Palestinian band joins German world culture festival

A Palestinian folk band performed in Berlin's annual Carnival of Culture on Wednesday, joining 97 other bands and some 1 million attendants, participants said. Some 97 bands participated in this carnival from 70 different countries around the world, members of the Al-Forsan band said. Lafee Khalil, a Palestinian community leader in Berlin, said the carnival and celebration is one of the largest celebrations in Europe. Al-Forsan's involvement stressed Palestine's unity and culture, Khalil said. He noted that its participation was particularly joyous considering Palestine's membership in UNESCO, the UN's agency for world culture.