Ramallah: Arafat’s Compound

The Electronic Intifada 2 May 2002

On 2 May 2002, Israeli forces withdrew from Arafat’s Compound after they had surrounded the area for more than a month during “Operation Defensive Shield”. On that same day, EI’s Arjan El Fassed and Annet Meeuws filmed the “Muqata”, the headquarters of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. They managed, like hundreds of others to enter the compound and walk around its premises. Journalists from major international networks were also present. Besides the destruction to the buildings, tens of vehicles were also destroyed or damaged. The siege on Arafat’s headquarters had been severed ever since.
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    Camera: Annet Meeuws; Editing: Arjan El Fassed

    SCREENSHOTS

    The headquarters of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah after the siege of April 2002 (Photo: AEF, 2002)


    The headquarters of the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah after the siege of April 2002 (Photo: AEF, 2002)


    Israeli forces surrounding Arafat’s Compound also damaged a number of vehicles, including this landrover, donated by the British government to the Palestinian police (Photo: AEF, 2002)


    Israeli forces surrounding Arafat’s Compound also damaged a number of vehicles (Photo: AEF, 2002)


    A poster of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat on the walls of his compound (Photo: AEF, 2002)