Palestine investigation committee to name Arafat assassins

Arafat died in 2004 at the age of 75 after many years of leading the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) and Palestinian Authority (PA)

November 26, 2016 at 2:38 pm | Published in: Middle East, News, Palestine

Security forces take measures during a commemoration ceremony held for the 12th death anniversary of the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Ramallah, West Bank on November 10, 2016 [Issam Rimawi / Anadolu Agency]

November 26, 2016 at 2:38 pm

1 SHARES

Share to FacebookShare to TwitterShare to Google+Share to RedditShare to Email

The investigation committee tasked to probe the case of deceased Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s death will submit the final draft of its investigation to the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Fatah chief President Mahmoud Abbas next Tuesday, Alresalah has reported.
Citing a source in Fatah’s executive committee, the Alresalah news website said that the report would identify the names of the people involved in assassinating Arafat.
Arafat died of unexplained causes possibly relating to poisoning by radioactive substances. Several inquiries were either inconclusive or else cut short, leading to speculation that he was assassinated by figures working on behalf of the Israeli occupation.
The Fatah source noted that the final draft of the investigation would be submitted to Abbas in a secret meeting on the sidelines of a Fatah conference slated to be held in Ramallah next week.
When Abbas receives a copy of the investigation, he would be in possession of the names of Arafat’s alleged assassins. Earlier this month, Abbas said that he knew the names of Arafat’s assassins, but he was unable to expose them.
“If you asked me who they are, I would say I know, but my statement is not enough,” he said. “All details must be revealed by an investigation and this will be very soon. You will be surprised when you know the killers.”
Observers have noted that Abbas was in fact probably referring to Mohammed Dahlan, who is now trying to oust Abbas from the Fatah top spot triggering a bitter dispute between the two Palestinian politicians.
Arafat died in 2004 at the age of 75 after many years of leading the PA. He was responsible for the infamous Camp David Accords with Israel, and has a divided legacy amongst Palestinians with some viewing him as something of a founding father and others seeing him as a traitor.