Marathon in occupied Jerusalem is ‘serving Israeli goals’

Participants compete during the 7th annual International Jerusalem Marathon in Jerusalem on March 17, 2017. [Mostafa Alkharouf / Anadolu Agency]

Participants compete during the 7th annual International Jerusalem Marathon in Jerusalem on March 17, 2017. [Mostafa Alkharouf / Anadolu Agency]

Israeli security forces stand guard as participants compete during the 7th annual International Jerusalem Marathon in Jerusalem on March 17, 2017 [Mostafa Alkharouf / Anadolu Agency]

Israeli security forces stand guard as participants compete during the 7th annual International Jerusalem Marathon in Jerusalem on March 17, 2017 [Mostafa Alkharouf / Anadolu Agency]

Participants compete during the 7th annual International Jerusalem Marathon in Jerusalem on March 17, 2017. [Mostafa Alkharouf / Anadolu Agency]

The Israeli occupation municipal authorities in Jerusalem organised on Friday an international marathon that seeks to serve the purposes of the occupation, Quds Press reported.

About 30,000 runners from 60 countries around the world took part in what was called the International Jerusalem Marathon.

During the marathon, Israeli police closed the streets in the middle and south of Jerusalem and deployed hundreds of its staff in East Jerusalem and near the Al-Aqsa Mosque where Israeli flags were raised.

In a statement, the Israeli police said that the international marathon for 2017 started at 07:00 local time would end on 14:00 on Friday.

Through the marathon, Israeli authorities are trying to achieve several aims serving the Jewish narrative about the occupation of the holy city, Quds Press reported Palestinians saying.

According to Quds Press, the route and tracks of the marathon were carefully chosen to show that they are part of the Jewish history in the city, even though the facts on the ground prove that they are Arab and Islamic places.

Quds Press also said that Palestinians staged protests against the marathon and raised Palestinian flags and placards before the runners reading: “Stop the Occupation” and “Do you know where you are?”

However, Israeli police did not allow Palestinian protesters to reach the main route of the marathon.

People stage a protest at a control point as participants compete during the 7th annual International Jerusalem Marathon in Jerusalem on March 17, 2017 [Mostafa Alkharouf / Anadolu Agency]

People stage a protest at a control point as participants compete during the 7th annual International Jerusalem Marathon in Jerusalem on March 17, 2017 [Mostafa Alkharouf / Anadolu Agency]

People stage a protest at a control point as participants compete during the 7th annual International Jerusalem Marathon in Jerusalem on March 17, 2017 [Mostafa Alkharouf / Anadolu Agency]

Participants compete during the 7th annual International Jerusalem Marathon in Jerusalem on March 17, 2017. [Mostafa Alkharouf / Anadolu Agency]

People stage a protest at a control point as participants compete during the 7th annual International Jerusalem Marathon in Jerusalem on March 17, 2017 [Mostafa Alkharouf / Anadolu Agency]

People stage a protest at a control point as participants compete during the 7th annual International Jerusalem Marathon in Jerusalem on March 17, 2017 [Mostafa Alkharouf / Anadolu Agency]

People stage a protest at a control point as participants compete during the 7th annual International Jerusalem Marathon in Jerusalem on March 17, 2017 [Mostafa Alkharouf / Anadolu Agency]