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France opens Yasser Arafat murder inquiry

Published time: August 28, 2012 15:31
Edited time: August 28, 2012 23:00
Yasser Arafat (AFP Photo / Abbas Momani)

French prosecutors have launched an official inquiry into the 2004 murder of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, after his family claimed he had been poisoned.

­Arafat's family initiated legal action in France last month over claims the Palestinian leader died of radioactive polonium poisoning.

His widow, Suha Arafat, has asked that her late husband's body be exhumed for further testing. The Palestinian Authority has already consented to the procedure. 

Earlier, a nine-month investigation conducted by Al-Jazeera concluded that Arafat’s personal belongings contained abnormally high levels of polonium, a rare and highly radioactive element. The items, including his clothing, his toothbrush, and even his iconic kaffiyeh, were supplied to Al-Jazeera by his widow. They were then analyzed at the Institut de Radiophysique in Lausanne, Switzerland.

Arafat, who led the struggle for Palestinian statehood for nearly four decades, died in a French military hospital after being airlifted there for treatment from his Ramallah headquarters.

At the time of his death, Palestinian officials alleged he had been poisoned by long-time foe Israel, but an inconclusive investigation in 2005 ruled out poisoning, as well as cancer and AIDS.

Israel has consistently denied the allegations.

Polonium is a highly toxic substance which is rarely found outside military and scientific circles, and was used to kill former Russian security officer Alexander Litvinenko in 2006.

Comments (33)

Stan Squires (unregistered) 29.08.2012 18:16

  I wanted to say that most people in the world were already aware that Yasser Arafat had been poisoned.The israeli gov.had the most to gain from this and they are the guilty party.The israeli gov.has done this many times before.Sevaral years ago a Palestinian Official in Jordan was poisoned by the israeli gov. and fortunately the Jordanian Gov. made israel come up with the antidote for the poison before it was to late.The israeli gov. should be brought before the world court in the Hague for this atrocity against Yasser Arafat.

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Anton5300@gmail.com (unregistered) 29.08.2012 11:16

What will this murder inquiry achieve ??

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!

Afte r almost 10 years, all evidences are as good as cold. This ain't going to a cold case filmization.

Everyone knows that the American and the Jewish have had a hand in the murder of Arafat.

With him gone, the hope was getting a moderate to reach a peace agreement with Israel.

Unfor tunately, Abbas have internal conflicts to deal with.

Gives it a rest, nothing will be rectified with this inquiry. It is already history to the large world. You think your fellow Arabs cares? They careless as long as the dollars are in their pockets!

For his family, enjoy the millions if not billions that Arafat have had misappropriate during his regime.



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The Beak (unregistered) 29.08.2012 08:39

The Beak (unregistered) wrote in #9 Now even an American woman who recognise the injustice her Govt now offers her life for Palestine, Oh, Rachel Corrie, I hope you will be imortalised as Arafat in the face of Your Govt support for Isreal. How may more deaths awaits? You are an exceptional and extreamely brave woman. Where have you garner such strength of will power? Does  America know of you? I must confess I do not have your strength but I will admire you eternally. OM. 

+1

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