WRAP Palestinians in Friday prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque; pro-Hezbollah demo
(28 Jul 2006) Ramallah, West Bank 1. Wide of support rally 2. Palestinians holding Lebanese flags, green Hamas flags and yellow Hezbollah flags marching through streets of Ramallah 3. Palestinians chanting slogans in support of the people of Lebanon 4. Various of Palestinians marching in support rally 5. Palestinian boy holding Lebanese flag on motorbike 6. Palestinian boy holding picture of Hezbollah leader Sheik Hassan Nasrallah 7. Various of support rally Jerusalem 8. Wide shot of the Old City walls 9. Israeli police observing worshippers entering through the Old City wall 10. Worshippers walking into Old City for Friday prayers 11. Worshippers passing Israeli security to attend prayers 12. Worshippers who were not allowed into the Old City praying in street 13. People praying 14. Close-up of man praying 15. Israeli policeman on horseback looking at worshippers 16. SOUNDBITE: (Arabic) Jad Abu Al-Ez, East Jerusalem resident: "I think that if there will be no ceasefire in Lebanon, the whole region will go up in flames, lots of parties will get involved. If Israel continues to be stubborn then the whole region will be in flames. It's not in the interests of Israel, the Arab countries nor the Palestinians, this will only serve the interests of al-Qaeda and affiliated groups, they will intensify their interests everywhere." 17. Israel police at window of Old City walls, with Dome of the Rock in background 18. Old City walls with Dome of the Rock in background STORYLINE As Israel's offensive against Gaza and Lebanon continued on Friday, hundreds of Palestinians took to the streets of Ramallah, in the West Bank, to show their solidarity and support of the Lebanese people and the Hezbollah guerrillas. The demonstrators gathered after Friday's prayers and marched through the streets chanting slogans and waving Lebanese, Hamas and Hezbollah flags. Israel launched its offensive in Lebanon on July 12, after Hezbollah guerrillas overran the border, killed three Israeli soldiers on patrol and captured two others. Up to 600 Lebanese civilians were believed to have been killed in the offensive, with 382 confirmed dead and the rest either known to be buried under the rubble of buildings or missing, according to the Lebanese government. The bombing of Lebanon has overshadowed Israel's offensive in Gaza. Israeli troops withdrew from northern Gaza early on Friday after a bloody two-day sweep that killed 29 Palestinians. Israel's incursion in Gaza began over a month ago in response to the capture of an Israeli corporal by Hamas affiliated militants. Meanwhile on Friday in East Jerusalem, Israeli police stopped hundreds of Muslims from entering the Al Aqsa Mosque for Friday prayers, and used stun grenades on youths who were trying to gain access to the site, police said. The mosque is built on the spot where Islam's prophet Muhammad is said to have ascended to heaven. The area also contains the remains of the biblical Jewish Temple, and is sacred to Jews, who call it the Temple Mount. When tensions are running high, Israeli authorities often limit entrance to the compound to Muslims who are 45 or older. Because of the ban on Friday, hundreds of Muslim worshippers kneeled in prayer on sidewalks outside the mosque complex, while Israeli police on foot and mounted on horses looked on. Many said they included their Lebanese brothers in their prayers. "I think that if there will be no ceasefire in Lebanon, then the whole region will be in flames," said one resident of East Jerusalem, referring to the Israeli offensive in Gaza and Lebanon. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter: / ap_archive Facebook: / aparchives Instagram: / apnews You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...
