Palestinians remember Arafat

0 Comments | AFP, November, 2009

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AFP) — Palestinians gathered Wednesday to mark five years since the death of their iconic leader Yasser Arafat, with president Mahmud Abbas due to address the West Bank rally.

The anniversary of Arafat's death finds Palestinians more divided than ever and his successor Abbas pondering resignation because of stalled US-led peace efforts that have failed to bring about an independent Palestinian state.

Crowds began gathering in the West Bank's political capital of Ramallah, with thousands expected to attend the rally to honour the man who catapulted the Palestinians' struggle onto the world stage and led them through nearly four decades of armed struggle and sputtering peace negotiations.

Abbas was to address the crowd amid grim predictions by...