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Arafat samples taken from his grave

763 views · Published 27 November 2012 · 2:11 · Indexed 20 September 2026

Channel: The Telegraph · 2012 · News & Politics

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The remains of the former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat were not exhumed as expected. Middle East Correspondent Robert Tait reports from Ramallah.

Palestinian officials had originally planned a military ceremony to accompany the reburial of the remains after their exhumation at Arafat's mausoleum, which stands in the grounds of the Muqataa complex, from which the late leader ruled and where president Mahmoud Abbas has his headquarters.

But sources said the samples that will test for potential polonium poisoning were removed from the remains directly from the grave, so there was no need to rebury them in a new ceremony.

Speaking from Ramallah, Middle East Correspondent Robert Tait described how journalists and camera crews were not allowed near the "low key" process, as it took place behind blue plastic sheets far from the public view.

It is hoped the investigation will cap eight years of speculation about whether the former president was murdered, as many Palestinians believe.

"Many people within the West Bank and Gaza assume that he was poisoned but for some sort of truth or substantial evidence to emerge to that effect, it would bring a certain amount of closure for them," he added. 

Read more: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/palestinianauthority/9705198/Yasser-Arafat-poison-samples-taken-from-grave.html

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