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Veteran leader Yasser Arafat dies

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The veteran Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, who dominated his people's struggle for 40 years, has died in a French hospital, aged 75.

Israel, which has branded Mr Arafat a terrorist, suggested his death could be a turning point for peace in the Middle East.

 

His body will go to Cairo for a funeral attended by Arab and other leaders before burial in Ramallah on Saturday.

 

People wept openly and the Palestinian Authority declared 40 days of mourning.

 

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1968: Arafat takes over

 

Yasser Arafat became chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), an umbrella body set up in 1964 to enable Palestinians to determine their own future.

Under his leadership, the PLO put more emphasis on armed struggle, including hijacking airliners, seizing hostages and attacking Israeli targets around the world.

 

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1968: Arafat takes over

 

Yasser Arafat became chairman of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO), an umbrella body set up in 1964 to enable Palestinians to determine their own future.

Under his leadership, the PLO put more emphasis on armed struggle, including hijacking airliners, seizing hostages and attacking Israeli targets around the world.

 

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1974: First UN speech

 

Yasser Arafat made a dramatic first appearance at the United Nations, advocating peace.

But he warned: "Today I have come bearing an olive branch and a freedom fighter's gun. Do not let the olive branch fall from my hand."

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1975: US recognition

 

The UN speech partly dispelled his image as a militant guerrilla.

A year later, the US acknowledged that Palestinian interests could not be ignored in the search for Arab-Israeli peace.

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1982: Flight from Beirut

 

Following the Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the PLO, including Mr Arafat and other commanders, fled bases in Beirut.

Mr Arafat re-established PLO headquarters in Tunis.

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1994: Return to Gaza

 

Yasser Arafat made a triumphant return to Palestinian territory, a year after he and Israel's Yitzhak Rabin agreed the Declaration of Principles in Washington.

The accord required Israel to withdraw from most of the Gaza Strip and was a first step towards granting Palestinian autonomy in the occupied territories.

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1999: Peace presses on

 

Yasser Arafat concluded a land and security deal with the then Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak.

But, amid escalating violence, the agreement was not implemented.

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2000: No solution

 

Yasser Arafat came under pressure to reach a final settlement at the US presidential retreat at Camp David.

But two weeks of talks failed to come up with acceptable solutions to the issues of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees.

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2001: US attacks

 

Mr Arafat gave blood following the terror attacks in the United States to show solidarity with Americans.

The Palestinian leader came under increasing pressure to crack down on militant Islamic factions involved in the uprising against Israeli rule.

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