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<b>--SUPERS</b>--</p><p>:24 - 1:01</p><p>Jibril Rajoub</p><p>Palestinian Olympic Committee Pres.</p><br /><p>1:01 - 1:10</p><p>Sara Sidner</p><p>Jerusalem</p><br /><p>1:36 - 1:54</p><p>Mayor Nir Barkat</p><p>Jerusalem </p><br /><p>2:10 - 2:26</p><p>Jibril Rajoub</p><p>Palestinian Olympic Committee Pres. </p><br /><br /><p>
<b>--LEAD IN</b>--</p><p>Today's Jerusalem marathon drew more than 20-thousand participants from 52 nations.</p><p>Its organizers say it highlights the beauties of the ancient city. </p><p>But as C-N-N's Sara Sidner explains, this year's race was overshadowed by heightened tensions between Israelis and Palestinians.</p><br /><br /><p>
<b>--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS</b>--</p><p>NO MATTER WHERE YOU GO IN JERUSALEM YOU ARE BOUND TO RUN INTO POLITICS.</p><p>THIS TIME IT'S CONTROVERSY OVER THE JERUSALEM MARATHON</p><p>PALESTINIANS HERE SAY INSTEAD OF TAKING PART IN IT</p><p>"Protest song"</p><p>PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE PROTESTED IT, </p><p>PALESTINIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE PRESIDENT JIBRIL RAJOUB&amp;.TOLD US THE MARATHON GOT OFF ON THE WRONG FOOT&amp;. THE MINUTE THis year's route ROUTE WAS ANNOUNCED.</p><p>"The Israelis should make marathons they have the right to enjoy the sport but within the borders of the State of Israel. This marathon is going to take place in a Palestinian occupied territory in East Jerusalem which is occupied which is part of the Palestinian future state which is according to the International agencies is not part of Israel."</p><p>"Many of the streets in Jerusalem are blocked off and that is another thing that Palestinians have long complained about -- restricted access and restriction of movement including for athletes." </p><p>THE RUN WENT RIGHT THROUGH JERUSALEM'S OLD CITY, A PLACE FILLED WITH RELIGIOUS SITES</p><p>PALESTINIANS CLAIM EAST JERUSALEM AS THEIR FUTURE CAPITAL AND ISRAEL SAYS JERUSALEM IS ITS ETERNAL CAPITAL ISRAEL ANNEXED EAST JERUSALEM IN THE 1967 WAR&amp;.A MOVE THE INTERNATIONAL COMMMUNITY DOES NOT RECOGNIZE </p><p>THE MAYOR OF JERUSALEM HELPED PLAN THE ROUTE FOR RUNNERS AND CALLED THE MARATHON RESPECTFUL TO ALL PEOPLE.</p><p>"We have Christians, Muslims and Jews. Start at the start line run together and enjoy the spiritualism of the city and end together. I propose people to look at the sportive events as things that create friends, that decreases barriers between people especially in the city of Jerusalem."</p><p>THAT'S NOT HOW PALESTINIANS SEE THIS MARATHON. THEIR GOVERNMENT IS THREATENING TO SUE AND BOYCOTT THE INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES THAT SPONSORED THE MARATHON AND MAYBE EVEN ISRAEL ITSELF -- USING THEIR NEW "NON-MEMBER" STATE STATUS AT THE UN.</p><p>"As long as the Israelis are not ready to respect and abide by the UN resolutions I think we have to go to the international organization to all international platforms to raise the violations."</p><p>ONE OF THE TWO SPONSORS TARGETED, THE INTERCONTINENTAL HOTEL GROUP, SAID IN A STATEMENT TO CNN THEY WERE NOT INFORMED BY THE INDEPENDENTLY OWNED FRACHISE HOTEL THAT IT WAS SPONSORING THE EVENT. </p><p>AND IN VIEW OF THE SENSITIVITIES, THE FRANCHISE OWNER ASKED TO WITHDRAW CROWNE PLAZA FROM MARKETING ACTIVITIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE MARATHON.</p><p>WE DID NOT HEAR BACK FROM THE OTHER TARGETED SPONSOR, NEW BALANCE. </p><p>AS FOR THE RUNNERS, 20-THOUSAND SHOWED UP. </p><p>THEY CAME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD SOME RUNNING TO RAISE MONEY FOR SICK CHILDREN OTHERS TO EXPERIENCE A RUN IN THE HOLY LAND</p><p>A FEW OF THE RUNNERS FROM ABROAD HAD NO IDEA ABOUT THE CONTROVERSY, OTHERS KNOW THE POLITICAL STUMBLING BLOCKS HERE AND SUPPORT ISRAEL.</p><p>"Do you know about the Palestinians complaint?"</p><p>"No."</p><p>"I don't now what is going to happen but Israel is a strong country and good for you."</p><p>THE RUN MAY BE OVER BUT THE FIGHT OVER JERUSALEM IS A POLITICAL MARATHON WHERE THE FINISH LINE IS NOT YET IN SIGHT.</p><p>SARA SIDNER, CNN, JERUSALEM</p><br /><p>
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<b>--KEYWORD TAGS--</b>
</p><p>PALESTINE UN DISPUTE TERRITORY </p>