FRANCE-ISRAEL/BEACH-PROTEST Some 200 pro-Palestinian supporters protest Paris beach festival 'Tel Aviv on Seine'

Record ID: 144160

  • Title: FRANCE-ISRAEL/BEACH-PROTEST Some 200 pro-Palestinian supporters protest Paris beach festival 'Tel Aviv on Seine'
  • Date: 13th August 2015
  • Summary: PARIS, FRANCE (AUGUST 13, 2015) (REUTERS) PALESTINIAN FLAG BANNER ON RAILING OVER RIVER SEINE READING (French): 'TOGETHER AGAINST THE BLOCKADE OF GAZA' PRO-PALESTINIAN SUPPORTERS AT 'GAZA ON SEINE' DEMONSTRATION JOURNALISTS INTERVIEWING VICE PRESIDENT OF PALESTINIAN ASSOCIATION, CAPJPO- EUROPALESTINE, NICOLAS SHAHSHAHANI (SOUNDBITE) (French) VICE PRESIDENT, CAPJPO EUROPALESTINE ASSOCIATION, NICOLAS SHAHSHAHANI, SAYING: "This (Tel Aviv on Seine festival) is part of the Israeli propaganda to show an Israel that is different from the bombs, soldiers, checkpoints, etc, etc. And the 'cool', 'fun', 'gay friendly' Tel Aviv is fully part of the Israeli communication system." BANNER ON BANKS OF RIVER SEINE READING (French): 'HIDALGO, SPONSOR OF COLONISATION' REFERRING TO PARIS MAYOR ANNE HIDALGO PROTESTERS ON BEACH GREEN T-SHIRTS HUNG ALONG BANKS OF SEINE READING (French): 'FREE PALESTINE' AND 'BOYCOTT ISRAEL' / PROTESTER SHOWING PEACE SIGN TO TOURIST BOAT PASSING BY
  • Embargoed: 28th August 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: France
  • Country: France
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVABDBX160YCFJUFWHBK8RPVD5RW
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: As the city of Paris on Thursday (August 13) hosted a day-long festival dedicated to Tel Aviv on its beach on the Seine, some 200 pro-Palestinian supporters gathered in the same area to protest the event.
    The festival called 'Tel Aviv on Seine' celebrating the Israeli seaside resort has been condemned by left-wing and pro-Palestinian critics who say it implicitly condones Israeli government policy.
    A Palestinian flag flew above the banks of the river as demonstrators wearing green t-shirts reading 'Free Palestine' and 'Boycott Israel' gathered to stage a protest which they dubbed 'Gaza on Seine'.
    "This (festival) is part of the Israeli propaganda to show an Israel that is different from the bombs, soldiers, checkpoints, etc, etc. And the 'cool', 'fun', 'gay friendly' Tel Aviv is fully part of the Israeli communication system," said Nicolas Shahshahani, Vice President of the CAPJPO EuroPalestine Association.
    Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo had resisted calls to cancel the day's activities -- which include themed DJ sets and food stalls -- saying that it is about celebrating dialogue between cultures.
    Foreign cities have often been honoured in the past but this time some 300 police were on duty on the short stretch of riverbank along the Seine.
    Paris has seen security tightened since the gun attacks of January 2015 which began at the headquarters of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and ultimately cost 17 lives.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register