Angry Palestinians prevented Israeli and Palestinian peace activists from holding a convention at east Jerusalem’s Ambassador Hotel.
By KHALED ABU TOAMEHRuth Dayan 311 (photo credit: Rhonda Spivak)
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.
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