Israel bans 'capital of Arab culture' Jerusalem celebrations

Jerusalem's designation as the 'capital of Arab culture 2009' was celebrated with events across the West Bank. Israel, which annexed east Jerusalem after occupying it in the 1967 Six-Day War, bans any official Palestinian activity in the city.Events were being held in the West Bank on Saturday to mark Jerusalem's designation as the 2009 "capital of Arab culture" while Israel banned them in the disputed Holy City itself. The streets of Bethlehem, south of Jerusalem, were bedecked with the flags of Arab countries for the cultural festival to be launched by Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas at 5 pm (1500 GMT). It was there that Abbas and prime minister Salam Fayyad received officials from Morocco, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Jordan. The Palestinian Authority had organised cultural activites in several locations -- including annexed, mostly Arab east Jerusalem -- to celebrate the city's proclamation as this year's capital of Arab culture. Arab culture ministers have named a city each year since 1996. Damascus held the title in 2008. But Israeli police vowed to "prevent any Palestinian attempt to hold official activities" in Jerusalem, and on Saturday police reinforcements were posted throughout the eastern part of the city.