MURDERED? Yasser Arafat was victim of radioactive poisoning, scientists say

Yasser Arafat, considered by many as the world's most evil terrorist, fell ill and died in 2004 under mysterious circumstances. The PLO leader was diagnosed with low blood platelets and died a slow painful death. It was widely theorized that he was murdered - now, scientists armed with forensic evidence have confirmed this.

LOS ANGELES, CA (Catholic Online) - Arafat's widow and daughter demanded a French judicial inquiry into his death two years ago. Swiss scientists have since investigated his belongings for traces of poison.

The results, published in the medical journal The Lancet says that researchers found traces of a highly toxic radioactive material, polonium-210, on his headgear, underpants and toothbrush.

"Improving forensic investigation for polonium poisoning," the article, reports that investigators took samples of blood, sweat and urine from Arafat's clothes and found they contained significantly higher than expected levels of polonium-210.

"These findings support the possibility of Arafat's poisoning with polonium-210," the report says. The conclusion is consistent with another investigation of Arafat's belongings published in May of last year.

Researchers stress that their findings are not definitive, but definitely point to an assassination.

They point out that Arafat's symptoms were almost identical to those of a 43-year-old Russian admitted to University College Hospital, London, in November 2006, suffering from a mysterious illness. Later identified as former Russian intelligence agent named Alexander Litvinenko, a post-mortem examination revealed he had been poisoned by polonium-210.

If this is indeed true, who were Arafat's killers? Israel, or to be specific, the Israeli Institute for Intelligence and Special Operations, better known as Mossad are the most likely suspects.

Mossad is no stranger to espionage and "unethical behavior." The assassination of Arafat would be in line with their previous deeds.

Arafat conducted a terror campaign against Israel and the West for decades. Groups under his direct or indirect command were responsible for hundreds of bombing, hijackings, assassinations and other attacks.

Mossad has earned an almost mythic notoriety since its formation in 1949. One of its earliest successes was the abduction of Adolf Eichmann. the Architect of the Final Solution -- from a street in Buenos Aires in 1960.

Eichmann was later taken to Israel to face a trial and execution. Other Nazi war criminals were dispatched with less due process.

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