Yemenis protest Israeli blockade of Gaza [Archives:2008/1123/Front Page]
Yemen Times Staff
SANA'A, Jan. 23 ) Thousands of Yemenis marched in the streets of Sana'a Tuesday and Wednesday to protest Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip.
Protestors chanted slogans condemning Israel's policy of terrorism, killing, compulsory eviction, establishing settlements and making Jerusalem Jewish.
In a statement, the Popular Committee to Back the Palestinian People called on the U.N. Security Council, the European Union, the Arab League and the Organization of the Islamic Conference to intervene quickly to stop the Israeli aggression and lift the blockade of Gaza.
The committee further called on Egypt to employ every means of pressure to end the blockade, reopen the Rafah border crossing and offer all types of support to the Palestinian people.
Additionally, the group's statement called on all Palestinian factions, namely Hamas and Fatah, to overcome their differences and stand united in the face of such Israeli aggression.
The Sana'a protests were held following the Yemeni government's request for an emergency Arab summit to discuss the situation. On Jan. 22, President Ali Abdullah Saleh asked Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak to hold an emergency summit.
Tuesday's protest brought together university students and hundreds of Yemeni women who gathered at Al-Saba'een Square in Sana'a before heading to the United Nations Development Program premises in Sana'a, demanding international intervention to stop Israel's aggression.
The women raised signs condemning Islamic ignorance toward the Palestinian cause, further expressing their anger at the situation by burning an Israeli flag. They submitted a letter containing their requests to UNDP resident representative Flavia Pansieri, who assured them that their message would reach the U.N.
Pansieri noted that the situation in Gaza doesn't allow remaining silent or delaying support, adding that 1.5 million people there are receiving assistance from the U.N. and other aid agencies. Warning of a humanitarian disaster should the blockade continue, she stated, “We urge the U.N. to offer more assistance and support to the Palestinians.”
After this, the Yemeni protestors headed to the Egyptian Embassy in Sana'a, requesting those nations that have normalized relations with Israel to dismiss its ambassadors and work toward lifting the blockade of Gaza.
Abdullah Al-Aza'azi, an information officer for Sana'a University's Yemeni Teachers Board, attributed the Israeli blockade to weak Arab regimes.
He called on Yemeni authorities to cease all forms of dealing with the United States and dismiss the U.S. ambassador to Yemen. He further requested Yemeni civil society organizations cut their relations with the U.S. Embassy until the blockade is lifted, noting that it's important for Yemenis to stand with the Palestinian resistance and continue protesting.
Israel stated yesterday that it has lifted the blockade temporarily, but only for one day.
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