PA plans to fly glider painted in Palestinian colors over Jerusalem

Last update - 21:53 19/03/2009

By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent

Tags: Israel News, Palestinians

The Palestinian Authority is planning to fly a glider plane painted in the colors of the Palestinian national flag over the walls of Jerusalem's Old City on Saturday.

The stunt is to be part of a series of events held by the Palestinian Authority declaring the city to be "the capital of Arabic culture for 2009."

The head of the Legal Forum for the Land of Israel, Nachi Eyal, on Wednesday urged Public Security Minister Avi Dichter and Police Commissioner David Cohen to thwart the staging of the event.

"To the best of my understanding, this is an attempt to demonstrate Palestinian sovereignty in Jerusalem in an illegal manner," said Eyal.

"The law...obligates the Palestinian Authority to respect the sovereignty of Israel within the bounds of the State of Israel, including East Jerusalem."

Police are in fact preparing to prevent the events in Jerusalem from taking place.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, meanwhile, is slated to kick off the celebrations from his headquarters in Ramallah. Events are also due to be held in Gaza, Lebanon, Nazareth and Bethlehem.