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| Israel-Palestine | |
| Police on high alert as Jerusalem Day marked | |
| 2005-06-06 | |
| JERUSALEM - Under heavy police surveillance, Israel began on Sunday to mark Jerusalem Day and commemorate what the Jewish state terms the "reunification" of the city following the 1967 Middle East war. Sunday and Monday mark the 38th anniversary, according to the Hebrew calendar, since Israel wrested east Jerusalem from Jordanian control during the Arab-Israeli war on June 7, 1967. Israel subsequently annexed the sector in a move The Israeli government is to use the occasion Monday to submit for cabinet approval development plans to cement Israel's control over Jerusalem following the army's scheduled withdrawal from the Gaza Strip this summer. Celebrations began with a giant parade through central Jerusalem presided over by Israeli President Moshe Katsav. Festivities were to continue Monday, with youth rallies and a commemoration on the strategic Ammunition Hill, captured by Israeli paratroopers in a fierce battle during the war. A fireworks display was to follow after sundown. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's office has said development plans for Jerusalem will be presented to the cabinet during the Ammunition Hill ceremony. The plan sets aside 134 million dollars for construction and job-creation projects to encourage young couples to move to the city. "The plan will help to strengthen our hold over Jerusalem, make the city attractive to investors, new residents, tourists and turn Jerusalem into what it deserves, the first city in Israel," Sharon's office has said. On July 30, 1980, parliament passed a bill declaring Jerusalem the "unified and eternal capital" of the state of Israel, but Palestinians want east Jerusalem as the capital of their future state.
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| Posted by:Steve White |
| #1 DOA from day one, Dr Steve. |
| Posted by: .com 2005-06-06 01:42 |