AMMAN, Jordan -- Visibly frail and obviously sick, Yasser Arafat boarded a French jet Friday for a trip to Paris where he was to receive urgent medical treatment.
The long-time head of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, who has been holed up for nearly three years inside his Ramallah compound, left Israel on a Jordanian military helicopter for Jordan and then boarded the French plane, along with his wife and various aides, CNN reported.
Rather than his trademark checkered kaffiyeh and military garb he was wearing a knit winter cap and pajamas and had to be helped to walk.
The 75-year-old politician is suffering from a blood platelet deficiency and has experienced at least one fainting spell in recent days. He has begun to lose the ability to recognize those around him and sleeps far more than normal, an aide said.
Another assistant suggested Arafat might be suffering from leukemia, a blood-related cancer that can be fatal.
On Thursday, the Israeli government said it would allow Arafat to go anywhere his doctors felt was necessary and would allow him to return to his compound. Since December 2001 Israel has said it could not guarantee Arafat's safe return if he left his West Bank compound.
