Those interested in modern history might want to stop at the now-rebuilt Muqata’a, Yasser Arafat’s large presidential compound, where he was based during the last days of the Second Intifada. He was evacuated from his base in 2004 while under Israeli siege and later died in a Paris hospital. In 2014 his body was briefly exhumed for tests after speculation that he had been poisoned. Arafat's enormous cubicle tomb is guarded by soldiers and adorned with wreaths.
The compound's buildings have been restored, with the exception of some holes from tank shelling. The Muqata’a is around 1km from Al-Manara on the road to Birzeit and Nablus, and is easily walkable from downtown. Soldiers will not let tourists stray from the short path between the entrance and the tomb, but Muslims will be allowed to enter the modern mosque erected in Arafat's honour.
