Concern over Arafat's health

Speculation mounted today that Yasser Arafat is more seriously ill than the Palestinian leadership has admitted.

Israel gave the ailing 75-year-old permission to briefly leave his compound to receive medical treatment in the West Bank city of Ramallah, heightening concerns for the Palestinian leader.

But Palestinian officials said Arafat was recovering from a lengthy bout of the flu, but was feeling better and would not accept the offer.

Arafat’s health has been the subject of intense speculation in recent weeks after separate teams of Tunisian and Egyptian doctors were flown in to examine him.

The Israeli media, quoting anonymous Israeli officials, said Arafat may be suffering from more than the flu, with some reports saying he is ill with stomach cancer.

The decision by Israeli Defence Minister Shaul Mofaz would allow Arafat to leave the Muqata, his compound in Ramallah, for the first time in 2 1/2 years, the Defence Ministry said.

Arafat would be allowed to go to a Ramallah hospital for medical checks on condition that he returns to his compound afterward, the statement said.

Israel said the permission for Arafat to leave was granted in response to a request by Palestinian officials, a statement the Palestinians swiftly denied.

“We did not ask the Israelis for permission to take President Arafat to the hospital and there is no need as Arafat is recovering in the Muqata,” Palestinian Cabinet Minister Saeb Erekat said.

“We are used to hearing rumours form the Israelis about the president’s health,” said Nabil Abu Rdeneh, an Arafat aide.

Arafat aides said he fell ill two weeks ago, suffering from fever, nausea and a stuffy nose. He has been feeling better in recent days, has resumed eating and even presided over a lively meeting of his national security council Sunday, Palestinian officials said.

Arafat was laughing and appeared healthy at another meeting with Palestinian officials later Sunday that journalists, including an Associated Press reporter, were allowed to observe briefly.

However, a Palestinian doctor, who has examined Arafat recently, said the Palestinian leader continued to suffer from inexplicable fatigue.

In the latest round of tests Monday, the five Tunisian doctors, together with Palestinian doctors, conducted a series of tests on Arafat, including a endoscopy to check his stomach and digestive tract.

Arafat had been complaining of stomach pains before the test, but no problems were found, the Palestinian doctor, who was there, said.

Last year, Arafat suffered from gall stones, and his aides denied rumours he had stomach cancer. In recent years, Arafat has developed a tremor in his lips and hands, considered a possible symptom of Parkinson’s disease.

Arafat has not left his compound since 2002 for fear of being snatched by Israeli troops. Israel, which accuses Arafat of stoking violent attacks against it, has said Arafat was free to leave the compound and even to travel abroad, but it would not guarantee he would be allowed to return.