ISRAEL: West Bank Palestinians enjoy a day by the seaside in Tel Aviv as restrictions are lifted for Eid.

Record ID: 397481

  • Title: ISRAEL: West Bank Palestinians enjoy a day by the seaside in Tel Aviv as restrictions are lifted for Eid.
  • Date: 21st August 2012
  • Summary: VARIOUS OF PEOPLE, INCLUDING MUSLIM WOMEN WEARING HIJAB ON SAND BY THE SEA
  • Embargoed: 5th September 2012 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Israel
  • Country: Israel
  • Topics: Religion,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVAAQKBEZQGGHRL7FSRS7FHSVOZB
  • Story Text: Palestinians from the West Bank pack Tel Aviv beaches after Israel temporarily relaxes travel restrictions during the holy month of Ramadan and the Eid al-Fitr holidays that follow it.

    Palestinians flocked to Tel Aviv Beach on Monday (August 20), after Israel allowed tens of thousands of visitors from the West Bank access to Israel during the Muslim holiday of Eid Al-Fitr.
    Israel unexpectedly eased the restrictions on Palestinians wishing to visit Jerusalem and Israel during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr which follows it, saying improved security meant thousands more residents of the West Bank were temporarily allowed to enter Israel.
    Reyad Shibli, an inhabitant of a village near the West Bank city of Ramallah, said everyone was enjoying their day at the seaside at Tel Aviv Beach.
    "It is the first time that we have got permits during this period, so the people can go out (of the West Bank) because we have been seized. The weather is nice and it is fine for the people," he said
    He expressed the hope that Israel would continue to issue permits to Palestinians living in the West Bank.
    "Let's hope that the situation will always stay calm and they (Israeli authorities) will give us permits to keep coming and enjoying," Shibli said.
    Shaher Loucie, a resident of the West Bank city of Qalqilya who was also at the Tel Aviv beach, said it had been decades since he had last been there.
    "I have not been here since 20 years ago; I came to bring my daughters and family to swim in the sea," he said.
    "We like to come because we like the sea where we swim and we sit on the green grass. and we swim and, everything, we enjoy," Shaher Loucie's daughter, Ruba, said.
    Some families visiting Israel during the Muslim holiday period had to leave loved ones in the West Bank.
    "I brought my 13-year-old son with me but they (Israeli soldiers) did not let him in and they asked for a permit," Mohammad Naji, from the West Bank city of Ramallah, said.
    Arud Torisian, a lifeguard on the beach, said he and his colleagues were being especially vigilant because there were so many people in the water.
    "It's a great experience to see the large amount of people here. It's a good experience for any lifeguard. They like the water. You can see that the beach is empty, they do not sun bathe even, they like the water, they come for the water. You can also understand their need to ventilate and go a bit wild. They detached the signs reading 'No bathing', so we had to save the signs so they won't sink in the water. So currently they (visiting Palestinian bathers) announced the whole beach as a free swimming zone, its hard to handle but we understand it and make extra efforts to oversee everything," Torisian said.
    Israeli officials said that during Ramadan they had lowered the age limit for men allowed to visit al-Aqsa mosque in Jerusalem's Old City to 40 from 50 and had also handed out seven times as many permits to Palestinians between the ages of 35 and 40 as previously.
    A spokesman for the Israeli Co-ordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) said that during this year's Ramadan season, 123,514 permits were given to West Bank residents. These permits are for prayers on the weekdays and for family visits. During Ramadan last year 16,799 permits were made available, he said.
    Eid al-Fitr, also known as the 'Small Holiday', marks the end of the holy fasting month of Ramadan and the start of a three-day holiday as Muslims exchange gifts, spend time with family and friends and throw elaborate feasts.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2012. 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.
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