Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak offered to send his personal helicopter to fly the Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to Cairo. According to the British Independent, the Americans also offered to help him negotiate terms with the Israelis. However, according to a Palestinian official, Arafat said he preferred to die a martyr than surrender.
The Egyptian Middle East News Agency (MENA), quoting official sources in Cairo, asserted that these reports were groundless and bare of truth.
On Saturday night, Israel allowed six Palestinian ambulances to deliver relief supplies to Arafat's office. The head of the medical team, Dr. Husam Sharqawi, told the British paper on Sunday: "I thought Mr Arafat would be tired and drained. But he is incredibly on top of things. He spoke about never losing."
The Red Crescent team delivered bread, cheese and water. They found one dead policeman inside the building, bringing the confirmed Palestinian death toll for the two days of fighting to 12. Sharqawi left behind two paramedics to tend wounded men, who refused to be taken to hospital because they were on Israel's wanted list. (Albawaba.com)
© 2002 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
