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Video/Photostory: Arafat is laid to rest in Ramallah

Maureen Clare Murphy 12 November 2004


Palestine mourned today as President Yasser Arafat, who passed away on November 11 in France, was laid to rest in the Muqata’a compound in Ramallah. In emotional, often chaotic scenes, thousands of Palestinians came to pay their last respects to “Abu ‘Ammar”. The video, text and images in this article were produced by Maureen Clare Murphy, Arts, Music & Culture Editor of the Electronic Intifada, who is currently living and working in Ramallah. 

Weekly report on human rights violations

12 November 2004


This week Israeli forces killed 7 Palestinians, 6 of whom were civilians, including a child. Four of the victims were extra-judicially killed by Israeli troops in Jenin. Israeli troops conducted a series of incursions into Palestinian areas in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israeli forces destroyed six homes and razed at least 50 donums of agricultural land in Rafah. At least 70 donums of agricultural land were razed in Deir al-Balah and Khan Yunis. In the West Bank Israeli forces destroyed three homes. Israeli forces raided homes and arrested dozens of Palestinian civilians. Israeli troops have continued to impose a total siege on the territories. 

UN Committee for Palestinian rights deeply saddened by death of Arafat

11 November 2004


The Bureau of the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People is deeply saddened by the death of Yasser Arafat, Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization and President of the Palestinian Authority. The Palestinian people have lost a leader who, for decades, has been a powerful symbol of national aspiration, unity, steadfastness and courage, and who devoted most of his life to the struggle against the occupation and for the realization of the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people. In the last decade, President Arafat has embarked on a historic journey towards achieving what he often called the “peace of the brave” and realizing the goal of establishing the State of Palestine. 

EI discusses Arafat on Democracy Now!

11 November 2004


Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died overnight in a Paris military hospital ending his 40-year struggle for statehood for the Palestinian people. Arafat was one of the most recognizable figures on the world stage; a man who rose from a guerilla icon to a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize. Arafat named no successor and his death brings with it what many observers believe will be a fierce fight over who will take charge of the struggle Arafat led for 4 decades. When word of Arafat’s death was announced shortly after 4:30 am, thousands of Palestinians poured into the streets of Gaza and other cities to mourn. 

Canada calling: neutrality on Mideast favoured, polls find

Jeff Sallot 11 November 2004


“Only 11 per cent of Canadians polled said that the media is biased against Israel. More significantly, one-third of Canadians believe that the media is being unfair to the Palestinians,” says the summary prepared by GPC International, communications advisers for the committee. Shimon Fogel, the chief executive of the Canada-Israel Committee, said the poll results ‘are a reality check for my constituents’.” Jeff Sallot reports in the Toronto Globe and Mail on some interesting findings of a poll commissioned by leading Israeli lobbying groups in Canada. 

New York Times coverage of Arafat's death

Hugh Sansom 12 November 2004


The New York Times’s coverage of the death of Arafat, particularly with its November 12th Op-Ed essays, exemplifies what is so wrong with American perspectives of the Palestinian struggle for independence. What voices are missing? Palestinian ones. This is the recurring problem of American and European approaches to the Middle East. Arab voices are systematically undervalued, discounted, or actively suppressed — not just by their own autocrats but also by Westerners claiming to be acting “in Arabs’ best interests”, as if the Arabs were children needing a Western parent. 

Blaming Arafat for Israel's torpedoing of Oslo

Nigel Parry 11 November 2004


With Arafat gone, the television screens of America are filled with “Middle East experts” who tell us that it was Arafat who was the obstacle to peace and that a new dawn is now upon us. Last night on Hardball with Chris Matthews, the host and caption team couldn’t even pronounce or spell the name of guest Palestinian Legislative Council member Hanan Ashrawi, repeatedly referring to her as Ashwari. Commentary from the guests was similarly insightful. Today, MSNBC’s Lester Holt continued the Ashwari mangling and “Terrorism expert” Harvey Kushner ludicrously claimed an Arafat/Al-Qaida link. Switch the channel, no real difference. It was the kind of Middle East coverage that got Bush reelected. 

Arafat to be recalled for leading Palestinians to accept principle of coexistence with Israel -- Annan

11 November 2004


Reacting to the death of President Yasser Arafat, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan today said President Arafat will always be remembered for having led the Palestinians, back in 1988, to accept the principle of peaceful coexistence between Israel and a future Palestinian state. “By signing the Oslo accords in 1993 he took a giant step towards the realization of this vision,” a spokesman for Mr. Annan said in a statement issued in New York. “It is tragic that he did not live to see it fulfilled.” 

Photostory: Ramallah reacts to news of Arafat's death

Maureen Clare Murphy Ramallah, West Bank 11 November 2004


Today Ramallah awoke to the news of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat’s death, and while the world had been anticipating this day during the nearly two weeks Arafat was hospitalized in France, confirmation of the Palestinian symbol’s passing was no less jarring in Palestine’s cultural capital. Palestinians poured into Ramallah’s Manara Square city center, and spontaneous demonstrations have been and will be taking place. While not many in the streets are crying (emotions will probably run higher tomorrow when Arafat’s burial takes place), people are coming together during this time of mourning and uncertainty. 

Palestine Greater Than Arafat

Sam Bahour Ramallah, Palestine 11 November 2004


The Palestinian struggle for freedom and independence is larger than the late President Yasir Arafat. The decades-long symbolism that Arafat embodied should not be underestimated. It is this symbolism that Palestinians are mourning. Despite the confusion of the hour, one fact remains clear. The Palestinian people, collectively, whether in the Occupied Territories, scattered in squalid refugee camps around the Middle East, or living in exile, will never wake up one day and accept the historic injustice that has been done to them.