Egypt cancels Jewish festival after protests
CAIRO, Dec 25 (Reuters) - An Egyptian village has cancelled the festival of
a Jewish saint attended annually by many Israelis, after protests by local
people sympathetic to the Palestinian uprising.
The council of Demito village in the Delta province of Behira said it made
the last-minute decision on Sunday after an outcry in the community. There
have been calls to cancel the Moulid of Abu Hasira festival permanently.
Local member of parliament Emad al-Sayyed had submitted a request to the
People's Assembly to have the festival called off because of public anger
over Israeli "aggression" against Palestinians.
Israeli-Palestinian violence in the last three months has killed at least
343 people, most of them Palestinian.
The MP added that alcohol, dancing and singing at the festival offended the
conservative mores of the mostly Muslim area.
The Moulid of Abu Hasira, which had been due to begin on Tuesday, lasts
eight days and celebrates the birth of a Moroccan Jew who lived and died in the
village.
There is no Jewish community in the area, and the festival has been
organized by overseas Jewish groups with official Egyptian permission since Egypt
signed a peace treaty with Israel in 1979.
Jews from all over the world, particularly Israel, flock to the small
village to visit his shrine.
11:11 12-25-00
Copyright 2000 Reuters Limited. |
