Abbas, Palestinians remember Arafat

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, marked the 5th anniversary of the death of former leader, Yasser Arafat in the West Bank.

This year's remembrance comes amid deep uncertainties about the future of stalled peace talks with Israel. Abbas, announced last week he would not seek another term in an election scheduled for January.

He cited deadlocked efforts to revive the peace talks, as a result of his decision. Addressing thousands gathered in Ramallah to mark the day of remembrance, Abbas repeated his refusal to return to peace negotiations with Israel, until it halts it's West Bank settlements.

Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas addresses a rally commemorating  the fifth anniversary of late Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's death in the West Bank city of in Ramallah.(AFP/Abbas Momani)