On November 10th, 2022, The Yasser Arafat Foundation commemorated the 18th martyrdom anniversary of the leader, Yasser Arafat at the Cultural Palace in Ramallah. During this event, the Municipality of Ramallah was announced as the winner of the Yasser Arafat Achievement Award for the year 2022.
The commemoration was attended by Prime Minister Dr. Muhammad Eshtayyeh with several cabinet members, Rawhi Fattouh (Chairman of the Palestinian National Council), members of the Executive Committees of the Palestinian Liberation Organization, FATH Central Committee, and the Revolutionary Council members, the staff of the Yasser Arafat Foundation in addition to ambassadors and representatives of the diplomatic corps to the State of Palestine.
The event began with playing the Palestinian national anthem after which the audience observed a minute of silence in tribute to the souls of the martyrs and then listened to verses from the Holy Quran recited by Al-Aqsa Mosque reader, Sheikh Firas Qazzaz, after conveying to the audience, the greetings of President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Dr. Muhammad Eshtayyeh outlined the noble qualities of the late President Yasser Arafat by describing him as a selfless leader, a giver without limits with an inspiring presence and an outstanding track history and legacy. The late leader had a big and warm heart. His name and courage will remain cherished in Palestine’s book of genesis and the hearts of all Palestinians and the free people worldwide.
Eshtayyeh expressed his gratitude to the Yasser Arafat Foundation for its remarkable efforts assuring on behalf of the President and the government, that it will keep on receiving the support it needs.
On behalf of the members of FATH Central Committee, chaired by President Abu Mazen including the movement's institutes and cadres and its partners of struggle, as well as the members of the Council of Ministers; the PM reiterated the pledge to remain committed to the spirit of the late leader. He stressed the importance of ending the occupation which can be achieved by protecting the national project and establishing a contiguous, independent, and sovereign Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital in addition to asserting the right of refugees to return to their homes.
He added, "We invited all governmental entities and popular committees to commemorate Abu Ammar and to participate in this memorial event. Today Gaza declared its stance by commemorating the legacy of the late founder and leader. This is the very Gaza which Abu Ammar loved as much as he loved Jerusalem and all Palestine."
The Prime Minister pointed out that the Yasser Arafat anniversary coincides with several serious challenges. During his address to the United Nations and later on to the Arab Summit in Algeria, the President alarmed the world with the challenges that the Palestinian leadership is facing and where it is heading. The PM maintained: "The American administration promised a lot but with little fulfillment. The president told them repeatedly that promises do not satisfy us anymore. it is high time for tangible implementation on the ground by putting an end to the unilateral measures, removing the PLO from the terror list, and reopening the US Consulate in Jerusalem. The United States just completed the mid-term elections round and it could if it wants to fulfill its promises but this seems to be farfetched due to the lack of political will.
As regards the prospective government in Israel, Eshtayyeh, further said “it is evident that this is a radical, hostile government that seeps racism irrespective of the ideology or the political color of its members. It will be repressive to the Palestinians in Jerusalem, inside the occupied land, and in the West Bank. It will be a government that will advance settlements expansion and will legitimize the illegal outposts. It will intensify its intrusions into Al -Aqsa Mosque and Area C. This government will carry out more killings, destruction, and oppression against the Palestinian people and will take more coercive measures against the prisoners. The agenda of these parties do not allow for a peace partner and as a result, the Israeli elections did not bring about such a partner. Neither the Israeli government which signed the Oslo Accords exist nor the aura which prevailed afterward exists. Seen as such, the president announced that the decisions of the Central Council will be revisited and reviewed step by step. It is time for the international community to declare that this aggressive colonial occupation must be stopped and condemned and the State of Palestine must be recognized based on the two-states solution”.
The Prime Minister noted that the Israeli gross domestic product generates annually up to 41 billion Dollars as revenues resulting from Israel’s occupation of East Jerusalem and the occupied territories while on the other hand the Palestinian economy loses more than 4.3 million Dollars /per year for being barred from Area C. There is a need to make this occupation a costly enterprise to Israel and this requires resorting to effective tools such as popular resistance, sanctions and boycotting Israeli goods at the local and international levels.
As regards the Declaration which was signed by the Palestinian factions in Algeria, Eshtayyeh hoped that this agreement will be implemented successfully so that the state of the divide will end once and for all. The PM ended his speech by asking all the parties to protect the Palestinian institutions represented by the national program with an agreed-upon political struggle agenda based on international legitimacy, the United Nations resolutions, and international law.
Mr. Ali Muhanna, the Acting Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Yasser Arafat Foundation, welcomed the audience: "We meet today to ask mercy upon the pure soul of the late Yasser Arafat and the souls of his comrades and all the martyrs of Palestine who fell while marching on the Pathway of Abu Ammar with their hearts filled with patience, resistance and steadfastness. “
He noted that despite the martyrdom of the late leader, Yasser Arafat eighteen years ago, all the Palestinians are still in a state of shock at this grave loss. Whoever was born since the ascension of Abu Ammar grew up with a solid wall for resistance by carrying his banner and reaffirming the commitment and reiterating the oath to resist the Israeli occupation.
Muhanna reminded that the Yasser Arafat Foundation as it has stated previously; does not require extra evidence to prove that the late leader was martyred as a result of being poisoned by the occupation who committed this crime which was acknowledged by its leaders. He called upon the United Nations to hold the Israeli occupation responsible for its crimes by opening an international criminal investigation that is not time-barred from prosecution.
Muhanna stressed that the occupation and its settlements and colonization policies represent an obstacle to a just and comprehensive peace and the realization of our national independence in a sovereign Palestinian state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital. He added that resistance against the Israeli occupation is not an option but a legitimate duty as stipulated in international law.
Muhanna continued "We are in very bad need of political and geographic national unity. There is a need to evaluate our performance to strengthen our people’s ability to withstand the occupation which loots our land, sheds our blood, and plunders our holy sites. He ended by saying It is crucial to stick to our national position to guarantee victory and independence”.
The Acting Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Yasser Arafat Foundation stressed that our eternal capital, Jerusalem will remain the jewel of the crown while our brave prisoners will remain an example of reverence, pride, and loftiness, Yet, strengthening and building national institutions will remain an essential matter for the Palestinian people to overcome the existential challenges they have been facing.
As for the Foundation, Mr. Muhanna gave the audience an overview of its progress since being founded in 2007 per a presidential decree (and its subsequent amendments) and how it was institutionally strengthened through its programs and activities which include in addition to building and running the museum, collecting and archiving the late leader’s heritage. Within six years of its opening, the museum became a national shrine containing the collective memory of our people which will be told and heard by our foreign friends in nine languages. During the last five years, the Foundation organized Yasser Arafat Summer camps
By the same token, the Foundation further developed its partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Palestine Public Broadcasting Corporation in addition to organizing the National Knowledge Contest in which all public schools participated to raise awareness and interest in our history and promote our rights by telling our narrative.
Further, the Foundation continued issuing its periodical magazine- Awraq Filestinia- (Palestinian Folios). To date, 31 issues of this periodical have been published by the Foundation. During the past two years, The Foundation launched the Refugee Land Ownership Program, which is a computerized system of land deeds for Palestinian refugees. The system allows landowners to access these documents or get ownership notification as a right that does not expire retrospectively.
Muhanna reminded the audience about the new program for this year through which the birth anniversaries of four of our founding leaders (Khaled Al-Hassan, George Habbash, Salah Khalaf "Abu Iyad", and Khalil Al-Wazir "Abu Jihad") were commemorated. He also recalled, while addressing the audience other programs that were carried out during this year such as: About the National Memory, Companions of the Path, and the Yasser Arafat Award for Achievement, which will be awarded shortly for the sixteenth consecutive year. This award receives broad public acceptance because it promotes creativity and encourages achievement amongst individuals, institutions, and work teams.
Muhanna informed the audience that the Foundation continued working in its two sub-offices in Gaza Strip and Cairo.
The Acting Chairman of the Board of Directors thanked President Mahmoud Abbas, the honorary president of the Foundation, for his continuous support, and thanked everyone who supported its work. He also extended his thankfulness and gratitude to His Excellency Dr. Mamdouh Al-Abadi, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, for his continuous follow-up and resourcefulness. He also thanked the management and its staff whose competence and dedication were central to achieving and reaching the goals and implementing the activities of the Foundation which became a model of a well-built and a well- established institution that attained a significant presence on the national scene.
Muhanna vowed that the Yasser Arafat Foundation will remain faithful and committed to the late leader's legacy by keeping his banner raised, following in his footsteps, keeping his memory alive, and bypassing his principles from one generation to another.
The Foundation's speech was preceded by showing a documentary about its work, and programs.
It is worth noting that Yasser Arafat Foundation has included a tributary session in its agenda titled “In the Name and Shadows of Remembrance”. Dr. Ahmed Sobh, Director General of the Foundation introduced to the audience Nasser Abu Hamid's mother, in honor of her steadfastness and patience and for being a struggle icon as a mother of a martyr and the mother of all prisoners. Dr. Soboh also paid tribute to the soul of Sherine Abu Aqleh for being the voice of truth, credibility, and honesty through her coverage of the Palestinian struggle. He also reminded us that today marks the 2nd anniversary of the martyr Saeb Erekat who was a great national leader who kept to the pathway of President Abu Ammar.
Dr. Ola Awwad, (Chairperson of the Prize Committee, Member of the Board of Directors of the Yasser Arafat Foundation), granted the Ramallah Municipality the 16th edition Yasser Arafat Achievement Award for the year 2022.
Awwad said, "11/11 of every year has become a distinctive national day in our life during which the Palestinians remember the struggle of their late President Abu Ammar and from which we learn the meanings of steadfastness, defiance, and struggle. His keffiyeh "the symbol of Palestine" is deeply rooted in the memory of the entire world and it is still alive in the minds and consciences of all Palestinians. As has been the case every year, announcing the winner of the annual Yasser Arafat Award for Achievement represents the zenith of the Foundation’s ceremonial activities to commemorate the martyrdom anniversary of our symbolic leader.
the Foundation since being founded devoted itself to the encouragement of serious and distinguished works of individuals, institutions, and teams in national, cultural, social, economic, and scientific/academic fields. The award winner is granted a patent and a trophy in addition to an amount of 25,000 dollars.
Between 05/01-15/08/2022, a campaign in social media and various information platforms was launched to promote, inform and encourage targeted institutions and individuals to submit their works.
Awwad explained that the works of the various contesters are assessed by specific considerations such as originality, creativity, leadership, distinction, positive and sustainable impact, public appreciation, and the effort which was put to complete the respective work. All the applications went through a preliminary evaluation process by examining the eligibility of the applicants in terms of relevance, conditions, and requirements. The works which passed the technical screening phase underwent an evaluation process of two stages and ended with shortlisting the applicants to three candidates: Ramallah Municipality, the Right to Live Association in Gaza, and Anatta Cultural Center.
“It has to be stressed that all the works that were submitted are considered to be achievements that deserve to be honored. We extend our gratitude and thankfulness to all the applicants and to the selection committee which has unanimously decided to grant the Yasser Arafat Achievement Award for the year 2022 to the Ramallah municipality”, Dr. Awwad announced.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Muhammad Eshtayyeh and the acting chairman of the board of directors a. Ali Muhanna, and the chair of the prize committee, Dr. Ola Awwad, awarded the prize (25,000 US Dollars) with its patent and trophy.
During these ceremonies, the poet Dr. Musa Al-Hafiz and his band chanted songs from the Palestinian national folklore.
Salam Al-Deek, (a media figure) ran this memorial ceremony during which the audience watched a documentary about the Yasser Arafat Foundation.
