Gary Fitleberg, December 16, 2004

A Jewish doctor reportedly tended to Yasser Arafat on his deathbed.

Citing French government sources, Ma’ariv said Wednesday the unnamed physician was one of a select group of doctors who tended to the Palestinian Authority/Palestine Liberation Organization "Chairman of Terror" at the military hospital outside Paris, where he died Nov. 11 of a mysterious illness. "He was called in to take care of Arafat on a purely professional basis," a French official was quoted as saying. "But this is a sensitive subject which does not bear discussion."

According to the official, the doctor is a supporter of Israel, but was not believed to have supplied Israeli officials with privileged information on Arafat’s condition. There was no immediate comment from the Palestinian Authority/Palestine Liberation Organization (PA/PLO).

Gary Fitleberg is a Political Analyst specializing in International Relations with emphasis on Middle East affairs.

Copyright © 2004 Gary Fitleberg