WASHINGTON, Oct. 28 (UPI) -- The U.S. State Department said Thursday it hoped Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat gets the medical care "he needs to return to health."
Spokesman Richard Boucher said the United States was in touch with Palestinian officials at the senior level both through its consulate in Jerusalem as well as from Washington on Arafat's health. A senior State Department official, on condition of anonymity, said Assistant Secretary of State for Near East Affairs William Burns was in touch with Palestinian officials.
Although he did not directly wish Arafat, who is viewed in Washington and Tel Aviv as an obstacle to peace, a speedy recovery, Boucher said: "These are not political matters. Someone is very ill. We hope that he gets the medical care he needs to return to health."
Arafat briefly lost consciousness Wednesday. Israel, which has restricted him to his Ramallah headquarters since December 2001, has allowed Jordanian and Tunisian doctors to attend to him. News media Thursday reported he would be taken to Paris for treatment and Israel said it would allow him to return home. Boucher said this was something the two sides "appear to have worked out."
