Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SANAA108
2008-01-22 14:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Sanaa
Cable title:
YEMENIS DEMONSTRATE IN SUPPORT OF PALESTINIANS,
how-toVZCZCXRO7820 RR RUEHROV DE RUEHYN #0108 0221400 ZNY CCCCC ZZH R 221400Z JAN 08 FM AMEMBASSY SANAA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 8806 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000108
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2018
TAGS: PREL KPAL PGOV IS YM
SUBJECT: YEMENIS DEMONSTRATE IN SUPPORT OF PALESTINIANS,
DISPERSE PEACEFULLY
Classified By: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L SANAA 000108
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2018
TAGS: PREL KPAL PGOV IS YM
SUBJECT: YEMENIS DEMONSTRATE IN SUPPORT OF PALESTINIANS,
DISPERSE PEACEFULLY
Classified By: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) Post RSO sources indicate that, on January 22, a crowd
of between 5000 and 6000 marched from Sana'a University
toward the headquarters of the U.N. Development Program
(UNDP),in protest of the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Police
prevented the group from reaching UNDP headquarters. The
crowd, which included people chanting "death to Israel" and
"death to America," dispersed peacefully in the early
afternoon. In addition to the main protest, a group of 300
women gathered at a reviewing stand on a wide stretch of 70
Meter Road (near the Presidential Palace) and a group of 100
individuals gathered in the Hadda area in the southern part
of Sana'a. In all cases the gatherings ended peacefully.
2. (C) Ahmed Abd El-Maguid, First Secretary at the Egyptian
Embassy, told PolOff on January 22 that his embassy was
awaiting a letter that they had been informed demonstrators
would deliver on the blockade of Gaza. (Note. Demonstrators
had originally applied for permits to march on the Egyptian
and U.S. Embassies but were refused. End Note.) He noted
that, while he did not know the content of the letter, he
expected it to be a call for Egyptian intervention on the
issue with the GOI. Assistant Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid
al-Akwa was unsurprised at the demonstrations, commenting to
PolOff that Yemenis feel strongly about the plight of the
Palestinians. He further noted that the coverage of
developments in Gaza and demonstrations in the region by the
satellite channels probably exacerbated popular Yemeni
sentiment. "They are watching the news on satellite," he
said. "It makes them want to get out and express their
feelings."
Comment
--------------
3. (C) As is true in the rest of the region, there is a
strong current of sympathy for the Palestinians among
Yemenis. Demonstrations in protest of what many Yemenis see
as victimization of their fellow Arabs are unsurprising.
Post is pleased to note that the ROYG was able to contain the
demonstrations without resorting to violent tactics. End
Comment.
SECHE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
FOR NEA/ARP
E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2018
TAGS: PREL KPAL PGOV IS YM
SUBJECT: YEMENIS DEMONSTRATE IN SUPPORT OF PALESTINIANS,
DISPERSE PEACEFULLY
Classified By: Ambassador Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)
1. (U) Post RSO sources indicate that, on January 22, a crowd
of between 5000 and 6000 marched from Sana'a University
toward the headquarters of the U.N. Development Program
(UNDP),in protest of the Israeli blockade of Gaza. Police
prevented the group from reaching UNDP headquarters. The
crowd, which included people chanting "death to Israel" and
"death to America," dispersed peacefully in the early
afternoon. In addition to the main protest, a group of 300
women gathered at a reviewing stand on a wide stretch of 70
Meter Road (near the Presidential Palace) and a group of 100
individuals gathered in the Hadda area in the southern part
of Sana'a. In all cases the gatherings ended peacefully.
2. (C) Ahmed Abd El-Maguid, First Secretary at the Egyptian
Embassy, told PolOff on January 22 that his embassy was
awaiting a letter that they had been informed demonstrators
would deliver on the blockade of Gaza. (Note. Demonstrators
had originally applied for permits to march on the Egyptian
and U.S. Embassies but were refused. End Note.) He noted
that, while he did not know the content of the letter, he
expected it to be a call for Egyptian intervention on the
issue with the GOI. Assistant Deputy Foreign Minister Khalid
al-Akwa was unsurprised at the demonstrations, commenting to
PolOff that Yemenis feel strongly about the plight of the
Palestinians. He further noted that the coverage of
developments in Gaza and demonstrations in the region by the
satellite channels probably exacerbated popular Yemeni
sentiment. "They are watching the news on satellite," he
said. "It makes them want to get out and express their
feelings."
Comment
--------------
3. (C) As is true in the rest of the region, there is a
strong current of sympathy for the Palestinians among
Yemenis. Demonstrations in protest of what many Yemenis see
as victimization of their fellow Arabs are unsurprising.
Post is pleased to note that the ROYG was able to contain the
demonstrations without resorting to violent tactics. End
Comment.
SECHE