BRAIN DEAD

Israel and Palestinians brace for worst with Arafat 'brain dead'
[W]hile French medical sources said Arafat was technically still alive, they added that he was "brain dead" and only breathing with the help of life support machines while in an irreversible coma. Technically, Arafat is "not dead," one source told AFP on condition of confidentiality. But there was no hope of him leaving his vegetative state and recovering basic bodily functions such as breathing without assistance. Such artificial care can be "extended for several days or several weeks thanks to the machines," the source said.