Israeli police today blocked off a number of traffic arteries in the occupied city of East Jerusalem to make room for a settler marathon, according to WAFA correspondent.
She said that police closed dozens of roads in Jerusalem, starting from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood and the French Hill colonial settlement, north of the city, to the Jerusalem-Hebron Road, south of the city, including roads in the Musrara neighborhood, the Jaffa Gate, the New Gate and the Jaffa Road, bringing traffic to a halt for the race duration.
Heavily-armed police officers deployed in roads close to the race marathon stopped Palestinian commuters in the city and inspected their identity cards purportedly to secure the event.
The event, held in its 12th edition, was held as thousands of Palestinians descended on Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for Friday prayers.
Palestinians assert that the marathon, which is backed by Israeli authorities, illegally passes through occupied East Jerusalem and serves to strengthen Israel’s grip on occupied Palestinian territory.
Source: Palestine News & Information Agency