Celebrations Halted in East Jerusalem
Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem
Since 1996, a capital in the Middle East has been designated as the 'Capital of Arabic Culture'. In 2008, the capital that was chosen was Damascus. This year, it was Jerusalem. Jerusalem is considered a holy site for both Jews and Muslims, the two monotheistic religions that are abundant in the area. Jerusalem has, however, been under Israeli occupation since 1967, and little Islamic or Arabic celebrations have been allowed since.
The Capital of Arabic Culture celebration is celebrated throughout the whole year, when the chosen capital flourishes its history of music, arts, literature, cuisine and traditions. Events in East Jerusalem - which is mostly occupied by Arabs - were halted this year by the Israeli police.
20 men were detained, including Hatem Abdel Qader, who handles Jerusalem affairs for the Palestinian Authority in Jerusalem. There was no violence before, during or after the detainment of the twenty celebrators.
Celebrations for this occasion were also stopped in Nazareth, Israel's largest Arab city.
"This measure is yet another example of the many extreme policies that the various ministries in the Israeli government impose on us", one event organiser commented.
"These measures are imposed on all artists and people who care about culture. This is a form of prevention of our freedom of expression."
Students at school, who had balloons painted with the colours of the Palestinian flag, witnessed their balloons being burst by Israeli soldiers and police forces. Flags and banners that were held outside of the schools were confiscated and collected.
Celebrations, however, did go on in the West Bank, which has slowly seen the demolition of houses occupied by people of Arabic or Muslim heritage and the illegal building of Israeli homes, as declared by the UN.
The Palestinian president in charge of the West Bank, Mahmoud Abbas, and the Prime Minister, Salam Fayyad, met with officials from Morocco, Tunisia, the UAE, Kuwait and Jordan before attending a ceremony held in an auditorium, made to resemble the Old City.
The Old City, Jerusalem, has been a matter of constant dispute between the Israeli's and the Palestinians. For the Jewish, it is the 'indivisible and eternal state', whereas for the Muslims, it is the third Holiest site and home to Al-Aqsa Mosque. To be able to settle the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, the matter of who belongs in which part of the city must be tread on carefully.
