Palestinians were keen on performing `Eid prayers next to Arafat's grave

By Samer Khuwaiyera, Ola Attallah, IOL Correspondents

NABLUS, November 13 (IslamOnline.net) – A gloomy atmosphere enveloped the occupied Palestinian territories on Saturday, November 13, as Palestinians marked the start of `Eid Al-Fitr by mourning their beloved leader Yasser Arafat.

Though Palestinian preachers tried during `Eid sermons to solace a sea of bereaved Palestinians to overcome the melancholy, many of them could not help but grieve their emblematic leader at his tomb in Ramallah.

The veteran Palestinian leader was laid to rest Friday, November 12, amid highly emotional scenes at his Muqataa compound.

Shops, cafes and parks closed their doors as a sign of grief over Arafat, who went down in history as a symbol of the Palestinians’ uphill struggle against the Israeli occupation.

Voicing solidarity with fellow Palestinians, Israeli Arabs declared a three-day mourning and raised black flags.

They are also planning to hold symbolic funerals in the city of Nasariyah later in the day.

No Cookies

In the West Bank city of Nablus, most Palestinian families have not baked kahk (cookies marking the end of Ramadan) to express their heartfelt sadness.

"I used to bake kahk in `Eid Al-Fitr for 40 years but decided this year to abandon the tradition unless Arafat came back safe from France (where he was hospitalized)," Um Raed, 64, told IslamOnline.net.

Samir Al-Hashash, a salesman, said Arafat's death has drastically affected the kahk market though the delicious cookies are cheaper this year.

"But anyway I can't sell kahk to my fellow citizens as it is breaking our hearts the passing of our leader."

"Arafat's death has, in effect, badly affected the already sluggish Palestinian economy with people in low spirits and cash-strapped," agreed shoemaker Mohammad Al-Qadah.

Abu Bakr Al-Safadi, from Gaza City, could not buy new clothes for his three children, failing to bring smiles to their faces.

"I have found most of the shops closed," he said. "I decided to spend this `Eid at home as there is no place to go so that my children can enjoy themselves."

Park owners are expecting heavy losses this season as children stuck to their homes mourning Arafat with their parents.

"I have spent a huge sum of money to upgrade my park, buying new video games and electrical swings, which all stand idle now," Ibrahim Al-Sairfi told IOL.

Official Mourning

Top Palestinian officials visit Arafat’s grave on the first day of `Eid Al-Fitr

Officially, the Palestinian Authority (PA) declared a 40-day mourning to mark Arafat's passing, which has effectively cancelled all public holidays.

Top Palestinian officials gathered around Arafat’s grave Saturday to say prayers marking the start of the feast.

Among those present were Mahmmoud Abbas, the newly-appointed head of the Palestine Liberation Organization, Prime Minister Ahmad Qorei, Rawhi Fattuh, the caretaker head of the PA and Arafat's nephew, Nasser Al-Qidwa, the Palestinian representative to the United Nations.

Arafat's mainstream Fatah movement announced it would receive condolences all over during `Eid Al-Fitr across Palestinian cities and refugee camps.

Arafat was buried Friday after presidents and kings from across the globe attended a military funeral in the Egyptian capital Cairo , honoring the Palestinian leader.

The Cairo funeral was the highest-profile gathering of international leaders in the region -- representatives from some 60 countries were present -- since the funeral of Syrian president Hafez Al-Assad in 2000.