Israel cancels cultural festival at Maison d'Abraham, place under French protection
The House of Abraham is located in the Arab part of the holy city Jerusalem, annexed by Israel.
AP - Mahmoud Illean
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
The House of Abraham, an emblematic place in East Jerusalem, historically and diplomatically under French protection and also linked to the Vatican, was raided by the Israeli police.
This place which originally welcomed modest pilgrims of all religions is located in the Arab part of the holy city, annexed by Israel.
Abraham's House held a cultural festival for Palestinians this week.
Unacceptable to the Israeli authorities who put an end to the event.
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With our correspondent in Jerusalem,
Sami Boukhelifa
Although the tricolor flag was flying above Abraham's House in Jerusalem, that did not prevent the Israeli police from intervening to interrupt the festival held there. A shock for Bernard Thibaud, director of the Maison d'Abraham: “
We are really very sad, because we could see the good, the smile and the joy of the children… It was nevertheless puppet shows and clowns that were given to East Jerusalem. For us, culture is essential and very important, so that children can find places to celebrate and celebrate
”.
Consternation of the Maison d'Abraham of Secours Catholique @caritasfrance following the ban by the Israeli police of a cultural festival for children (9-11 years old) and families in Silwan.
“Development is the new name for peace” (Pope Paul VI - Oct 1966)?
https://t.co/Lqk3MuwUpr
- Bernard Thibaud (@bthibaudsc) October 28, 2021
It was the Israeli Ministry of Public Security that issued the order to put an end to the event.
Because according to him, the festival would have been organized by the Palestinian Authority, which is prohibited by Israeli law, in force in this part of the city annexed by the Hebrew state.
But according to Bernard Thibaud, this argument is simply false.
“
This event is funded by the United Nations Development Program and more specifically by the Austrian and Finnish governments, so there is no funding from the Palestinian Authority.
But I understand that many cultural events in Jerusalem are today, and already for some time, blocked with this argument.
"
Contacted, the French Consulate in Jerusalem claims to have informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris.
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