GAZA, Oct. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- A senior Palestinian official on Wednesday denied Israeli reports that that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat may be airlifted to Cairo to pass through a surgery operation.

    Sakher Habash, a member of the central committee of Palestinian mainstream Fatah movement led by Arafat, described the possibility that Arafat would be airlifted to Cairo as a rumor that Israel aimsfrom it to expel Arafat from the territories, or attempting to killhim "in a way that his death would seem to be a normal death."

    Habash told the press that Arafat on Monday evening headed a meeting with the committee for three hours, "which is clear that it's not more than influenza."

    It seems that Israel is trying to spread rumors about Arafat's health and his need for a surgery, to share in security deteriorations in Gaza Strip as what happened on Monday evening of deteriorations," Habash said.

    Well informed Palestinian sources said that Arafat only sufferedlast Tuesday of influenza and an Egyptian medical group came on Monday to check his health. Enditem