Arab States Cancel New Year Festivities in Solidarity With Gaza

[tekisui]

Source: AFP

CAIRO (AFP) — Several Arab states have cancelled planned New Year celebrations in solidarity with Palestinians in the Islamist-run Gaza Strip who suffered a fifth straight day of Israeli bombardment on Wednesday.

Egypt, Jordan, Dubai and Syria have all cancelled festivities including concerts by renowned Arab singers.

As the Arab League met in the Egyptian capital to decide a political response to one of Israel's deadliest-ever offensives on Gaza that has so far killed at least 390 Palestinians, the cultural message was clear.

Egypt's state-owned Al-Ahram daily reported that official events planned for New Year's Eve had been shelved.

"In solidarity with the painful events in the Palestinian territories and the massacres which Gazans are faced with... the ministries of culture and information have decided to cancel New Year's festivities," it said.

Cancelled events include a special concert by famed Egyptian singer Mohammed Munir set for Cairo's Opera House, and a variety performance due to be broadcast on state television.

The planned New Year's Day launch by state television of a new channel called "Nile Comedy" has also been postponed.

In the Gulf tourism hub of Dubai, the emirate's ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed al-Maktoum decreed that several planned concerts should not go ahead.

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[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. But Egypt won't open its Gaza border

to let wounded and frightened Palestinians to cross into their land. I know Jordan has taken their share of Palestinian refugees, but what of the other Arab states?