14 may 2014
On the 66th commemoration of the Nakba, the movement for Palestinian liberation is in disarray. Political parties are divided, the Palestine Liberation Organization is dysfunctional, the Palestinian Authority is dependent on foreign donors with ulterior agendas and a collective national strategy is absent. Institutions do not fulfill their purposes and the Palestinian people’s capacity for grassroots mobilization is frayed.
These elements provide an opportunity for the Israeli regime to unilaterally impose ‘facts on the ground’ and its advocate, the USA, to strong-arm an unjust political solution. Both developments undermine the Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees – the core of the Palestinian cause.
Israel denies the Right of Return to the homes of origin for 7.4 million Palestinian refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. Meanwhile, Israel maintains efforts to resettle Palestinian refugees in exile and its leadership increasingly demands international recognition of the State of Israel as an exclusive Jewish state. As the Oslo negotiations falter forward, Israel attempts to legitimize ‘land swaps’, annexation of Area C, and control over natural resources especially fresh water. Additionally, Israel displaces Palestinians particularly targeting the Gaza Strip, the Jordan Valley, East Jerusalem and the Naqab.
As a consequence, Palestinians live under military control in the West Bank, under siege in the Gaza Strip, under institutional discrimination within Israel-proper and East Jerusalem, and in heartbreaking conditions throughout the exile.
Palestinians previously seeking refuge in Syria are living a multiplied catastrophe. They are undergoing war, further displacement, and the destruction of their lives in Yarmouk, Nierab, Sit Sainab, Khan Al Shiekh, Dar’a and other locations throughout Syria where Palestinian refugees resided. Palestinians doubly displaced to countries including Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt face further humiliation and unbearable conditions leading many Palestinians to attempt escape by sea – a desperate act resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinian refugees and those who disappeared without public acknowledgment.
66 years of continuous displacement instructs the Palestinian people to revert to our fundamental principles of justice and equality, and place faith in our people across the globe rather than incapacitated international and Palestinian institutions. This era calls for a return to the basics.
We, the undersigned organizations, affirm the following:
1. After 66 years of targeted displacement by the Israeli regime, 66 percent of the Palestinian people are refugees or Internally Displaced Persons. Both in principle and practice, the Right of Return is a necessary condition for achieving self-determination of the fragmented and exiled Palestinian body politic;
2. International law endows Palestinian refugees with the right to voluntary return to their homes, to restoration of their properties and to compensation. This inalienable Right of Return is not subject to negotiation, bartering, surrender or expiration;
3. Displaced Palestinians hold the Right of Return collectively and individually. The right is only fulfilled when an individual is able to exercise his or her free choice;
4. United Nations resolution 181 (1947) to partition Palestine into two states led to the displacement of between 750,000 and 900,000 Palestinians. Thus, the international community codified its responsibility to provide legal and physical international protection, humanitarian assistance and enable the Right of Return to the homes of origin for all refugees and displaced Palestinians through General Assembly resolution 194 (1948) and Security Council resolution 237 (1967);
5. The Palestinian people’s heroic resilience and resistance to Israel’s denial of the Right of Return, to ongoing displacement of Palestinians and to absent international protection requires that an institution such as the Palestine Liberation Organization be based on authentic representation andinclusivity.
Longing for freedom and liberation, we say YES to Palestinian representation and holistic international protection, and NO to detracting from any of the rights of refugees.
Signed by the following organizations, institutions and coalitions:
1- BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights
2- Occupied Palestine and Syrian Golan Heights Advocacy Initiative (OPGAI)
3- Defence for Children International - Palestine
4- Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
5- Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights "Hurryyat"
6- Popular Struggling Coordination Committee (PSCC)
7- Palestinian Grassroots Anti-apartheid Wall Campaign (Stop the Wall)
8- Kairos Palestine
9- Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem
10- Union of Health Work Committees
11- Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights
12- Golan for development
13- Alternative Information Center
14- Alternative Tourism Group
15- Joint Advocacy Initiative
16- Land Research Center (LCR)
17- Palestine land Society
18- Environmental Education Center
19- The Palestinian Center of Youth Action for Community Development (LAYLAC)
20- Lajee Center, Aida Refugee Camp
21- Popular Committee for Refugees, Qalqeliah
22- Popular Committee for Refugees, Salfit
23- Social Youth Center, Aqbat Jaber Refugee Camp
24- Social Youth Center, Aida Refugee Camp
25- Muntada Al-Tawasol Association, Gaza
26- Shoruq Association, Dhiesheh Refugee Camp
27- Ansar Center, Walajeh
28- Ibda’a for the Development of Children Capacity, Dhiesheh Refugee Camp
29- Al- Rowwad Center, Aida Refugee Camp
30- International Women's Peace Service/ Palestine
31- International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD)
32- Union of Arab Jurists- Geneva
33- General Arab Women Federation
34- Housing and Land Rights Network/ Habitat International Coalition
35- International Youth and Students Movement at the UN
36- Mouvement contre le racisme et pour l’amitié entre les peuples (MRAP)
37- Association Latino-Américaine Nueva Utopía
38- Geneva International Centre for Justice
39- Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel- Spain
40- Red Solidaria contra la Ocupación de Palestina (RESCOP) –Spain
41- Asociacion Palestina Biladi- Spain
42- Slovenia Solidarity Committee- Slovenia
43- Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement- Slovenia
44- Greece Committee for the Right of Return- Greece
45- Association of Tunisians in Switzerland- Switzerland
46- Tamkeen-Arab Group- Switzerland
47- Association Belgo-Palestinienne- Belgium
48- Palestina Solidariteit- Belgium
49- Friends of Al-Aqsa- United Kingdom
50- Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Italia- Italy
51- Palestina Rossa- Italy
52- Fronte Palestina- Italy
53- Rete di Solidarieta’ con la Palestina – Milano- Italy
54- Friends of Sabeel - Sacramento Region- United States of America
55- Palestinian Association of Stockholm- Sweden
56- Committee for Fair Peace in the Middle East (CPJP)- Luxembourg
57- Finnish-Arab Friendship Society- Finland
58- French Jewish Union for Peace (UJFP)- France
59- Nederlands Palestina Committee (NPK)- the Netherlands
60- Palästinensische Gemeinde Deutschland (PGD) e.V.- Germany
61- Palästinensische Gemeinde Bonn e.V.- Germany
62- Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Group Bonn- Germany
63 - SODePAZ- Spain
These elements provide an opportunity for the Israeli regime to unilaterally impose ‘facts on the ground’ and its advocate, the USA, to strong-arm an unjust political solution. Both developments undermine the Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees – the core of the Palestinian cause.
Israel denies the Right of Return to the homes of origin for 7.4 million Palestinian refugees and Internally Displaced Persons. Meanwhile, Israel maintains efforts to resettle Palestinian refugees in exile and its leadership increasingly demands international recognition of the State of Israel as an exclusive Jewish state. As the Oslo negotiations falter forward, Israel attempts to legitimize ‘land swaps’, annexation of Area C, and control over natural resources especially fresh water. Additionally, Israel displaces Palestinians particularly targeting the Gaza Strip, the Jordan Valley, East Jerusalem and the Naqab.
As a consequence, Palestinians live under military control in the West Bank, under siege in the Gaza Strip, under institutional discrimination within Israel-proper and East Jerusalem, and in heartbreaking conditions throughout the exile.
Palestinians previously seeking refuge in Syria are living a multiplied catastrophe. They are undergoing war, further displacement, and the destruction of their lives in Yarmouk, Nierab, Sit Sainab, Khan Al Shiekh, Dar’a and other locations throughout Syria where Palestinian refugees resided. Palestinians doubly displaced to countries including Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey and Egypt face further humiliation and unbearable conditions leading many Palestinians to attempt escape by sea – a desperate act resulting in the deaths of hundreds of Palestinian refugees and those who disappeared without public acknowledgment.
66 years of continuous displacement instructs the Palestinian people to revert to our fundamental principles of justice and equality, and place faith in our people across the globe rather than incapacitated international and Palestinian institutions. This era calls for a return to the basics.
We, the undersigned organizations, affirm the following:
1. After 66 years of targeted displacement by the Israeli regime, 66 percent of the Palestinian people are refugees or Internally Displaced Persons. Both in principle and practice, the Right of Return is a necessary condition for achieving self-determination of the fragmented and exiled Palestinian body politic;
2. International law endows Palestinian refugees with the right to voluntary return to their homes, to restoration of their properties and to compensation. This inalienable Right of Return is not subject to negotiation, bartering, surrender or expiration;
3. Displaced Palestinians hold the Right of Return collectively and individually. The right is only fulfilled when an individual is able to exercise his or her free choice;
4. United Nations resolution 181 (1947) to partition Palestine into two states led to the displacement of between 750,000 and 900,000 Palestinians. Thus, the international community codified its responsibility to provide legal and physical international protection, humanitarian assistance and enable the Right of Return to the homes of origin for all refugees and displaced Palestinians through General Assembly resolution 194 (1948) and Security Council resolution 237 (1967);
5. The Palestinian people’s heroic resilience and resistance to Israel’s denial of the Right of Return, to ongoing displacement of Palestinians and to absent international protection requires that an institution such as the Palestine Liberation Organization be based on authentic representation andinclusivity.
Longing for freedom and liberation, we say YES to Palestinian representation and holistic international protection, and NO to detracting from any of the rights of refugees.
Signed by the following organizations, institutions and coalitions:
1- BADIL Resource Center for Palestinian Residency and Refugee Rights
2- Occupied Palestine and Syrian Golan Heights Advocacy Initiative (OPGAI)
3- Defence for Children International - Palestine
4- Addameer Prisoner Support and Human Rights Association
5- Center for Defense of Liberties and Civil Rights "Hurryyat"
6- Popular Struggling Coordination Committee (PSCC)
7- Palestinian Grassroots Anti-apartheid Wall Campaign (Stop the Wall)
8- Kairos Palestine
9- Civic Coalition for Palestinian Rights in Jerusalem
10- Union of Health Work Committees
11- Al-Mezan Center for Human Rights
12- Golan for development
13- Alternative Information Center
14- Alternative Tourism Group
15- Joint Advocacy Initiative
16- Land Research Center (LCR)
17- Palestine land Society
18- Environmental Education Center
19- The Palestinian Center of Youth Action for Community Development (LAYLAC)
20- Lajee Center, Aida Refugee Camp
21- Popular Committee for Refugees, Qalqeliah
22- Popular Committee for Refugees, Salfit
23- Social Youth Center, Aqbat Jaber Refugee Camp
24- Social Youth Center, Aida Refugee Camp
25- Muntada Al-Tawasol Association, Gaza
26- Shoruq Association, Dhiesheh Refugee Camp
27- Ansar Center, Walajeh
28- Ibda’a for the Development of Children Capacity, Dhiesheh Refugee Camp
29- Al- Rowwad Center, Aida Refugee Camp
30- International Women's Peace Service/ Palestine
31- International Organization for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (EAFORD)
32- Union of Arab Jurists- Geneva
33- General Arab Women Federation
34- Housing and Land Rights Network/ Habitat International Coalition
35- International Youth and Students Movement at the UN
36- Mouvement contre le racisme et pour l’amitié entre les peuples (MRAP)
37- Association Latino-Américaine Nueva Utopía
38- Geneva International Centre for Justice
39- Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel- Spain
40- Red Solidaria contra la Ocupación de Palestina (RESCOP) –Spain
41- Asociacion Palestina Biladi- Spain
42- Slovenia Solidarity Committee- Slovenia
43- Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement- Slovenia
44- Greece Committee for the Right of Return- Greece
45- Association of Tunisians in Switzerland- Switzerland
46- Tamkeen-Arab Group- Switzerland
47- Association Belgo-Palestinienne- Belgium
48- Palestina Solidariteit- Belgium
49- Friends of Al-Aqsa- United Kingdom
50- Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Italia- Italy
51- Palestina Rossa- Italy
52- Fronte Palestina- Italy
53- Rete di Solidarieta’ con la Palestina – Milano- Italy
54- Friends of Sabeel - Sacramento Region- United States of America
55- Palestinian Association of Stockholm- Sweden
56- Committee for Fair Peace in the Middle East (CPJP)- Luxembourg
57- Finnish-Arab Friendship Society- Finland
58- French Jewish Union for Peace (UJFP)- France
59- Nederlands Palestina Committee (NPK)- the Netherlands
60- Palästinensische Gemeinde Deutschland (PGD) e.V.- Germany
61- Palästinensische Gemeinde Bonn e.V.- Germany
62- Boycott Divestment and Sanctions Group Bonn- Germany
63 - SODePAZ- Spain
Jailed Fatah leader Marwan Barghouthi gave his blessing to a Palestinian reconciliation deal, in a statement also marking the 66th memory of the Nakba.
Barghouthi saluted all Palestinian martyrs and emphasized that the right of return for Palestinians who have been displaced from their homes is a sacred, non-negotiable right.
He said any solution for the Palestinian cause that does not include the right of return is not a legitimate solution.
Barghouthi highlighted that national unity as the key for freedom for repressed nations. He called for protecting the reconciliation agreement between Hamas and Fatah and providing every opportunity to make it happen.
The jailed leader stressed the need for a national strategy for facing the challenges threatening the Palestinian cause, mainly the Israeli occupation as well as "Judaisation" of Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian religious sites.
He encouraged Palestinian efforts for joining international treaties, agreements and organizations for the need of obtaining the Palestinian rights. He also encouraged the Palestinian, Arab and international economic, political and diplomatic boycott of Israel along with increasing public resistance.
Barghouthi said that for two decades negotiations with Israel have been unsuccessful because of the constant Israeli rejection of ending occupation and admitting Palestinian rights.
He also backed an ongoing hunger strike and called for all Palestinians and Palestinian parties to support their prisoners in Israeli jails.
In Gaza City on Wednesday, Hamas and Fatah officials held a three-hour meeting in what officials described as a "positive" atmosphere.
Head of Fatah's negotiation team Azzam al-Ahmad said after the meeting that talks will continue and officials will abide by a five-week deadline to form a unity government.
Mousa Abu Marzouq, head of the Hamas negotiating team, said the talks would be finalized next week and a unity government would be announced shortly afterwards.
The proposed candidates for the unity government are politically "impartial," Fatah official Fayez Abu Atiyeh told Ma'an, with Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri adding that the formation of a proposed unity cabinet is nearly complete.
Earlier, Gaza prime minister Ismail Haniyeh said that he believed the unity government would achieve its goals and "our mission is to make it succeed and to mobilize our people behind its national goals."
"We will clean the road to reconciliation from all obstacles and landmines, and I hereby call on our brothers in the West Bank to take the same path and to maintain freedoms," he said, while addressing Gaza members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
On April 23, the Fatah-led PLO and Hamas announced a national unity deal to end seven years of political division between the largest two Palestinian parties, with a national unity government to be set in place within five weeks.
The groups have made failed attempts at national reconciliation for years, most recently in 2012, when they signed two agreements -- one in Cairo and a subsequent one in Doha -- which have as of yet been unimplemented.
Barghouthi saluted all Palestinian martyrs and emphasized that the right of return for Palestinians who have been displaced from their homes is a sacred, non-negotiable right.
He said any solution for the Palestinian cause that does not include the right of return is not a legitimate solution.
Barghouthi highlighted that national unity as the key for freedom for repressed nations. He called for protecting the reconciliation agreement between Hamas and Fatah and providing every opportunity to make it happen.
The jailed leader stressed the need for a national strategy for facing the challenges threatening the Palestinian cause, mainly the Israeli occupation as well as "Judaisation" of Jerusalem and its Islamic and Christian religious sites.
He encouraged Palestinian efforts for joining international treaties, agreements and organizations for the need of obtaining the Palestinian rights. He also encouraged the Palestinian, Arab and international economic, political and diplomatic boycott of Israel along with increasing public resistance.
Barghouthi said that for two decades negotiations with Israel have been unsuccessful because of the constant Israeli rejection of ending occupation and admitting Palestinian rights.
He also backed an ongoing hunger strike and called for all Palestinians and Palestinian parties to support their prisoners in Israeli jails.
In Gaza City on Wednesday, Hamas and Fatah officials held a three-hour meeting in what officials described as a "positive" atmosphere.
Head of Fatah's negotiation team Azzam al-Ahmad said after the meeting that talks will continue and officials will abide by a five-week deadline to form a unity government.
Mousa Abu Marzouq, head of the Hamas negotiating team, said the talks would be finalized next week and a unity government would be announced shortly afterwards.
The proposed candidates for the unity government are politically "impartial," Fatah official Fayez Abu Atiyeh told Ma'an, with Hamas spokesperson Sami Abu Zuhri adding that the formation of a proposed unity cabinet is nearly complete.
Earlier, Gaza prime minister Ismail Haniyeh said that he believed the unity government would achieve its goals and "our mission is to make it succeed and to mobilize our people behind its national goals."
"We will clean the road to reconciliation from all obstacles and landmines, and I hereby call on our brothers in the West Bank to take the same path and to maintain freedoms," he said, while addressing Gaza members of the Palestinian Legislative Council.
On April 23, the Fatah-led PLO and Hamas announced a national unity deal to end seven years of political division between the largest two Palestinian parties, with a national unity government to be set in place within five weeks.
The groups have made failed attempts at national reconciliation for years, most recently in 2012, when they signed two agreements -- one in Cairo and a subsequent one in Doha -- which have as of yet been unimplemented.
Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council Salem Salama called Tuesday for unifying the Palestinian internal home front to face the Israeli occupation. During a festival organized by the high committee to commemorate Nakaba, Salama asserted the legitimacy of resisting the Israeli occupation until the palestinain people get their right of return .
Leading member of the political bureau of DFLP, Talal Abu Zarifa, demanded unification in order to get the human, especially the right of return.
“Palestinians have to insist on their right of return and exert their efforts to reclaim the land of our forefathers,” Chairman of the Popular Committee for Refugees Ashraf Abu Mandil said during the festival.
Massive crowds of Palestinian citizens, a group of national figures and dignitaries of the central part of the Gaza Strip have participated in the event chanting with one voice “ the return’s oath” and raising slogans that showed their adherence to the right of return to their land from which they were displaced in 1948.
The festival included theatrical and artistic sections in addition to Dabke, a traditional Arab folk dance.
Leading member of the political bureau of DFLP, Talal Abu Zarifa, demanded unification in order to get the human, especially the right of return.
“Palestinians have to insist on their right of return and exert their efforts to reclaim the land of our forefathers,” Chairman of the Popular Committee for Refugees Ashraf Abu Mandil said during the festival.
Massive crowds of Palestinian citizens, a group of national figures and dignitaries of the central part of the Gaza Strip have participated in the event chanting with one voice “ the return’s oath” and raising slogans that showed their adherence to the right of return to their land from which they were displaced in 1948.
The festival included theatrical and artistic sections in addition to Dabke, a traditional Arab folk dance.
Palestinian citizens of Israel are increasingly emphasizing their Palestinian identity and making national demands, as hate attacks by Jewish extremists and laws perceived as discriminatory have multiplied.
Some 10,000 Palestinians rallied in northern Israel earlier this month for the right of return for refugees who fled or were driven from their homes during the war that led to the creation of Israel 1948.
It was a much higher than usual turnout for the annual commemoration of the Nakba (Arabic for catastrophe) and drew an angry response from Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
He described the protesters as a "fifth column," and thundered that they should "march directly to Ramallah," a Palestinian city in the West Bank "and stay there."
A growing number of Palestinians based in Israel are visiting the cities of West Bank, if only to spend the odd weekend.
"The Palestinian people are one, wherever they live," said Shaher Mahameed, from the town of Umm al-Fahm, on a visit to the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
"My ID card says I'm Israeli, but my heart is Arab Palestinian, and always will be."
More than 760,000 Palestinians -- estimated today to number more than 5 million with their descendants -- fled or were driven from their homes in 1948 and commemorate Nakba Day on Thursday.
The 160,000 who stayed behind are now known as "Arab Israelis" and number about 1.4 million, some 20 percent of Israel's population.
Each weekend, growing numbers of Palestinians based in Israel pack out cafes and hotels in the West Bank and flock to the markets, combining visits to relatives with cheaper shopping and leisure.
"The Palestinians who live inside Israel coming here to shop in Nablus has really given a boost to the city's markets," said clothes shop owner Abu Hussein.
'Nationalism and marginalization'
The reassertion of a Palestinian identity by growing numbers of so-called "Arab Israelis" comes after a string of attacks on Christian and Muslim properties by suspected Jewish extremists, and after several new Israeli laws they perceive as infringing on their civil rights.
"Palestinians inside Israel have never lost their national awareness. But at the moment it's growing," said Nadeem Nashef, director of an Palestinian youth organization based in the northern Israeli city of Haifa.
The attacks, and attempts "to give more privileges to Jews, have pushed people into taking firmer (nationalist) positions," Nashef said.
Mordechai Kedar, professor of Arab studies at Bar Ilan University near Tel Aviv, agreed.
"The attacks that have taken place in the last few weeks, such as the burning of cars and scrawling of (racist) graffiti, ignite feelings of nationalism and of marginalization," he said.
The uptick in racist attacks has alarmed Israeli police, who have begun working in tandem with the internal security service Shin Bet to prosecute what some politicians are calling "terrorist" acts.
But despite the government's proclamation of its determination to root out the racism of the extremists, Palestinians in Israel feel they are simultaneously marginalized by the establishment.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this month defended plans to enshrine in law Israel's status as the national homeland of the Jewish people.
For Palestinians, accepting Israel as a "Jewish state" would mean accepting the Nakba and potentially precluding the right of return for 1948 refugees and their descendants.
In March, Israel raised the threshold of votes parties need to get seats in parliament, in a bill boycotted by all opposition MKs on the basis that it marginalizes minority parties such as the Palestinian Arab nationalist Balad.
Some 10,000 Palestinians rallied in northern Israel earlier this month for the right of return for refugees who fled or were driven from their homes during the war that led to the creation of Israel 1948.
It was a much higher than usual turnout for the annual commemoration of the Nakba (Arabic for catastrophe) and drew an angry response from Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman.
He described the protesters as a "fifth column," and thundered that they should "march directly to Ramallah," a Palestinian city in the West Bank "and stay there."
A growing number of Palestinians based in Israel are visiting the cities of West Bank, if only to spend the odd weekend.
"The Palestinian people are one, wherever they live," said Shaher Mahameed, from the town of Umm al-Fahm, on a visit to the northern West Bank city of Nablus.
"My ID card says I'm Israeli, but my heart is Arab Palestinian, and always will be."
More than 760,000 Palestinians -- estimated today to number more than 5 million with their descendants -- fled or were driven from their homes in 1948 and commemorate Nakba Day on Thursday.
The 160,000 who stayed behind are now known as "Arab Israelis" and number about 1.4 million, some 20 percent of Israel's population.
Each weekend, growing numbers of Palestinians based in Israel pack out cafes and hotels in the West Bank and flock to the markets, combining visits to relatives with cheaper shopping and leisure.
"The Palestinians who live inside Israel coming here to shop in Nablus has really given a boost to the city's markets," said clothes shop owner Abu Hussein.
'Nationalism and marginalization'
The reassertion of a Palestinian identity by growing numbers of so-called "Arab Israelis" comes after a string of attacks on Christian and Muslim properties by suspected Jewish extremists, and after several new Israeli laws they perceive as infringing on their civil rights.
"Palestinians inside Israel have never lost their national awareness. But at the moment it's growing," said Nadeem Nashef, director of an Palestinian youth organization based in the northern Israeli city of Haifa.
The attacks, and attempts "to give more privileges to Jews, have pushed people into taking firmer (nationalist) positions," Nashef said.
Mordechai Kedar, professor of Arab studies at Bar Ilan University near Tel Aviv, agreed.
"The attacks that have taken place in the last few weeks, such as the burning of cars and scrawling of (racist) graffiti, ignite feelings of nationalism and of marginalization," he said.
The uptick in racist attacks has alarmed Israeli police, who have begun working in tandem with the internal security service Shin Bet to prosecute what some politicians are calling "terrorist" acts.
But despite the government's proclamation of its determination to root out the racism of the extremists, Palestinians in Israel feel they are simultaneously marginalized by the establishment.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu this month defended plans to enshrine in law Israel's status as the national homeland of the Jewish people.
For Palestinians, accepting Israel as a "Jewish state" would mean accepting the Nakba and potentially precluding the right of return for 1948 refugees and their descendants.
In March, Israel raised the threshold of votes parties need to get seats in parliament, in a bill boycotted by all opposition MKs on the basis that it marginalizes minority parties such as the Palestinian Arab nationalist Balad.
13 may 2014
European and Palestinian activists launched an electronic campaign to commemorate the 66th anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, which marks the15th of this month. Al Owda center in cooperation with other European and Palestinian associations, launched several activities which will be culminated in staging the most important activities next Thursday at 8 o'clock pm GMT.
The center called all people to participate in the 66th anniversary of Nakba campaign using the Hashtag #Nakba_66 , adding that this campaign will be in more than 10 international languages. The center reported that several reports, articles, and publications will be published on Web, mostly through social media websites.
Commemorating Nakba anniversary aims to highlight the Palestinian right of return to their homeland internationally.
" This initiative includes protests, cultural events, demos, etc. to gain support of a number of European cities, and to remind the world of the historical and constant Palestinian plight ", the center assured. Palestinians in home and Diaspora commemorate the Nakba anniversary, since the beginning of 1987, when more than 350 villages destroyed and more than 800.000 Palestinians displaced from their homes in an ethnic-cleansing campaign carried out by armed Zionist groups. According to " UNRWA" statistics, Palestinian refugees' number has dramatically redoubled since 1948, until it reached more than 6 million refugees.
The center called all people to participate in the 66th anniversary of Nakba campaign using the Hashtag #Nakba_66 , adding that this campaign will be in more than 10 international languages. The center reported that several reports, articles, and publications will be published on Web, mostly through social media websites.
Commemorating Nakba anniversary aims to highlight the Palestinian right of return to their homeland internationally.
" This initiative includes protests, cultural events, demos, etc. to gain support of a number of European cities, and to remind the world of the historical and constant Palestinian plight ", the center assured. Palestinians in home and Diaspora commemorate the Nakba anniversary, since the beginning of 1987, when more than 350 villages destroyed and more than 800.000 Palestinians displaced from their homes in an ethnic-cleansing campaign carried out by armed Zionist groups. According to " UNRWA" statistics, Palestinian refugees' number has dramatically redoubled since 1948, until it reached more than 6 million refugees.
10 may 2014
Jerusalem activists representing all major Palestinian parties on Saturday called for Nakba Day commemorations to be held at Damascus gate in the Old City of Jerusalem on May 15.
The activists also called for all Palestinian Jerusalemites to participate in the commemorations and contribute to reviving the memory of the Nakba, or "catastrophe," among all generations of Palestinians.
The activists highlighted that the commemorations would be national and not party-oriented.
Nakba is the word used in Arabic to refer to the expulsion and flight of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes by Zionist militias as part of the war to create the state of Israel in 1948.
The refugees were never allowed to return to their homes by Israel, and today around seven million Palestinians are refugees as a result of the Nakba as well as the Israeli campaigns that followed.
Nakba Day commemorations take place around the world on May 15, and commemorations held by Palestinians still inside Israel have become a highly charged political issue, where they sometimes coincide with Israeli independence day celebrations.
Israeli authorities have attempted to ban Nakba day commemorations in the past, including in 2012 in Tel Aviv where they prevented activists from reading the names of the more than 400 villages depopulated in 1948.
The activists also called for all Palestinian Jerusalemites to participate in the commemorations and contribute to reviving the memory of the Nakba, or "catastrophe," among all generations of Palestinians.
The activists highlighted that the commemorations would be national and not party-oriented.
Nakba is the word used in Arabic to refer to the expulsion and flight of 750,000 Palestinians from their homes by Zionist militias as part of the war to create the state of Israel in 1948.
The refugees were never allowed to return to their homes by Israel, and today around seven million Palestinians are refugees as a result of the Nakba as well as the Israeli campaigns that followed.
Nakba Day commemorations take place around the world on May 15, and commemorations held by Palestinians still inside Israel have become a highly charged political issue, where they sometimes coincide with Israeli independence day celebrations.
Israeli authorities have attempted to ban Nakba day commemorations in the past, including in 2012 in Tel Aviv where they prevented activists from reading the names of the more than 400 villages depopulated in 1948.
8 may 2014
63 organizations have refused to recognize Israel, calling on all concerned parties to press ahead with Palestinian refugees’ right of return to their native homes. The declaration was issued following a press conference in Gaza on Wednesday afternoon on the occasion of the inaugurating ceremony of the coordination committee to commemorate 66th Nakba anniversary.
Several committee members and representatives of the signatories partook in the conference.
We will never ever recognize Israel
The committee declared, in its statement’s outset, "the Zionist entity is an invading, racist, terrorist, criminal, extremist, and illegitimate colonizing force that crept over Palestinian and Arab lands and displaced their natives by force”.
“Palestine has and will always be Arab and Islamic and we will never surrender a single inch of it. We take it upon ourselves to liberate the land. This is our responsibility and that of all free people across the globe.”
The statement further stressed Palestinian refugees’ right of return, with no statute of limitations for the compensations.
The statement further called on the UN and UNRWA to assume their human and legal responsibilities vis-à-vis Palestinian refugees and the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.
Different events, including political seminars, art exhibitions, and theatrical performances covering the entire Gaza Strip will be taking place so as to promote the right of return, among many other legitimate rights, and condemn Israeli crimes committed during the Nakba years.
The closing statement called on Gazans to rally round all the projected events and partake in the commemoration, en masse, as a means to confirm Palestinians’ steadfastness and unyielding commitment to the right of return, freedom and self-determination
Several committee members and representatives of the signatories partook in the conference.
We will never ever recognize Israel
The committee declared, in its statement’s outset, "the Zionist entity is an invading, racist, terrorist, criminal, extremist, and illegitimate colonizing force that crept over Palestinian and Arab lands and displaced their natives by force”.
“Palestine has and will always be Arab and Islamic and we will never surrender a single inch of it. We take it upon ourselves to liberate the land. This is our responsibility and that of all free people across the globe.”
The statement further stressed Palestinian refugees’ right of return, with no statute of limitations for the compensations.
The statement further called on the UN and UNRWA to assume their human and legal responsibilities vis-à-vis Palestinian refugees and the siege imposed on the Gaza Strip.
Different events, including political seminars, art exhibitions, and theatrical performances covering the entire Gaza Strip will be taking place so as to promote the right of return, among many other legitimate rights, and condemn Israeli crimes committed during the Nakba years.
The closing statement called on Gazans to rally round all the projected events and partake in the commemoration, en masse, as a means to confirm Palestinians’ steadfastness and unyielding commitment to the right of return, freedom and self-determination
