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Statue of Liberty erected before Arafat
headquarters
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OCCUPIED
RAMALLAH, November 1 (IslamOnline & News Agencies) – Palestinian
plastic artist Nabil Anani chose the symbol of freedom and democracy
in the United States (Statue of Liberty), to express the Palestinian
discontent with the U.S. policies. He built a similar statue, but with
an inverted flame, at the entrance of the destroyed headquarters of
Palestinian President Yasser Arafat in Ramallah.
With
the help of another Palestinian young artist, Anani on Thursday,
October 31, made a three-meter long wooden statue, using the same blue
color, and placed it next to the destroyed offices of Arafat.
However,
the statue’s flame was deliberately turned downward, unlike the
original one in New York.
“We
made the very same statue, but I inverted the flame (upside down) to
express the falsehood of freedom calls (by the U.S.), while, in fact,
the Americans cover up for the crimes perpetrated by the Israeli
occupation,” Anani told Hossam Ezz Edeen, Agence France-Presse (AFP)
Correspondent on Friday, November 1.
“The
idea crossed my mind when I realized the huge destruction inflicted on
Arafat's HQ in Ramallah.
"The
compound has become a symbol of destruction (by the Israeli occupation
forces) in all Palestinian cities, towns, and villages,” he added.
The
Israeli forces have destroyed parts of Arafat's HQ during their
successive sieges since December 2001.
The
compound has only two standing rooms now after almost all its
buildings were flattened during the last Israeli attack from 19 to 29
September, 2002.
Anani
stressed that by covering up for the Israeli occupation’s crimes,
the Americans have proved claims about democracy and freedom (adopted
by the U.S.) are nothing but “distorted and false concepts”.
“Through
that statue, I wanted to send an artistic message to Israel and the
United States.
"Freedom
and democracy based on oppressing other peoples are only false and
meaningless concepts; that is my message. I chose a place for foreign
visitors to see,” he said.
According
to the Palestinian artist, other (Palestinian) artists (painters,
singers, musicians…etc) intend to erect a tent in the main courtyard
of the Ramallah compound, to express the continuous Palestinian
defiance, in the face of Israeli military might.
“We
have started preparing for that (artistic) tent, we will be carrying
it out within the coming few days.
"We
are part of the Palestinian people, and our works are no less than any
other resistance activity,” Anani explained.
Ministry
of General Works continue restoring the remains of Arafat’s
headquarters, to provide a better living conditions for the
Palestinian President during the cold winter days.
