SYRIA: Palestinians take to the streets to protest against building plans in Jerusalem

Record ID: 279454

  • Title: SYRIA: Palestinians take to the streets to protest against building plans in Jerusalem
  • Date: 18th March 2010
  • Summary: MORE OF DEMONSTRATION / MAN CHANTING SLOGANS
  • Embargoed: 2nd April 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: International Relations,Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA3GTIPUGP6D8SG03GS4PFEMZAG
  • Story Text: Thousands of Palestinians took to the streets on Wednesday (March 17) to condemn Israeli settlement building plans in Jerusalem.
    Demonstrators were carrying the flags of all Palestinian factions, and pictures of Former Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and current President Mahmoud Abbas.
    Head of the Jihad Islamic Movement Ramadan Shallah said: "This aggression that al-Aqsa Mosque is enduring and the threats facing Jerusalem, through the settlements, have left us no more opportunity to imagine. This false peace with the criminal enemy must come to an end."
    He called on the Palestinian people for resistance, adding: "This illusion must come to an end and we should all come together, under one banner, the banner of Jihad and resistance, to protect our land and all its holy sites."
    The demonstration, held in Yarmouk Camp where most Palestinian refugees live in Syria, was organised by all Palestinian factions including Fatah.
    Palestinians clashed with Israeli forces in Jerusalem on Tuesday as the United States, which has slammed Israeli settlement plans as undermining peace efforts, played down strains in its alliance with the Jewish state.
    Though a U.S. mediator deferred a visit to usher in indirect negotiations, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton predicted progress within days and said the Obama administration was talking to the Israelis on how they might demonstrate their commitment.
    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the American overture but said the onus was on the Palestinians.
    Israel angered Palestinians and touched off the feud with Washington by announcing plans, during a visit last week by Vice President Joe Biden, to build 1,600 homes for Jews in a part of the occupied West Bank it had annexed to Jerusalem.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains identifiable children: users must ensure that they comply with local laws and regulations governing the publishing of this material.
Register