The mausoleum plaza
Photo: Reuters
PA marks anniversary of Arafat's death
Thousands of Palestinians attend Ramallah ceremony marking former PA chairman's death as Palestinian mass security forces keep the peace
RAMALLAH – Thousands of Palestinians on Sunday attended the Palestinian Authority's ceremony marking the third anniversary of Former Palestinian Authority Chairman Yasser Arafat's death.
Many arrived at the Ramallah mausoleum in the early hours of the morning, and Fatah flags and posters of the deceased leader were hung all over the city.
IDF forces placed several roadblocks on the roads leading to Ramallah, but most of the vehicles and their passengers were allowed passage into the city.
Masses gathering at the mausoleum plaza (Photo: Ali Waked)
Palestinian security forces were heavily deployed in the city streets leading to the mausoleum; their mass presence was even more visible as they guided senior Palestinian officials through the crowd and into the mausoleum's plaza, where the official ceremony was held.
Dozens of armed PA troops were stationed on the rooftops overlooking the plaza. "This is Fatah's chance to prove it is still connected to the streets. Abu Ammar (Arafat) is the Fatah. The people loved him because he never thought of himself, only about the Palestinians' rights," Yusuf al-Majid, a Fatah operative in Ramallah, told Ynet.
The official ceremony turned into a mass family event, as whole families gathered near the mausoleum, chanting Arafat's name.
"Look how so many have come to pay their respects," said Majid. "What a shame they didn't honor him that way when he was alive."
