InfoAnda - Cinema returns to war-weary West Bank town

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

Freed Israeli brother of Rabin gunman proud | | 4 May 2012
Japan PM support below 60 percent as coalition bickers | | 7 December 2009
HK's new leader unveils sweeteners to pacify angry public | | 16 July 2012

California lawmakers prepare for key budget vote | 24 July 2009

">Forum Views () ">Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Cinema returns to war-weary West Bank town

Yahoo! My Yahoo! Mail Yahoo! Search Search: Sign InNew User? Sign Up News Home - Help Navigation Primary Navigation Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Secondary Navigation Asia Pacific World Search Search: Cinema returns to war-weary West Bank town AFP - Sunday, June 28 NABLUS, West Bank (AFP) - - More than 20 years after their cinemas were shuttered by the eruption of the first intifada, Palestinians in the battered West Bank town of Nablus can finally go back to the movies. ADVERTISEMENT The single-screen Cinema City theatre, in what was once a bastion of both Palestinian uprisings and the departure point for scores of suicide bombers, is a sign that life in the Israeli-occupied territory may be slowly improving. "The idea's been around for a while but the security situation never allowed it to be implemented," says Marwan al-Masri, owner of the cinema which opened earlier this month. "Thank God, now the security situation is stable. There's been nothing for two years." Nablus could be a test case for the new Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's idea of an "economic peace" that would postpone or even replace the agonising and elusive political compromises required for a two-state solution. In the last two years the western-backed Palestinian Authority has deployed thousands of security forces, halting virtually all attacks against Israel and reining in the chaos that erupted in the wake of the bloody 2000 uprising. In recent weeks the restrictions at the main Israeli-run checkpoint south of the city have been significantly loosened, and Arab Israelis are now allowed to visit the town on Saturdays to shop in its bustling Ottoman-era bazaar. But Nablus's bloody recent history, etched on the remains of derelict cinemas from previous eras of prosperity, gives reason to doubt that economic development alone will calm the decades-old conflict. In the years leading up to the first Palestinian uprising in 1987, the town's residents flocked to its four cinemas to see the latest Egyptian comedies, Hollywood blockbusters and Bollywood romances. Majdi al-Asi remembers when the 870 seats of his family-run theatre were packed every weekend, with young men packing into the ground level and extended families reserving seats in the balcony. But when the first intifada erupted in 1987, the town's businesses shut down for all but two hours every morning and the cinemas soon went out of business. During the second and more violent Palestinian intifada which erupted in 2000, an Israeli shell crashed through the ceiling and unknown gunmen stole the projectors. Today the theatre has been turned into a covered parking lot, its gilded ticket windows permanently shuttered along with the town's other cinemas, one of which dated back to the 1940s. None have been reopened. "It makes me angry," Asi says as he looks around the empty room that used to be a snack bar. "It was a great cinema and a good source of income. It was part of our history." The operators of Cinema City hope they will have better luck, but fear that if economic improvements are not accompanied by a diplomatic process bringing them closer to statehood that the unrest could return. "There cannot be one without the other, there has to be economic development but also political progress," Raja Taher, a promoter for the cinema, says. "There is risk with any project. This is a burning spot on the map." Others fear that the limited improvements in daily life will detract from the Palestinians' struggle for an independent state. Lutfi Zaghlul, a Nablus-born poet, has fond memories of seeing Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable and Esther Williams on the big-screen as a young man, but says he has no plans to go to the new theatre. "It's not the time for cinema. If we had our freedom, our independence and our sovereignty we would have a hundred cinemas," he says, adding that the six dollar ticket price is much higher than what he remembers paying in the 1960s. "If I went it would just be to remember what the cinema used to be like ... I can watch movies on television." Zaghlul casts a weary eye on the idea that the increased prosperity could be a substitute for a political settlement. "We all laugh among ourselves when they talk about an economic peace ... We want an end to the occupation." Netanyahu gave a speech earlier this month where for the first time he tentatively endorsed the creation of a Palestinian state, but only under strict conditions, many of which the Palestinians have repeatedly rejected. In the meantime, Nablus's youth seem content to enjoy the calm while it lasts. On a recent afternoon, Diana and two of her friends, all headscarf-wearing students in the local university, saw their first big screen movie ever, an Egyptian slapstick comedy. "We cannot spend all our time feeling sad and depressed," she says with a smile. "We need to get out and think about other things." Email Story IM Story Printable View Blog This Sign in to recommend this article » 0 users recommend Related Articles: Entertainment & Lifestyle Michael Jackson set to make chart history, againReuters - Sunday, June 28 "Transformers" sequel tramples on box officeReuters - Sunday, June 28 Glastonbury cheers 'The Boss', hails 'The King'AFP - Sunday, June 28 Jackson family anger mounts, seeks fresh autopsyAFP - Sunday, June 28 Hello Goodbye: Jackson's Beatles rights at riskReuters - Sunday, June 28 Enlarge Photo A Palestinian youth walks in the lobby of the single-screen Cinema City theatre in the West Bank city of Nablus. More than 20 years after their cinemas were shuttered by the eruption of the first uprising in 1987, Palestinians in the battered West Bank town can finally go back to the movies. Most Popular – Entertainment Viewed Saturn moon may harbour life-giving ocean: study Chubby people live longest: Japan study Opium-eating wallabies get high, make crop circles Jackson feared dying like Elvis: Lisa Marie Presley Egyptian tycoon to hang for Lebanese diva murder View Complete List » Search: Home Singapore Asia Pacific World Business Entertainment Sports Technology Top Stories Most Popular Copyright © 2009 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - Community - Intellectual Property Rights Policy - Help

Other News on Sunday, 28 June 2009
Porsche rejects VW 'ultimatum' for merger plan
Spy games play out at Russian consulate in San Francisco
Iraqi premier: ready to take over security from US
Loyalist paramilitaries give up arms in N.Ireland
Hariri named Lebanon PM
Glastonbury pays tribute to Michael Jackson
Afghan unrest kills 11: officials
Sabbath parking fuels Jerusalem religious tensions | International |
Israel deflects calls for settlement freeze
Turkey passes law limiting military courts
Saad Hariri named Lebanese prime minister
UN envoy ends two-day visit to Myanmar
Immigrant law loopholes threaten SF mayor's bid
Taliban claim responsibility for Kashmir attack
Calif. narcotics team at risk in budget crisis
Thailand reports first 2 swine flu-related deaths
Hazardous freight moved by rail
Don't leave me 'dying in desert' Thaksin tells Thai rally
NKorea threatens to shoot down Japanese spy planes
Former law student gets life in PlayStation murder
Supporters of former prime minister rally in Bangkok
Ill. derailment revives hazardous cargo debate
Did toxic chemical in Iraq cause GIs' illnesses?
Cambodia PM meets Thai minister on border dispute
White House Weighs Options Over Executive Order On Long-Term Detention
Vermont to California, new laws take effect July 1
New laws prod police, protect kids, push tax cuts
Replica of ancient Philippine boat to sail SE Asia
U.S. Swine Flu Cases Reach 1 Million As 127 People Die
Filipino inmates in `Thriller' video stage tribute
No dropouts from this Camden, NJ, high school
Where's your governor? A state-by-state glance
Cambodia and Thailand meet as temple tensions simmer
Jackson also left legacy as cultural phenomenon
Jackson family anger mounts, may seek fresh autopsy
Chou, Chan sweep top prizes at Chinese Grammys
Networks continue Michael Jackson tributes
Vigil planned for Michael Jackson at Motown studio
Jackson surging to top of British album charts
Pop king Jackson was content to remain fan of film
Ukraine president's party wants to leave coalition
Iran's opposition leader rejects partial recount
Michael Jackson tops charts, memorabilia sales surge
UNESCO adds more European sites to heritage list
South Korea getting U.S. missiles to boost defences: report | International |
'Hacktivists' take up Iran fight as streets quiet
US, Russia in dispute over computer attacks: report
Hundreds protest in France to defend illegal immigrants
Mid-term elections seen weakening Argentine leader | International |
GM, US near agreement on legal claims: report
Iran deadlock drags on as Mousavi rejects part recount
NATO, Russia resume cooperation but divided over Georgia
Times Co. seeking to sell second paper with Globe
Financial system 'not out of woods yet': global regulator
Police question Australian opposition leader over email | International |
NATO-Russia Council 'up and running' again: Scheffer
Mousavi rejects partial Iran vote recount
Pakistani jets hit militant compounds in Waziristan | International |
Northern Ireland's paramilitaries dump arsenal | International |
Obama pushes Senate to act on climate measure
S. Korea getting U.S. missiles to boost defences
Paralyzed Vt. GI gets star-spangled welcome home
SKorean president lands in Tokyo for day of talks
Journalists caught up in Nepal's power struggle
Japan, SKorea summit to focus on NKorea
Spokeswoman: Jackson cardiologist not a suspect
12 China officials jailed for deadly landslide
Chavez to US general: You're the threat, not us
Malaysia, Indonesia spat on maid dispute
South Korea's swine flu tally nears 200
Chinese tennis players will never give up, says Li
Police: NYC day care was drug haven
Jackson family statement on death of pop star
I'm still good enough, says Aussie tennis #1 Hewitt
Eason Chan, Jay Chou win Mandarin pop music awards
Ky. pastor welcomes guns, their owners to church
NFL asks for court ruling on merchandise case
Under-bite helps Pabst become World's Ugliest Dog
Chief Justice: High court not setting school rules
RPT-N.Korea 2008 GDP growth hits 3-yr high on weather, aid
China's ships idle but Shanghai port charges ahead
Queues build for India's popular Nano car
Indonesia's traffic nightmare goes from bad to worse
Eurozone rates on hold: analysts
Court fight over Jackson's children looms
FACTBOX-Huge divide between rival Koreas
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
Doctor queried in Michael Jackson death, 2nd autopsy held | Entertainment |
S.Korea household not to raise spending in H2 -survey
Michael Jackson set to make chart history, again
Doctor queried in Michael Jackson death, 2nd autopsy held
Michael Jackson set to make chart history, again | Entertainment |
Prescription drugs in spotlight after Jackson death
Transformers sequel tramples on box office | Entertainment |
Private funeral plans announced for Farrah Fawcett
"Transformers" sequel tramples on box office
Entertainers ready Jackson tributes for BET Awards
Questions swirl around doctor in Jackson's death
Iran sparks new row with Britain over election | International |
Life after U.S. pullout brings worries for Iraqis
Jaguar, Land Rover enter Indian market
Troops detain Honduras president: government | International |
Life after U.S. pullout brings worries for Iraqis | International |
Israel's Barak denies Gaza captive deal
Barak open on Israel settlement freeze before U.S. trip | International |
Iraq lessons learned, U.S. Marines turn to Afghanistan | International |
Mid-term elections seen weakening Argentine leader | International |
West skeptical on Russian security plan for Europe | International |
Albania votes, rivals trade accusations of cheating | International |
Winegrowers see a future in green
Insurgents in restive southern Thailand kill 1
Al-Qaida-linked gunmen kill 7 Filipino police
Israel to offer three-month settlement freeze: report
Pakistan offers reward for Taliban chief
N.Korea vows to bolster nuclear deterrence against US
Pakistani forces kill 11 Taliban militants
GM to take on future product liability claims
3 killed in pizzeria shooting outside Los Angeles
Bangladeshi protesters clash with police; 1 killed
Obama pushes Senate to act on climate measure
S Korea, Japan say N Korea should return to talks
India confirms 9 new cases of swine flu
India to review laws banning homosexuality: report
50,000 bangladesh garment workers in wage protest
NKorea economy grows but remains in doldrums
Optimism grows among Japanese executives
SKorean bank: NKorea's economy grows in 2008
Trouble brewing for Sri Lanka tea farmers
Top designers try a revamp of Islamic abaya
Spokeswoman: doctor not suspect in Jackson death
Fashion pioneer Vionnet's work on show for 1st time
A new high tech edge to Poland's Jewish heritage
Jewish cantors to perform in Warsaw opera house | Entertainment |
Cinema returns to war-weary West Bank town
Winegrowers see a future in green
China Limits Access To Online Medical Info, Research On Sexual Subjects
Michael Jackson's Death Overwhelms Internet
Rumors Of Jeff Goldblum's Death "Completely Untrue"
Paris Hilton Hired Team Of Experts To Avoid Getting Arrested In Dubai For Wearing Revealing Outfits
Zac Efron And Breckin Meyer Spoof Perez Hilton's Video Tirade
Drew Barrymore Hounded By Squirrels At LA Home
Former British PM Tony Blair Promised Queen Elizabeth He Would Not Watch "The Queen" Movie
Johnny Depp Doesn't Think He's A Celebrity
Stone Age Flute Discovered In Germany Is Oldest Instrument Found
Utility Crew Digs Up Human Remains Near Cemeteries
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01