ISRAELI OCCUPATION CLOSES CULTURAL CENTRE IN JERUSALEM
Al Quds, 27 Jumadil Awwal 1435/28 March 2014 (MINA) – Israeli occupation police closed Wednesday evening Yabous cultural “centre in occupied Jerusalem, in order to prevent a press conference against civil services that provided by the occupation.
Local sources said that the Israeli forces accompanied by Israeli intelligence agents raided the office at four o’clock afternoon, and handed the centre a summon that order to close it Thuresday from two o’clock pm to eight o’clock pm.
They explained that they closed the center in order to prevent it from holding a conference about the Israeli civil service by Palestinian institutions, claiming that it is a terrorist activity, according to ALRAY Palestinian Media Agency report monitored by Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA).
Yabous Cultural Center A New Gate for Al-Quds
According to This Week In Palestine website, Yabous Cultural Center located on Al-Zahra Street in the heart of Al-Quds (Jerusalem), on the former site of Al-Quds Cinema – has been undergoing renovations for the past four years. The centre is a coordinated effort that began as a DREAM and worked its way to become a REALITY through the efforts of a skilled production team. Each and every wall, partition, door, chair, and hall has been carefully crafted by Yabous General Assembly and building committee.
Based on the important role that culture plays in defying the continuous confrontations and threats to Palestinian national identity, there was a crucial and urgent need for consolidated efforts to improve cultural life in the heart of Jerusalem. Establishing a cultural centre in Jerusalem is directly in line with the Palestinian national agenda and plans, and addresses the rights and needs of Palestinians.
The centre aims to revive the culture and arts arena in Jerusalem and to make it accessible to people of all ages. Through various social and cultural events, the centre will create a new social reality, encourage artistic creativity, and revitalise the cultural heritage of Jerusalem, which has been suppressed and neglected since 1967. The centre will include the following features:
During this summer, from July till September, Al-Quds will witness the gradual opening of the first phase of the centre, which will include the cinema, the multi-purpose hall, the shop, the conference room, the cafeteria, and the offices. The second and future phase will include the opening of the performance hall and the children’s centre.
Government of Sharjah, UAE; the OPEC Fund for International Development; the Palestine Investment Fund; the Paltel Group; the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC); the Representative Office of Norway to the Palestinian Authority; the Representative Office of the Federal Republic of Germany; and several individuals and friends. (T/P04/E01)
Mi’raj Islamic News Agency (MINA)
