MORE ON ARAFAT'S BURIAL PROSPECTS:

Israel takes over Arafat burial plan (London Times)
From David Sharrock in Jerusalem

ISRAEL announced yesterday that it had completed preparations for Yassir Arafat�s funeral to be held in the Gaza Strip, not, as he had hoped, in Jerusalem.

The decision appears to rule out the 75-year-old Palestinian leader�s own wish to be buried in Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem � known to Jews as the Temple Mount.

[...]

Saeb Erekat, the Palestinians� chief negotiator, said the Israeli announcement was inappropriate. �I think it�s not for the Israelis to decide and I would urge them to show some sensitivity,� he said.

But an unnamed Palestinian official quoted by Reuters from the West Bank said: �He has liver failure. His condition is not improving.� He added: �One option being considered is moving him to Cairo.�

[...]

UPDATE: This story just keeps getting stranger. First, according to CNSNews, "'They're Trying to Bury My Husband Alive' Suha Arafat Says," in response to the plan of Palestinian leaders to come to France to visit his bedside. Aside from everything that arises from that title, this article is full of interesting gossip about the legal situation for keeping Arafat on life support (if that's what's happening) and about what his illness might be. Note also the following historical tidbit:

Before Suha's outburst, analysts here had speculated that Arafat would be allowed to die on Tuesday, which is Lailat al-Kader, the 27th day and most holy night in the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan.

It is known as the Night of Power, when Muslims believe that Allah revealed the Koran to Mohammed. Arafat's death on that day would take on added significance.

Then, in response to Suha Arafat, one Palestinian official is reported (by Xinhuanet) to be promising that "the ailing President will reject his wife's claims that the visit by Palestinian leaders was to 'bury him alive.'" All I can say to that is, I'll believe it when I see it.

UPDATE: Hmmm... Maybe that last quote was a hasty mistranslation of the Arabic. The Washington Post gives what seems to be the same quote as follows (my bold-font emphasis):

Her accusations infuriated officials already frustrated that Arafat's wife has refused to divulge details of their seriously ailing leader's condition.

"They are angry with Suha and don't want to go," Tayeb Abdel Rahim, a senior Arafat aide told reporters at a press conference in the West Bank city of Ramallah. "What came from Suha doesn't represent our people. If the president were to hear that, he would reject it completely."

This makes more sense.