The Wire

The Israeli media have reported his death, yet the Palestinian Authority insist he is still alive and kicking. As the speculation on Yasser Arafat’s condition continues, the confusion in the Middle East, and across the world, is growing — What will happen in a post-Arafat era? Over a week ago, the charismatic Arafat was flown to a Paris hospital for treatment, and on Tuesday his three closest aides, Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, Foreign Minister Nabil Sha’ath and Arafat’s deputy in the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, Mahmoud Abbas, will join Arafat’s family, who are controlling all of the information coming from the hospital. Meanwhile, other factors in the confusion have emerged… Tuesday is the day in Ramadan, when Mohammed is said to have received his prophecies from Allah, and such an occasion would be a very fortuitous day to announce the Palestinian leader’s death. However, according to Professor Ian Bickerton from the University of New South Wales, no official statement will be made until the controversy over any funeral’s location is dealt with, and the final diplomatic arrangements can be made.