Arab leaders in Ramallah have issued conflicting medical reports on the ailing “father of terrorists” as each one tried to prove he is in charge. The Palestinian Administration staged a formal meeting Saturday, without any significant decision, to show that former Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas and his replacement Ahmed Qurei (Abu Ala) are keeping a lid over operations. Saturday’s meeting in Ramallah, which Abbas chaired, was the first time in decades that Arafat has not been in charge.
Compounding their problems is the uncertainty surrounding Arafat’s ability to survive. No one wants to usurp authority and then have to answer to Arafat in case he is able to function, even partially. He suffers from memory losses, periods of unconsciousness and inability to know what is going on around him, according to most reports.
Doctors have "excluded for the time being any possibility of leukemia," Arab envoy Leila Shahid told reporters. But medical teams in Ramallah had concluded he suffers from leukemia. No one has denied that Arafat has a very serious blood disease. It is clear from all sources that Arafat will be in the Percy Army Medical Teaching Hospital, where he is under heavy guard, for at least several weeks, assuming he survives that long. The hospital specializes in blood diseases.
Israel Army radio said that a London Arab newspaper reported that doctors are investigating the possibility that somebody may have poisoned Arafat.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon promised Thursday that Arafat would be able to return to the territories after completing his medical treatment in France.
Compounding their problems is the uncertainty surrounding Arafat’s ability to survive. No one wants to usurp authority and then have to answer to Arafat in case he is able to function, even partially. He suffers from memory losses, periods of unconsciousness and inability to know what is going on around him, according to most reports.
Doctors have "excluded for the time being any possibility of leukemia," Arab envoy Leila Shahid told reporters. But medical teams in Ramallah had concluded he suffers from leukemia. No one has denied that Arafat has a very serious blood disease. It is clear from all sources that Arafat will be in the Percy Army Medical Teaching Hospital, where he is under heavy guard, for at least several weeks, assuming he survives that long. The hospital specializes in blood diseases.
Israel Army radio said that a London Arab newspaper reported that doctors are investigating the possibility that somebody may have poisoned Arafat.
Prime Minister Ariel Sharon promised Thursday that Arafat would be able to return to the territories after completing his medical treatment in France.