(Gatestone Institute) Khaled Abu Toameh - Palestinian Authority security forces used force to disperse and arrest Palestinian activists who tried to prevent the Indian Classical Dance Performance, Kathak, from performing in Ramallah on April 12. The activists accused the Indian dancers of appearing before members of the Indian community in Tel Aviv, calling its performance in the PA a form of "normalization" with Israel. "Anti-normalization" activists who infiltrated the theater shouted abuse at the Indian dancers and their Palestinian hosts. The PA Ministry of Culture later issued a statement accusing the anti-Israel activists of cursing and physically assaulting members of the audience. The government of India recently contributed $10 million as budgetary support to the PA. In 2009, India completed the construction of the Palestinian Embassy building and residences in New Delhi as a gift to the Palestinians. If Abbas ever signs a peace agreement with Israel, the first to come out against him will not only be Hamas or Islamic Jihad, but the "anti-normalization" activists who are already accusing him of being a traitor for meeting with Israelis.
2014-04-16 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive