Israeli Arabs in 'Nakba' march
Israeli Arabs hold march to mark 'Nakba'
As Israel marks its 70th Independence Day, its Arab citizens protest against it; 'These are our lands, we'll continue our struggle at any cost,' protesters call out, adding 'We will sacrifice our lives for Palestine.'
While millions of Israelis were celebrating the nation's 70th Independence Day on Thursday, thousands of Israeli Arab citizens took part in a Nakba Day march near Atlit.
"What happened then was a Nakba - a human and national disaster on any scale," Tibi, a member of Israel's parliament, continued. "Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian citizens live to this very day close to the villages they were uprooted from. What's more natural, humanitarian and just than returning them to their homes in their abandoned villages and restoring their stolen property?"
The Palestinians mark the "Nakba" or "Catastrophe," when hundreds of thousands fled or were driven out of their homes in 1948, when the State of Israel was created.
Speaking at the event, MK Ahmad Tibi of the Joint List described the day as one "in which the Palestinians become one surrounding the memory and grief of families that were shattered and brothers who were scattered to all directions."
"We must recognize our national identity as Palestinians, with empathy to the suffering and loss we've experienced since 1948, which continues to this very day in different ways," he went on to say. "Empathy to another's suffering is an important aspect in narrowing gaps and bridging disagreements, including national conflicts. This is the time to recognize our Palestinian narrative."
Participants waved Palestinian flags and held up photos of Palestinian security prisoners.
They called out "These are our lands, we'll continue our struggle at any cost," "We will sacrifice our lives for Palestine," and "proud of Gaza."
Abed Masrawa, a resident of Wadi Ara who took part in the march, argued that "We're on our land, which we've been ripped from like in many other places. One day we will take back all of the lands and live there."
Rania, who lives in northern Israel, added that "This isn't Independence Day, it's Nakba Day. The state (Israel) wronged many families who were expelled from their villages. We came here to make our cries heard - these are the lands of our families."
The march was organized by High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel, which is headed by former MK Mohammad Barakeh.
