Ha'aretz reports that Arafat suffered a heart attack last week. If the PA has to admit it, it must have been serious:
Report: PA officials say Arafat suffered mild heart attack
By Haaretz Service
The British daily The Guardian on Wednesday quoted
Palestinian Authority officials as saying that PA
Chairman Yasser Arafat suffered a mild heart
attack last week, but that he would make "a full
recovery."
"Although he has had a slight
heart attack, the doctors say
he will make a full recovery.
He is in full control. There is
nothing to worry about," said a
close aide to Arafat, who did
not wish to be named, told the
paper.
According to the report, the sources
said that the 74-year-old's illness
had been kept secret by the Palestinian
leadership for fear it would "create panic."
Arafat, who is believed to be suffering from
Parkinson's disease, was absent from public
appearances for several days last week, and was
said by the Palestinian press to have been
suffering from the flu. He was visited by his
personal physician from Jordan, but, the paper
said, was also seen by heart specialist Yousuf
al-Qusous.
When he re-emerged at the weekend, Arafat looked
extremely ill. He had lost weight and was
almost inaudible. He also had difficulty
remaining standing for longer than a few
minutes at a time.
The official told the Guardian that disclosure
of Arafat's true illness would "have created
panic at a critical time when the Israelis are
threatening Arafat's life."
haaretz.com |
