Arafat’s helicopter serves as a symbol for Gazans
The late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's helicopter, the only one remaining after Israel bombed his airfield in 2001, is a symbol of a past era free of missiles.
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip — The helicopter of the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat is back in the air. It's not flying. It's attached to ropes and sitting on a steel platform for the purpose of military exercises organized by the Security and Protection Service of the Ministry of Interior, which is still led by Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
The helicopter, which was examined up-close by Al-Monitor, is in the middle of the Ansar security compound, west of Gaza City. Part of this compound used to be an airfield, which Arafat’s white helicopter used to land on. Today, the helicopter is an empty shell, with no instruments or engine. The helicopter’s body is painted in a military-style gray/black camouflage pattern, the same pattern used for the uniforms of the Security and Protection Service.
One security officer working in the compound told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, “This is the only helicopter that remains of the three helicopters, after the occupation bombed the airfield during the era of the National Authority and the second intifada.”
Israelis bombed Arafat’s airfield Dec. 2, 2001, destroying the airfield, the aircraft and the fuel tanks.
