RAMALLAH, West Bank, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Thousands of Palestinians gathered in the West Bank city of Ramallah Sunday to pay tribute to the late Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat.
On the third anniversary of Arafat's death, throngs of Palestinians arrived at an honorary mausoleum in Ramallah and remembered their fallen leader three years after his death, Ynetnews.com reported.
Local Fatah operative Yusuf al-Majid said the number of memorial attendees was a striking difference to the support Arafat enjoyed at times while alive.
"Look how so many have come to pay their respects," Majid lamented. "What a shame they didn't honor him that way when he was alive."
Palestinian and Israeli security forces were a notable presence at Sunday's memorial ceremony. As Palestinian forces patrolled the city's streets, Israeli military forces posted roadblocks outside Ramallah to check all incoming traffic.
The Web site said despite the increased security precautions, nearly all Palestinians wanting to attend the memorial were allowed into the city.
