The “Jerusalem the Capital of Arab culture 2009” starts at the Bethlehem

Saturday March 21, 2009 18:14 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

Adnnan Al-Hussaini, the Palestinian PA appointed governor of Jerusalem, addressed the audience firs. He thanked all those who came to Bethlehem to take part of the festivals; he said that Jerusalem is an important city for all Arabs and Muslims.

Tahani Abu Doka- the Palestinian Minister of Culture Arriving at the festival – photo by IMEMC’s Ghassan Bannoura

Al-Hussaini spoke from Jerusalem where the PA set up a satellite feed to the main event in Bethlehem, the Israeli police shot down the program that was from Jerusalem.

Al-Hussaini said that the program was recorded on Friday before the Israeli police shot the Jerusalem festival in the city.

Dr. Muhamed Abdul  Azeez Ben Ashour, Director General of Arab league Organization for Education, Science and Culture, said that he is proud to open this year festivals, he thanked the Palestinian PA for organizing this event and he said this festivals is part of the Arab efforts to keep Jerusalem Arab and not lose it for the Israeli occupation and attempts to make the city Jewish city only.

Next to take the stage was the Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, he started his speech by thanking all Arab ministers and delegates for coming to the festival today, he added that this is an important event to counter the Israeli continued settlements construction in and around the city.

President Abbas said that” those who want peace and normal relations with the Palestinians and the rest of the Arabs, they must stop the settlement activities and stop the demolishing of Palestinians homes in Jerusalem.”

Abbas added that” we will not be driven out of our homes, we will continue to protect and live in our homes in Jerusalem and everywhere in Palestine.”

Regarding Gaza, president Abbas said that he will continue to work to end the Israeli siege on the costal region, and said that he is seeking a truce deal that grantees the rights of the Palestinians and stop any future attacks on them.

President Abbas concluded by saying” I say again that the Egyptian efforts to end the internal Palestinian conflict will continue and we hope to achieve a Palestinian unity government for all Palestinians and reflect the Palestinian Liberation organization views and agrees on the past signed agreements.” He condiment the fact that Hamas movement did not allow the festival in Gaza and Israeli did not allow it in Jerusalem.

The activities will continue all Saturday evening where local and Arab bands will play music and poets will president their work to the audience.

Palestinian-Israeli Parliament member harassed by Israeli police

Saturday March 21, 2009 12:10 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC News

Muhammed Barakah, an outspoken member of the Israeli Knesset (Parliament) was harassed by Israeli police on Thursday for participating in a non-violent protest march last year.

The demonstration in question took place in Nazareth, a mainly Christian Palestinian town in northern Israel, after Israeli police had attacked and injured a number of Palestinian-Israelis (Palestinians who carry Israeli passports).

Barakah told the Palestine News Network that the police told him Thursday that he was under investigation for “disrupting the work of the police a year and a half ago”.

The investigation of the Arab Parliamentarian comes just a day after right-wing extremist Avigdor Lieberman was assigned the post of Israeli Foreign Minister. Lieberman has called for a 'loyalty oath' by Palestinian-Israelis, and called for the expulsion of Palestinians, including Parliament members like Barakah, who have visited other Arab countries.

Barakah called the investigation a provocation by Israeli forces meant to intimidate Palestinian-Israelis who choose to speak out in defense of Palestinian rights. He told PNN, “If the charges are my standing by the struggle of the Palestinian people then I am proud of these charges.”

He also flatly rejected the accusation that he had 'assaulted Israeli police', saying that the facts of what happened at the 2008 demonstration were clear and well-known: Israeli forces attacked a non-violent Palestinian-Israeli crowd unprovoked.