Dozens of Palestinian runners participated in a local marathon in the West Bank Monday, challenging an earlier Israel-organized international one in Jerusalem.

The Palestinian marathon started from East Jerusalem and ended in Ramallah City, with the athletes donning Palestinian kufiya, a white scarf with black spots, and shirts with slogans reading that "Jerusalem is Arab city."

"This event is to respond to the Israeli marathon that was held Friday," said Fakhri Abu Diab, a Palestinian official from Jerusalem, "This is also to emphasize on the Arab identity of Jerusalem."

The Palestinians saw the Israeli marathon as an attempt to give a more Jewish character to the city, of which the Palestinians want the east part as a future capital.

Khaled Yazji, a Palestinian sports official, said that the Palestinians' next steps would be directed against German sports gear maker Adidas AG for its sponsorship of the Israeli marathon.