JERUSALEM, Sept. 9 (Xinhuanet) -- Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom denied any Israeli involvement in the death of former Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, local newspaper Haaretz reported Friday.

    "It is time to put an end to conspiracy theories against Israel," Shalom told a news conference.

    "Those who know best are the French doctors who treated Arafat,"he added.

    Shalom was reacting to a Haaretz report on Thursday, which said poisoning or AIDS may lead to Arafat's death.

    "The Palestinians, the Arabs and the Arafat family all know that Israel was not involved, but certain people find it convenient to blame Israel," Shalom said.

    Palestinian Foreign Minister Nasser al-Qedwa also stopped short of pointing fingers at Israel. "Nothing new has come to light in the report," he said, adding a team of Palestinian doctors is examining the issue, and the results of their investigation must be awaited.

    "Anything else is speculation," he added.

    Arafat died on Nov. 11, 2004 at the Military Hospital of Perci in Paris. Till the moment the main reason that caused his death is still unclear. Enditem