<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?><oembed><version><![CDATA[1.0]]></version><provider_name><![CDATA[Occupied Palestine | فلسطين]]></provider_name><provider_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com]]></provider_url><author_name><![CDATA[occupiedpalestine]]></author_name><author_url><![CDATA[https://occupiedpalestine.wordpress.com/author/hajarhajar/]]></author_url><title><![CDATA[PA absent from funeral of man hailed as &#8216;symbol of steadfastness&#8217;]]></title><type><![CDATA[link]]></type><html><![CDATA[<h3 style="text-align:right;">انّا للہ و انّا الیه راجعون</h3>
<p>Published today (updated) 07/08/2011 16:31<br />
<img src="https://i1.wp.com/www.maannews.net/images/345x230/140385_345x230.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>BETHLEHEM (Ma&#8217;an) &#8212; Former Bethlehem governor Salah Tamari expressed disappointment on Sunday that Palestinian Authority officials did not attend the funeral of Hajj Ibrahim Atallah, who he praised as &#8220;a symbol of Palestinian steadfastness.&#8221;</p>
<p>Hajj Ibrahim Atallah remained in Zakariyya, a small hamlet built on his land, until his death aged 101.</p>
<p>He managed to stay in Zakariyya, south Bethlehem despite huge pressure from Israeli forces and settlers as the Gush Etzion settlement block was being built nearby.</p>
<p>Shortly before his death Atallah dug a grave near Israel&#8217;s separation wall bordering his land and told his sons to bury him there &#8220;no matter what,&#8221; relatives said.</p>
<p>Tamari said no PA officials took part in Atallah&#8217;s funeral, &#8220;not even a representative of Bethlehem governor’s office despite the fact that the deceased deserves to be awarded the Jerusalem decoration more than many businessmen and officials who were given that decoration.&#8221;</p>
<p>Mourners from neighboring villages and across the Bethlehem district joined the funeral procession.</p>
<p>Atallah&#8217;s son also criticized PA officials for their absence.</p>
<p>&#8220;Settlers from Etzion came to express condolences, but Palestinian officials did not,&#8221; he said.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.maannews.net/eng/ViewDetails.aspx?ID=411363">Source</a></p>
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