Palestinians take to streets in protest against Annapolis

Tuesday November 27, 2007 15:39 by Ghassan Bannoura - IMEMC News

As leaders commenced the Annapolis conference in Maryland USA, Palestinians on Tuesday took to the streets across the West Bank city Gaza strip to voice their opposition to the summit.

Palestinian Police in Action - file 2007

In Ramallah, scores of Palestinians responded to a call by the Popular Committee against the Wall and Settlements and a number of other NGOs to protest in the city center.

During the rally, protesters called on the Palestinian delegation at Annapolis to refrain from further concessions until Israel ends its occupation of Palestinian land.

Palestinian police later attacked the demonstration, arresting at least 5 people and leaving several  injured.

In Gaza city, thousands gathered in the city center in response to a call by the ruling Hamas party and the Islamic Jihad movement. Leaders of both movements delivered speeches declaring the Annapolis conference as yet another agreement aimed at killing the Palestinian case and the dream of freedom. Local sources reported that more protests are expected to take place later in the day in the cities of Ramallah and Bethlehem.

 The Palestinian appointed government in the West Bank issued a statement on Monday evening trying to prevent the demonstration organized against the Annapolis conference. The Israeli army for its part erected blockades around the cities in the West Bank with soldiers at the military checkpoints implementing harsh military tactics such as searching residents and restricting there movement in addition to closing all checkpoints leading to Israeli controlled areas from the West Bank.

palestine | internal unrest | news report ghassanb at imemc dot org