2009 Arab Capital of Culture

2009 Arab Capital of Culture
Dates	2009
Location(s)	"al-Quds" (Jerusalem), Bethlehem, Gaza, Nazareth, Mar Elias refugee camp
Website
http://www.alquds2009.org/english.php

Al-Quds Arab Capital of Culture (UNESCO and the Arab League, is designed to promote Arab culture and encourage cooperation in the Arab world. The 2009 event was the 14th programme since its establishment in 1996.

Al-Quds is the Arabic name for Jerusalem, the proclaimed capital of the State of Palestine, although the seat of government and de facto capital is Ramallah. Many of the events were held in the Palestinian territories controlled by the Palestinian National Authority. The opening event scheduled for January 2009 was delayed due to the Gaza War.^[2] It was held on March 21, 2009.^[3]

Launching of the events

• Official Website of Alquds Arab Capital of Culture 2009
• East Jerusalem: "Capital of Arab Culture 2009": A Recipe for Conflict in a Political Minefield (Qantara.de)
• Al-Quds Underground Festival organised by Merlijn Twaalfhoven

External links

References

Events took place on September 26 and 27 in Denmark. This celebration, the only one outside the Arab world, included more than 40 Palestinian artists, among them the hip hop group Ramallah Underground, the folklore dance troupe El Funoun, the Oriental Music Ensemble, visual artist Rana Bishara, and film director Larissa Sansour who presented her film A Space Exodus (reviewed by Professor Helga Tawil Souri).^[11] They were also joint cultural productions produced with prominent Danish artists, as well as a bazaar showcasing cultural products and Palestinian cuisine.^[12]

In Denmark

Spokesperson of the Ministry of the Interior Ihab al-Ghussein said that the celebrations for Al-Quds Arab Capital of Culture in March at the headquarters of the Palestinian Legislative Council in Gaza.^[10] Abbas accused Hamas of blocking celebrations.^[7]

The logo used by media in the Gaza Strip

In the Gaza Strip

• Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas condemned the ban, emphasizing that "there will be no peace without Jerusalem."^[7]
• Knesset member Ahmad Tibi said: "I guess the occupation feels threatened by the Palestinian culture and narrative. This is a struggle between occupying police and the songs of freedom and the song will win in the end."^[8]
• Nazareth mayor Ramiz Jaraisy said: "I never thought they [Israeli authorities] would take it this far. After all, this is a cultural event." The mayor said Dichter was made aware of the planned festivities as early as March 11 but decided to wait nine days before issuing the order "to prevent a public outcry and legal action on our part. Dichter is trying to compete with (Yisrael Beiteinu Chairman) Avigdor Lieberman's anti-Arab trend, and anyone who holds democracy and freedom of expression dear must condemn his position," he said.^[2]
• As a reaction on the Israeli ban, the Dutch composer Merlijn Twaalfhoven initiated Al Quds Underground Festival. Palestinian and international artists created around 150 small theatre and music events in living rooms across the Old City. Access to the festival was on invitation only to avoid problems with the Israeli authorities. In 2010, the festival saw its second edition.^[9]

Reactions to the Israeli ban

On Dichter's orders, police shuttered eight planned events and detained twenty organizers and participants for questioning.^[5] The blocked events included a PLO flags. A similar ceremony was blocked on the Haroun al-Rashid road.^[5] Events in Ras al-Amud and al-Tur were also shut down.^[6]

^[4][2]