Several hundred members of the Israeli left, along with other demonstrators who flew in from Western Europe, marched down Jerusalem\'s main streets on Friday carrying banners against Israel\'s policies in Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza). The participants also inaugurated a center for dialog and joint activities between Arabs and Israelis. According to Michael Widlanski of TheMediaLine.org, the main goal of the demonstration was to show support for Sari Nusseibeh, Yasser Arafat\'s Jerusalem Affairs coordinator, who many on the left have labeled a \"moderate.\" The demonstrators, including former Israeli justice minister Yossi Beilin, protested Nusseibeh\'s arrest by Israeli police two weeks ago when he attempted to hold an illegal reception at a Jerusalem hotel.
Shalom Goldstein, the Arab Affairs Advisor for the Jerusalem Municipality notes that despite Nusseibeh\'s \"moderate\" positions when addressing Israeli audiences, Nusseibeh told the Arab-language press that he is in favor of a full \"right of return\" by Palestinian Arabs to Israel.
In addition, Nusseibeh, was caught during the 1991 Gulf War providing Iraqi intelligence officials with information to help Iraq direct its SCUD missiles onto Israeli cities. Nusseibeh, who lived in Israel at the time, would telephone the Iraqi ambassador in a neighboring country and advise him where to fire the next scuds for best effect. Nusseibeh was arrested by Israel\'s counter intelligence agency (Shin Bet) and after the war ended, under pressure from the Israeli left, was allowed to voluntarily leave the country for three years.
Shalom Goldstein, the Arab Affairs Advisor for the Jerusalem Municipality notes that despite Nusseibeh\'s \"moderate\" positions when addressing Israeli audiences, Nusseibeh told the Arab-language press that he is in favor of a full \"right of return\" by Palestinian Arabs to Israel.
In addition, Nusseibeh, was caught during the 1991 Gulf War providing Iraqi intelligence officials with information to help Iraq direct its SCUD missiles onto Israeli cities. Nusseibeh, who lived in Israel at the time, would telephone the Iraqi ambassador in a neighboring country and advise him where to fire the next scuds for best effect. Nusseibeh was arrested by Israel\'s counter intelligence agency (Shin Bet) and after the war ended, under pressure from the Israeli left, was allowed to voluntarily leave the country for three years.