Members of the Palestinian Fatah faction are reportedly convinced that they’ve found the perfect Yasser Arafat look-alike in the West Bank’s Bethlehem area.
According to Alwatan Voice, it all began last summer at a Fatah convention in the Bethlehem region of the West Bank. Apparently, an unknown man entered the convention hall with a striking resemblance to the former Palestinian leader and head of the Fatah movement, Yasser Arafat, who died in November 2004.
According to eyewitnesses, both the man’s dress as well as his physical features resembled Arafat in an almost uncanny way, resulting in the shock and surprise of all those who saw him.
The Arafat look-alike ultimately turned out to be a Fatah supporter by the name of Salem Samirat from the village of Beit Fajar, also in the West Bank. As a result of his impressive resemblance to the former leader, forty-seven year old Samirat quickly became a regional celebrity. He has since received numerous requests to appear at various Fatah events organized in the Bethlehem region just south of Jerusalem, and sparked the curiosity of everyone else as well.
Audiences have been so impressed by the strange Arafat look-alike that many have prompted him to take a stand at event stages and speak, sparking excitement, shock, admiration as well as nostalgia. Often upon arrival at a given events, throngs of admirers and curious observers surround him, attempting to get a close-up look, speak with him or be photographed with the now national celebrity.
Many aren’t surprised by the overwhelming response Samirat, or the new “Abu Amar,” as Arafat was also referred to, has received. This includes Saleh Ta'amari, a local Fatah leader. According to Tamari, Samirat symbolizes a new leader of sorts, especially in light of the incredibly difficult situation currently faced by the Fatah movement as well as the Palestinian people in general.
“Such a look-alike is a reminder to us all how much we are all in need of a leader such as Arafat, as well as Arafat’s great wisdom,” said Ta'amari.
It remains to be seen to what levels Samirat will take his new role to, be it as a reminder of the former national leader who changed history, or merely as an overnight celebrity with an unusual following.
