Mausoleum of Arafat unveiled

AP on Yahoo ^ | 11/10/07 | Mohammed Daraghmeh - ap

[NormsRevenge]

RAMALLAH, West Bank - Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas unveiled a $1.75 million mausoleum for Yasser Arafat on Saturday, in a pomp-filled ceremony that helped him draw on the continued popularity of his iconic predecessor as he headed into peace talks with Israel.

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.

Arafat died Nov. 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 to open next year.

The exact cause of Arafat's death remains unknown, fueling persistent rumors that he was either poisoned or died of AIDS. Palestinian officials in the past have called for a U.N. investigation his death, alleging that he was poisoned by Israel.

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.

In a brief speech, Abbas pledged to reclaim part of Jerusalem for his people. The fate of the city, claimed by both Israel and the Palestinians as a capital, is one of the most explosives issues in peace talks, expected to resume after a U.S.-hosted Mideast conference in Annapolis, Md., later this month.

"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 city, just a few miles away, said Mohammed Ishtayeh, head of the Palestinian Economic Council for Development and Reconstruction, which built the site.

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

The somber Abbas does not enjoy the popularity of Arafat. Abbas also faces a stiff challenge from the Islamic militant Hamas which seized control of Gaza by force in June, and claims he does not have the mandate to negotiate for the Palestinians.

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.

On Sunday, the third anniversary of Arafat's death, a large rally is to be held at the West Bank compound, followed by a similar gathering Monday in Gaza.

[NormsRevenge]

Mausoleum for Arafat..?

a dumpster would have been a lot cheaper.

(Submit your ideas for a fitting mausoleum)

[NormsRevenge]

Honor guard members stand at attention outside the new grave of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat during a ceremony marking the third anniversary of his death at Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah, Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007. Palestinians unveiled a stone mausoleum for Yasser Arafat in the West Bank city of Ramallah on Saturday. The building, made of glass and beige Jerusalem stone, is surrounded on three sides by water, and a piece of train track was entombed under Arafat's grave. The water and the track are meant to symbolize that the mausoleum is temporary and that Arafat, who died in 2004, has not reached his final resting place. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

[Flintlock]

Whatta cool target for that new, big (ten-ton) GPS bomb!

[steveegg]

Unmarked grave?

You're either up very early or very late.

[peyton randolph]

Where’s the big AIDS red ribbon on it to give his death meaning?

[conservativehusker]

So the Palis will not be able to eat for another year or two...the UN will make the world feel guilty.....

[ontap]

Monument to a thug!

[dennisw]

Drop a bunker buster on this krazy kabba tomb and disperese virulent AIDS all over the West Bank

Arab Anally
Inserted
Death
Sentence

[petercooper]

[sure_fine]

so for his homosexual and murderous life, that is what he gets

[Doogle]

.."Wat?..why you looking at me?

[Popman]

Where's the Leon Klinghoffer memorial?

Never Mind.....................

[DManA]

How was he martyred?

"We will continue on the path of the martyred President Yasser Arafat

[Ben Hecks]

The water is an odd choice since that filthy murdering SOB apparently never let it touch his body anytime durung his cursed time on earth.

[Red_Devil 232]

I thought this would have been more than appropriate enough!

[AmericaUnited]

[Calvin Locke]

The mausoleum measures 11 meters by 11 meters (120 square feet)

Did they use Islamic, Palestinian, or UN math?

[MinuteGal]

Your #2........another trailer trash monument eerily reminiscent of the presidential double-wide library in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Leni

[Calvin Locke]

Oops. My bad. English v. Metric.

Dan Goldin's NASA Mars mission math.

[ErnBatavia]

or along this line: