Omar Rahman on an inspirational attempt to keep Palestinian culture alive in Jerusalem

Omar Rahman has contributed this moving feature to the 972 online magazine, covering the Al-Quds Underground Festival. This semi-clandestine array of performances and exhibitions was, say organisers, a response to the closure of Al-Quds Capital of Arab Culture events by the Israeli authorities in 2009.

Below are some of my images from the Capital of Arab Culture closedown in 2009, ranging from the children’s sack races and clowns at Bab Al-Amud to the Israeli security forces busy shutting down cultural events planned for the Salah Eddin Street area of East Jerusalem: