Holy Fire At "300" Checkpoint ~ Window Into Palestine

Following the call of Orthodox organisations in Palestine, Palestinian Christians tried to celebrate the Holy Fire last Saturday in Jerusalem by crossing the ‘’300’’ checkpoint (separating Bethlehem from Jerusalem).

All the photos by FLV and J.S. Video realised by J.S.

More than 150 demonstrators joined the rally, asking for freedom of religion and movement and protesting against the restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities. As the protesters approached the metal gate, the only soldier standing was astonished and was not able to stop the demonstrators to cross into the other side.

The march continued inside the checkpoint were the police tried to close a gate. A bit further a police jeep and border police men stopped the march which, after dialogues and arguing, decided to return back in direction of the checkpoint. 16 people were randomly arrested by Israeli Border police: Israeli forces released 4 Israelis and an American student. Israel kept 11 Palestinians, charging them with incitement, participating in an unauthorized demonstration, entering Israel without a permit and interfering in police business.

"The detention of the Palm Sunday protesters, including Zaki, was a "tyrannical Israeli procedure," declared Dr Mustafa Barghouti, aimed at deterring non-violent popular resistance. Such acts "will never stop resistance against the separation wall, settlement activity, and the siege ... Resistance will eventually triumph," he added.