4th Palestine Marathon kicks off in Bethlehem

By Anees Bargouthi

BETHLEHEM, Palestine

The 4th Palestine Marathon kicked off on Friday in Bethlehem.

“Around 4,000 Palestinian and foreigner runners from all around the world participated,” Itidal Abdul Ghani, the marathon’s coordinator, told Anadolu Agency.

Abdul Ghani also said that Israeli authorities had banned 103 Gaza-based runners from participating in the event.

Jessica John, 33, told Anadolu Agency that she participated in the marathon to express her solidarity with the Palestinian people.

“We ran near the wall built by Israel, which separates Bethlehem and East Jerusalem,” John, who came for the event from the U.K., said. “I believe that the time has come to remove this wall, which reflects Israel’s apartheid policy against the Palestinians.”

Basel Yacoub, 43, said he is participating in the marathon with his three-year-old daughter.

“This is the fourth year that I am running in the marathon,” Yacoub, who is originally from Ramallah, said. “It is an opportunity to highlight the suffering of the Palestinian people because of the wall and the military checkpoints in the West Bank.”