Yasser Arafat Foundation convened its 13th annual Board of Trustees meeting over Zoom on Sunday, the 28th of February 2021.  A majority of the approximately 115 prominent Palestine and other Arab trustees participated in the meeting.

Chair of the Board of Trustees, former Secretary-General of the Arab League Amr Moussa, opened the meeting with welcoming remarks. 

Dr. Moussa stressed the importance of this Board of Trustees meeting in order to exchange ideas, particularly in light of the challenges to holding Arab meetings in this era of Covid-19. 

Prime Minister of Palestine Dr. Mohammad Shtayyeh emphasized the significance of the work of Yasser Arafat Foundation to preserve the history of Yasser Arafat, the Palestinian national narrative and confront the narrative of the occupation . 

Dr. Shtayyeh noted that the State of Palestine has been through a difficult year politically: the legitimization of settler colonialism; Trump’s plan to eradicate the question of Palestine; the loss of the political and financial support of some countries to Palestine; and the Covid-19 pandemic. He expressed appreciation to Arab and other countries that continue to support Palestine politically and financially. 

Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Aboul Gheit spoke during the opening session. He affirmed his support for Yasser Arafat Foundation, its significant contributions, and its role in serving the Palestinian cause and society across all sectors. Aboul Gheit welcomed all members of the Foundation’s Board of Trustees, including those newly appointed.

Aboul Gheit affirmed that the Palestinian cause would be the top priority at any Arab summit: there is an Arab consensus on the question of Palestine and the existence of the State of Palestine with East Jerusalem as its capital.  He stressed the need for all Arabs to be vigilant in defending the Palestinian cause on the international level and to prepare to diplomatically and politically confront attempts to marginalize the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. He added that the two-state solution would not remain an option to the Israelis forever if it is not perceived by Palestinians as equitable. 

Aboul Gheit warned of the Israeli occupying power’s maneuvering in the international community, with the support of the U.S. administration, to exclude the Palestinian cause. He added that some countries have become skeptical toward the justice of the Palestinian refugee issue and are carrying out Judaization measures in Jerusalem to change its legal status. 

In another context, Egyptian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Arab Republic of Egypt Ambassador Hamdi Sanad Loza, who spoke on behalf of Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry, stressed the importance of the annual meeting of the Foundation's Board of Trustees, especially in its role to perpetuate and revive the legacy of late president Yasser Arafat and to consolidate Palestinian identity through numerous activities that support women and the youth, in particular.

Loza affirmed Egypt’s support to unify Palestinian factions and end the division and to reject all attempts that exclude the Palestinian cause. He also stressed [Egypt’s] full support for  the parameters and determinants that support proposals for a solution based on international legal references, including the independent state of Palestine on the 1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital.

Following the opening session, Chairman of the Foundation’s Board of Directors Dr. Nasser Alkidwa presented the 2019/2020 annual report on the Foundation’s work at its headquarters, two branches and museum, as well as the financial report of the Foundation.  

Several of the new members of the Board also offered remarks during the meeting. 

The annual meetings of the Board of Trustees of Yasser Arafat Foundation are traditionally held at the headquarters of the Arab League in Cairo. Chaired by H.E. Amr Moussa, the board is comprised of more than 100 prominent Palestinians and other Arabs, 15 of whom also serve on the Foundation’s Board of Directors, headed by Dr. Nasser Alkidwa.

It is expected that the next session will be held as usual in Cairo in February 2022, following the end of the pandemic.