This week: Pope Francis visits Bethelehem and Jerusalem, where Palestinian worshipers attempt to put a focus on the separation barrier and hunger striking prisoners; right-wing Israelis march through the Old City of Jerusalem in a demonstration of Zionist nationalism; Palestinians in Israel and the West Bank protest in support of hunger striking prisoners.
A general view on Manger Square in the West Bank town of Bethlehem, where Pope Francis celebrated an open-air mass next to the Church of the Nativity, May 25, 2014. The church is believed by many to be the birthplace of Jesus Christ. (Mustafa Bader/Activestills.org)
Pope Francis waves to the crowd, from his pope-mobile, as he leaves the Manger Square after presiding over an open-air mass on May 25, 2014, outside the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank town of Bethlehem. (Mustafa Bader/Activestills.org)
Palestinians hold the Pope picture calling him to take action on the Palestinian prisoners’ issue, during a demonstration in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian administrative prisoners, Nablus, West Bank, May 25, 2014. More than 100 Palestinian administrative prisoners in Israeli jails launched a mass, open-ended hunger strike on Thursday, April 24, 2014. A few of them are now hospitalized in Israeli medical centres due to the strike. (Ahmad al-Bazz/Activestills.org)
Hundreds of Palestinians participate in Friday prayers alongside a protest tent in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian administrative prisoners, Nablus, West Bank, May 23, 2014. More than 100 Palestinian administrative prisoners in Israeli jails launched a mass, open-ended hunger strike on Thursday, April 24, 2014. A few of them are now hospitalized in Israeli medical centres due to the strike. (Ahmad al-Bazz/Activestills.org)
The former Palestinian prisoner Khader Adnan holds a picture of Pope Francis calling him to take action on the Palestinian prisoners’ issue, during a demonstration in solidarity with hunger-striking Palestinian administrative prisoners, Nablus, West Bank, May 25, 2014. More than 100 Palestinian administrative prisoners in Israeli jails launched a mass, open-ended hunger strike on Thursday, April 24, 2014. A few of them are now hospitalized in Israeli medical centres due to the strike. (Ahmad al-Bazz/Activestills.org)
Samer Issawi holds takes part in a protest with other Palestinians activists living in Israel and Israeli activists in a solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike in Israeli jails, Jaffa, May 25, 2014. More than 100 Palestinian administrative prisoners in Israeli jails launched a mass, open-ended hunger strike on Thursday, April 24, 2014. A few of them are now hospitalized in Israeli medical centres due to the strike. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Israeli border policemen detain a Palestinian journalist before Israeli settlers and Ultra-nationalists take part in the ‘flag march’ through Damascus Gate in east Jerusalem, on May 28, 2014, celebrating the anniversary of its capture in the 1967 Six-Day War. Police prevented from Palestinians to gather and protest against the march, and attacked journalists that were covering the event. (Oren Ziv/Activestillsorg)
Palestinians take cover as Israeli policemen shot rubber bullets to disperse activists gathered to protest against the ‘flag march’, in which Israeli settlers and Ultra-nationalists march through Damascus Gate in East Jerusalem, on May 28, 2014, celebrating the anniversary of its capture in the 1967 Six-Day War.
Police prevented from Palestinians to gather and protest against the march, and attacked journalists that were covering the event. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Israeli policemen shot rubber bullets to disperse Palestinians gathering to protest against the ‘flag march’, in which Israeli settlers and Ultra-nationalists march through Damascus Gate in east Jerusalem, on May 28, 2014, celebrating the anniversary of its capture in the 1967 Six-Day War.
Police prevented from Palestinians to gather and protest against the march, and attacked journalists that were covering the event. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Israeli settlers and Ultra-nationalists take part in the ‘flag march’ through Damascus Gate in east Jerusalem, on May 28, 2014, celebrating the anniversary of its capture in the 1967 Six-Day War. Police prevented from Palestinians to gather and protest against the march, and attacked journalists that were covering the event. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
Israeli border policemen checks the ID of a photojournalist as Israeli settlers and Ultra-nationalists take part in the ‘flag march’ through Damascus Gate in east Jerusalem, on May 28, 2014, celebrating the anniversary of its capture in the 1967 Six-Day War. Police prevented from Palestinians to gather and protest against the march, and attacked journalists that were covering the event. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)
A Palestinian cleaning worker argues with Israeli settlers as during a protest against the ‘flag march’, in which Israeli settlers and Ultra-nationalists march through Damascus Gate in East Jerusalem, on May 28, 2014, celebrating the anniversary of its capture in the 1967 Six-Day War. Police prevented from Palestinians to gather and protest against the march, and attacked journalists that were covering the event. (Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)