- Title: PLO's Saeb Erekat honoured in memorial ceremony ahead of funeral
- Date: 11th November 2020
- Summary: JERICHO, WEST BANK (NOVEMBER 11, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF MAN STANDING NEAR GRAVE WHERE EREKAT WILL BE BURIED PEOPLE AND MEDIA CREWS OUTSIDE EREKAT'S HOME
- Embargoed: 25th November 2020 09:57
- Keywords: COVID-19 Health PLO Palestinians Palestinina President Mahmoud Abbas Seab Erekat death coronavirus funeral
- Location: RAMALLAH AND JERICHO, WEST BANK
- City: RAMALLAH AND JERICHO, WEST BANK
- Country: Palestinian Territories
- Topics: Health/Medicine,Middle East
- Reuters ID: LVA005D44I1JB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: In a sombre memorial ceremony in the occupied West Bank, a Palestinian military honour guard laid a wreath on Wednesday (November 11) over the coffin of veteran Palestinian official Saeb Erekat, who died after contracting COVID-19.
Erekat, 65, served President Mahmoud Abbas Abbas and his predecessor Yasser Arafat as chief negotiator over decades of talks with Israel. His funeral, due to take place later on Wednesday, coincides with the 16th anniversary of Arafat's death.
A procession of Palestinian soldiers wearing face masks carried a coffin containing Erekat's body through a plaza at Abbas' presidential compound in Ramallah.
Abbas and other senior officials watched as two soldiers laid a wreath over the coffin, which was draped in a Palestinian flag and a keffiyeh - the black-and-white checkered scarf that was often worn by Arafat.
A long-time resident of Jericho, the largest Palestinian city in the Jordan Valley, Erekat died on Tuesday (November 10) after announcing on Oct. 8 that he had contracted the coronavirus.
Abbas and other officials waved goodbye to Erekat's funeral convoy as it departed the presidential compound and drove to Jericho, where his body will be carried in procession to a town mosque for prayers.
(Production: Ismael Khader, Mohammad Abu Ganeyeh, Lianne Back) - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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