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Friday November 21, 1997

Mideast Report

JERUSALEM (JPS) -- Claims that Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat is suffering from Parkinson's disease were denied Sunday by his adviser, Dr. Ahmed Tibi, a gynecologist.

A statement issued by Arafat's wife, Suha, charged that the speculations were part of an Israeli propaganda campaign.

Neurologist Professor Avinoam Rekhess of Hadassah-University Hospital in Jerusalem said in an Israel Radio interview Sunday that he suspects Arafat is suffering from the disease. Rekhess said footage taken of Arafat at a press conference in Switzerland on Saturday showed a marked tremor in his lower lip, and at times his facial expression appeared to freeze.

Rekhess said that although he could only give a guarded diagnosis based on a video clip, he suspects Arafat is in the early stages of the disease and advises him to seek medical assistance.

Rekhess added that as the disease progresses, it attacks the body's motor system, causing difficulty in speaking and movement. If Arafat is indeed suffering from Parkinson's, said Rekhess, he will not be able to hide the symptoms for much longer.

Palestinian organs transplanted to Israelis

JERUSALEM -- Three Israeli Arabs have received transplanted organs from a Palestinian boy who was shot by an Israeli soldier during demonstrations last week near Bethlehem.

The boy, Ali Jawarish, 8, was declared brain dead Saturday after he was shot by a rubber bullet.

He was kept on life support equipment until organ donors could be found.

His family decided to have the organs flown to an Israeli hospital, saying it did not matter to them whether a Jew or Arab received them.

An 18-month-old baby received a kidney, a 12-year-old boy received a liver and a kidney, and a 15-year-old boy received the heart and lungs.

Clashes erupted Sunday in Bethlehem after Jawarish's funeral.

Palestinian youths threw stones at Israeli troops, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets.

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