[News] Defying Israeli Restrictions; Thousands Mark The Nakba Day in Jaffa

[Anti-Imperialist News]

Defying Israeli Restrictions; Thousands Mark The Nakba Day in Jaffa

Sunday May 15, 2011 08:52
author
 by Saed Bannoura - IMEMC & Agencies
http://www.imemc.org/article/61243

Despite Israeli "laws" criminalizing the commemoration of the "Nabka 
Day", that marks the creation of Israel on Palestinian lands and the 
displacement of millions of Palestinians, thousands of residents, 
including Jewish peace activists, marched on Saturday evening in 
Jaffa, and held an art festival affirming the Palestinian historic 
rights and their legitimate struggle against oppression and occupation.

The procession was organized by the "Jaffa Youth Movement", and the 
"March 29 Youth Movement", under the slogan "I will Return to Jaffa", 
the Arabs48 news website reported.

The procession started in front of the historic City Council 
building, near the historic fountain of the city before the 
protestors marched in several streets until reaching Al Hilwa Street 
where they held an art festival with the participation of local 
artist who sang for Palestine, the refugees and the revolution.

Several intellectuals and local leaders delivered speeches in which 
they stated that Israel needs to realize that the Palestinians are 
not immigrants, but are the native of this country despite the 
Israeli occupation and aggression, and the forced removal of the refugees.

A Palestinian child identified as Ola Taha read several national 
Palestinian poems that affirm the Palestinian steadfastness and their 
continued resistance against the Israeli occupation.

Local artist, Amal Morqus, sang for Jaffa, Palestine, the Right of 
Return, Palestinian mothers, and also sang the Arab National Anthem 
"My Homeland".
Several bands and artists also sang for Palestine and liberation, the 
refugees and the legitimate Palestinian rights. The famous 
Palestinian Rap band, DAM, participated in the event with several rap 
songs denouncing the occupation, racism, and calling for liberation.

The protestors carried dozens of Palestinian flags while chanting for 
the Right of Return of the Palestinian refugees, and slamming the 
illegal Israeli policies of settlement construction and expansion.

They affirmed that there real peace can never be achieved in the 
region without the refugees' return to their land, as they are the 
core of the Palestinian cause and there can never be any lasting 
peace deal without recognizing and achieving their legitimate right.

Arab female activists and human rights supporters, Yasmin Abu Zied 
and Fatima Hleiwa, delivered speeches stating that the Palestinians 
are not holding these processions to commemorate a dead issue, but to 
mark and to affirm a national and legitimate right despite Israel's 
illegal laws and ongoing violations.

They said that thousands took off to the street to mark the Nakba and 
to challenge the illegal Israeli "Nakba Law" that prohibits and 
criminalizes marking this day.

Jaffa (Yaffa) was chosen as the central protest area due to its 
historic significance to the Palestinians and to its reputation as 
the "Bride of Palestine" due to its beauty, and geographic importance".

Millions of refugees are currently living in several Arab countries, 
and in different parts of the world, denied their right to their 
homeland due to illegal Israeli laws that defy the international law, 
several UN Security Council resolutions, and all principles of human rights.

Hundreds of villages and towns were destroyed during the creation of 
Israel in historic Palestine in 1948, while at least 700.000 
Palestinians were displaced and became refugees. Currently, more than 
4.5 million Palestinians are refugees, living in refugee camps in the 
occupied territories and several Arab countries, and in different 
countries around the world.




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