Palestinians, some of them firing in the air, marked the third anniversary of their uprising for statehood today by vowing to fight on against Israel until they achieve victory.
Several thousand Palestinians shouted their defiance at a rally in the West Bank city of Nablus, one of few gatherings marking the anniversary of the start of a conflict which shows no sign of ending and has deepened hatred on both sides.
"We come here to show our determination to continue the Intifada (uprising) until we achieve freedom," Nablus Governor Mahmoud Aloul told the cheering crowd.
One group of Palestinians held a banner declaring: "As long as there is a single soldier or a Jewish settler pulling the trigger, we have to hit back the same way. If they pull the trigger with one finger, we should use 10 fingers."
Several thousand people marched in the Gaza Strip in the past three days pledging to fight on, but otherwise there has been little celebrating after bloodshed that has killed more than 2,000 Palestinians and more than 800 Israelis.
Peace prospects are slim, with an international peace "road map" bogged down and each side saying the other should take the first steps to implement it.
Palestinians say violence was triggered by a visit to a Jerusalem holy shrine on September 28th, 2000, by Mr Ariel Sharon, then leader of Israel's opposition and now prime minister. Clashes erupted and the uprising followed. The holy site is revered by both Muslims and Jews. Muslims saw the visit as a provocation, but Mr Sharon denies sparking the uprising. Israel says the revolt was planned in advance.
Senior representatives of the "Quartet" of major powers trying to the end the bloodshed - the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United Nations - appealed to both sides on Friday to take steps to implement the road map.
But shortly after they issued their appeal, a Palestinian shot dead an Israeli man and a baby at a Jewish settlement in the West Bank before he was shot dead himself. The attack, on the Jewish New Year, was likely to prompt Israeli reprisals.
The Palestinians say Israel must stop killing militants, halt building at Jewish settlements and ease military blockades. Israel say progress on the road map is possible only if the Palestinians crack down on the militants carry out attacks.
In a step that could ease political turmoil holding up the road map, leaders of Palestinian President Yasser Arafat's Fatah movement yesterday approved Prime Minister-designate Mr Ahmed Korei's cabinet. He will seek parliament's approval this week.