Most Palestinians Believe Israel Poisoned Arafat: Poll
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - A majority of Palestinians believe Israel poisoned their late leader Yasser Arafat, according to poll published Tuesday.
The poll, released by Ramallah-based Palestinian Center for Policy and Survey Research, showed 59 percent of respondents believe Israel fatally poisoned Arafat, while 21 percent "believe that a Palestinian party or group or a joint Palestinian-Israeli party or group is responsible."
Recent analyses found high levels of lethal polonium in Arafat's remains and personal effects, with Swiss researchers saying the data lean towards the possibility of poisoning but French scientists ruling that possibility out, AFP reported.
The cause of Arafat's 2004 death in a French military hospital have yet to be finally clarified, with many Palestinians blaming Israel for it.
The poll was conducted by face-to-face interviews with 1,270 adults between December 19-22 in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, with a margin of error estimated at three percentage points.