| Submit your comments on this article |
| Israel-Palestine |
| Sharon learned of Arafat's 'death' from French intelligence |
| 2004-11-05 |
| RAMALLAH — Israeli officials have confirmed reports that Arafat died. They said Prime Minister Ariel Sharon obtained the information from French intelligence. Israeli and Palestinian officials said the 75-year-old Arafat died on Thursday in a military hospital in Paris. The officials said Arafat was deemed clinically dead, but remained attached to life support systems on the insistence of his wife, Suha, Middle East Newsline reported. "He is dead and there is no longer any doubt of this," a PA official said. "The announcement will come when Suha agrees to it, but I don't imagine the French allowing a dead Arafat to stay in their hospital for more than another few days." The official said that over the last week Suha has pressed Arafat aides for information on her husband's bank accounts. Arafat was said to have up to $3 billion in assets, much of it believed deposited in Swiss banks, according to a report in the current edition of Geostrategy-Direct.com. The PA has not confirmed Arafat's death. Officials said Suha was the only one authorized to issue statements regarding her husband's condition. On Friday, after repeated assertions that Arafat's condition was improving, PLO envoy Leila Shahid said the chairman was in a coma. The PA has already begun preparing the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip for the announcement of Arafat's death. On late Thursday, amid the PA denials of reports that Arafat has died, PA television broadcast a program on his life. "What's being done now is no different than when King Hussein died," the official, referring to the death of the Jordanian monarch in 1999, said. "Hussein was essentially dead when he was flown from the U.S. hospital back to Amman. But Jordan waited three days until all of the preparations for the succession of power had been completed." Israel's military began to implement its plan drafted to respond to Arafat's death. Termed "New Leaf," the plan by the military's Central Command envisions power struggles within the ruling Fatah movement and between Palestinian insurgency groups as well as an effort to increase civil unrest and armed attacks against Israel. Arafat was expected to be succeeded by a two-man Palestinian leadership. Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei would operate the PA's daily affairs while PLO Executive Council chairman Mahmoud Abbas was seen as becoming the head of the PLO and deal with Palestinian foreign affairs. The PA placed its security forces on alert. On Friday, Qurei was scheduled to travel to the Gaza Strip to meet security chiefs and other officials in an effort to coordinate policy. At the same time, Palestinian insurgency groups were expected to meet to discuss a post-Arafat regime. So far, the Iranian-sponsored Islamic Jihad has warned that it would intensify the war against Israel. PA officials said Arafat did not leave a will that stipulated where he wished to be buried. Israel has ruled out the prospect that Arafat would be buried in Jerusalem. |
| Posted by:Mark Espinola |
| #8 Nahhh, anymouse, he didn't die a "martyr" while killing 'Merkins and Jews. Too bad. (NOT) |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-11-05 11:18:52 PM |
| #7 does he still get the 72 virgins??? |
| Posted by: anymouse 2004-11-05 10:38:09 PM |
| #6 The Camel is asking Hitler & the Grand Mufti "why is it so hot down here?" |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-11-05 10:29:52 PM |
| #5 Let me be the first to say it: Ulululululululululululululululululululululu! **passes out candy** :-D |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2004-11-05 10:21:18 PM |
| #4 Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker said Thursday that Arafat died in hospital. "[He] passed away 15 minutes ago," Juncker told reporters on arrival at a European Union summit in Brussels when asked what he knew about Arafat's condition. |
| Posted by: Mark Espinola 2004-11-05 9:34:32 PM |
| #3 What we all want to know, of course, is if he's really, most sincerely dead. In the spirit of international harmony and reconcilliation, I'm not even going to touch the phrase 'French intelligence'. Besides, I'm too busy making popcorn in anticipation of the forthcoming Paleo Civil War. Should be a good one! |
| Posted by: SteveS 2004-11-05 8:49:39 PM |
| #2 Looks like 2004 will be a banner year for windfall profits at Swiss banks. |
| Posted by: ed 2004-11-05 8:20:11 PM |
| #1 I have to admit that I am a little surprised Sharon siad he got the information from French Intelligence. While obviously it's funny, the French should get a little fromaged, n'est ce pas? |
| Posted by: Penguin 2004-11-05 7:53:30 PM |