Arafat fights for his life as chaos looms over Palestine

Ramallah (AsiaNews) – "We are concerned that the instability caused by Arafat's illness might lead to chaos," sources in Palestinian Authority (PA) administered territories told AsiaNews.

Palestinian President Yasser Arafat, who is 75-years-old, had a heart attack on Wednesday evening and was unconscious for ten minutes.

According to the doctors treating him, he is in serious but stable condition. Sources inside the Muqata, Arafat's headquarters in Ramallah, said that the President was "fighting for his life". Arafat's wife, Suha, arrived from Tunis to be on his side.

"It is the first time that we go through this kind of instability," the same sources told AsiaNews. "We are concerned and afraid that the power vacuum might lead to confrontation". "PA leaders do not want to move Arafat to a hospital out of fear that Israeli forces might move into the Muqata and seize top Palestinian officials," they added.

Israeli Prime Minister Sharon seems however willing to let Yasser Arafat go to a Ramallah hospital. Israeli government officials have also said that Yasser Arafat will be allowed to return to the West Bank if he goes abroad for medical treatment.

Fears about possible confrontation between Palestinian factions started as soon as Arafat's illness was known.

Arafat is chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organisation and Fatah movement as well as PA President. He has never appointed either a deputy or an official successor. According to the PA's basic law should he die or be incapacitated, the speaker of the Palestinian parliament will assume his place for 60 days, until a permanent replacement is elected.
Palestinian sources told Israeli daily Haaretz that a three-member committee was created to run the PA till Arafat's recovery. It includes current Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia, his predecessor, Mahmoud Abbas, and Salim Al-Zaanoun, head of the Palestinian National Council. However, one of the three told a news agency that he had heard nothing of this. A senior aide to Arafat, Nabil Abu Rudeineh, also denied the report. (LF)

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