By DIAA HADID, Associated Press Writer
JERUSALEM - Israeli police on Tuesday broke up a Palestinian event meant to promote Jerusalem as the world's next "Arab Cultural Capital."
The Palestinians want next year's celebrations to strengthen their claim to the disputed city. But Tuesday's crackdown sent a strong signal that Israel will not go along with the decision by the 22-member Arab League to bestow its cultural prize on Jerusalem.
"We want to exploit this for Jerusalem," said Ahmad al-Ruweidi, head of the Jerusalem unit in the office of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Two years ago, the Arab League quietly designated Jerusalem its 2009 "Arab Cultural Capital," an honor that rotates among Arab countries. Winners typically use the occasion to showcase their attachment to Arab culture, sponsoring poetry, music, dance performances, lectures, school activities and sporting events.
In Jerusalem, it's not that simple. Israel says the entire city is its undivided and eternal capital. The Palestinians want east Jerusalem — captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war and site of key Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites — as the capital of a future state.
The dispute over Jerusalem is the most contentious issue in peace talks, and a Palestinian cultural celebration could easily be seen as a political message, angering Israel.
On Tuesday, Palestinian organizers planned to announce the winner of a contest to design a logo for the cultural campaign at the Palestinian national theater in east Jerusalem. But when they arrived, the doors were locked and police stood outside.
"Police arrived at the scene and showed them a warrant signed by the minister of internal security banning the convention," said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.
About 50 participants attempted to hold a news conference outside, but police broke it up. They said two people were briefly detained during a scuffle.
"We have the right to practice our culture in Jerusalem. We have the right to dance," said Bassem al-Masri, a campaign organizer.
Israeli government officials had no comment on next year's planned celebration, saying they were unaware of the Arab League's decision. But Israel forbids virtually all Palestinian political activity in the city.
Illustrating the challenge, the logo competition winner, Khaled Hourani, could not attend Tuesday's event because he lives in the West Bank and didn't have time to apply for an Israeli permit to enter Jerusalem.
His winning logo shows a multicolored 8-point Islamic star alongside a silhouette of Jerusalem's Old City, with barbed wire transposed over images of a mosque and a church.
Since Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip need permits to enter the city, organizers concede it will be extremely difficult for performers and audiences to attend next year's event. About 180,000 Palestinians live in east Jerusalem.
On Monday, Israeli police detained al-Ruweidi, who said he was questioned for several hours about projects for next year's event. Police said he was questioned because he recently traveled to Lebanon, an enemy state.
The event also won't attract Arab superstars — a key part of festivities in other Arab countries. Most Arab countries don't have relations with Israel, and their citizens are not allowed to visit Israel, which controls the city.
Performers from Jordan and Egypt, the only Arab countries at peace with Israel, refused to visit in protest against Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
The Arab League annually rotates the title of Arab Cultural Capital among cities of the region. Damascus, the Syrian capital, currently holds the honor.
The Arab League initially pegged Jerusalem as culture capital for 2011, but two years ago, the Iraqi government pulled Baghdad from the 2009 slot, citing security problems.
Israeli and Palestinian leaders hope to reach a final peace agreement, including a deal on Jerusalem, by the end of the year.
Since peace talks began last year, the Israeli government has emphasized its claim to the city by announcing plans to build hundreds of new homes in east Jerusalem neighborhoods built after 1967.
Palestinians and the international community view the move as settlement building — forbidden under the terms of U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan.
"Israel must understand we are Arabs," said al-Ruweidi, the Palestinian presidential adviser. "We listen to Arab songs, and our loyalty is to Arabic culture."
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080325/ap_on_re_mi_ea/jerusalem_culture_clash;_ylt=Ar8mzCkukB._81QwrfOfyRpvaA8F
JERUSALEM - Israeli police on Tuesday broke up a Palestinian event meant to promote Jerusalem as the world's next "Arab Cultural Capital."
The Palestinians want next year's celebrations to strengthen their claim to the disputed city. But Tuesday's crackdown sent a strong signal that Israel will not go along with the decision by the 22-member Arab League to bestow its cultural prize on Jerusalem.
"We want to exploit this for Jerusalem," said Ahmad al-Ruweidi, head of the Jerusalem unit in the office of the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
Two years ago, the Arab League quietly designated Jerusalem its 2009 "Arab Cultural Capital," an honor that rotates among Arab countries. Winners typically use the occasion to showcase their attachment to Arab culture, sponsoring poetry, music, dance performances, lectures, school activities and sporting events.
In Jerusalem, it's not that simple. Israel says the entire city is its undivided and eternal capital. The Palestinians want east Jerusalem — captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war and site of key Jewish, Muslim and Christian holy sites — as the capital of a future state.
The dispute over Jerusalem is the most contentious issue in peace talks, and a Palestinian cultural celebration could easily be seen as a political message, angering Israel.
On Tuesday, Palestinian organizers planned to announce the winner of a contest to design a logo for the cultural campaign at the Palestinian national theater in east Jerusalem. But when they arrived, the doors were locked and police stood outside.
"Police arrived at the scene and showed them a warrant signed by the minister of internal security banning the convention," said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.
About 50 participants attempted to hold a news conference outside, but police broke it up. They said two people were briefly detained during a scuffle.
"We have the right to practice our culture in Jerusalem. We have the right to dance," said Bassem al-Masri, a campaign organizer.
Israeli government officials had no comment on next year's planned celebration, saying they were unaware of the Arab League's decision. But Israel forbids virtually all Palestinian political activity in the city.
Illustrating the challenge, the logo competition winner, Khaled Hourani, could not attend Tuesday's event because he lives in the West Bank and didn't have time to apply for an Israeli permit to enter Jerusalem.
His winning logo shows a multicolored 8-point Islamic star alongside a silhouette of Jerusalem's Old City, with barbed wire transposed over images of a mosque and a church.
Since Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip need permits to enter the city, organizers concede it will be extremely difficult for performers and audiences to attend next year's event. About 180,000 Palestinians live in east Jerusalem.
On Monday, Israeli police detained al-Ruweidi, who said he was questioned for several hours about projects for next year's event. Police said he was questioned because he recently traveled to Lebanon, an enemy state.
The event also won't attract Arab superstars — a key part of festivities in other Arab countries. Most Arab countries don't have relations with Israel, and their citizens are not allowed to visit Israel, which controls the city.
Performers from Jordan and Egypt, the only Arab countries at peace with Israel, refused to visit in protest against Israel's treatment of Palestinians.
The Arab League annually rotates the title of Arab Cultural Capital among cities of the region. Damascus, the Syrian capital, currently holds the honor.
The Arab League initially pegged Jerusalem as culture capital for 2011, but two years ago, the Iraqi government pulled Baghdad from the 2009 slot, citing security problems.
Israeli and Palestinian leaders hope to reach a final peace agreement, including a deal on Jerusalem, by the end of the year.
Since peace talks began last year, the Israeli government has emphasized its claim to the city by announcing plans to build hundreds of new homes in east Jerusalem neighborhoods built after 1967.
Palestinians and the international community view the move as settlement building — forbidden under the terms of U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan.
"Israel must understand we are Arabs," said al-Ruweidi, the Palestinian presidential adviser. "We listen to Arab songs, and our loyalty is to Arabic culture."
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080325/ap_on_re_mi_ea/jerusalem_culture_clash;_ylt=Ar8mzCkukB._81QwrfOfyRpvaA8F
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