Palestinian leader presides over mass wedding of 218 couples, copying Hamas social ou

aris2chat

Gold Member
Feb 17, 2012
18,678
4,687
280
more mass wedding, this time for prisoners


Palestinian leader presides over mass wedding of 218 couples, copying Hamas social outreach
By The Associated Press January 28, 2014 3:01 PM

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has presided over a mass wedding of 218 couples in the parking lot of a five-star hotel in the West Bank.

It's the first time he is copying a social outreach tactic perfected by his political rivals from the Islamic militant group Hamas as he courts flagging popular support.

With unemployment in double digits and the cost of living rising, couples unable to afford a traditional wedding jumped at the chance of Tuesday's all-expenses-paid party. Abbas' office paid more than $1 million. Each couple also received $4,000.

The brides wore colorful embroidered Palestinian robes and carried bouquets of white roses.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dozens of freed Palestinian prisoners wed in a mass ceremony in Rafah

Friday, 06 January 2012

640x392_75790_186693.png

By Yousef Sadiq
Al Arabiya Gaza

The weddings of 40 newly freed Palestinians from Israeli prisons was attended by citizens and high ranking Fatah officials on Thursday in Rafah, south of Gaza.

Faisal Abu Shahla, a Palestinian legislative council member for the Fatah movement, said the wedding celebrations were to show appreciation for the “heroes.”

“These men have sacrificed years of their lives for freedom, and it is our duty to at least reward them and facilitate their wedding with the help of good men and national personalities,” he said.

The celebration came after the December release of 1050 Palestinians in exchange for Israeli soldier, Gilad Shalit, held captive in Palestine for five years. The Palestinians released from prison had been detained under various charges from murder, to terrorist activities against the Jewish state with sentences ranging from tens of years to five life sentences.

Abu Shahla said that the Palestinian president and head of the Fatah movement, Mahmoud Abbas, had prepared for the largest mass wedding in the West Bank and Gaza during his visit to Turkey.

“One of the charities Turkey, together with Egyptian sponsorship, donated the resources that allowed for the 500 marriage ceremonies for the newly released prisoners.”

In the last four years, organizations facilitating mass weddings have mushroomed in the Palestinian territories, with ceremonies of tens of Palestinians taking place every year.

According to a Palestinian leader from the People’s Party, Waleeed al-Awadh, mass weddings are a good economic remedy for many problems suffered by men wanting to marry but not being able to afford it.

“Palestinian young men need support, especially with the increased unemployment and the scarce work opportunists due to the sanctions imposed by Israel which still continues for the fifth consecutive year,” he said.

Ashraf Jumaa, Deputy in the Palestinian Legislative Council, said that mass weddings “are just one of the activities being done by Fatah to help and support the Palestinian youth.”

(Translated by Dina al-Shibeeb)
 
No.

Here's a picture from the first article:
9440850.jpg


And the caption that goes with the picture on the second article states
Palestinian girls dance as they attend a mass wedding of hundreds of Palestinians in the town of Beit Lahiya, northern Gaza Strip

They aren't the brides.
 

Forum List

Back
Top