Arafat in His Final Days

http://www.worldnetdaily.com ^

[Husker24]

Amid reports of rapidly deteriorating health, four ambulances were seen this afternoon entering the compound of Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat.

A spokesman, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, dismissed reports Arafat, 74, had been taken to a hospital, but another senior official said he has seen the Palestinian leader's health slide over the past two weeks, according to the Jerusalem Post.

"I don't think it's the flu as some people say," the senior official said. "The president hasn't been feeling well for some time, and his health seems to be worsening."

Abu Rudeineh insisted Arafat merely was exhausted and was recovering, and the senior official said he possibly could have picked up viruses from all the people with whom he has shaken hands and exchanged kisses lately. Thousands have come to his compound since Israel announced its decision to "remove" him.

But Palestinians say they never have seen Arafat look as ill as he did Sunday when he met with new PA Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia.

"You can see that he's very ill," said someone who attended the meeting, according to the Post. "He can hardly speak. Something bad is happening to him."

The decision to bar reporters and visitors from Arafat's compound this evening added fuel to the speculation, the Jerusalem paper said.

Last week, after a team of doctors was summoned from Jordan to examine him, a journalist in Ramallah quoted a senior PA official as saying that "Arafat's days are numbered," the Post reported.

The doctors were called in after Arafat complained of severe abdominal pain and had been vomiting for several days. Aides suspected he had been poisoned. The Jordanian medical team concluded he was only mildly ill and needed rest.

The Jerusalem daily, citing PA officials, said Arafat's illness could be linked to his decision to declare a state of emergency in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

"It's possible that he doesn't want to leave a vacuum behind," said one PA official, the Post reported. "He must have discussed the issue with Abu Ala [Qureia]."

[The Westerner]

One can only hope.

[ApesForEvolution]

It's a shame that araRAT should live long enough to die of 'natural' causes...

[Ronin]

Most probably.

He probably is tired of the "revolution" game anyhow. What's the sense of stealing all the money he has if you don't have any time to enjoy it?

[chiefqc]

Getting closer to his 72 virgin camels.

Poor camels.

[xm177e2]

If Dick Cheney can keep going with heart problems, I don't see Yasser Arafat dropping dead any time soon. The guy is nothing if he isn't a survivor.

[AdA$tra]

If Dick Cheney can keep going with heart problems, I don't see Yasser Arafat dropping dead any time soon. The guy is nothing if he isn't a survivor.

I admit he has millions of our dollars, but he isn't exactly at the Mayo Clinic or Johns Hopkins. If he is having serious heart problems, his days are numbered. By looking at him I would guess he should have sought treatment some time ago. It just wasn't convenient then or now.

I would never wish pain even on Arafat, but at least this might eliminate the martyr effect to a degree. Knowing Israeli intelligence as I do, they probably knew details for weeks. The threats to take him out, the buzzing of his compound, the armored jeeps zipping around Ramalla, maybe just to push him over the edge?

Even if Israel HAD "taken him out" the outrage would have been manageable. Everyone from the US to Osama would condemn the act. Then they all would quietly retire for brandy, cigars, touchdown dances and high fives.