Palestinians Commemorate the Second Anniversary of Arafat's Death,
reports by Yousef Alhelou
One of the saddest events to have occurred recently was when Palestinian cancer sufferers and their children visited the grave of the late Yasser Arafat. After the Palestinian government and the presidency have failed to secure their treatment, in either Palestinian hospitals or abroad, they told assembled journalists that, "If Arafat was alive he wouldn’t leave us to die without treatment."
On the second anniversary of his death, it seems that the memories which are left recall the man, suffering, under siege by the world - just as Palestinians are today.
South African leader, Nelson Mandela, said of Arafat, "He was a personal historical heritage for the world's struggle against injustice and subjugation. His life is almost like a myth with all that includes, as he is the hero who challenges the force and tyranny, with his faith and belief in his rights."
Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish said about him, "Arafat is awake, as an old Greek myth. Arafat is not only forced to lead the ship, with a group of men, against the strong waves, but he has to lead it alone, and to be besieged alone, and to answer the questions of the sea."
Farouq Qaddoumi, political chief of the PLO, declared, "This man, who sailed in the ship of right, since his early days, left us and left his soul still over Palestine."
Israeli media frequently say of him "It is not possible with him, or without him."
An Israeli peace activist told us, "He was one of the most hated persons in Israel, but he was the most beloved person amongst his people, and to the people in the Arab and Islamic world, he is a unique and courageous man."
Two years after his death, the website of the Fatah movement asked current Palestinian leaders about the legacy of Yasser Arafat. Former PLC member Abduljawad Salih stated, "If Arafat was alive, this crisis wouldn't occur. Arafat was one of the most able people to manage tactics and face crises."
Saleh, who also said that he, himself, was one of Arafat's harshest critics added, "Arafat is absent after leaving a political system he made, tailored for himself, and now there is no one who can run this system, because it was made only for Arafat and for a character his size. I believe that if Arafat were alive today, we could have overcome this crisis."
Former PLC member Mohammad Hourani said of Arafat, "We used to criticize him, because we wanted him as a strong man. We discover now that the man is absent, the institution he was looking for is absent too", he continued, "He was the main man in solving the Palestinians' problems, a pragmatic politician and a strategic man. He was ready always to work for long hours to solve any problem which the society might face."
Saeb Erekat stated, "I wouldn't say "the memory of Arafat"; I prefer to say "the thought of Arafat", as his thoughts still prevail, even after he left. He left, but the occupation still carries on, the settlements, the wall. Arafat left and his dream to liberate Jerusalem was not achieved, so, to be loyal to him, we should be interested in accomplishing his dreams and thoughts."
In spite the crisis faced by Arafat, the salaries were never stopped.
Former minister of finance Salam Fayyad said "We passed through many crises in his days, but he always managed to take us out of those crises. The project which Arafat most wanted to achieve was not accomplished; the occupation still continues."
Palestinians are celebrating the second anniversary of Arafat's death. The man died of unknown causes after being besieged by Israeli military forces for three years in his Moqata'ah headquarters in Ramallah.
Israeli army prevent thousands from attending Arafat anniversary celebrations
Israeli military forces have prevented thousands of Palestinian citizens from traveling from the north of the West Bank to Ramallah, to commemorate the second anniversary of the death of former President Yasser Arafat.
Citizens traveling in buses were stopped by Israeli forces at several barriers, blocking the roads at Anab, near Tulkarem, and Zatara, near Nablus.
Palestinian security sources said that the Israeli forces blocked large numbers of Palestinians at the Zatara barrier, and refused to allow them to pass through, until each person was thoroughly checked by the troops. The sources added that the Israeli forces allowed just one car to pass every half an hour.
Tributes to President Arafat
Senior Palestinian officials laid wreaths at the glass shrine atop Arafat's grave inside the compound and read verses from the Quran, the Muslim holy book, while crowds of people filled the nearby courtyard. A massive picture of Arafat stood nearby.
Speaking at the ceremony, Arafat's successor Mahmoud Abbas said that he hoped to form a coalition government with the Islamic Hamas party by the end of the month.
Abbas' Fatah party and Hamas, which won January parliamentary elections, have been negotiating for months on forming a national unity government aimed at ending crippling international sanctions on the Palestinian Authority.
"I tell my people that we have achieved great progress on the way to forming a national unity government that can end the siege and open the horizons for political solutions that will end the occupation forever", Abbas said.
"I expect, God willing, that this government will see the light of day before the end of this month", he said.
Abbas used his speech to reiterate the Palestinians' claim for a state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with east Jerusalem as its capital.
"The Palestinian people will not concede any acre of its land, including Jerusalem", he said.
Abbas pledged to "maintain Arafat's will" and addressed the late leader, saying: "You inspired us by your long national roots, by your wise leadership, by your persistent, honest commitment. That's what fills us with determination to go ahead and fulfill our national goals, the national goals that you worked for."
Yousef Alhelou is a freelance Palestinian Journalist. He can be contacted on ydamadan@hotmail.com
reports by Yousef Alhelou
One of the saddest events to have occurred recently was when Palestinian cancer sufferers and their children visited the grave of the late Yasser Arafat. After the Palestinian government and the presidency have failed to secure their treatment, in either Palestinian hospitals or abroad, they told assembled journalists that, "If Arafat was alive he wouldn’t leave us to die without treatment."
On the second anniversary of his death, it seems that the memories which are left recall the man, suffering, under siege by the world - just as Palestinians are today.
South African leader, Nelson Mandela, said of Arafat, "He was a personal historical heritage for the world's struggle against injustice and subjugation. His life is almost like a myth with all that includes, as he is the hero who challenges the force and tyranny, with his faith and belief in his rights."
Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish said about him, "Arafat is awake, as an old Greek myth. Arafat is not only forced to lead the ship, with a group of men, against the strong waves, but he has to lead it alone, and to be besieged alone, and to answer the questions of the sea."
Farouq Qaddoumi, political chief of the PLO, declared, "This man, who sailed in the ship of right, since his early days, left us and left his soul still over Palestine."
Israeli media frequently say of him "It is not possible with him, or without him."
An Israeli peace activist told us, "He was one of the most hated persons in Israel, but he was the most beloved person amongst his people, and to the people in the Arab and Islamic world, he is a unique and courageous man."
Two years after his death, the website of the Fatah movement asked current Palestinian leaders about the legacy of Yasser Arafat. Former PLC member Abduljawad Salih stated, "If Arafat was alive, this crisis wouldn't occur. Arafat was one of the most able people to manage tactics and face crises."
Saleh, who also said that he, himself, was one of Arafat's harshest critics added, "Arafat is absent after leaving a political system he made, tailored for himself, and now there is no one who can run this system, because it was made only for Arafat and for a character his size. I believe that if Arafat were alive today, we could have overcome this crisis."
Former PLC member Mohammad Hourani said of Arafat, "We used to criticize him, because we wanted him as a strong man. We discover now that the man is absent, the institution he was looking for is absent too", he continued, "He was the main man in solving the Palestinians' problems, a pragmatic politician and a strategic man. He was ready always to work for long hours to solve any problem which the society might face."
Saeb Erekat stated, "I wouldn't say "the memory of Arafat"; I prefer to say "the thought of Arafat", as his thoughts still prevail, even after he left. He left, but the occupation still carries on, the settlements, the wall. Arafat left and his dream to liberate Jerusalem was not achieved, so, to be loyal to him, we should be interested in accomplishing his dreams and thoughts."
In spite the crisis faced by Arafat, the salaries were never stopped.
Former minister of finance Salam Fayyad said "We passed through many crises in his days, but he always managed to take us out of those crises. The project which Arafat most wanted to achieve was not accomplished; the occupation still continues."
Palestinians are celebrating the second anniversary of Arafat's death. The man died of unknown causes after being besieged by Israeli military forces for three years in his Moqata'ah headquarters in Ramallah.
Israeli army prevent thousands from attending Arafat anniversary celebrations
Israeli military forces have prevented thousands of Palestinian citizens from traveling from the north of the West Bank to Ramallah, to commemorate the second anniversary of the death of former President Yasser Arafat.
Citizens traveling in buses were stopped by Israeli forces at several barriers, blocking the roads at Anab, near Tulkarem, and Zatara, near Nablus.
Palestinian security sources said that the Israeli forces blocked large numbers of Palestinians at the Zatara barrier, and refused to allow them to pass through, until each person was thoroughly checked by the troops. The sources added that the Israeli forces allowed just one car to pass every half an hour.
Tributes to President Arafat
Senior Palestinian officials laid wreaths at the glass shrine atop Arafat's grave inside the compound and read verses from the Quran, the Muslim holy book, while crowds of people filled the nearby courtyard. A massive picture of Arafat stood nearby.
Speaking at the ceremony, Arafat's successor Mahmoud Abbas said that he hoped to form a coalition government with the Islamic Hamas party by the end of the month.
Abbas' Fatah party and Hamas, which won January parliamentary elections, have been negotiating for months on forming a national unity government aimed at ending crippling international sanctions on the Palestinian Authority.
"I tell my people that we have achieved great progress on the way to forming a national unity government that can end the siege and open the horizons for political solutions that will end the occupation forever", Abbas said.
"I expect, God willing, that this government will see the light of day before the end of this month", he said.
Abbas used his speech to reiterate the Palestinians' claim for a state in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, with east Jerusalem as its capital.
"The Palestinian people will not concede any acre of its land, including Jerusalem", he said.
Abbas pledged to "maintain Arafat's will" and addressed the late leader, saying: "You inspired us by your long national roots, by your wise leadership, by your persistent, honest commitment. That's what fills us with determination to go ahead and fulfill our national goals, the national goals that you worked for."
Yousef Alhelou is a freelance Palestinian Journalist. He can be contacted on ydamadan@hotmail.com