The Nakba continues
Nakba, in Arabic, simply means, Catastrophe, or Tragedy; for Palestinians, it is the most tragic nightmare to happen to a whole nation in modern history.
The irony is that while Palestinian commemorating the 63rd anniversary of their Catastrophe, the Palestinian exodus, Israelis celebrate what they call "independence day".
Their independence was achieved by expelling the Palestinian people. Over 700.000 citizens were forced out of their homes, more than 400 cities, towns and villages were evacuated, dozens of towns and villages were demolished and many massacres were committed against innocent people. Thousands of elderly people, men, women and children were killed.
Israel was found on May 15 1948, after decades of hostility and confrontations between Palestinians -who were living peacefully in their homeland-, and Zionist immigrants, who were brought from different parts of the world to Palestine.
Under the United Nations partition plan, resolution 181 was adopted on 29 November 1947. The resolution stated that 56.47% of the Palestinian land would be given to the Israeli state, and 42.88% would be left for the state of Palestine, while Jerusalem and Bethlehem would be placed under special international protection.
The resolution also called for the withdrawal of the British mandate forces by the 1st of August1948, while the two independent states would be established by the 1st of October 1948.
However, war broke out; and the partition plan was never implemented, Zionist gangs – well-equipped with weapons, supported and backed by the British Mandate government-- succeeded to occupy more than 20% of lands assigned to the Palestinians in the partition plan.
On the 14th of May 1948, some of 500.000 Zionist immigrants, aided by Western countries, especially Britain, announced "the Israeli Declaration of Independence".
Since then, Palestinians have faced ethnic cleansing, deportation, misery, massacres, and arrests. It was obvious that the world chose Palestinians to pay the price of the Holocaust committed by the Nazis.
After 63 years of Nakba, Israel and many pro- Israel countries believe that Palestinians might forget their nightmare. But it is clear their expectations are false.
The huge rallies over the weekend prove that Palestinians will never forget their lands and will never abandon their right to return. They consider Zionism's responsibility for the Nakba as an integral part of the establishment of the state of Israel, even if Israel will never admit to this responsibility.
But, the fact is, Zionism's responsibility for the Nakba will remain as long as the Palestinian issue remains without just and fair solution.
New Palestinian generations, in the Diaspora, marched to their beloved Palestine from surrounding borders, a clear message to the world and to Israel that this land is ours we have the right to return.
When asked where they are from, children in the occupied territories or in the Diaspora answer with the town or village their ancestors were born, not the place they are living.
What happened over the last few days was a call for justice, a call for the world to be fairer to Palestinians, to give Palestinians their rights, nothing but their rights.
It is a reminder to the so called Free and Democratic World, that there will be no peace in this region if Palestinian misery and suffering continues.
Today, as the winds of change sweep through the Arab countries, and a new Arab spirit appears, this call comes in a peaceful way, a way that the world should grasp, especially when no one can guarantee that this way will last forever.
17-5-2011
Rashid Shahin