Yasser Arafat Foundation commemorated the 15th anniversary of the passing of President Yasser Arafat at Ramallah Cultural Palace on the 10th of November 2019.  The 2019 Yasser Arafat Achievement Award was presented to Al-Istiqlal University and Riwaq, the Centre for Architectural Conservation.

Among the dignitaries at the commemoration were Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh, members of the Executive Committee of the PLO and the Central Committee of Fatah, Arab and international officials and diplomats. 

In his welcoming remarks, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, Dr. Nasser Alkidwa affirmed, “We try, on this day, the day of loyalty and renewed commitment, to follow in his footsteps to resist all hardships that beset us.”  

Dr. Alkidwa observed that “Symbols of the populist right-wing trend have begun to decline in their countries, in addition to some concepts and theories, such as the possibility of Arab and Israeli convergence against a central danger, bypassing the Palestinian cause.”   He stressed that we have to acknowledge the difficulty of the Palestinian situation because recognizing and understanding the reasons are the first steps toward overcoming the adversities and building a better reality. 

Dr. Alkidwa reviewed the work of Yasser Arafat Foundation and its mission to preserve the legacy of Yasser Arafat for future generations.  He announced the launch of a user-friendly computer program on the properties of Palestine refugees – which must be one of the central themes of the Palestinian struggle.  He reported that the Museum continues to make great improvements in its work, including adding French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese and German audio guides along with English and Arabic, the two main languages of the Museum. Significant improvements have been made to the Museum’s website, including the development of a new and modern virtual tour that enables visitors to live the experience and be closer to the reality of the Museum and is accessible to all, including our friends and family in the diaspora.  The Museum has added more artifacts and some revisions have been made. 

In his address, Prime Minister Dr. Shtayyeh reaffirmed that Yasser Arafat and his comrades in the Fatah leadership paved the road from the ashes of the Nakba, marched on the embers of the revolution, and turned the Palestinian cause from a refugee issue to a cause for all Palestinians, who deserve their national and political rights and self-determination in the state of Palestine, with Jerusalem as its capital.
The program also featured the screening of the short documentary film, Crimes, about crimes Israel has perpetrated against the Palestinian people and their legitimate rights.

Artists Amer Hlehel and Habib Shehadeh presented a performance of music and poetry, entitled Oh, How Alone You Were. 

Chairman of the Yasser Arafat Achievement Award Committee Dr. Nabil Kassis reported that a large number of nominations were received by the Committee and that all were carefully evaluated according to the Award bylaws and regulations. 

The commemorative ceremony closed with a musical performance of national songs by Al Kamandjâti.