Rumors continue to abound as to Yasser Arafat's true condition. CNN reported that he has leukemia, others say he has a virus, and still others have raised different possibilities. A London Arabic-language newspaper reported that doctors are investigating the possibility that Arafat may have been poisoned. Most reports agree that he will never be able to return to day-to-day control of the Palestinian Authority.
Arafat is said to be directly responsible for the deaths of thousands of Israeli citizens, untold numbers of Arabs and more than 100 U.S. citizens, including two U.S. diplomats. Ariel Sharon said in 1995, "I don't know anyone other than Arafat who has as much civilian Jewish blood on his hands since the time of the Nazis." Binyamin Netanyahu, who wrote a book on how to fight terrorism, has attributed the phenomenon of "terrorist plane hijackings" to Arafat and his Fatah organization in the late 1960's, after which, Netanyahu said, "it very quickly became an international plague."
Arafat is hospitalized in a Paris hospital, where he is expected to remain for several weeks or until he dies. In the meanwhile, Abu Mazen yesterday chaired the first PLO meeting ever not to be run by Arafat, and he will apparently assume control over much of the PLO and Fatah functions. Abu Ala, the current PA prime minister, will manage the PA and its security organs. Arafat has not appointed a successor, and many expect that filling the vacuum will involve much internal PA violence.
Arafat is said to be directly responsible for the deaths of thousands of Israeli citizens, untold numbers of Arabs and more than 100 U.S. citizens, including two U.S. diplomats. Ariel Sharon said in 1995, "I don't know anyone other than Arafat who has as much civilian Jewish blood on his hands since the time of the Nazis." Binyamin Netanyahu, who wrote a book on how to fight terrorism, has attributed the phenomenon of "terrorist plane hijackings" to Arafat and his Fatah organization in the late 1960's, after which, Netanyahu said, "it very quickly became an international plague."
Arafat is hospitalized in a Paris hospital, where he is expected to remain for several weeks or until he dies. In the meanwhile, Abu Mazen yesterday chaired the first PLO meeting ever not to be run by Arafat, and he will apparently assume control over much of the PLO and Fatah functions. Abu Ala, the current PA prime minister, will manage the PA and its security organs. Arafat has not appointed a successor, and many expect that filling the vacuum will involve much internal PA violence.