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Journalism of Courage
In a show of unity on Sunday, Palestinian legislators said they would give an indefinite reprieve to Yasser Arafat-appointed Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie, facing a possible no-confidence vote for not acting on reform demands. They said it would be inappropriate to threaten a no-confidence vote while Arafat was ill.
8216;8216;Now is not the time to start manoeuvring8230;Now is the time for hanging together, trying to present an image that everything is fine and the leadership intact,8217;8217; said Palestinian political analyst Ali Jarbawi.
Arafat, undergoing tests at a military hospital outside Paris, does not have a life-threatening illness and his condition is 8216;8216;curable8217;8217;. 8216;8216;I can assure you he is not suffering from leukaemia or any serious problem8221; advisor Nabil Abu Rudeina said.
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, meanwhile, said Arafat, if he dies, will not be allowed to be buried in Jerusalem. Sharon said he would be allowed to return to his Ramallah headquarters, but asserted he will block requests by Palestinian Authorities to bury him in Jerusalem.
Israel also ruled out attack on the headquarters where suspected Palestinian militants have been holed up. 8216;8216;Their hour will come, but for now Israel s committed to letting Arafat return to the Muqataa, so no operation can be launched damaging this objective,8217;8217; said a PM aide.
