Some 7000 people of 72 countries took part in the “Run for Freedom” Palestine Marathon 45 and 21 kilometer races on Friday morning which sets off from Manger Square before the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem.
The route follows Israel’s illegal 26-foot-high Separation Wall and loops four times through the city. It was chosen to draw attention to the constraints Palestinians face in their daily lives – that there is no route that can be run continuously before hitting an Israeli barrier or roadblock.
A half marathon ten-kilometer and five-kilometer races also took place alongside the marathon for families and younger runners.
