Late Arafat’s recall to our Troublesome World

The Late Yasser Arafat

The Late Yasser Arafat

Something in the news caught my attention today, and I couldn’t help but discuss it with friends and colleagues. It’s about the exhumation of the late Palestinian President, Yasser Arafat. Mr. Arafat passed away in 2004 after a short illness in a French military hospital. Shockingly, no autopsy was performed on him—imagine, a whole Head of State—and his body was flown back to Ramallah for burial. Soon after, rumors began circulating that he had been poisoned, as traces of radioactive polonium were found in preliminary samples taken from his personal belongings, like his toothbrush, hair, and urine stains.

What’s even more intriguing is the belief that Israel was responsible for poisoning him. I can’t help but wonder why this case was allowed to rest for eight years until now, when Arafat’s remains have been exhumed to conduct further studies to confirm whether polonium was indeed the cause of his death. According to Al Jazeera, a team of international scientists from France, Switzerland, and Russia arrived in Palestine to collect these samples. The fact that they’ve gathered experts from multiple countries shows how serious this case is. An exhumation like this would never happen if the matter wasn’t significant.

I wonder what will unfold after the studies are completed. God help us as we navigate this troubled world. Arafat was a good man, dedicated to bringing peace between Palestine and other countries in the region, including Israel.

I find this particularly fascinating, having studied nuclear radiation and given a presentation on the topic not too long ago. I’m curious about how the concept of nuclear half-life comes into play here, considering that polonium’s lifespan isn’t particularly long. Eight years is quite a stretch, and Arafat should have been left to rest in peace. But now, suddenly, there’s all this international attention. That’s why I chose the headline, “The Late Arafat’s Recall back to Our Troublesome World.”

Arafat’s wife has also been a strong supporter of this investigation. It’s true what they say—when you find a strong-willed woman, she’ll always have your back, even when you’re long gone.

Peace to the world.

Yours humble Pal,  

Ronnie