Palestinian investigators to announce names linked to Arafat's death

Published December 3rd, 2013 - 12:15 GMT
Arafat died in 2004 of a "sudden illness" while under an Israeli siege in Ramallah (File Archive)
Arafat died in 2004 of a "sudden illness" while under an Israeli siege in Ramallah (File Archive)

A Palestinian investigator told Reuters Tuesday that he would soon release the names of those he believed were responsible for former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's death.


"I promise that the next press conference will be the last, and will cast into the light of day everyone who perpetrated, took part in or conspired in the matter. We are in the last 15 minutes of the investigation," investigator Tawfiq Tirawi told Palestine Today television.


After nearly a decade since the former leader's death in 2004 from a "sudden illness" that struck while under Israeli siege at his headquarters in Ramallah, a Swiss forensic lab announced in November that their research indicated that  Arafat was poisoned.


According to the Swiss researchers, Arafat's bones contained high levels of polonium, a "rare and deadly radioactive isotope," that indicated a fair chance that poisoning was his cause of death.


The announcement of the evidence sparked a renewed investigation into the former leader's death by the Palestinian Authority and headed by Tawfiq Tirawi.


Many Palestinians blame Israel for the leader's death, but the Jewish state has consistently denied the allegation. Arafat's widow said that one of her husband's close contacts was responsible, but no evidence has supported this allegation.

Subscribe

Sign up to our newsletter for exclusive updates and enhanced content