Angry Palestinians prevented Israeli and Palestinian peace activists from
holding a convention at east Jerusalem’s Ambassador Hotel on Monday.
The
convention was organized by the Israeli Palestinian Confederation (IPC) and was
supposed to bring together Al-Quds University President Sari Nusseibeh and
political science Prof. Munther Dajani from the Palestinian side and Shlomo
Ben-Ami, Uri Avneri and Ruth Dayan as representatives of Israel.
Because
of the protest, Nusseibeh stayed away from the convention.
The IPC offers
itself as a third government for both the Israeli and Palestinian peoples
together.
“A Confederation does not dissolve the Israeli or Palestinian
governments,” the IPC explains on its web site.
“The Israeli and
Palestinian governments will remain the governments of the Israeli and the
Palestinian peoples. However, the Confederation is an independent third
government representing both the peoples of Israel and Palestine
together.”
Monday’s convention was supposed to mark the launch of
elections for 300 “Parliament” members representing 300 districts in Israel and
the Palestinian territories, including the Gaza Strip.
Shortly before the
IPC participants arrived at the hotel, Palestinian activists belonging to
various political groups gathered outside the building and chanted slogans
against Nusseibeh and his colleagues.
The protesters accused the
Palestinian participants of “encouraging the culture of peace” between Israelis
and Palestinians. They said they were opposed to the conference because it was a
form of “normalization” with Israel.
The protesters also raided the
conference hall and confiscated booklets and signs belonging to the IPC.