Sources close to the Palestinian leadership said a bitter fight had broken out over who should control the ailing leader's fortune estimated to be between $4.2 billion and $6.5 billion.
Sources said Arafat has written a will transferring control of his assets to members of his wife's family. Some of his aides, including former Premier Mahmoud Abbas who has stepped in as interim leader, however, believe the fortune belongs to the "beit al-mal" (public treasury), and should be transferred to the Palestinian Authority.