Posted on 11/10/2007 10:29:03 PM PST by Alouette
Palestinians inaugurate huge monument for former leader, President Abbas vows to continue in his predecessor's path, reclaim east Jerusalem
Associated Press Published: 11.10.07, 19:26 / Israel News
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 UN investigation his death, alleging that he was poisoned by Israel.
Abbas pledges to reclaim east Jerusalem
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.
"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.
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.
AIDS and terminal evil.
They might want to include this treasure in their mausoleum:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/458916/gay_arafat/
Is the mausoleum shaped like a giant toilet?
He was a sword swallower?
Regards
Laughing like a maniac.
Good grief!
His fiends considered him an incurable romantic..
Hope the railroad track is jammed squarely up his butt...
“The mausoleum measures 11 meters by 11 meters (120 square feet)”
Let’s try the math again. 1 meter = 1.094 yard = 3.282 feet
11 meters = 36.1 feet
36.1 feet x 36.1 feet = 1303.3 sq feet. Hey, what’s an order of manigtude between pals?
120 sq feet is average 10 x 12 bedroom. Arafat, however, deserves a porcelain mausoleum about 1 foot by 1 foot, with a lever on it that causes about 1.6 gallons of water to rapidly fill the bowl-shaped structure and hopefully flushes the contents into a sewer.
Ge, and here I thought poor Palistinian baby terrorists were starving and had no electricity. Oh well, it's all paid for by American taxpayers anyway, one way or another.
Paid for by the American taxpayer!! With the billions he stole from the Palestinians (American taxpayers) he could have done so much to help them. If I were them I would have buried his smelly carcass in an unmarked grave.
We don’t want to waste 1.6 gal of water on him. Just use a composting toilet! LOL!
Maybe they could lease out the corner to Jim Brown(?)
$1.75 million mausoleum
Dedicated to AIDS
.
The “mausoleum”,
should include a tribute to homosexual sex and how that is so much responsible for AIDs and death.
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