Israel rejects role in possible Arafat poisoning

Israel has once again rejected accusations that the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat may have been poisoned and that Israel’s spy agency Mossad may have played a role.

Last month, a Swiss lab confirmed it had found “surprisingly” high levels of polonium-210 on Arafat’s clothing.

That is the same poison that killed former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko in London in 2006.

“It’s simply not true, it’s simply not true. And I don’t think that anyone is taking these accusations seriously,” said Mark Regev, spokesman for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

“And I would remind the Palestinian side that all the documents concerning Mr Arafat’s health, concerning his medical treatment – all these documents are with them. Either with the family or with the Palestinian Authority government. So I say to them, instead of cultivating conspiracy theories why don’t you just make everything public. That surely would clear up the matter.”

Arafat fell ill while under siege at his West Bank compound in October 2004 and died a month later at a military hospital in Paris. His medical records suggested he had died of a stroke.

Arafat’s wife has filed a case in France calling for his body to be exhumed.

You can hear more of the interview with Mark Regev on Tuesday after 6.00 pm Central European Time on euronews.

Copyright © 2013 euronews