Arafat's Yahrzeit at the Muqata...

Arafat's Yahrzeit at the Muqata Compound in Ramallah this past Sunday...

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May his neshama have a "yerida"

On Sunday, representatives of Neturei Karta participated in the annual memorial service in Ramallah marking the day of the passing of PLO Chairman Yassir Arafat. They stood out in the crowd in their black clothes, each wearing identification tags over a background of a Palestinian flag.

During his speech at the gathering, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas restated his intention of petitioning the United Nation’s general assembly this month to grant the Palestinian Authority the status of an observer state. (Crown Heights Info)

And in honor of the yahrtzeit...the Palestinian Authority is having Arafat's corpse exhumed.

Did someone say I'm being exhumed?!?

"Today they started removing concrete and stones from Arafat's mausoleum and the work will last for almost 15 days," the source told AFP, speaking on condition of anonymity.

"There are several phases," he said, referring to the operation to open the tomb ahead of a visit by French, Swiss and Russian experts to test forensically Arafat's remains over suspicions he was poisoned with the radioactive substance polonium.

"It starts with the removal of stone and concrete and cutting the iron (framework) until they reach the soil that covers the body, which will not be removed until the arrival of the French prosecutors, Swiss experts and Russian investigators," the source said.

On Monday, Arafat's mausoleum, which is located at the Muqataa presidential headquarters in the West Bank city of Ramallah was screened from public view with blue tarpaulins ahead of the operation to open the grave.

Work to actually begin taking samples is expected to begin at the end of the month after the French and Swiss delegations arrive on November 26, officials have said.

"Because of Arafat's position and his status, no one will be allowed, under any circumstances, to photograph his body while the samples are taken," the source told AFP.

Arafat died in a military hospital near Paris on November 11, 2004 and with French experts unable to say what had killed him.

Many Palestinians are convinced he was poisoned by Israel. Daily Telegraph

The Muqata is the only blog to have received a photo of the exhumed corpse of yasser Arafat....

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Fatah's Shiva Call to Mosha Hirsch's Family

This past week, one of leaders of the avowedly Anti-Zionist Neturay Karta lunatic fringe, R' Mosha Hirsch, passed away.

The AFP's Hesped for Hirsch:

AFP - Controversial Rabbi Moshe Hirsch, who once served as cabinet minister under the late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, died on Sunday at the age of 79 after a long illness, relatives said.

Hirsch, who was born in 1931 in New York, was the son-in-law of Katzenel Bogen who had founded the ultra-Orthodox and anti-Zionist group Neturei Karta (Guardians of the City), which he went on to lead from 1974.

In 1995, Arafat formed his first Palestinian government and appointed Hirsch his minister for Jewish affairs.

Hirsch long described the iconic Palestinian leader as a "friend and brother" and was a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause.

In line with the ideology of Neturei Karta, a minority movement within the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community, the rabbi believed that the state of Israel should be destroyed.

Kikar Shabbat reported that the Fatah "Governor of Jerusalem" Adnan Husseini arrived at the family of Moshe Hirsch yesterday (Tuesday) to offer his condolences. PA President Mahmoud Abbas sent an emotional sympathy letter:

"It was with great sorrow that I received the news of the death of a dear friend, Rabbi Moshe Hirsch, leader of Neturay Karta, and adviser to the exalted President, Yassir Arafat. He lived a life of full of ongoing largesse and fought for justice for the sake of justice, and coexistence for the region's nations. I strengthen your hands and send truthful condolences to the family and relatives.

Mahmoud Abbas Abu Mazen

Other Fatah leaders also arrived including Khatam Abd Al-Cadre (Fatah Jerusalem Commissioner), Bilial A-Natsha, (Fatah Revolutionary Council Jerusalem Portfolio holder).

See their photo op here, and their arrival and condolence call in the following video:

May Allah Comfort Them Among
the Mourners of Rammallah and Jenin.

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