poisoning, a viral infection.
| So many possibilities, so little protoplasm ... |
Israel's chief of military intelligence, Maj. Gen. Aharon Zeevi-Farkash, did little to clear things up. He told a Cabinet meeting Sunday that Arafat's "situation is between full recovery and death," said an Israeli official who briefed reporters on the meeting.
| Thanks for that brief, General, that really narrows it down. |
"Arafat's condition is improving," the official quoted Zeevi-Farkash as saying. "The blood transfusions have helped. We don't know if it's viral infection, perhaps mono, or it's leukemia or another cancer." As the ailing 75-year-old Arafat entered his fourth day of emergency treatment at a French military hospital Monday, French doctors maintained their policy of silence. French physicians have refused to comment on the Palestinian leader's health until a diagnosis can be made based on a battery of tests that started immediately after his arrival Friday.
Posted by: Steve White 2004-11-02 |
