Yasser Arafat Foundation commemorated the 16th anniversary of the passing of President Yasser Arafat at Ramallah Cultural Palace on the 10th of November 2020.  The 2020 Yasser Arafat Achievement Award was presented to Farouk Qaddoumi and Nayef Hawatmeh. 

The commemorative ceremony was broadcast on Zoom Video, Palestine TV and other television channels, and on social media platforms. 

Dr. Nasser Alkidwa, Chair of the Foundation’s Board of Directors, emphasized that the priority remains to confront all attempts to obstruct awareness, in order to our preserve national identity and uphold our central national goal to achieve national independence in the occupied State of Palestine on the 1967 borders, with Jerusalem as its capital.  He stressed that avoiding the necessary work to achieve national unity is not an option, particularly with the Gaza Strip, in partnership and programs, through ending the illegal control of Hamas over the Gaza Strip and facilitating its return to the Palestinian political and administrative system and in full partnership with the Authority and the Palestine Liberation Organization, including the exercise of democracy and elections.

Dr. Alkidwa pointed out that while “We meet on this national occasion under the adverse aspects of indirect and remote assembly, it has also provided the benefit of the participation of friends and loved ones outside our occupied homeland.”  He added that this is a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has created significant humanitarian and economic crises in our country. 

In his remarks, Prime Minister Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh stressed the continuance of struggle, development of the tools of resistance, mobilization of popular activism in the homeland and diaspora, and cooperation with international friends who are committed to supporting the achievement of freedom, justice and national goals in the framework of the restoration of our national unity and renewal of our political aspirations and struggle for independence.

Greetings to Palestine and its people in remembrance of Yasser Arafat were extended by several members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors:  Dr. Mamdouh Alabaddi, Dr. Nabil El Araby, Dr. Alsadeq Fialah, and Dr. Elias Khoury, who were linked in from Jordan, Egypt, Tunisia, and Lebanon, respectively. 

The documentary short film, The Arab Depth, produced and directed by Sawsan Qaoud, on the Arab dimension of the Palestinian cause, was screened. 

The commemorative ceremony also featured a new national song, produced by the Foundation, excerpted from the work of the renowned late poet, Ahmad Dahbour, composed by Iyad Staiti and performed by Munther Al-Ra’i.

Chair of the Yasser Arafat Achievement Award Committee Dr. Nabil Kassis presented the award for 2020, to Farouk Qaddoumi and Nayef Hawatmeh.  He reported that the Committee received a large number of nominations, and all were carefully evaluated per the Award bylaws and regulations.  The Foundation offers the Yasser Arafat Achievement Award annually to individuals, institutions, or groups in recognition of exceptional contributions in the fields of national, cultural, social, economic or educational work.