Mohammed Al-Tamimi, spokesman of the Al-Nabi Saleh Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements, said that the Israeli soldiers closed all the entrances leading to the village early Friday to thwart a rally in the village to commemorate the sixth anniversary of the death of Palestinian former President Yasser Arafat.

Al-Tamimi said "Israeli forces raided the village at 3 a.m. and threatened to take suppressive measures against the residents if the rally was held."  Al-Tamimi said that the Israeli soldiers erected a military checkpoint on the road between Al-Nabi Saleh and Beit Reema and another one between his village and Kufr Ein.

The spokesman added that Israeli soldiers closed the Atarah checkpoint, built on the northern edge of Bir Zeit town, and another checkpoint at the southern entrance of his village. The checkpoints link Ramallah with Al-Nabi Saleh area.

Al-Tamimi said that the soldiers manning the checkpoints around his village barred hundreds of Palestinian, foreign and Israeli leftist activists from passing by their vehicles to participate in the "peaceful commemoration rally."  He added that the passengers "were forced to use alternative roads, walk through mountains to enter the village by avoiding Israeli checkpoints." 

The Palestinians on Thursday commemorated the sixth anniversary of Arafat's death in several West Bank cities amid hope to achieve his dream of establishing their independent state and gain their self-determination.

In Ramallah, a central rally was held, which thousands attended, including Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and dozens of Palestinian officials.

Arafat died in Nov. 11, 2004 in a French hospital of a mysterious disease. Reports that Arafat had been poisoned to death by Israel have resurfaced in the Palestinian press.