Are US, France Pressuring Palestinian Authority to Quit Arafat Probe?
Palestinian officials 'flip-flop' over investigation
A Palestinian investigation into the mysterious death of former leader Yasser Arafat may be facing serious opposition from the US and France behind closed doors, a Palestinian official warned. Media outlets are now reporting on an apparent 'flip-flop' in Palestinian efforts to exhume Arafat's remains for autopsy.
A Palestinian official, who remained anonymous, told Chinese news agency Xinhua that the US and others have pressured Palestinian leadership to put an end to the inquiry because it would compromise the Middle East peace process.
Arafat died in 2004 from an illness that has yet to be explained. Palestinian suspicions have long held that Israel poisoned Arafat. Israel has denied all such charges.
Earlier this week, Palestinian officials announced that Arafat's bones would be exhumed. The decision followed a report by Switzerland's Institute of Radiation Physics that found unexplained and abnormally high levels of polonium-210, a highly radioactive substance, on Arafat's clothes, toothbrush, kaffiyeh, and other personal belongings.
But on Thursday officials with the Palestinian Authority looking into Arafat's death suddenly reversed course. Palestinian Justice Minister Ali Mohanna told a news conference Thursday that a further review of the Swiss lab report will be conducted before a final decision to exhume Arafat's bones is made. No explanation for the U-turn was offered.
# # #
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
A Palestinian investigation into the mysterious death of former leader Yasser Arafat may be facing serious opposition from the US and France behind closed doors, a Palestinian official warned. Media outlets are now reporting on an apparent 'flip-flop' in Palestinian efforts to exhume Arafat's remains for autopsy.
A Palestinian official, who remained anonymous, told Chinese news agency Xinhua that the US and others have pressured Palestinian leadership to put an end to the inquiry because it would compromise the Middle East peace process.
Arafat died in 2004 from an illness that has yet to be explained. Palestinian suspicions have long held that Israel poisoned Arafat. Israel has denied all such charges.
Earlier this week, Palestinian officials announced that Arafat's bones would be exhumed. The decision followed a report by Switzerland's Institute of Radiation Physics that found unexplained and abnormally high levels of polonium-210, a highly radioactive substance, on Arafat's clothes, toothbrush, kaffiyeh, and other personal belongings.
But on Thursday officials with the Palestinian Authority looking into Arafat's death suddenly reversed course. Palestinian Justice Minister Ali Mohanna told a news conference Thursday that a further review of the Swiss lab report will be conducted before a final decision to exhume Arafat's bones is made. No explanation for the U-turn was offered.
# # #
A Palestinian investigation into the mysterious death of former leader Yasser Arafat may be facing serious opposition from the US and France behind closed doors, a Palestinian official warned. Media outlets are now reporting on an apparent 'flip-flop' in Palestinian efforts to exhume Arafat's remains for autopsy.
A Palestinian official, who remained anonymous, told Chinese news agency Xinhua that the US and others have pressured Palestinian leadership to put an end to the inquiry because it would compromise the Middle East peace process.
Arafat died in 2004 from an illness that has yet to be explained. Palestinian suspicions have long held that Israel poisoned Arafat. Israel has denied all such charges.
Earlier this week, Palestinian officials announced that Arafat's bones would be exhumed. The decision followed a report by Switzerland's Institute of Radiation Physics that found unexplained and abnormally high levels of polonium-210, a highly radioactive substance, on Arafat's clothes, toothbrush, kaffiyeh, and other personal belongings.
But on Thursday officials with the Palestinian Authority looking into Arafat's death suddenly reversed course. Palestinian Justice Minister Ali Mohanna told a news conference Thursday that a further review of the Swiss lab report will be conducted before a final decision to exhume Arafat's bones is made. No explanation for the U-turn was offered.
# # #