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A Palestinian boy carrying a portrait of the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in Gaza on Saturday. (AP)
Last update - 07:11 11/11/2007
Mausoleum of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat unveiled in Ramallah
By The Associated Press
Tags: Palestinian Authority 

Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas on Saturday inaugurated a $1.75 million mausoleum built over Yasser Arafat's grave and vowed to press on with his iconic predecessor's drive for a Palestinian state.

Abbas, who is preparing for a U.S.-hosted peace conference with Israel, said he hoped Arafat's wish to be buried in Jerusalem would be realized along with the Palestinians' dream of making the Arab East of the city their capital.

The mausoleum, made of glass and beige Jerusalem stone, is surrounded on three sides by water, and a piece of rail track is entombed underneath Arafat's grave. The water and piece of track are meant to symbolize the temporary nature of the grave, officials said, with Palestinians planning to rebury their leader one day in Jerusalem, their hoped-for capital.
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Arafat died November 11, 2004 in a French military hospital and was buried on the grounds of his West Bank headquarters, now used by Abbas. The mausoleum measures 11 meters by 11 meters (120 square feet) to mark the day of his death. A mosque was built next to the tomb, and an Arafat museum is slated to open next year.

During the ceremony, Abbas laid a wreath in the colors of the Palestinian flag on the tombstone and honored his one-time rival with a moment of silence.

"We will continue on the path of the martyred President Yasser Arafat to be reburied in Jerusalem, which he loved... Jerusalem, which he tried to make, and which all our people are trying to make, the capital of the Palestinian state," Abbas said.

In another reference to Jerusalem, the tower of the mosque next to the mausoleum is topped by a laser light pointing to the holy city, just a few miles away, said Mohammed Ishtayeh, head of the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction, the organization that built the structure.

Drawing on the legacy of the charismatic Arafat may give a boost to Abbas as he heads to the Annapolis conference, expected to begin November 26.

The somber Abbas does not enjoy the wild popularity of Arafat. Abbas also faces a stiff challenge from the Islamic militant Hamas which seized control of the Gaza Strip by force in June. Hamas claim that Abbas does not have the mandate to negotiate in the name of the Palestinian people.

In Saturday's speech, Abbas drew on the Palestinians' strong emotional ties to Arafat. "We are continuing the path, continuing the pledge, to establish an independent Palestinian state, with Jerusalem as its capital, God willing," said Abbas.

The unveiling ceremony on Saturday was attended by the leadership of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) as well as representatives of the diplomatic staff in East Jerusalem and Ramallah.

A memorial service marking the third anniversary of Arafat's death is scheduled for Sunday, to be held at the West Bank compound. Abbas is expected to give an address, as will a top official belonging to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine. Deputy Knesset Speaker MK Ahmed Tibi (Ra'am - Ta'al) is also planning to speak at the ceremony.

A similar gathering is scheduled to take place Monday in Gaza.


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      1.   Arafat`s hands are full of Jewish blood, a lot of Jewish blood, 15:08  |  Reuven Haefrati 10/11/07
      2.   Arafat Memorial 15:57  |  George Kaplan 10/11/07
      3.   1 little, 2 little, 3 little terrorists... 16:09  |  Nechama 10/11/07
      4.   # 1 Remember 16:32  |  Farooq 10/11/07
      5.   Rest in peace 16:47  |  Stranger 10/11/07
      6.   No peace to Jewkillers 17:22  |  BobUSA 10/11/07
      7.   Arafat and the innocent child in the picture 17:33  |  Fortuna Benmayor 10/11/07
      8.   These children hope for a day that they will not be taught war. 18:05  |  Virginia 10/11/07
      9.   Excellent Use of International Funds 18:05  |  Tom 10/11/07
      10.   Jerusalem as their capital and burry Arafat in it? what a joke 18:22  |  Joey 10/11/07
      11.   Arafat`s hands are full of American blood too 18:22  |  Yonatan 10/11/07
      12.   Arafat supplied weapons for 1983 Lebanon attack that killed 18:23  |  Yonatan 10/11/07
      13.   The Palestinian Arab leadership commemorates the one 18:26  |  Shame on you! 10/11/07
      14.   The dubious context of Arafat`s death 18:30  |  Yonatan 10/11/07
      15.   Nr 4 , your idol started it since its foundation 18:34  |  cristo 10/11/07
      16.   Whats left is to put some dummy in there 18:36  |  Sal 10/11/07
      17.   Funds For Arafat 18:40  |  Juniper 10/11/07
      18.   NR - 4 --Yasser Arafat, is one of the original 18:46  |  cristo 10/11/07
      19.   Yasser Arafat`s soul`s(does he have soul?) burning in Hell 18:49  |  cristo 10/11/07
      20.   Arafat monument should be Swiss bank acct made from coal 18:54  |  Richard S 10/11/07
      21.   #5, Stranger, Arafat greatest murderer after Hitler and Stalin? 18:59  |  newageblues 10/11/07
      22.   Arafat...... 19:14  |  Dolly 10/11/07
      23.   Farouq, Israel has never, never set out to either conquer 19:15  |  Ruti 10/11/07
      24.   We love you Abu Amar. R.I.P. 19:22  |  Palestinian 10/11/07
      25.   # 15 to cristo...you`r an antidiot 19:31  |  Farooq 10/11/07
      26.   Waste of money for a rotting corpse 19:55  |  Israelit 10/11/07
      27.   Arafat: Symbol of terrorism and homosexuality 20:01  |  Steve 10/11/07
      28.   Poor Pal kids brainwashed at early age 20:03  |  cristo 10/11/07
      29.   Bcs of him, now no one doubts that there IS a Pals people 20:15  |  Good Job 10/11/07
      30.   SHARON`s hands are full of Arab blood, a lot of arab blood 20:16  |  Me 10/11/07
      31.   THERE WILL NEVER BE PEACE 20:18  |  Ghandi 10/11/07
      32.   THERE WILL NEVER BE PEACE 20:18  |  Ghandi 10/11/07
      33.   Send ArabFat to Cairo, his birthplace 20:24  |  Dl 10/11/07
      34.   To Reuven, The Israeli killed much more then Arafat did 20:24  |  gus # 2 10/11/07
      35.   Building confidence the Arab way 20:28  |  Frank 10/11/07
      36.   #23 Palestinian 20:31  |  George Kaplan 10/11/07
      37.   Arafat`s wife and the billions missing...? 20:32  |  mea too 10/11/07
      38.   Hmmm, where`d the $1.75 Mil come from? More theft of "aid" money? 20:39  |  Dr. L. Brnd 10/11/07
      39.   Arafat is no different than Baruch Goldstein, except that 20:40  |  Nava Segev 10/11/07
      40.   DEMANDS BEFORE MEETING 20:47  |  TOBOA 10/11/07
      41.   Arafat-homo and islam 20:52  |  Eirik 10/11/07
      42.   Is Abbas a moderate 20:55  |  KUTW 10/11/07
      43.   #29 Sharon Cleared 20:57  |  Tobia 10/11/07
      44.   Arafat stole the money 20:59  |  KUTW 10/11/07
      45.   #1 Reuven Haefrati 20:59  |  democrat 10/11/07
      46.   #20 newageblues 21:02  |  democrat 10/11/07
      47.   #12 Yonatan 21:07  |  democrat 10/11/07
      48.   the postman always rings twice. 21:44  |  Nattalie Durson 10/11/07
      49.   Many Israeli leaders w/ Arab blood on hands - able to make peace 21:44  |  0 Degrees! 10/11/07
      50.   LOW ON ELECTRUCITY 21:47  |  TOBIA 10/11/07
      51.   A man whom became rich 22:04  |  Mark Lincoln 10/11/07
      52.   Abbas`s Promise to Arafat 22:26  |  Keter 10/11/07
      53.   Mausoleum of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat unveiled in Ra 22:29  |  yazan bdran 10/11/07
      54.   Better use of the funds 22:37  |  Gilad 10/11/07
      55.   Arafat gave the arabs such hope for destroying Israel 22:39  |  David P 10/11/07
      56.   Arafat the homosexual 22:41  |  Jonathan 10/11/07
      57.   Arafats boys 22:46  |  Jonathan 10/11/07
      58.   newageblues 22:52  |  Stranger 10/11/07
      59.   Partners for peace 23:00  |  Gene 10/11/07
      60.   Yazan BRan WAke Up 23:09  |  TOBIA 10/11/07
      61.   Palestinian.I am here to say that... 23:09  |  Stranger 10/11/07
      62.   AIDS INFECTED ARAFAT STOLE ALL THE MONEY 23:30  |  WARRIOR 10/11/07
      63.   #6 BOB of the USA 23:35  |  ballistic 10/11/07
      64.   #42 Tobia; Sharon cleared by whom? 23:42  |  ballistic 10/11/07
      65.   25 23:43  |  zionist forever 10/11/07
      66.   When we gain power, we will blow up this memorial 23:44  |  Feiglin Supporter 10/11/07
      67.   54/right - died for the sins of the settlers 23:47  |  0 degrees! 10/11/07
      68.   Palestinian # 24 Martyred Arafat (MHRIH)? 23:56  |  Jeff Northridge 10/11/07
      69.   Looney Tunes 00:20  |  Ron 11/11/07
      70.   "future" of Palestinians!... 00:21  |  אקדח מסמרים 11/11/07
      71.