Thousands Participate In The Funeral Of Slain Israeli-Palestinian Peacemaker

Thursday April 07, 2011 16:03

by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies

Thousands of Palestinian participated on Wednesday in the funeral ceremony of Israeli-Palestinian peacemaker who was shot dead by a masked gunman on Monday in the Jenin refugee camp, in Jenin in the northern part of the West Bank.

Image By Maan News Agency

The body of actor and theatre director, Juliano Meir-Khamis, was transported to the Al Jalama roadblock between Jenin and the 1948 areas before he was buried next to his moth at the Ramot Menashe kibbutz north of the country, the Maan News Agency reported.

His body was wrapped in a Palestinian flag and covered with flowers, and his coffin was placed in a yard near the roadblock to enable his Palestinian friends pay respect to him for his significant artistic and cultural struggle at the Jenin refugee camp.

Assistant to Jenin governor, Abdullah Barakat, stated that Meir-Khamis spent his life exposing the illegal Israeli policies against the Palestinian people, and dedicated his life to serve the children of Jenin and the Jenin refugee camp.

Barakat added that the security forces and the police will continue their investigation until they manage to apprehend and prosecute the killer who shot Meir-Khamis.

Speaking on behalf of the colleagues and friends of Meir-Khamis, and the Freedom Theater that was founded and run by him, intellectual Nabil Al Ra’ey sent his condolences to the friends and family of the slain artist, and added that the Freedom Theater will continue the path set by Meir-Khamis.

Once transported to Israel, a ceremony was held at the Al Medan Theater in Haifa with the participation of the family and friends of Khamis, and dozens of social figures and leaders, friends and artists who came to pay respect to the artist and his work for justice.

Members of the National Democratic Assembly, headed by member of Israeli Knesset, Dr. Jamal Zahalka, attended the ceremony and the funeral along with members of the Progressive Women’s Union and members of the Democratic Students Assembly at the Haifa and Technion Universities.