Allegations arise that 'Israel has poisoned Arafat'

[dutchdemocrat]

Hamas site: 'Israel has poisoned Arafat'
By Jerusalem Newswire Editorial Staff
October 9, 2003

Jerusalem (www.jnewswire.com) - Rumors are circulating in the Palestinian Authority areas that Israel is behind what doctors are calling "a mysterious virus" plaguing PLO arch terrorist Yasser Arafat.

An anonymous Palestinian official quoted on a Hamas-supportive Palestinian website said attempts were being made to verify that Arafat may have been injected with a drug that leads to a natural death, according to The Jerusalem Post Thursday.

Arafat's top aides have strongly denied a report in the London daily, The Guardian, Wednesday that the aging PLO leader last week suffered a "small" heart attack.

According to the notoriously anti-Israel British paper, Palestinian officials had "tried to hide condition of president threatened by Israel," but had finally admitted that what the press was calling flu had been a minor heart attack.

"Although he has had a slight heart attack, the doctors say he will make a full recovery. He is in full control. There is nothing to worry about," a "close aide" to Arafat had told the paper.

Last week, Arafat's personal physician together with a heart surgeon traveled from Jordan to Ramallah to treat the patient. Leaving a few hours later, the doctor told the press Arafat had been suffering from the flu, but now "the illness is over, thank Allah."

Pale, pinched, inaudible

But Arab concerns for the health of Israel's archenemy deepened at the weekend when Arafat reemerged into public view.

His face had reportedly been "pale and pinched," he had lost weight and could barely speak.

In the wake of the flurry created by The Guardian report, a joint team of Jordanian and Egyptian physicians arrived in Ramallah Wednesday evening to treat Arafat "for a mysterious virus amid reports that his health was rapidly deteriorating," reported The Jerusalem Post.

The doctors had been summoned after Arafat continued to complain of acute abdominal pain, a high fever, vomiting and diarrhea.

In an apparent attempt to assuage fears for his health, Arafat let it be known earlier Wednesday, that he had met with a Turkish delegation. But the senior Palestinian official who communicated this news also said there had been "no real improvement" in Arafat's condition.

"Unfortunately, he continues to be very ill," he told The Post.

http://www.jnewswire.com/news_archive/03/10/031009_arafat.asp

[ieoeja]

1. This was predictable.

[Caution]

2. about as likely

as US soldiers having x-ray glasses. I hate it when people attempt to lie in order to manipulate an ignorant public for political purposes. The truth is generally enough. Israel complains about the killing of innoncent civilians by palestinians but when their military does the same thing it is "protecting israelis"

The definition of terrorism is an attack on civilian targets in an attempt to make political gains. Both sides are guilty.

Use this as your rallying point, that and stolen land, denial of right of return, etc. No need to make crap up. Arafat is old and being confined to his compound hasnt helped things along.

[mandyky]

3. The first thing I thought, when I heard

Arafat was ill and had had a heart attack was that the Israelis had figured a way to poison him.

[hang a left]

4. I am always one for a good conspiracy but, you would have to be

part of his inner circle in order to do this, wouldn't you? I am sure that he trusts those closest to him, but then I don't know.

[DuctapeFatwa]

5. What's the conspiracy? Israel has been threatening to kill him for years

It doesn't really matter what he eventually dies from, there will be a small segment of Americans and Israelis who believe that Israel had nothing at all to do with it.

[Must_B_Free]

Gee, why would anyone think that

I mean, they only announced to the entire world that they were going to kill him.

Anyone who thinks this is conspiracy stuff isn't paying ANY attention.

[Must_B_Free]

6. Gee, why would anyone think that

I mean, they only announced to the entire world that they were going to kill him.

Anyone who thinks this is conspiracy stuff isn't paying ANY attention.

[GabysPoppy]

7. Locking

This a dupe and you can continue discussion here.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=124&topic_id=20030

It is also a copyright violation which is why it is not just being moved to the I/P forum

GabysPoppy

DU Moderator