Just as Israel marked in Independence Day this week (see previous post), so too the Palestinians commemorate the anniversary today - the 15th of May - except for them it is known as the catastrophe or disaster - nakba in Arabic.
During 1948 in the war that took place in creating the state of Israel, over 700,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled, many others were massacred, and villages depopulated and destroyed.
'The vast majority of Palestinian refugees, both those outside the 1949 armistice lines at the war's conclusion and those internally displaced, were barred by the newly declared state of Israel from returning to their homes or reclaiming their property.' (Wikipedia article: Nakba).
While the Israelis celebrated their anniversary earlier in the week due to the difference with the Hebrew calendar, both groups are commemorating the same event, just from opposite perspectives.
And in the days between, there have been riots in Jerusalem where I am now. On Friday in the hotly disputed neighbourhood of Silwan violence broke out and a 16 year old Palestinian youth was shot and killed. Yesterday (Saturday) was his funeral, after which demonstrations led to rioting and more injuries. And so today (it's just after midnight here) the scene is likely set for more; with Al Nakba already creating tension, the violent death of a young Palestinian only fuels the emotions of a distraught people.
I'm meeting up with a couple of other expat peacemakers (from Finland and Australia) to witness the main commemorations later today. First though some sleep . . . and dreams of a peace that seems so far away.
During 1948 in the war that took place in creating the state of Israel, over 700,000 Palestinians were expelled or fled, many others were massacred, and villages depopulated and destroyed.
'The vast majority of Palestinian refugees, both those outside the 1949 armistice lines at the war's conclusion and those internally displaced, were barred by the newly declared state of Israel from returning to their homes or reclaiming their property.' (Wikipedia article: Nakba).
While the Israelis celebrated their anniversary earlier in the week due to the difference with the Hebrew calendar, both groups are commemorating the same event, just from opposite perspectives.
And in the days between, there have been riots in Jerusalem where I am now. On Friday in the hotly disputed neighbourhood of Silwan violence broke out and a 16 year old Palestinian youth was shot and killed. Yesterday (Saturday) was his funeral, after which demonstrations led to rioting and more injuries. And so today (it's just after midnight here) the scene is likely set for more; with Al Nakba already creating tension, the violent death of a young Palestinian only fuels the emotions of a distraught people.
I'm meeting up with a couple of other expat peacemakers (from Finland and Australia) to witness the main commemorations later today. First though some sleep . . . and dreams of a peace that seems so far away.
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