Israel denies fire officials entry to attend honor ceremony

[ 15/12/2010 - 05:07 PM ]

NAZARETH, (PIC)-- Four officials from the Palestinian Authority's fire service who helped put out the fires at Jebel Al Karmal ten days back were blocked from entry into 1948-occupied Palestinian territory to attend an honorary celebration held in recognition of the role of Palestinian agencies in suppressing fires.

Israeli authorities authorized seven Palestinian fire officials to pass borders while barring four others, among them Palestinian civil defense major Ahmed Rizq, from attending a ceremony to honor them staged by the local council of the Isfiya village.

Arab Knesset member Ahmed Al Tibi condemned the move as a “stupid and clumsy act”. “This scenario happens day after day, add to that ingratitude and despicable treatment by occupational authorities toward the firefighters who worked desperately to save Jebel Al Karmal.”

Several Palestinian Authority fire rescue crews helped tame a massive fire that broke out in Jebel Al Karmal inside the territories occupied in 1948 and killed 43 Israeli prison wardens.

River to Sea Uprooted Palestinian