CRI听力:Palestinians Commemorate Arafat in the Hope of Peace

Palestinians Commemorate Arafat in the Hope of Peace 

Thousands of Palestinians gathered Tuesday at the presidential compound in Ramallah, marking the 10th anniversary of Arafat's passing.

"Yasser Arafat, for the Palestinians, is our father. He is a leader of liberty and freedom for the whole people. All the political parties respect Yasser Arafat. We will never forget Yasser Arafat. He is in our blood. He is in our mind, our hearts."

Ten years after Arafat's death, conflicts continue to dominate the landscape in the Palestinian territories.

Following on the heels of the Israeli incursion into the Gaza Strip this summer, new unrest at the Temple Mount in Jerusalem and a series of recent attacks have escalated tensions between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, speaking at Arafat's memorial, has accused Israel of dragging the region into a religious war.

"The Palestinian territories are no longer in all of the 67 disputed land because Israel is constantly trying to impose its illegal settlements. We will defend Al-Aqsa, the churches and our nation."

As part of his speech, Abbas says he still intends to go to the UN Security Council this month with a resolution that would recognize a Palestinian state on the pre-1967 lines.

The comments delighted many in the crowd.

"Sooner or later, we will get our independent state. We want peace. We love peace. We are fighting for peace. If I don't get my independent state when I am alive, I hope our children will live in peace in the future."

Yasser Arafat died in a Paris hospital in 2004 after a short illness.

Years later suggestions began to surface the 75-year old may have been poisoned.

The case has yet to be closed, and investigations are still ongoing.

For CRI, I'm Tu Yun.