PMW: PA highlights Arafat's call for martyrdom on anniversary of his death
Arafat died on November 11, 2004. He is commonly remembered for brokering peace accords with Israeli leaders, but the Palestinian Authority has chosen to highlight his calls for martyrs.
By SARAH BEN-NUNFormer PLO/PA Chairman Yasser Arafat: "this blood will spread on the land as it has spread on the Palestinian land – with burning and with fire," Official PA TV, November 10-11. (photo credit: PALESTINIAN MEDIA WATCH)
On the anniversary of his death, the Palestinian Authority selectively rebroadcasted some of Yasser Arafat's speeches, specifically glorifying war and calling for martyrdom, Palestinian Media Watch (PMW) reported on Monday.Arafat died on November 11, 2004. He is commonly remembered for signing two peace accords with Israeli leaders: the Oslo Accords with Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin in 1993 and then with foreign minister Shimon Peres.Arafat was chairman of the PA and former head of the Palestine Liberation Organization. Official PA TV broadcast a speech on November 10 and 11 in which Arafat can be heard saying, "this blood [Arafat's own] will spread on the land as it has spread on the Palestinian land – with burning and fire."He added that "millions of Martyrs are marching to Jerusalem; millions of Martyrs are marching to Jerusalem.”Arafat's martyr-encouraging rhetoric was then further perpetuated by other Palestinian authorities, including Palestinian governor of Jerusalem Adnan Ghaith.On November 14, Ghaith told the official PA daily Al-Hayat Al-Jadida that Arafat would "repeat the saying ‘Millions of Martyrs are marching to Jerusalem,’ in a clear and unequivocal sign that the path to Jerusalem is paved with sacrifices."In November 2019, Fatah accused Hamas of banning a rally in Gaza to commemorate Arafat's death.
