Thousands of jubilant Palestinians throng city squares for historic Abbas speech at UN

[Jefferson23]

By Dalia Nammari,Diaa Hadid, The Associated Press | The Canadian Press – 47 minutes ago..

Thousands of jubilant Palestinians thronged around outdoor screens in town squares across the West Bank on Friday to see their president submit his historic request for recognition of a state of Palestine to the United Nations.

In Ramallah, a flag-waving, whistling crowd packed into the downtown area to show its support for President Mahmoud Abbas, who had come under intense pressure from the U.S. and others to withdraw the application at the last minute.

"I am with the president," said Muayad Taha, a 36-year-old physician, who brought his two children, ages 7 and 10, to witness the moment. "After the failure of all other methods (to win independence) we reached a stage of desperation. This is a good attempt to put the Palestinian cause and the Palestinian people on the map. Everyone is here to stand behind the leadership."

The joy over Abbas' move was marred by violence just hours earlier. Near the West Bank village of Qusra, Israeli soldiers shot dead a Palestinian man during rock-throwing clashes between the villagers and Israeli settlers, according to witnesses and military accounts.

in full: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/israeli-troops-palestinian-stone-throwers-clash-near-west-130737909.html

[Scurrilous]

1. Good news.

:thumbsup:

[Jefferson23]

2. Palestinians rejoice as Abbas submits UN application for statehood

Palestinians rejoice as Abbas submits UN application for statehood

Festive atmosphere prevails with main street in downtown Ramallah filled with a large procession of young men, many carrying portraits of Abbas, and all chanting 'Abu Mazen' - Abbas' nickname – over and over.

In Ramallah Palestinians flooded the central square waiting to share Abbas’s moment of triumph at the United Nations. Palestinian flags were on display everywhere – some groups of young men marching in unison whistling and blaring plastic trumpets to small children holding parents by one hand and clutching the flag in the other. Also visible was scores of foreign journalists and tourists soaking up the jubilant atmosphere in the West Bank’s biggest Palestinian city.

Almost total silence descended as Abbas began to speak. People lined every rooftop, hung out of every window to watch their president on the massive screen erected for the occasion. They stood shoulder to shoulder, young and old, women and men, in anticipation of what has been hailed as a momentous event in their fractured history.

The hush prevailed throughout almost the entire time Abbas spoke, but the crowd signaled its approval at several points as his speech drew to a close, and his final words were drowned out by effusive applause, cheers and chants.

The festive atmosphere prevailed after the speech ended as the main street in downtown Ramallah was again filled with a large procession of young men, many carrying portraits of Abbas, and all chanting “Abu Mazen” - Abbas' nickname – over and over. Drivers honked their horns repeatedly and even a convoy of white police vans raced through the center of the city with sirens blaring and Palestinian flags fluttering to mark the occasion.

Abbas' defiant stance, pushing for UN recognition over strong objections from the U.S.¬ and Israel, has struck a chord with Palestinians increasingly disillusioned after nearly two decades of failed efforts to bring them independence.


http://www.haaretz.com/news/diplomacy-defense/palestinians-rejoice-as-abbas-submits-un-application-for-statehood-1.386423

[azurnoir]

3. great news

:) :thumbsup:

[Violet_Crumble]

4. I'd recommend this thread if I could n/t