PLO legislative body will “remain tall and loyal to the blood of the Martyrs… [and holds] Israel fully responsible for the crime of Arafat’s murder”
Official PA TV News, special broadcast of the central rally in Gaza to mark the 13th anniversary of the death of former PLO and PA Chairman Yasser Arafat
Official PA TV newsreader: “In an announcement on the 13th anniversary of the Martyrdom-death (Istish’had) of commander Yasser Arafat, the [Palestinian] National Council (i.e., the legislative body of the PLO)... [stated] that it will remain tall and loyal to the blood of the Martyrs (Shahids) and the sacrifices of the prisoners and wounded, while again holding Israel fully responsible for the crime of Arafat’s murder.”
Following PLO and PA Chairman Yasser Arafat's death in November 2004, the PA created the libel that Israel murdered Arafat, and it has been spreading it since then. Swiss, Russian, and French teams have studied these claims. In 2012, samples were taken from Arafat’s remains to be tested for poisoning, and Swiss and Russian teams afterwards published the results of their tests: The Swiss team concluded that the tests were "coherent with a hypothesis of poisoning" - but a member of the team also stated that "our study did not permit us to demonstrate categorically the hypothesis of poisoning by polonium." The Russian report concluded that "there was insufficient evidence to support the theory that Yasser Arafat died in 2004 by polonium poisoning." [Reuters, Nov. 8, 2013] In March 2015, three French judges ruled that "it has not been demonstrated that Mr. Yasser Arafat was murdered by polonium-210 poisoning." The French prosecutor stated that there was "not sufficient evidence of an intervention by a third party who could have attempted to take his life." [France 24, Sept. 2, 2015] The French prosecutor also explained that the polonium and lead found in Arafat’s grave were “of an environmental nature.” [Jerusalem Post, March 17, 2015].
Despite these results, the PA continues to blame Israel for Arafat’s death without any proof or backing for this claim.
Official PA TV newsreader: “In an announcement on the 13th anniversary of the Martyrdom-death (Istish’had) of commander Yasser Arafat, the [Palestinian] National Council (i.e., the legislative body of the PLO)... [stated] that it will remain tall and loyal to the blood of the Martyrs (Shahids) and the sacrifices of the prisoners and wounded, while again holding Israel fully responsible for the crime of Arafat’s murder.”
Following PLO and PA Chairman Yasser Arafat's death in November 2004, the PA created the libel that Israel murdered Arafat, and it has been spreading it since then. Swiss, Russian, and French teams have studied these claims. In 2012, samples were taken from Arafat’s remains to be tested for poisoning, and Swiss and Russian teams afterwards published the results of their tests: The Swiss team concluded that the tests were "coherent with a hypothesis of poisoning" - but a member of the team also stated that "our study did not permit us to demonstrate categorically the hypothesis of poisoning by polonium." The Russian report concluded that "there was insufficient evidence to support the theory that Yasser Arafat died in 2004 by polonium poisoning." [Reuters, Nov. 8, 2013] In March 2015, three French judges ruled that "it has not been demonstrated that Mr. Yasser Arafat was murdered by polonium-210 poisoning." The French prosecutor stated that there was "not sufficient evidence of an intervention by a third party who could have attempted to take his life." [France 24, Sept. 2, 2015] The French prosecutor also explained that the polonium and lead found in Arafat’s grave were “of an environmental nature.” [Jerusalem Post, March 17, 2015].
Despite these results, the PA continues to blame Israel for Arafat’s death without any proof or backing for this claim.