Thousands of Israelis and Arabs march in Jerusalem to support Palestinian independence
Several MKs participate in the 'March for Independence,' the first such Jewish-Arab event in 20 years.
By Nir Hasson Tags: Palestinians Palestinian state Middle East peaceApproximately 2,000 Palestinians and Israelis took part in the "March for Independence" Friday, calling for the recognition of a Palestinian state.
Although the organizers of the march issued a statement saying the march was carried out peacefully, police had to intervene and separate right-wing and left-wing activists.
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Jerusalem 'March for Independence', July 15, 2011 |
| Photo by: Daniel Bar On |
The event was coordinated with the police, and organizers had pledged to prevent any violence from breaking out, despite the expected right-wing counter-protests.
Participants in the march held signs quoting South African leader and anti-apartheid activist Nelson Mandela saying "only free men can negotiate", while others bore slogans calling for support of Palestinian independence.
Several MKs participated in the march, including Zehava Galon of Meretz and Dov Hanin of Hadash. Other prominent public figures took part as well, such as former Speaker of the Knesset Avraham Burg and former Attorney General Michael Ben Yair.
The march took a symbolic route, following the green line that used to divide East and West Jerusalem before the Six Day War in 1967. It began at Jaffa Gate and ended at the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, the opposite route taken by right-wing activists during Jerusalem Day last month.
Avner Inbar, Solidarity movement spokesman, said that the declaration of independence in September is "an act of people who crave freedom." He added that "Palestinian independence is not only the natural right of the Palestinian people. It is the only solution that can prevent another wave of violence between Israelis and Palestinians. This march proves that a joint, Jewish-Arab struggle is the way to end the occupation."
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Palestinians have the right to belong to a state of their own. Israel cannot forever impose over other people. Israel cannot allow injustice to dominate over justice.
Peace is possible.
No Israelis as they would have been hounded and possibly killed by the same Palestinians or their relatives who then coveted all the land for themselves.
It is a great day for all. My sincere wish is that those who are dehumanising others in the name of religion or security, will be touched by this event.
Before 1967 Jews and Christians would not have been allowed to have this protest or ANY protest due to the apartheid restritcions most arab countries have towards infidels. It is only because Israel exists that Muslims, Jews, Christians, Atheist, Gays, Woman.... can protest freely without violence in this area. Imagine holding a protest in the apartheid state of Saudi Arabia? Imagine a christian trying to pray in the Apartheid Saudi state. Look at the protestors in Lybia, Syria, Iran.... they are being slaughtered like animals. Too bad these protestors in Jerusalem are blind to the true catastrophe that is happening in the middle east where thousands are being killed monthly. But I guess the crimes commited by Asaad and Co are acceptable to the arabs and persians.
Only jews are allowed to go before the UN and get a state? Palestinians have the same right to have their own State too. Enough is enough,live and let live.
Its called the two state one state solution... Both Israel and Palestine have Jerusalem as a shared Capital... and have a extreamly weak jeffersonian Federal Government (made of a city council of both arab and jewish members) that governs Jerusalem and the greater Jerusalem area (think of DC before the Civil war)... This IMO is the only way Jerusalem can be a shared capital of two independant states...
... they think that they run and trample and disposses in the right direction... and this government aids and abets them...
Where in that picture is an Israeli flag?
Not that many people were there. Maybe 2000 if that. Real story is that protests in Syria have passed the one million mark for the first time.
There are more than enough Muslim failed states already, an extra one is superflous.
They are heroes. I hope nobody is attacked or injured.
The young generation of Jewish Israelis are out marching together with the young generation of Arab Palestinians. Nothing at all wrong with this. My unhappiness is the fact that both these young generations do not remember or were not informed about the Arab Palestinians 4 assaults on the Jewish Palestinians way before 1967. This report once again puts the owness on the Jewish Israelis as being the bad guys but noone seems to realize the problems of today did not occur out of a vacuum. The hostilities towards the Jews goes back before "occupation" began.
The fight against nationalism, religious fundamentalism is a universal fight. Let us fight together against the states like Iran, Saudi Arabia, former South Africa, Israeli state etc.
They are heroes. I hope nobody is attacked or injured.
I couldn't make it but was fully there with you in support. The sort of thing that gives hope.
More precisely led. One that may take some time to crawl out of.
This testifies to the fact that the Israeli government does not in all cases speak for the Israeli people. In many cases we see that the far right and far left are mentioned, but nobody talks about the centre. Both the right and the left are few in number compared to those who are in the centre. The average Israeli wants peace, but the media coverage would make sure to say that these people are leftists or not mention them at all. Let us not forget that the media in many cases does not show the reality on the situation, after all this is a capitalist world and the media needs to make money, straight truths do not make money, bent truths do. As said before, a majority of Israelis want peace, even if this fact is not reiterated in the media.
Why dont you see the same people (Iraelis and Palestinians) support Israels right to be free of attack. Why do they only care about Pals and not Israeli civilians. It is clear the Pals have suckered Israeli leftist, yet Pals are never ready to say what is wrong with the palestinians and that Israel has rights. They never protest the rocket attacks, they never protest the suicide murder attacks, they do not even protest gay rights or woman rights. They support only their own cause to attack Israel and nothing else Wake up, you are being used. The people you are marching with will stab you in the back once they no longer need you. Learn what they say about you at the dinner table with their families and friends.
"With our blood we'll redeem Palistine!" these "peaceful" demonstrators
have their independence but within the boundaries on the other side of West Bank fence...do not give back Jerusalem - it is extremely dangerous to visit muslim governed areas as cyclyst saga demonstrated in Lebanon...i only come to Jerusalem as a part of a Jewish State.
These people don't represent anyone. Burg is not living in Israel either. Inedependent Palestinian state without peace agreement, with Hamas sharing power, without security guarantees and border agreements, without recognizing Israel as a Jewish state will only inginte a conflict.