Most Israelis want Arafat dead

2004-10-29 12:33

Jerusalem - A majority of Israelis would like Yasser Arafat to die, an opinion poll showed on Friday as the Palestinian leader was flown to Paris for treatment on a potentially fatal blood disorder.

Forty-seven percent of those surveyed in the poll for the private Channel Two television network agreed that they wanted him dead while only 32% disagreed. The rest expressed no opinion.

But the poll, conducted by the Maagar institute, also showed that most of the 32% also wanted to see Arafat continue to suffer.

Fifty-eight percent said that the Israeli government was right to allow Arafat to go abroad for treatment while 36% disagreed with the decision.

His early morning departure on a Jordanian helicopter was the first time that Arafat had left Palestinian territory for nearly three years.

Wary of being blamed

While Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon has made a number of threats to kill his arch-enemy, his government is also wary of being held to blame in the event of his death.

Doctors have determined that he is suffering from a blood disorder which could lead to his death unless it is treated outside the West Bank.

After the extent of his condition became clear, Israel made clear that it would allow him to both leave the West Bank and would not hinder his return after treatment.

Five hundred people were questioned in the survey which has a 4.5% margin of error.

- AFP