Arafat almost dead

salm · Post by **salm** » 2004-11-04 03:32pm

so it seems his condition is getting worse.

bbc.co.uk wrote:Rising crisis over Arafat health
PM Ahmed Qurei and other officials tried to put a brave face on events
French doctors treating Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat have denied Israeli TV reports that he has died.

Mr Arafat's health has deteriorated sharply in the last two days and he is being treated in intensive care.

Israel's Channel Two television quoted unnamed sources in Paris which said Mr Arafat underwent a brain scan and was "no longer alive".

Mr Arafat, 75, has dominated Palestinian politics for 40 years, without ever designating a successor.

Mr Arafat's long-time doctor Ashraf al-Kurdi said: "He is not clinically dead... but his condition is deteriorating, because there has been no diagnosis, we don't know what's wrong with him."

He is not clinically dead... but his condition is deteriorating
Ashraf al-Kurdi
Yasser Arafat's doctor
The head physician at the Percy military hospital outside Paris, Christian Estripeau, said in a brief statement: "President Arafat remains in the Percy hospital... He is not dead."

Sources close to Mr Arafat's entourage in Paris had reported that he was in a coma, but this was denied by officials at his Palestinian Authority headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah.

'Difficult condition'

Officials in the West Bank held emergency meetings to discuss the crisis.

Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei was reported to have taken over some of Mr Arafat's powers over security and financing.

BBC correspondent James Reynolds said that, while public statements from Palestinian officials in Ramallah were positive, their expressions suggested the situation of their leader was serious.

Officials gathered for meetings of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation decision-making executive committee and the Fatah movement central committee - both of which have been headed by Mr Arafat for more than 40 years.

Arafat seemed frail as he left the West Bank last week
Mr Arafat was flown to the French capital last Friday from his headquarters in Ramallah with a mystery illness.

At the time, he was said to have collapsed after suffering from what was first described as severe gastric flu.

Doctors say they have found no trace of leukaemia or any other cancer. They have been checking for a viral infection.

French President Jacques Chirac has visited Mr Arafat, but a presidential spokeswoman who announced the visit did not give any details about the patient's state of health.

It was a brief visit in which the president "expressed his best wishes" to Mr Arafat's wife, his office said.

Tests have shown that he has a low count of blood platelets, which are needed for clotting, but doctors are unsure of what is causing the condition.

Trouble spots

On Thursday, Israeli security chiefs discussed Mr Arafat's condition at their weekly briefing.

HAVE YOUR SAY
Mr Arafat has made a lot of sacrifices in his lifetime for the sake of freedom for the Palestinian people
Mustafa, London, UK

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Profile: Yasser Arafat
The military has been put on high alert, although no troops have been moved into potential trouble spots.

Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has said he would allow Mr Arafat to return to the West Bank if he recovers.

But he has made it clear he will not allow his old adversary to be buried in Muslim holy ground in east Jerusalem.

Palestinian security chiefs are also due to hold meetings in Ramallah and the Gaza Strip.

There are fears that Mr Arafat's possible demise could spark chaos in the volatile Gaza Strip, already destabilised by inter-factional fighting and uncertainty over Israel's planned pullout from the area.

There is no clear line of succession should Mr Arafat be unable to continue in power.

He has not anointed a successor, although the parliamentary speaker would take over temporarily.

source

Augustus · Post by **Augustus** » 2004-11-04 03:40pm

This is like the Monty Python 'Parrot' skit.

Flakin · Post by **Flakin** » 2004-11-04 03:45pm

"This terrorist is Dead!
No he's not... simply resting. Dreaming of the 70 virgins.
DREAMING OF THE VIRGINS??? THIS. MURDERER. IS. DEAD.
*smacks Yasser up and down on top of countertop*
"Hello!!! Fundie Hatemonger? Fundie Assclown!!!!?"

Etc etc.

Good point there Augustus.

The worst thing is that in his last days he looked like Michael Jackson.

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-11-05 12:28am

Arafat is on death's door.

Arafat on life support, U.S. officials say
Negotiations under way on Palestinian leader's burial

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat was being kept alive by machines in a French military hospital while French, Israeli and Egyptian officials negotiate with his family and aides over where he should be buried, two U.S. administration officials told CNN late Thursday.

The White House and other departments are in communication with French officials about Arafat's status and are receiving constant updates, according to the officials -- one of them very senior -- who are familiar with talks with the Palestinian Authority president's wife and his inner circle.

Arafat's family always has wanted him to be buried in Jerusalem, but Israeli officials have said they would not allow that. There is some discussion about Arafat being buried in Egypt.

The two U.S. officials say that since Muslim custom requires burial within 24 hours of death, no one will declare Arafat dead until they figure out where to bury him. They said Arafat will not be taken off life support or declared officially deceased by his family until the negotiations are complete, and they hope to have those talks wrapped up within 24 to 48 hours.

"This is a very sensitive matter," one official said, adding, "We are running out of time."

Earlier, an adviser to the Palestinian Authority told CNN that Arafat was "gravely ill."

"Within the last 24 hours, his condition has deteriorated considerably," Ed Abington, a former U.S. consul general in Israel, said. "He's still alive. The reports that he has died are not true."

Arafat, 75, has been treated for a blood disorder at the military hospital outside Paris since last week.

Abington, a consultant to the Palestinian Authority, said he had spoken to a person close to Arafat early Friday, Paris time.

"The person I spoke to assured me that he's still alive, but he's gravely ill," he said.

Sources close to the Palestinian leadership told CNN's Christiane Amanpour that Arafat was not clinically dead, as some media have reported, but he is not registering things, is not recognizing people and is not speaking.

The sources also said the Palestinian leader's mental faculties had deteriorated in the past week.

Arafat spokesman Nabil abu Rudeineh called reports that the Palestinian leader was in a coma "rumors."

"He is in the intensive care unit, as I said, because he is in need of several very advanced tests in the coming hours and days," abu Rudeineh said.

A hospital spokesman also denied reports that Arafat had died, saying he had been transferred Wednesday night to a department in the hospital more appropriate for his condition.

Senior Palestinian officials in Paris told CNN that Arafat was in critical condition in intensive care after drifting in and out of consciousness.

The confusion over Arafat's health extended to Washington. Told about reports that the Palestinian leader had died, President Bush said, "My first reaction is, God bless his soul.

"My second reaction is that we will continue to work for a free Palestinian state that is at peace with Israel."

On Thursday afternoon, French President Jacques Chirac visited Arafat's room. He also spent about a half hour with Suha Arafat, the Palestinian leader's wife.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qorei told reporters Thursday that Arafat was in stable but serious condition and still required urgent medical attention.

"He's under treatment in very honest hands, our friends the French," he said.

Planning under way
Abington said Qorei, former Premier Mahmoud Abbas and other Palestinian officials held meetings all day Thursday in Ramallah, where Arafat was confined to his headquarters for nearly three years before Israel's government allowed him to leave for medical treatment last week.

"Should Arafat die, I think they will have to decide how to pick successors and how to do it in a way that legitimizes the process," Abington said.

The Palestinian Authority's basic law calls for its parliament speaker to serve as acting president for 60 days until an election can be held, Abington said.

"But I'm not sure how that could be done, given the current situation between the Israelis and the Palestinians. "The Israelis would have to allow elections to be held, and I don't believe there have been any discussions with the Israelis about doing this," he said.

Abbas, the acting as head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization's executive committee, and Qorei are scheduled to travel to Gaza later Friday to meet with members of the militant groups Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

The Israeli military is on high alert and defense officials reviewed their "Operation New Page" security plan, which has been in place for some time, during a weekly briefing.

A source with the Arab League told CNN's Ben Wedeman that no funeral plans are in place in the event of Arafat's death.

"We Arabs are very superstitious when it comes to talking about death," the source said.

The source said Arab leaders believe the Israeli government would place too many obstacles in their path to the Palestinian territories to mourn.

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2004-11-05 12:32am

Half of me is scared for what the middle east will be without him to act as some kind of guiding force and half of me is glad that soon palestinians will be free of his assclownery and they might get a shot at a good leader...

Joe · Post by **Joe** » 2004-11-05 12:32am

Any bets on how long it will take for the Palestinians to blame it on a Zionist conspiracy? I give them two days from his death.

Montcalm · Post by **Montcalm** » 2004-11-05 12:35am

Flakin wrote:"This terrorist is Dead!
No he's not... simply resting. Dreaming of the 70 virgins.
DREAMING OF THE VIRGINS???

Arafat in front of Allah(Allah: Oh Yasser here are your 72 Virgins...Points at 72 men)

darthdavid · Post by **darthdavid** » 2004-11-05 12:42am

Montcalm wrote:
Flakin wrote:"This terrorist is Dead!
No he's not... simply resting. Dreaming of the 70 virgins.
DREAMING OF THE VIRGINS???
Arafat in front of Allah(Allah: Oh Yasser here are your 72 Virgins...Points at 72 men)

72 micheal moore clones...

Post by **fgalkin** » 2004-11-05 01:02am

When he is declared dead, I was thinking of making a thred titled: 'Arafat Meets Allah, Fails to Recieve 72 Virgins"

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-11-05 01:28am

"Difficult condition"? I guess he's difficult even on his death bed. </rimshot>

Seggybop · Post by **Seggybop** » 2004-11-05 02:17am

According to CNN, he's finally effectively dead, and they're keeping him breathing now only until they can figure out where to put him afterwards. Suckage...

frigidmagi · Post by **frigidmagi** » 2004-11-05 02:17am

At last. One down, Sharon to go.

Chardok · Post by **Chardok** » 2004-11-05 06:57am

This is a promising development. I look forward to his death. However, in order to establish peace in the entire state of israel, one side would have to effectively annihilate the other. Arafat's removal means, in the long run, nothing, except that we in the west don't have to look at his ugly, bulldog-face and lips that look like two engorged slugs are having a fuckfest. Not so in the middle east, however. And I feel sorry for them. Once he is de-er---martyrd (I hate that fucking word. It pisses me off everytime I see it.) they're going to plaster his garbage-pail-kid-look-alike face on every gas station, residence, warehouse, farmhouse, henhouse, outhouse and doghouse in that area.*

Rue the day.

*Cookie for the reference.

Post by **Gandalf** » 2004-11-05 07:01am

Chardok wrote:*Cookie for the reference.

The Fugitive.

J · Post by J » 2004-11-05 10:37am

Seggybop wrote:According to CNN, he's finally effectively dead, and they're keeping him breathing now only until they can figure out where to put him afterwards. Suckage...

"Weekend at Yasser's" anyone?

Flakin · Post by **Flakin** » 2004-11-05 03:30pm

I think in the past couple of years him and Michael Jackson have been lookalikes.

But anyway... I was having a discussion on another board about this - in the short term his death is probably going to cause chaos.. but the long term benefits could be outstanding. It really depends who becomes the next mainsteam voice of the Palestinians....

Guardsman Bass · Post by **Guardsman Bass** » 2004-11-05 03:44pm

Time for the Israeli government to go fishing for "peace" partners.

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2004-11-05 07:30pm

From what I've heard, he's only being kept alive because Islam mandates burial within three days of death, and they haven't found a place to bury him. And no to Jerusalem, he doesn't deserve to be buried there.

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-11-05 07:41pm

Xenophobe3691 wrote:From what I've heard, he's only being kept alive because Islam mandates burial within three days of death, and they haven't found a place to bury him. And no to Jerusalem, he doesn't deserve to be buried there.

The Israeli government probably wouldn't allow it. In fact I'd be surprised if they allow his corpse back in. Even if he lives I'm hoping that they won't let him return.

Xenophobe3691 · Post by **Xenophobe3691** » 2004-11-05 08:02pm

Cpl Kendall wrote: The Israeli government probably wouldn't allow it. In fact I'd be surprised if they allow his corpse back in. Even if he lives I'm hoping that they won't let him return.

Actually, I'm hoping they hold a huge state funeral, and allow him to be buried perhaps where he really was born, somewhere's near Ramallah, I believe. Huge warrior's funeral, whole shebang. PR-wise, there's not much better Israel can do, other than throw the whole population into the Sea...

Aaron · Post by **Aaron** » 2004-11-05 08:05pm

Xenophobe3691 wrote: Actually, I'm hoping they hold a huge state funeral, and allow him to be buried perhaps where he really was born, somewhere's near Ramallah, I believe. Huge warrior's funeral, whole shebang. PR-wise, there's not much better Israel can do, other than throw the whole population into the Sea...

Well that would probably generate alot of goodwill between the Israeli's and the Palestinains, it would all be forgotten after the next suicide bombing or house flattening at the hands of a bulldozer. Chardoks right, the only way there will ever be peace there is for one side to annilate the ohter.

aerius · Post by **aerius** » 2004-11-05 08:15pm

Actually when I think about it, chances are all those scumbag terrorist er...Palestinian party leaders will turn out of Arafat's funeral, which provides a golden opportunity to decapitate most of the terrorist leadership in one shot. I wouldn't be surprised if Israel is looking into that option right now.

Admiral Valdemar · Post by **Admiral Valdemar** » 2004-11-05 08:17pm

aerius wrote:Actually when I think about it, chances are all those scumbag terrorist er...Palestinian party leaders will turn out of Arafat's funeral, which provides a golden opportunity to decapitate most of the terrorist leadership in one shot. I wouldn't be surprised if Israel is looking into that option right now.

You make Israel out to be like the Mafioso.

Mossad. Oh, right.

SecondStorm · Post by **SecondStorm** » 2004-11-05 09:20pm

Montcalm wrote:
Flakin wrote:"This terrorist is Dead!
No he's not... simply resting. Dreaming of the 70 virgins.
DREAMING OF THE VIRGINS???
Arafat in front of Allah(Allah: Oh Yasser here are your 72 Virgins...Points at 72 men)

You dumbarses, Arafat would have to die a martyr to get his 72 virgins.

Learn abit about the religion you are mocking.

Post by **fgalkin** » 2004-11-05 09:49pm

SecondStorm wrote:
Montcalm wrote:
Flakin wrote:"This terrorist is Dead!
No he's not... simply resting. Dreaming of the 70 virgins.
DREAMING OF THE VIRGINS???
Arafat in front of Allah(Allah: Oh Yasser here are your 72 Virgins...Points at 72 men)
You dumbarses, Arafat would have to die a martyr to get his 72 virgins.

Learn abit about the religion you are mocking.

That is why my potential thread title is the only one that works.

Have a very nice day.
-fgalkin