“Next Time We Will Pray In Jerusalem”–Activists Demonstrate At Apartheid Checkpoint...

[Purveyor]

“Next Time We Will Pray In Jerusalem” – Activists Demonstrate At Apartheid Checkpoint Blocking Access To Occupied Jerusalem

22nd June 2013 | International Solidarity Movement, Khalil Team | Bethlehem, Occupied Palestine

In the morning of June 22nd, Palestinian, international and Israeli activists marched to the Israeli occupation military checkpoint blocking the West Bank from Jerusalem. Upon reaching the Israeli occupation roadblock, they were stopped by soldiers who violently prevented them from passing through the checkpoint. In reaction, the Palestinian activists prayed at the checkpoint, demonstrating their right to both freedom of movement within their own land, and freedom to worship in Jerusalem.

The activists arrived on the Bethlehem road, driving towards the military checkpoint separating south West Bank from Jerusalem. Around fifty meters from the checkpoint, they exited vehicles and marched towards the occupied land on the other side of the checkpoint manned by Israeli occupation military. The activists wore kuffiyehs and carried Palestinian flags, carrying a sign reading “Our land is our right”, “Free”, “Justice.”

Demonstrators were immediately confronted by Israeli occupation military personnel, who refused them passage through the checkpoint and tried to push them back. Palestinian activists were grabbed violently by soldiers, who pulled at their clothes and shoved them out of the road and away from the area.

However, activists refused to back down and instead chanted slogans and spoke about their right to freely enter occupied Jerusalem. An Israeli occupation police car and several military jeeps arrived to further repress the nonviolent demonstration. The violence from the soldiers continued and escalated when activists were threatened with pepper spray. In reaction to this, the Palestinian protesters began praying on the Bethlehem side of the checkpoint.

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http://palsolidarity.org/2013/06/next-time-we-will-pray-in-jerusalem-activists-demonstrate-at-apartheid-checkpoint-blocking-access-to-occupied-jerusalem/

[sabbat hunter]

1. Israel

Last edited Sat Jun 22, 2013, 08:43 PM - Edit history (1)

has a right to control its borders. Even if they were out of the west bank, Jerusalem would still be under their political control.

Palestine has no historical political ties to Jerusalem, only religious ones.

All of the various religions should control their holy sites, but that does not mean that anyone will be allowed across the borders.

I find no reason why Palestine should be allowed shared political control of Jerusalem.

All of that being said, I hope that at some point in the future, Palestinians will be allowed access with only normal border crossing security that all countries have, to pray at their holy sites.

for clarification, I am talking about political control of the old city, not eastern portions of Jerusalem outside the walls.