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Speculation Continues Over Arafat's Death

Uncertainty and speculation have surrounded the death of Yasser Arafat and the refusal, based on French Law, of his doctors to comment has fueled conspiracy theories. Despite denials by French authorities, Palestinian leaders believe he was poisoned:

Palestinian leaders plan to send a delegation to Paris to seek details on what caused the death of President Yasser Arafat last week at a French hospital, officials said on Wednesday.
The decision, which followed France's refusal to release Arafat's medical dossier to the Palestinian Authority, came as the French government insisted Arafat had not been poisoned.

But uncertainty surrounded the cause of Arafat's death because French law prevents doctors releasing details without permission from his wife Souha, who has maintained a veil of secrecy. [more]

Others speculate that he died of complications related to AIDS. The latest news from France suggests that Arafat suffered from cirrhosis of the liver that wasn't caused by drinking.

Update: Doctors who treated Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat believe he died of a blood condition called disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) and have ruled out poisoning, Le Monde newspaper reported on Wednesday.[AFP via Jeff Quinton] I have see a fair share of misinformation surrounding Arafat's death and find it is wise to wait a few days before reaching a conclusion. More on Arafat's alleged liver disease and alcohol consumption here (11-18).

While there are reasons to determine Arafat's cause of death, there is nothing that could reflect more negatively on this father of modern terrorism than his record.

Posted by tim at November 17, 2004 10:43 AM

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