GAZA/WEST BANK: In the West Bank and Gaza celebrate the Muslim holy festival of Eid al-Adha as an international embargo continues to be upheld and fears of a civil war and continued Israeli violence loom
- ITN Source
GAZA/WEST BANK: In the West Bank and Gaza celebrate the Muslim holy festival of Eid al-Adha as an international embargo continues to be upheld and fears of a civil war and continued Israeli violence loom
Overshadowed by deepening despair, Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank celebrated the feast of Eid Al-Adha on Sunday (December 31). Western sanctions on the Hamas-led Palestinian government and Israel's freeze on Palestinian tax revenues have led to severe poverty in the West Bank and Gaza Strip and has left families with little money to survive, let alone celebrate the Eid. Despite the dire situation in the Palestinian territories, many residents of Hebron spoke of their sadness at the execution of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. "The Eid has come, like it does every year but this time we are upset because of the assassination and killing of Saddam Hussein. Saddam was a friend of all Arabs, God bless him, he is a martyr and a hero just like Abu Ammar (Yasser Arafat)," said one unidentified man who owns a fruit a vegetable store in Hebron. "It is very sad for the Palestinian people and for all Arab people because of what happened to President Saddam Hussein," added another resident of Hebron. Saddam's avowed support for the Palestinians, and his missile attacks on Israel during the Gulf War won him wide backing amongst Palestinians throughout the Middle East, particularly those living under Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza. Eid Al-Adha, or The Feast of Sacrifice, is a time when Muslim pilgrims visit Mecca, a pilgrimage Muslims are expected to make at least once in a lifetime. The Sacrifice during Eid al-Adha is to recall Ibrahim's sacrifice of a goat in place of his son Ismail. Muslims traditionally slaughter a sheep or a cow and share its meat with family, friends, neighbours, and poor people. The greater Feast --Al-Adha-- comes at the same time as the Christmas holiday this year. Muslims celebrate Al-Adha for four days starting on December 30th.
ITN Source | December 31, 2006
