[JURIST] CBC News is reporting that, according to reports on Israeli television, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has died in Paris. JURIST's Paper Chase has background on the succession process detailed in the Palestinian Constitution.

UPDATE: According to the latest updates from Haaertz, the spokesman from the French hospital where Arafat has received treatment has said that Arafat's medical situation is complex, but that Arafat has not died. Additionally, Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qureia has denied reports of Arafat's death. However, Luxembourg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker confirmed that Arafat died Thursday morning. AP has more on the hospital's denial of the report.

Haaertz has more on Israeli reaction to news that Arafat was near death. For more on issues surrounding the succession process, CBS has background, as does UPI (here).

UPDATE: Luxembourg PM retracts statement on Arafat's death, calling it a "misunderstanding". Doctors at the Paris hospital where Arafat was rushed on Friday continue to deny his death, but now report that the gravely ill Palestinian leader has slipped into a coma. AP has more.