Topic: Yasser Arafat

The discussion explores the influence of Marxist ideology on American social movements and the history of corruption within the PLO. It highlights reports of Yasser Arafat's multi-billion dollar Swiss bank accounts and the financial concessions that defined the early governance of Gaza.

In 1968, Israeli intelligence attempted to use a hypnotized Palestinian prisoner to assassinate PLO leader Yasser Arafat, inspired by the movie "The Manchurian Candidate." After months of training, the operative crossed into Jordan but immediately surrendered to police, revealing the plot. The story is cited as an example of the "Inspector Clouseau" side of Israeli intelligence operations.

The death of Yasser Arafat from a "mysterious disease" remains a subject of intense speculation, with many Palestinians convinced of Israeli involvement. Ronan Bergman notes that Prime Minister Ariel Sharon had explicitly promised President George W. Bush that he would not assassinate Arafat. The segment explores the diplomatic implications of a potential violation of that promise and the ambiguity surrounding Arafat's final days.

Cyprus is reportedly seeking a bailout from Russia rather than the EU or IMF, potentially securing a better deal for its struggling economy. In other news, a Swiss institute found traces of polonium on the belongings of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, leading to calls for his body to be exhumed. The hosts discuss the geopolitical implications of these stories and the suspicious timing of the Arafat allegations.