WEST BANK: Palestinian Christians and Muslims demonstrate in support of anti-government protesters in Egypt

Record ID: 561105

  • Title: WEST BANK: Palestinian Christians and Muslims demonstrate in support of anti-government protesters in Egypt
  • Date: 7th February 2011
  • Summary: DHIESHEH REFUGEE CAMP, WEST BANK (FEBRUARY 06, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF DOZENS OF DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING EGYPTIAN FLAGS AND MARCHING THE STREETS OF DHIESHEH REFUGEE CAMP PALESTINIAN FLAG VARIOUS OF PEOPLE CHANTING SLOGANS CLOSE OF BANNER READING "GAME OVER" PROTESTER CARRYING PICTURE OF LATE EGYPTIAN PRESIDENT JAMAL ABDEL NASSER EGYPTIAN FLAGS MORE OF DEMONSTRATORS MARCHING, CHANTING SLOGANS
  • Embargoed: 22nd February 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: West bank, West bank
  • City:
  • Country: Palestinian Territories
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVA1UQN8JLLCNQ3BKSCWBQTR2MR8
  • Story Text: Christians in the West Bank city of Bethlehem held mass on Sunday (February 6) in support of the Egyptian people.
    Echoing Pope Benedict's message in his Angelus in Rome on Sunday in which he prayed Egyptians would find a way of coexisting peacefully the priest in Bethlehem, where Jesus was born, said he would also pray for his Egyptian brothers.
    "We wanted in this holy church to pray with the worshippers for rest and calm and for our brothers in Egypt," church priest Father Yaqoub Abu Sada, told Reuters Television.
    In Dhiesheh refugee camp, the message of solidarity was more vocal. Dozens of demonstrators there brandished banners against Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak and waved Egyptian flags.
    Palestinians are likely to benefit from a change of regime in Egypt, irrespective of whether they are in the camp of those seeking peace with Israel or those who advocate conflict, analysts have said.
    A more independent and assertive Egypt, reflecting popular opinion rather than U.S. policy, will create pressure on Israel and Washington to make the compromises necessary for a long-overdue Middle East peace treaty, commentators say.
    Mubarak has been Israel's best friend in the Arab world for 30 years, far friendlier than the masses in his country who are soon likely to elect a successor more in tune with their views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
    Mubarak has also been the ally of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, playing a key role in supporting U.S.-led peace negotiations with Israel over the years.
    The 1979 Camp David peace treaty removed Egypt from the long list of Israel's Arab enemies and allowed it to relax along the Sinai border. Analysts say it may now be questioned.
    Mubarak has not been a friend of Hamas, the armed Islamist movement ruling the Gaza Strip, blockaded by Israel and Egypt in a joint operation since 2007. Egypt has, however, played a major role in trying to reconcile Hamas and Abbas's Fatah movement, to reunite the badly divided Palestinian national cause.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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