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One of the loudest debates in
Israel surrounding the Gaza disengagement plan, which is scheduled for August,
is whether or not to destroy settler homes, farms and greenhouses. Many of those
who reluctantly say they support and will comply with the withdrawal argue in
favor of razing the settlements on the grounds that they do not want to see
Palestinian flags raised over their roofs or Palestinian families living in
their homes. Also, the media is filled with heartening, sympathetic stories of
how the settlers must, by force, uproot their families, abandon their homes and
leave their towns after decades of living there. What an outrageous offense
against these settlers! But stop for a moment … what about the tragic
displacement of 700,000 Palestinians 57 years ago at the hands of these settlers
and their forbears?
On May 15 Palestinians all over
the world will commemorate the 57th Anniversary of Al-Nakba, or “Catastrophe” in
Arabic. In 1948 the Zionist campaign burst into full force in an effort to
settle Palestine with Jews. Thus, the state of Israel was established, resulting
in the mass displacement of an indigenous population. More than 700,000
Palestinians were forced from their homes, villages and towns; civilians were
strategically massacred by Zionist armies; and more than 500 villages were razed
to clear the way for Jewish settlers. The Palestinians, who had lived in this
territory for centuries, were pushed toward the east or scattered throughout the
world as refugees.
The world stood by and watched
this tragedy take place. There was no compensation. Palestinians were left with
only the bags they could carry, the memories and dream of their homeland, and
the knowledge that foreigners are living in their homes and tending their lands.
Israeli villages were built over Arab villages, changing the names as a way to
wipe away the memory and history of the land. There is not a single place in
Israel that did not have a former Arab population. The aftermath of Al-Nakba saw
the formation of hundreds of refugee camps in the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan and
Lebanon and many more in the Diaspora.
According to the United Nations
Relief and Works Agency, there are 5.5 million registered Palestinian refugees
in the world. However, Palestinians today continue to feel the effects of this
catastrophe, including the hardships of daily life as a people with a nation,
but no state. They continue to struggle, resiliently, for self-determination,
freedom and basic human rights. Israel’s attempt to break the will of the
Palestinians and cleanse the state of their presence – through massacres,
discrimination, diasporization, Israeli national identity, brutal occupation,
harassment and a counterfeit history – have failed miserably. Palestinians
continue to hold firm to their connection to the land and hope for peace. Today,
Al-Nakba is very much alive and relevant.
In response to the events of
1948, the UN passed resolution 194, stating that “the refugees wishing to return
to their homes and live at peace with their neighbors should be permitted to do
so at the earliest practical date, and that compensation should be paid for the
property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property
which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good
by the Governments or authorities responsible.” It also instructs the
Conciliation Commission “to facilitate the repatriation, resettlement and
economic and social rehabilitation of the refugees and the payment of
compensation.”
Like almost every other
international law and agreement, Israel has failed to comply. However, it has
been able to draw biased sympathy for the illegal settlers and settlements, who
are receiving compensation for their evacuation from Gaza.
This day is not only a time to
remember the tragedy and subsequent suffering of the Palestinians during Al-Nakba;
it is also a time to test the international community’s true commitment to
freedom, justice and equality for all people. Once again, it is time for a true,
peaceful end to the conflict.