Palestinian inquiry concludes that Arafat was poisoned

Has the mystery of Arafat’s death been solved? Abbas believes he has the answers. 

A special commission of inquiry formed by the Palestinian Authority (PA) has substantiated Abbas’ claim that former Fatah official Mohammed Dahlan was responsible for the death of PA and PLO leader Yasser Arafat, Israel Hayom reported.

Alleged poisoning

Arafat died in late 2004 in a French hospital after a short illness. The cause of his death has since been a mystery, while Israel has been implicated in various conspiracy theories, many of them alleging assassination by poison. A 2013 study by Swiss scientists commissioned by Al Jazeera claimed to have found unnaturally high levels of polonium in Arafat’s body.

Alleged anonymous confessions

The inquiry’s findings, published Sunday, state that Dahlan gave Arafat poisoned medicine during his hospitalization in Paris. The report further alleged that Dahlan’s men were in contact with foreign officials who delivered the poisoned remedy. The nationality of the officials was not disclosed. The individuals implicated later confessed to their crime, the report said.

Internal political fued

The report also accused Dahlan of attempting to enlist the support of senior leaders in the Palestinian administration and stage a military coup to depose Arafat’s appointed successor – Mahmoud Abbas.

Abbas made similar accusations against Dahlan in 2013. Abbas and his close associates also hold Dahlan, for years Fatah’s strongman in the Gaza Strip, responsible for Hamas’ violent takeover in 2007.

Dahlan was forced into exile in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in 2011 after the Fatah party accused him of corruption and treason for collaborating with Israel, which is punishable by death in the PA. Dahlan denies the allegations, and maintains Abbas is using Palestinian security forces to run a smear campaign against him out of fear Dahlan may win in a democratic presidential election.

By: World Israel News Staff

ArafatDahlanPalestinian Authority