Written By: Raghda Gamal
Article Date: Apr 4, 2009
Despite the actions of Israel, Palestinians remained defiant during their celebrations of Jerusalem, Capital of Arab Culture 2009, which was marked on Saturday 21 March. Palestinians celebrated from several locations in and outside Palestine. In the afternoon, at the Conference Palace in Bethlehem Central, the official launch ceremony was held and attended by Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Prime Minister Dr. Salam Fayyad, alongside many Palestinian and Arab Ministers and officials.
According to the Russia Today website, Israeli authorities issued a directive preventing any celebrations to mark the occasion. The Israeli Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter said he had instructed the police to deal with anyone caught breaching this instruction with tough action.
Israeli authorities had announced earlier that there would be a large military presence in Jerusalem on March 21, to prevent the launch of any activity related to Arab culture week. They alleged that such events would aid the establishment of illegal Palestinian sovereignty in Jerusalem.
Al-Jazeera TV network said that Israel had prevented Arab delegations from participating in the celebration by blocking the entrance to the region so groups were re-directed via the Jordanian capital of Amman to the Palestinian city of Bethlehem via the King Hussein Bridge, which links Jordan with Palestine. Occupation authorities arrested a number of officials due to attend the ceremonies, including the consultant of the Palestinian Prime Minister for Jerusalem affairs, Hatem Abdel Kader.
A reporter from Al-Jazeera said that Israeli occupation forces had additionally stormed eight Palestinians institutions, arresting about twenty Palestinians. They also banned the gathering of school children and there were threats made against anyone trying to hold celebrations.
Israel Radio reported that police had prevented students from entering universities and had arrested two women near to Jerusalem University for attempting to distribute T-shirts with slogans about cultural events. Police also prevented a festival for girls in the holy city organized by the Palestinian Authority, and prevented the relocation of the festival to another gate.
However, despite the Israeli security escalations, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas continued to launch events in Bethlehem, and a celebration of activities began officially, at five locations which were linked via satellite transmission in Jerusalem. Abbas said that "the policy of discrimination and oppression and the falsification of the past must be stopped if we have any real chance of peace on this earth," and called on Arabs and Muslims to defend their historic and religious site of Jerusalem.
The celebration was attended by a number of Arab Culture Ministers and a selection of artists in the cultural field.
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