By Xinhua
Ramallah : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said Saturday that late leader Yasser Arafat, who died in a Paris hospital of a mysterious disease three years ago, will be reburied in Jerusalem.
Abbas made the claim in a short speech as he inaugurated a new tomb for Arafat’s grave at the yard of al-Muqata’a, the president’s headquarters in the West Bank city Ramallah.
Abbas also said that he will follow the steps of the late leader in achieving the aspirations of the Palestinians.
“I will keep following Arafat steps and oath. I will continue in this process until our late leader gets reburied in Jerusalem, the city that he had always loved,” Abbas told the attendants of officials and diplomats.
On Sunday, a big rally will be staged at al-Muqata’a square Ramallah, where tens of thousands Palestinians will commemorate the third anniversary of Arafat’s death.
Palestinian officials at Abbas’ headquarters said a special exhibition will be inaugurated on Sunday, which would include the personal belongings of Arafat.
In addition, Fatah spokesman in Gaza Hazem Abu Shanab told reporters that another rally would be held on Monday in the Gaza Strip, currently ruled by Hamas since mid June.
Hamas spokesman in Gaza Fawzi Barhoum announced that Hamas will participate in the rally on Monday to commemorate the moment.
Arafat, a historic leader and founder of the Palestinian cause, died on Nov. 11 of 2004 at a French military hospital and was later buried on the grounds of his West Bank headquarters in Ramallah.