WEST BANK/JERUSALEM: ISRAEL TIGHTENS SECURITY AS PALESTINIANS TRY TO ENTER JERUSALEM TO PRAY ON FIRST FRIDAY OF RAMADAN

Record ID: 400591

  • Title: WEST BANK/JERUSALEM: ISRAEL TIGHTENS SECURITY AS PALESTINIANS TRY TO ENTER JERUSALEM TO PRAY ON FIRST FRIDAY OF RAMADAN
  • Date: 31st October 2003
  • Summary: (W4) GILO CHECKPOINT, BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK (OCTOBER 31, 2003) (REUTERS) 1. ISRAELI SOLDIERS AT CHECKPOINT, CAR WAITING TO CROSS 0.06 2. PALESTINIANS GATHERING TO TRY TO CROSS TO ENTER JERUSALEM TO ATTEND PRAYERS TO MARK FIRST FRIDAY OF RAMADAN, REMONSTRATING WITH ISRAELI SOLDIERS (2 SHOTS) 0.18 3. VARIOUS OF PALESTINIANS STARTING TO PRAY
  • Embargoed: 15th November 2003 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: GILO CHECKPOINT, BETHLEHEM, WEST BANK / GILO CHECKPOINT, JERUSALEM / RAMALLAH, WEST BANK / JERUSALEM
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Reuters ID: LVAWL9DTU9DF22CRBKK1K5UBEV4
  • Story Text: Security tightened by Israel as Palestinians try to
    enter Jerusalem to pray on first Friday of Ramadan.

    Palestinian leader says they are ready to start new
    dialogue over roadmap.


    Hundreds of Palestinians gathered at the Gilo
    checkpoint in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on Friday
    (October 31) to try to cross to Jerusalem for prayers.

    Tensions were high as Palestinians on the Bethlehem
    side of the checkpoint tried to cross but Israeli soldiers
    stopped them and in some cases pushed them back to prevent
    them from crossing. Frustrated, some Palestinians decided
    to hold prayers on the Bethlehem side of the checkpoint.

    Palestinians are trying to enter Jerusalem to attend
    the first Friday Ramadan prayers at the site known to Jews
    as Temple Mount and to Muslims as al-Haram al-Sharif.

    Israel has blockaded main roads around Ramallah as part
    of what it calls security measures to prevent Palestinian
    suicide bombers from reaching its cities in a
    three-year-old uprising for statehood.

    Palestinians call the restrictions collective
    punishment that has hit their economy and made travel
    difficult, if not impossible, for many of the 3.6 million
    residents of 640 communities cut off by trenches,
    barricades and checkpoints.

    Ramadan is the Muslim month of abstinence from food,
    drink and sex during daylight and is marked by festivities
    at night, with lanterns, balloons, firecrackers, feasts and
    visits.

    Meanwhile a senior adviser to Palestinian President
    Yasser Arafat said on Friday there had been contact with
    the Israeli government but that Palestinians were still
    waiting for implementation of earlier agreements.

    Nabil Abu Rdaineh was reacting to Israeli Prime
    Minister Ariel Sharon comments on Thursday (October 30)
    that Israel was prepared to contact the Palestinians to
    b
    egin talks aimed at ending three years of conflict.

    Rdaineh said that the problem was not whether there was
    contact with the Israelis or not.

    "The problem is that the Israelis are not committed and
    not ready to implement the signed agreements, including the
    road map, which was drafted by the quartet," said Rdaineh
    in West Bank city of Ramallah.

    Sharon's remarks appeared to be a departure from
    Israel's position that it would talk to Palestinian Prime
    Minister Ahmed Qurie's government only after it cracked
    down on militants waging a Palestinian uprising and raised
    hopes for a tattered a U.S.-backed peace plan that sets out
    steps to halt three years of violence and paves the way to
    the establishment of a Palestinian state.

    Israeli police tightened security in the streets of
    Jerusalem on Friday (October 31) as Muslims began to attend
    Ramadan prayers at Haram al-Sharif.

    A long line of police could be seen at the entrance to
    the mosque leading from the western wall.

    Tensions have risen at the shrine since Israel reopened
    the plaza, which is the site of the al-Aqsa and Dome of the
    Rock mosques, to visits by Jews and Christians several
    months ago.

    The tours had been suspended following the start of the
    Palestinian uprising for statehood nearly three years ago
    after a visit by then Israeli opposition leader Ariel
    Sharon.

    Israel has promoted the visits, saying Jews have a
    right to tour the site of the two Jewish temples destroyed
    in biblical times.

    jrc/ab




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