Jerusalem capital of Arab culture in 2009

Celebrating Jerusalem as the capital of Arab Cultural 2009 on the Arab and international levels comes to confirm that Jerusalem is an integral part of the occupied territories in 1967. In addition, to reaffirm that East Jerusalem is the capital of the independent Palestinian State and its Arab cultural identity and in support of the steadfastness of its people against the Israeli occupation and the promotion of commitment to a national and unified Arab identity.

http://www.alquds2009.org

Vision & Objectives


We aspire to celebrate al-Quds as the Capital of Arab Culture for 2009, on both the Arab and international levels and we emphasize the fact that al-Quds (East Jerusalem) is an integral part of the Palestinian territories occupied in 1967. We also aim at consolidating the political dimension of al-Quds as the capital of the independent State of Palestine and its status within religious and human consciousness and to support Palestinian presence and steadfastness within it, in order to confront the Israeli occupation’s measures and consolidate the feeling of Arab national allegiance towards a unified Arab culture.

Strategic Objectives

Our main objective is to reinstate the cultural value of the city of al-Quds and bring its religious, historic and cultural dimensions to the forefront, thus consolidating its Arab cultural identity and protecting its historic features and sites through:- 

1. Consolidating the steadfastness of Jerusalemites culturally, educationally, socially, economically and on the level of the media.
2. Effectuating cultural activity within al-Quds and its outskirts and extensions both locally and abroad. 
3. Preparing and rehabilitating the appropriate infra-structures in order to celebrate al-Quds as an Arab Cultural Capital. 
4. Widening and deepening the circle of Arab and international solidarity in order to protect the Arab identity of al-Quds.

21st of March 2009:
“The liberation of Cultural Power”


The opening ceremony Of Al Quds Capital of Arab culture 21st of March 2009 is a day to remember, it is “mother’s day”, the day of “the battle of dignity” and the first day in Spring….but most important for this year it is the day of AlQuds-Jerusalem being Alive.

On 21st of March 2009 we will celebrate the strength of the most important assets of the city, its history, its people, their interactions, their dreams and their longing for freedom.

On 21st of March 2009 Al Quds will be the cultural power. It is not out of reach despite the closure, the wall and the siege. It is ours,It is Palestinian despite imposed demographical changes. It is mine, yours and ours.

On 21st of March 2009 Al Quds will celebrate the power of culture and existence, by launching Al Quds capital of Arab Culture 2009 simultanuously in numerous locations.. AlQuds-Jerusalem unites the Palestinian people wherever they are through an opening ceremony from Jerusalem, Gaza, Nazareth, Bethlehem and Burj al Barajneh Refugee Camp in Lebanon. It will represent a unity between our people, our leadership and nation, cities, villages and refugee camps, facing the same fate.

The event will be linked together, and can be seen on local and Arab satellite stations. Palestinian arts and culture will shine in its best form: music, dance, poetry, literature, folklore, cinema and theater.

The days events will start in the morning and conclude at night. Preparations are underway through the Administrative and executive committees in full force. Partial funds were raised to cover two major aspects of the celebration “Renovations & Events”. More than 500 projects were submitted to the committee, 175projects were approved. Events will run throughout the year in Jerusalem, and from Nazareth to Billin, from Haifa to Jenin, from occupied Golan Heights to Al Rashadiyeh refugee camp, and from Gaza to Sakhnein.

Celebrate the Most important Cultural Event of the Year – Al Quds Capital of Arab culture on 21st of March 2009 and enjoy subsequent cultural activities thoughout 2009 “In Jerusalem, and I mean within the ancient walls, I walk from one epoch to another without a memory to guide me. The prophets over there are sharing the history of the holy . . . ascending to heaven and returning less discouraged and melancholy, because love and peace are holy and are coming to town.” – Mahmoud Darweish -.

The EU, the Quartet and the entire International Community have the power and the duty to stop it. So do it!


Vice President of the European Parliament 




EAST JERUSALEM TARGET OF THE ISRAELI COLONIAL AND ETHNIC CLEANSING POLICIES 




The EU, the Quartet and the entire International Community have the power and the duty to stop it. So do it!



The Israeli Jerusalem Municipality is planning to demolish 88 residential units Including 114 houses inhabited by 1500 Palestinian residents of al-Bustan Quarter in Silwan East Jerusalem in order to replace it with an Archaeological Park administered and financed by Israeli settlers. Moreover Further 36 Palestinian families, about 230 people, received new demolition Orders for their homes in Abbasieh Quarter, always in Silwan, and other 55 Families in Shu‘fat Camp have to evacuate their habitations, rising to 179 Homes the total number of Palestinian homes planned to be demolished: once again, targeting East Jerusalem, Israel shows clearly the continuity of its illegal colonial policy and destroys all chance for peace. 




If this demolitions in Silwan, where groups of settlers already established inside, will be actuated it would be the biggest plan since the beginning of the Israeli occupation in 1967, in an historical and symbolical area of East Jerusalem, at less than 400 meters from the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Wailing Wall. According to the Israeli B‘Tselem human rights organization, Israeli Authorities have demolished some 350 houses in East Jerusalem since 2004.

Furthermore, according to recent reports (Peace Now) at least 73,300 Israeli Housing units are planned to be constructed in all the West Bank, doubling the yet existing number. 




Even a group of twenty Israeli writers and researchers including Amos Oz and David Grossman in a letter addressed to Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat urged the government to rescind orders to evict people from their homes since such policies violate "elementary human rights" they said. 




Demolishing those houses the most recent ones built more than 15 years ago but many of them built over 80 years ago representing the only shelter for Generations and generations would represent a forced displacement for Thousands of Palestinians, a catastrophe for many families children, women and elders who will suffer the most and also a great obstacle to the Resumption of all peace negations. 




The Committee of the residents of Silwan (more than 40,000 Palestinians), in a letter to the new US secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for true Efforts to stop these organized offences against Silwan and other areas in Jerusalem, all actions "against of the morality of all religions and People": they simply claim their rights in the name of justice and legality.




The US secretary of State Clinton, during her visit to the West Bank, Meeting the Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and the Palestinian PM Salam Fayyad, defined the Israel‘s East Jerusalem home demolitions "unhelpful" for the peace process: but the word "unhelpful" is not enough and it doesn‘t change facts on the ground. The EU, the Quartet and the entire International Community has the power and the duty to stop these policies.




Last delegation of Members of the European Parliament witnessed the Situation during a fact finding mission to Gaza and West Bank from 26th to 1st March: after their visit to East Jerusalem and the meeting with the Al Kurd family still living in a tent they sent a letter of protest to Different authorities.


Rome, 6th March 2009, LUISA MORGANTINI

What Israel is doing, Digging to destroy it.

they remove arab from there by force and no utter a word in this doublestanard world…...and if the dowellers resist they will be classified as a terrorsits and put in the black list organisation …..and parrots repeat such nonsense….
hamas should go in its way, regardless what they say….damn all parrots

O' Allah protect this blessed place and all land of Arab Palestine.. Ameen

Jerusalem is a Jewish, not an Arab city, so them trying to post it as the 'Capital of Arab culture' is a nationalistic stunt.

Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, now and forever.

jerusalem is allways arab city and it capial of palestine but israel try do change that. so we keep say that now and forever as you say fab

free palestine ( beleive that we will have free patestine and elquds will come back )

Fabs1

You wish Jew boy… We are coming to get all the land of ISLAM back, (You want to own Jerusalem) I promise that will never happen. Jerusalem (Quds) is Islamic City, and i don't care if you agree or not.. Remember that whole the world belong to its creator(Allah) so you have no thing to own.

Jerusalem has had a Jewish majority since the 1800s and it's going to remain that way.

There were no Arabs or Palestinians in the city when Jews lived there 2000 years ago, so it wasn't always an Arab city.

I find it funny how people like you try to make it a religious objective when Jerusalem isn't mentioned ONE SINGLE time in Koran.

It's a farce. The Arabs started the war in 1967, and they lost the city. All of Jerusalem is the unidivided capital of Israel, and it will remain so.