Where is Arafat? In the land of the living or somewhere over there with the dead? It seems I was wrong about the nature of his death, though possibly not the timing. Not a switch-off but a slow rundown. I followed the news flow via Google/News yesterday. Reputable British news agency Reuters reported that he was dead. Half an hour later, the report was taken off screen. In the meantime, it had been picked up around the world. For the Far East, A. had already expired before the second, toned-down version of the report appeared, telling us that some officials said he was still ticking along. By the time his aide went on TV at 6pm Paris time to tell us that A. was indeed alive, it had all taken on the feeling of a sad charade.
Today, the news sources are, wisely, concentrating on arrangements for his funeral.
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