Third day of medical tests for Arafat

[jpstr00]

PARIS, France (CNN) -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was undergoing a third day of medical exams at a Paris hospital Sunday to determine the extent of his illness.

The Palestine Liberation Organization Saturday said Arafat's health was improving, but sources close to Palestinian leaders raised the possibility that the era of Arafat as Palestinian leader may be coming to an end.

"He woke up in a good mood, in good shape after a real rest," said PLO representative Leila Shahid in Paris. "He feels generally better, his general condition is better."

But just what his ailment is remains unclear.

Shahid said tests exclude leukemia "for the time being."

Sources close to the Palestinian leadership told CNN's Christiane Amanpour that before Arafat left Ramallah for France, his four teams of doctors thought he most likely had leukemia but wanted French doctors to make a diagnosis.

The sources also said Arafat is not in complete control of his mental faculties and cannot make important decisions or communicate coherently.

Aaron David Miller, president of Seeds of Peace, a non-profit organization that brings teens from rival nations together to learn leadership skills, told CNN he saw Arafat in August and again 10 days ago.

"The transformation was marked," Miller said.

"In August, he was alert and forceful and argumentative, as always," he said. Following the recent visit, Miller said Arafat had lost a significant amount of weight, could not focus and "needed a lot of help to get up to greet me. I'm not sure he could recognize me."

Seeds of Peace is considering opening an office in Ramallah, and Arafat has been a strong supporter. The program now focuses on Palestinians, Israelis, Egyptians, and Jordanians.

Arafat is only being visited by his wife Suha and one other Palestinian official while in the hospital. The sources close to the Palestinian leadership said they had knowledge of his condition.

But Palestinian representative to the United Nations Nasser al-Kidwa and Arafat adviser Mohamed Rashid rejected the sources' descriptions of Arafat's health.

Members of Arafat's family also told CNN he remains sharp and able to make decisions.

In Ramallah, Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei and former prime minister Mahmoud Abbas have assumed additional responsibilities during Arafat's absence, Palestinian chief negotiator Saeb Erakat said.

Abbas, secretary general of the executive committee of the PLO, is acting chairman of the PLO, and Qorei, deputy head of national security council, is acting head of the security committee, Erakat said.

He said Arafat approved the changes before leaving for France.

"Things will function ... in accordance with the basic law and the internal law of each of these institutions, and hoping that Arafat will recover and resume his duties," Erakat said. "Meanwhile, things will function for the benefit and interests of the Palestinian people."

But sources who spoke to Amanpour said Qorei and Abbas have come to an agreement for Abbas to become leader in the event that Arafat dies or is incapacitated.

Abbas would be chairman of the PLO and the Fatah organization, and Qorei would be in charge of the Palestinian Authority and security services, the sources said.

Erakat said only that the temporary changes were made during Arafat's absence, and that Palestinian institutions were working to see that Palestinians' needs are met.

The PLO executive committee met Saturday, leaving Arafat's seat empty.

The sources who spoke with Amanpour said some Palestinians oppose making any formal plan while Arafat is alive, and would rather have communiques issued in his name. There is no agreement, and there is still something of a power struggle under way, the sources said.

Both Abbas and Qorei have publicly been at odds with Arafat, even as they have stated allegiance to him.

Each complained he was not allowed enough power over security forces or finances to allow important steps in improving Palestinian life and reducing terrorist attacks by Palestinian militant groups.

Meanwhile, in his weekly cabinet meeting, Ariel Sharon Sunday said Arafat would not be buried in Jerusalem if he dies as long as Sharon is Israel's prime minister, Israeli officials told CNN.

Palestinians, including Arafat, recognize Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state, and Arafat says he was born in the holy city. Arafat has not formally requested to be buried in Jerusalem.

[Yalmuk]

Mossad poisoned arafat im sure of it, that is just so clear that they do things like that poisoning is easy way to assasinate some leader perhaps?

[jpstr00]

I don't think it was poison....Old age maybe.....But not poison....

[jpstr00]

Palestinian leader Yasir Arafat has been rushed to an intensive care unit at the Paris hospital where he is receiving treatment for a blood disorder, but his life is not in danger, his aides say.

"He has been in intensive care since this [Wednesday] morning," an official accompanying the 75-year-old Arafat said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"He is tired but his situation is stable," another Palestinian
official said, stressing that his transfer to intensive care "does
not mean his life is in danger".

Palestinian envoy to Paris, Leila Shahid said more tests were being carried out, although his life was not in any immediate danger.

"There is a setback in [Arafat's] health. The doctors are carrying out tests to try to explain why this happened," Shahid said.

Aides said the Palestinian leader could remain in hospital for several more weeks.

Setback

"Obviously in his case, there could be setbacks at times and this is a setback," Shahid said.

"Tomorrow, the doctors will give a very clear and direct explanation and report on what is happening," she said.

Arafat was flown to Paris from his West Bank headquarters last week for tests and treatment for a serious blood disorder which has yet to be identified, after suffering severe stomach pains, diarrhoea and vomiting.

"President Arafat welcomed Bush's victory and voiced the hope that his new mandate and the confidence placed in him by the American people will give new momentum to the Middle East peace process"

The president of the Palestinian Authority is being treated at
the blood unit of the Percy military hospital in the southwestern Paris suburb of Clamart.

The ailing leader is known to be suffering from a deficiency of
blood platelets - which are needed for clotting - but doctors are uncertain over what is causing the condition.

French doctors have ruled out cancer and leukaemia as well as poisoning.

Comments on Bush

Arafat was well enough on Wednesday to welcome US President George Bush's re-election, saying he hoped it would help jumpstart the Middle East peace process, one of his aides said.

"President Arafat welcomed Bush's victory and voiced the hope that his new mandate and the confidence placed in him by the American people will give new momentum to the Middle East peace process," said Muhammad Rashid.

Rashid said the Palestinian leader's health had experienced "a
certain deterioration, and sometimes it improves".

He remained conscious and there was no need to panic, he added.

"The life of the president is not, at the moment, in danger and his condition is not bad," said Rashid, while refusing to confirm or deny that Arafat was in intensive care.

[Yalmuk]

I still think that mossad poisoned arafat, and i want to ask have israel anything else security organisation than mossad?

[jpstr00]

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has been in a coma since Wednesday night in the intensive care unit at a military hospital in Paris, a senior Palestinian aide told CNN.

Palestinian officials are very concerned for the 75-year-old leader who has been hospitalized since last week.

Palestinian officials have said that Arafat is suffering from a blood disorder, but they have repeatedly denied reports that he is facing leukemia.

[Yalmuk]

Hes dying for that poison now only antidote will help now, but im sure that israel dont give it.

[jpstr00]

CLAMART, France - Yasser Arafat (news - web sites)'s wife lashed out at his top lieutenants Monday, accusing them of traveling to Paris with plans to "bury" him "alive."

In a screaming telephone call from Arafat's hospital beside, Suha Arafat told pan-Arab Al-Jazeera television that she was issuing "an appeal to the Palestinian people." She accused his top aides — who are traveling to Paris to be with Arafat later Monday — of conspiring to usurp the role her husband has held for four decades as Palestinian leader.

"Let it be known to the honest Palestinian people that a bunch of those who want to take over are coming to Paris tomorrow," she screamed in Arabic over the telephone.

"You have to realize the size of the conspiracy. I tell you they are trying to bury Abu Ammar alive," she continued, using his nom de guerre. He is all right and he is going home. God is great."

A producer from Al-Jazeera said they were confident it was Suha Arafat and that she had called their Ramallah office from Arafat's bedside at a French military hospital.

*****UPDATE*****
Palestinian delegation cancels Arafat visit

http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/meast/11/ ... index.html