Hamas, Jihad commemorate anniversary of Arafat's death

The Islamic Resistance Movement ( Hamas) and Islamic Jihad (Holy War) held a commemoration ceremony on Sunday for the first anniversary of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's death.

Hailing Arafat as a "great leader", Nafez Azzam, a senior Jihad leader, called on the Palestinians to follow Arafat's footsteps and vowed to continue the path of resistance against Israel.

Azzam also accused Israel of being behind Arafat's death. " There's a big mystery around Arafat's death and we are not the only side that demands this mystery be revealed," he said.

Saed Siam, a senior Hamas leader, said Arafat has to be remembered for he was one of the Palestinian people's symbols in their struggle for statehood.

He described Arafat as the father to all Palestinians and a real and great president for all, not for a special political faction.

Siam also called on the Palestinian leadership to inherit Arafat's legacy.

Arafat died on Nov. 11, 2004, in a French hospital a few days after he was airlifted there for treatment from his Ramallah headquarters, where he was effectively besieged by Israel for two and a half years.

Israel termed Arafat as an obstacle to peace and accused him of fomenting violence in the Palestinian uprising against Israel which erupted in September 2000.

Some Palestinian officials are convinced that Arafat was poisoned by Israel.

The Palestinian National Authority has formed a special committee to investigate into the cause of Arafat's death, but it has recently admitted failure to find the exact reason behind his death.

Palestinian Prime Minister Ahmed Qurei announced last month that the government would remain the file open.

Source: Xinhua