2009 Capital of Arab Culture
Location(s)	Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Gaza, Nazareth, Mar Elias
Date(s)	2009
Website	http://www.alquds2009.org/english.php

Al-Quds Arab Capital of Culture (Arabic: القدس عاصمة الثقافة العربية‎) is the 2009 edition of the Arab Capital of Culture programme.^[1] The programme, organised by UNESCO and the Arab League, is designed to promote and celebrate Arab culture and encourage cooperation in the Arab world. The 2009 edition is the fourteenth of the programme since its establishment in 1996.

Al-Quds is the Arabic name for Jerusalem, the city that the State of Israel claims as its capital city. It is Israel's seat of government, housing Israel's legislature, the Knesset. The international community considers East Jerusalem to be Palestinian land occupied by Israel (UN Security Council Resolution 242 ^[2], 478 ^[3], etc. and UN General Assembley Resolution 181(II) ^[4] ). As result no state has an embassy in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is also the proclaimed capital of the State of Palestine, which is recognised by all members of the Arab League, although the seat of government and de facto capital is Ramallah, in the West Bank. However, many of the events were organised elsewhere in the parts of Palestine controlled by the Palestinian National Authority. Those that were scheduled to take place in Jerusalem were actively discouraged by the Israeli authorities. The opening event was scheduled to be held on January 2009, but it was delayed until March due to the ongoing Gaza War,^[5] and it was launched on 21 March 2009.^[6]

[edit] Launching of the events

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas officially launched the celebration of Jerusalem as the Capital of Arab Culture for 2009 at a ceremony in the West Bank city of Bethlehem on 21 Mar 2009. Simultaneous ceremonies were supposed to take place in Jerusalem, Gaza, Nazareth, and Mar Elias Refugee Camp in Lebanon. These synchronized celebrations in five locations reflect the desire of building a cultural bridge between Palestinian people in Palestine and Palestinians in the diaspora.^[6]

[edit] Prevention of the events in Jerusalem

Israeli Internal Security Minister Avi Dichter had instructed police in advance to suppress any attempt to hold PNA-sponsored events in the framework of festivities marking the declaration of Jerusalem as 'capital of Arab culture'. According to the Avi, the events would constitute a violation of the interim agreement between Israel and the Palestinians, which includes a clause that forbids the PA from organizing events in Israeli territory.^[5][7]

Acting on Dichter's orders, police shuttered eight planned events, and detained at least twenty organizers and participants for questioning.^[8] The blocked events included: A soccer match scheduled to be held at a school on Nablus Road, a conference for young women at the Al-Hiya'la Center also organized by the PNA, and marches in the Wadi al-Joz and Sheikh Jarrah neighborhoods. In addition, a group of Arab students were blocked from rallying at the Temple Mount with PLO flags. A similar ceremony was blocked on the Haroun al-Rashid road.^[8] Also, police issued an order preventing an event in the East Jerusalem neighborhood of Ras al-Amud celebrating the declaration of Jerusalem as "the culture capital of the Arab world." Another event in the al-Tur neighborhood was also closed.^[9].

[edit] Reactions to the Israeli ban on celebrations

• Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas condemned actions taken by the Israeli police to prevent the events in Jerusalem, emphasizing that "there will be no peace without Jerusalem."^[10]
• Knesset member Ahmad Tibi slammed police activity in Jerusalem aimed at preventing PA-organized events for "Jerusalem – capital of Arab culture. I guess the occupation feels threatened by the Palestinian culture and narrative. This is a struggle between occupying police and the songs of freedom and the song will win in the end."^[11]
• Nazareth mayor Ramiz Jaraisy said, in response to the ban that "I never thought they [Israeli authorities] would take it this far. After all, this is a cultural event." The mayor said Dichter was made aware of the planned festivities as early as March 11 but decided to wait nine days before issuing the order "to prevent a public outcry and legal action on our part. "Dichter is trying to compete with (Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman) Avigdor Lieberman's anti-Arab trend, and anyone who holds democracy and freedom of expression dear must condemn his position," he said.^[5]

[edit] Al-Quds Arab Capital of Culture in Gaza

Poster depicting the alternate logo used by the Hamas-led Palestinian Authority in the Gaza Strip.

Spokesperson of the de facto Ministry of the Interior Ihab al-Ghussein said that the celebrations for Al-Quds Arab Capital of Culture in March at the headquarters of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza.^[12] Nevertheless, Abbas, the Palestinian President accused Hams of blocking celebrations.^[10]

[edit] Al-Quds Arab Capital of Culture at Nazareth

[edit] Al-Quds Arab Capital of Culture at Mar Elias

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official Website of Alquds Arab Capital of Culture 2009
• Alternative Website of Alquds Arab Capital of Culture 2009
• East Jerusalem: "Capital of Arab Culture 2009": A Recipe for Conflict in a Political Minefield (Qantara.de)