[www-features] PROPOSED: Arafat is on the verge of death

[max]

http://www.indybay.org/archives/archive_by_id.php?id=2598&category_id=49

I don't know if something like this has been proposed already.  I'm on
digest mode and haven't been having time to read all the emails lately. 

TITLE: Future Unclear As Palestinian Leader's Condition Worsens
IMAGE: http://www.indybay.org/imcenter/arafat_cc.jpg

According to French medical sources, Palestinian leader <A
href="http://nobelprize.org/peace/laureates/1994/arafat-bio.html">Yasser
Arafat</A> is <A href="/news/2004/11/1703233.php">in a coma and on
life-support equipment</A>. Another source has told the press that while
technically, Arafat is "not dead", there was <A
href="http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/879C0D3F-045C-4AD0-9CA4-F1115DC53293.htm">no
hope of him leaving his vegetative state</A> and recovering basic body
functions such as breathing without assistance.  
The question is now being asked: 
"<A
href="http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0B0FC31C-9032-4DC1-8E8A-C505D838BE5A.htm">Who
will succeed Arafat?</A>"
According to <A
href="http://electronicintifada.net/v2/article3287.shtml">Electronic
Intifada</A>, "while PLO number two Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Ahmed
Qrei', and Legislative Council Speaker Rawhi Fattouh have all called
meetings of their respective leadership bodies to maintain the appearance
of order, no substantive decisions were made at those meetings.
Officials have gone out of their way to avoid the appearance of a coup after
media reports at the height of Arafat's illness said he had approved a triad
of Abbas, Qrei' and Fattouh to govern in his place. Arafat heard this and
dispatched Azzam Al Ahmed to publicly refute the news. Until the French
doctors pass their verdict, most of the top leadership is carefully
maintaining the status quo"
While Arafat's sickness has so far mainly inspired <A
href="http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=58&story_id=13619&name=Arafat+supporters+hold+overnight+vigiloutside+hospital+in+Paris+suburb">vigils</A>

and a few small protests, this could change as Sharon has said he will <A
href="/news/2004/10/1702297.php">refuse
to allow Arafat to be buried in Jerusalem</A>.
<br />
<strong>
<A
href="http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/36A6DD6F-F17C-47C4-B3B5-9D9F65D2E61E.htm">Al
Jazeera Arafat Profile</A>
|
<A href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yasser_Arafat">Wikipedia</A>
|
<A
href="http://nobelprize.org/peace/laureates/1994/arafat-bio.html">NobelPrize.org</A>
|
<A
href="http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/0B0FC31C-9032-4DC1-8E8A-C505D838BE5A.htm">Arafat's
potential successors</A>