[Re: poisoning rumor]Well, did anyone seriously doubt that at least some Palestinians would take the opportunity to take one more pot-shot at Israel?
These rumors have been known and quoted in various Hebrew websites for several days now - but apparently most main-stream world media thought (as did I) that they were not worthy of repetition.
Even looking at the situation from the POV of an Israeli, who couldn’t be suspected of liking the guy, I’m starting actually to feel sorry for him, the way his entourage is playing and politicking with his condition. They just won’t let him go off the stage in a peaceful, dignified manner. And let me tell you, making me feel sorry for Arafat is one hell of an accomplishment… :rolleyes:
Latest update:
The MSN Hebrew language site has an item claiming, second-hand, that the IslamOnline site has published a declaration by “A ranking Palestinian official” to the effect that Yasser Arafat was declared dead sometime yesterday. Url (Hebrew only): http://news.msn.co.il/news/StatePoliticalMilitary/State/200411/20041107175400.htm. This item has been up for over five hours now, so I guess they aren’t retracting.
Which is interesting considering the fact that I cannot find this tidbit anywhere on IslamOnline itself… (or on any other of the major newssites I’ve looked at, including BBC, CNN and NYTimes). also, MSN.il fails to provide a link, providing instead only a textual reference to “The ‘Islam on-line’ web site”.
:dubious:
Given the general tenuousness of data, as well as the penchant shown lately by Israeli media to jump the gun all too blatently, I wouldn’t give this item too much credibility, but, hey, if it’s true (and that’s a big if!) then you heard it here first.
The rest of the world is still hanging with the (also relatively new) “Liver Failure” story (which AFAIK is basicly a terminal condition, but of course IANAD).
I’m really beginning to wonder what the real story is, and whether this may really be a case of “laying the groundwork”, as it were, for The End itself… letting out gradually worsening rumors and semi-official pronouncements.
Over fifteen minutes, refreshing Google News resulted in the following sequence of headlines:
“Arafat dead, say Palestinian sources”
“Arafat’s vital organs still functioning, euthanasia ruled out”
“Arafat up and about, smoking a cigar”
“Arafat joins the undead as a high level lich”
“Arafat slain by paladin”
“Palestinian sources allege paladin was hired by Israel”
“Arafat dead, say Palestinian sources amid confusion”
…okay, so maybe only the first two and the last one were there, but this is getting somewhat surreal.