The Israeli police turned Occupied Jerusalem on Friday morning into a military barracks under the pretext of securing a marathon held in the city while two Jerusalemite youths were arrested while participating in a counter marathon.
Local sources told the PIC reporter that the police closed all roads where the 42-km race is set to take place starting at the Knesset north of Jerusalem and passing through the center of the city toward the south.
Many military checkpoints were erected in different areas of the city amid heavy presence of Israeli police forces.
Two Palestinian youths were arrested by the Israeli police during their participation in a counter marathon in the holy city.
The marathon organized by the Israeli-controlled Jerusalem municipality kicked off early Friday morning with the participation of 35000 runners coming from 72 countries.
Secretary of the Jerusalem Sport Federations Group Ahmad al-Bukhari said that this marathon is the fifth of its kind organized by the municipality and attended by the mayor of Jerusalem.
Al-Bukhari pointed out that the Jerusalem Sport Federations Group tried to organize an official marathon a few years ago but members of the Group were summoned by the Israeli police interrogated and forced to sign pledges not to hold any Palestinian running event in Jerusalem.
He affirmed that such Israeli events are aimed at Judaizing Jerusalem and altering its history noting that the International Association of Athletics Federations recognizes this annual marathon and promotes it on its social media sites to attract international academics artists and athletes.
What is dangerous about this running race al-Bukhari added is that it runs through the Arab neighborhoods and the Old City of Jerusalem thus hindering the arrival of Palestinian worshipers to al-Aqsa Mosque since the event is held every year on Fridays and blocking movements in many streets in the city.
