Worried Arab political rivals, as well as anxious Israelis trying to figure out where to bury Yasser Arafat, started making other plans Tuesday when French doctors officially reported his life is not in danger.
Leila Shadid, Arafat’s Paris envoy, told reporters Tuesday evening that doctors declared their 75-year-old patient does not have leukemia, although his white blood count is high. Shadid said she and a French doctor issued a joint public statement “to put an end to speculation.”
They added that Arafat was well enough to talk to government heads of states and doctors, but only relatives are allowed to visit. That puts the spotlight on his wife Suha, who apparently has been directing operations and reports since she flew to Ramallah from France and accompanied him to the Paris hospital.
“He is getting back to his normal activity, said PLO economic advisor Mohamed Rashin. Most reports indicate he will remain in the Percy Army Hospital for at least several weeks.
Arafat was critically ill last week and flown from his Mukata compound in Ramallah to France, via Jordan. This is the first time in almost three years Israeli authorities have allowed him to leave his battered headquarters.
His improved health already has put the Palestinian Authority on guard against usurping too much power, particularly after Arafat issued a public statement yesterday condemning the suicide bombing in Tel Aviv (see article “Arafat’s French Recipe”). The declaration was interpreted as a message to rivals not to consider him “politically dead”, as Israeli officials had earlier thought.
Several Arab leaders who apparently are not in daily contact with Arafat nevertheless took pains to issue statements about his improved health. PA Minister and Gaza strongman Mohamed Dahlan told news agencies, “We have overcome the critical stage in Arafat’s health.”
PA Prime Minister Ahmed Queria is in charge of daily affairs.
Leila Shadid, Arafat’s Paris envoy, told reporters Tuesday evening that doctors declared their 75-year-old patient does not have leukemia, although his white blood count is high. Shadid said she and a French doctor issued a joint public statement “to put an end to speculation.”
They added that Arafat was well enough to talk to government heads of states and doctors, but only relatives are allowed to visit. That puts the spotlight on his wife Suha, who apparently has been directing operations and reports since she flew to Ramallah from France and accompanied him to the Paris hospital.
“He is getting back to his normal activity, said PLO economic advisor Mohamed Rashin. Most reports indicate he will remain in the Percy Army Hospital for at least several weeks.
Arafat was critically ill last week and flown from his Mukata compound in Ramallah to France, via Jordan. This is the first time in almost three years Israeli authorities have allowed him to leave his battered headquarters.
His improved health already has put the Palestinian Authority on guard against usurping too much power, particularly after Arafat issued a public statement yesterday condemning the suicide bombing in Tel Aviv (see article “Arafat’s French Recipe”). The declaration was interpreted as a message to rivals not to consider him “politically dead”, as Israeli officials had earlier thought.
Several Arab leaders who apparently are not in daily contact with Arafat nevertheless took pains to issue statements about his improved health. PA Minister and Gaza strongman Mohamed Dahlan told news agencies, “We have overcome the critical stage in Arafat’s health.”
PA Prime Minister Ahmed Queria is in charge of daily affairs.