Fatah demonstration in Nablus

Описание: (1 Jan 2003)

1. Wide shot of demonstration, masked activists walking in lines, through "Camp Number One" (refugee camp in Nablus) - to mark anniversary of founding of Fatah
2. Mid shot masked boys marching, hold up pictures of Yasser Arafat and Saddam Hussein
3. Various of armed masked gunmen marching
4. Demonstrators burn Israeli flag
5. Demonstrators burn effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon
6. Rear shot demonstrators

STORYLINE:

Hundreds of Fatah supporters marched through the streets of a Nablus refugee camp on Wednesday to mark the anniversary of the founding of the Fatah movement in 1965.

Carrying guns and shouting anti-Israeli slogans, the crowd cheered as demonstrators burned Israeli flags and an effigy of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

The march through 'Camp Number One' was led by activists holding pictures of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat.

Elsewhere in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, thousands of Palestinians marched to mark Fatah's anniversary, in a show of internal strength and defiance against Israeli occupation.

Israeli soldiers stayed out of the towns and refugee camps, allowing the Fatah marches to proceed undisturbed, and avoiding violent confrontations.

Since June, Israeli forces have been in control of most of the main West Bank towns - a deliberate occupation that's a response to suicide bombing attacks inside Israel.

The rallies, marking the 38th anniversary of the founding of Fatah, came after 27 months of Palestinian-Israeli violence.

Fatah, headed by Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, is in a constant struggle for predominance with the Islamic militant movements, Hamas and Islamic Jihad.

The large turnout for the marches was a statement of Fatah power.

In the past year, Fatah-affiliated militias have been carrying out increasing numbers of attacks against Israelis, including some suicide bomb attacks, while Arafat himself had denounced the bombings and other attacks on civilians inside Israel.

But Arafat and other Palestinian leaders have hesitated to denounce attacks on Israeli soldiers and settlers in the West Bank and Gaza, lands claimed by the Palestinians.

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