Editor’s Note: The following is a statement from 50 organizations across North America calling on Palestinian communities in the diaspora and supporters to join a week of actions in commemoration of the 73rd anniversary of the Nakba, and in protest of the ongoing Nakba in Sheikh Jarrah, Jerusalem, and throughout Palestine.
May 15, 2021
As we mark the 73rd anniversary of the Nakba, we, the undersigned, join together to reaffirm our commitment to the Palestinian people’s struggle for justice, return, and liberation. We commemorate the loss experienced by Palestinians in 1948 when hundreds of thousands of our people were forced into exile and saw their homes and villages stolen or destroyed by Zionist militias. To this day, colonization and dispossession remain ongoing processes, where Palestinians continue to endure land theft and encroachments on their basic rights. Despite the multiple decades of Zionist brutality, our resilient people remain committed to resisting Zionist settler-colonialism and to the liberation of Palestine.
We continue to witness the bravery of the Palestinian people as they resist attacks on our neighborhoods and holy sites. We have witnessed the courageous families of Sheikh Jarrah and Silwan continue to organize against the theft of their homes by Zionist colonist organizations who march through the streets of Jerusalem chanting “Death to Arabs.” We have further witnessed the occupation’s continued encroachment on our people’s holy sites, including the imposition of restrictions on Muslim worshipers at Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan as well as the attacks on Christian worshipers as they make their way to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher for Orthodox Easter celebrations. We salute the heroic resistance of our people all over Palestine, from Jerusalem to Umm al-Fahm, who have taken to the streets to protect Palestinian homes, rights, and our cultural and religious sites.
As Palestinians have experienced first-hand for decades, Zionist settler-colonialism is predicated on the destruction of Palestinian political, economic, and social life. It is a project that requires the complete domination of Palestinians through policies of collective punishment and siege. Palestinian workers, activists, students, civil society actors, political leaders, youth and children are subject to policies exploitation, arbitrary imprisonment, and political violence, which are meant to break the spirit of future generations and force them to accept the permanence of Zionist supremacy over every aspect of their lives. The Palestinian prisoners, today numbering nearly 4,500, are now and have always remained on the front lines of resistance and confrontation of Zionism. As we march for return and liberation, we march for the freedom of all imprisoned strugglers for Palestine.
For too long, Western governments have played an active role in the perpetuation of military occupation and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people. The U.S. government provides more than $3.8 billion annually in direct military aid to the Occupation forces. The US and Canadian governments have skirted their responsibility for Zionist crimes by posing as purported arbiters in a conflict they sponsor. Both governments continue to provide diplomatic cover for Zionist crimes, and actively work to clamp down on proponents of Palestinian rights through government repression, anti-BDS measures, and the conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism. We demand an end to this complicity. We demand an end to aid to the Israeli occupation forces and an end of the repressive measures against proponents of Palestinian rights. We demand the immediate removal of the US embassy from Jerusalem and reversal of Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.
Finally, we call on Palestinian communities in the diaspora and supporters of our just cause to join the actions and events hosted by the various organizations delineated below. It is the obligation of Palestinians worldwide to raise our banner and confront Zionism, and it is time for the Palestinian diaspora to reclaim our integral role in the struggle for liberation. We must unequivocally reject the path of Oslo, negotiations, and security coordination with the Zionist occupation forces by the Palestinian Authority. We must renew our commitment to our rights: the right to a free and united Palestine from the river to the sea, the right of return, and the right to live in dignity under a just and lasting peace.
Join us in this call,
Palestinian Youth Movement
Al-Awda: The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
Free Democratic Palestine Movement
United States Palestinian Community Network
Al-Masar Al-Badil – Alternative Palestinian Path Conference
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
Palestinian American Women’s Association
Arab Resource and Organizing Center
Canada Palestine Association
Within Our Lifetime – United for Palestine
National Students for Justice in Palestine
Labour for Palestine – Canada
Labor for Palestine – United States
Karama – San Diego
US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
New Generation for Palestine
Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste
The Canadian Palestinian Foundation of Quebec
Oakville Palestinian Rights Association (OPRA)
Niagara Movement for Justice in Palestine-Israel (NMJPI)
Socialist Action / Ligue pour l’Action socialiste
Jews for Palestinian Right of Return
Fire This Time Movement for Social Justice – Canada
Canadian BDS Coalition
Yemeni Liberation Movement
Mobilization Against War & Occupation (MAWO) Vancouver, Canada
Yemeni Canadian Community Association of Canada
Palestine Solidarity Committee – Austin, TX
Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance
University of Maryland – Students for Justice in Palestine
University of Massachusetts – Students for Justice in Palestine
University of California, Davis – Students for Justice in Palestine
Tufts University – Students for Justice in Palestine
Carleton University – Students for Justice in Palestine
Rhode Island School of Design – Students for Justice in Palestine
San Diego State University – Students for Justice in Palestine
University of Delaware – Students for Justice in Palestine
University of British Columbia – Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights
Columbia University – Students for Justice in Palestine
Columbia Apartheid Divest
Mount Holyoke College – Palestinian Solidarity Group
Ryerson University – Students for Justice in Palestine
University of California, Santa Barbara – Students for Justice in Palestine
University of Houston – Students for Justice in Palestine
Rutgers-New Brunswick – Students for Justice in Palestine
Macalester College – Students United for Palestinian Equal Rights
University of Southern California – Students for Justice in Palestine
University of Texas at Dallas – Students for Justice in Palestine
University of Michigan – Ann Arbor – Students Allied for Freedom and Equality (SAFE)
Wayne State University – Students for Justice in Palestine
Palestine Solidarity Alliance of Hunter College CUNY
University of California, Irvine – Students for Justice in Palestine
University of Chicago – Students for Justice in Palestine
Justice For Palestinians – Calgary
University of Michigan Dearborn – Students for Justice in Palestine
Upcoming protests planned in North America
For updates follow the Palestinian Youth Movement on Twitter (@palyouthmvmt). For protests outside North America see here and follow Samidoun: Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network (@SamidounPP)
Atlanta: Nakba 73: Ongoing Nakba, Ongoing Resistance; Saturday 15 May, 1:00 p.m.; National Center for Civil and Human Rights.
Austin: ATX Nakba 73 Protest in Defense of Sheikh Jarrah; MAY 15, 2021 AT 1 PM EDT, 1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX: https://fb.me/e/3w1Cjo450
Brooklyn/NY: Nakba 73 – Defend Palestine from the River to the Sea Rally; Saturday, 15 May, 4:30 pm; Gather at 7114 5th Avenue; Brooklyn, NY; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/934431837104538
Dallas: Rally for Palestine and in Defense of Sheikh Jarrah!; Saturday, 15 May, 1:00 pm; The Grassy Knoll 411 Elm St, Dallas, TX 75202-3301; Facebook: https://fb.me/e/3F0kVUHum
Detroit: Nakba 73: Resistance Until Liberation; Saturday, 15 May; 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm; Clark Park, Southwest Detroit.
Dearborn: March for Jerusalem; Sunday 16 May; 1:00 p.m.; Ford Community and Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Avenue, Dearborn, MI.
DC: Tuesday, 11 May 2021 at 13:00 PDT Intersection of 22nd St. and C St. NW, Washington, DC https://www.facebook.com/events/1733963580122820/?ref=newsfeed
DC/Maryland/Virginia: Nakba 73 – We Will Return; Saturday, 15 May; 3:00 p.m.; Washington Monument, Washington, DC; Facebook: https://fb.me/e/4lFZ9s240
Houston: Nakba 73 – We Will Return; Saturday, 15 May; 3:00 p.m; Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney Avenue, Houston, TX; Facebook: https://fb.me/e/LIeePFXV
Las Vegas: Rally to Defend Palestine; Saturday, 15 May 5:00 pm Venetian Resort 3355 S Las Vegas Blvd Las Vegas, NV, USA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/s/rally-to-defend-palestine/1161077187721746/
Los Angeles: Nakba 73 – Resistance Until Liberation Rally and Protest; Saturday, 15 May; 12:00 pm; Federal Building, 11000 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/371476687562290/
Minneapolis: Nakba 73 Rally and Car Caravan; Saturday, 15 May; 2:00 pm; Filfillah, 4301 Central Ave NE, Minneapolis, MN, USA; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/162055159148897/
Montreal: Nakba 73 – Car Caravan; Saturday, 15 May, 11 am, gather at Pavillon Lafontaine,1301 Sherbrooke East, Montreal, Quebec, Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/1846771005496820/
Paterson, NJ: Nakba 73 – Defend Palestine from the River to the Sea; Sunday, 16 May, 1 pm, Main St and Gould Avenue, Paterson, NJ; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/510383643319503/
Phoenix: Rally & March for Palestine 73 Years; Saturday, May 15th 12 – 2 PM ;Arizona State Capitol 1700 W Washington St Phoenix, AZ 85007; https://fb.me/e/dzcMKU0mO
Portland: Nakba Day; Saturday, 15 May; 2:00 pm; Terry Schrunk Plaza; 431 SW Madison Street, Portland, OR
San Antonio: Emergency Solidarity Rally for Palestine, Tuesday 11 May, 6:00 pm, 300 Alamo Plaza San Antonio, TX 78205
San Diego: Nakba 73 Rally & Protest; Saturday, 15 May, 1pm pst; 6th Ave and Laurel St, San Diego, CA; Facebook: https://fb.me/e/12xoKEGG1
San Francisco Bay Area: Nakba 73 – We Will Return; Saturday, 15 May; 2:00 pm at 16th and Valencia Street, San Francisco, California, US; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/294729132357416/
St. Louis: Nakba 73: Rally for Palestine; Friday, 14 May; 5:00 p.m.; Corner of Market and 7th Street; St. Louis, Missouri
Tempe, AZ: Protest to Support Al-Aqsa and Sheikh Jarrah, Sunday, 16 May; 7pm; Downtown Tempe, Mill Avenue and University
Toronto: Nakba 73 – Ongoing Nakba, Ongoing Resistance; Saturday, 15 May; 7:00 p.m.; Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, ON; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/373473747339352
Vancouver: Flash Picket for Palestine on Nakba 73; Saturday, 15 May; 2 pm; CBC Vancouver, 700 Hamilton St, Vancouver, BC, Canada; Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/511558669861511/
2 of 2
To quote Dov Weisglass, then P.M. Ariel Sharon’s senior adviser:
“‘The significance of the [then proposed] disengagement plan [implemented in 2005] is the freezing of the peace process,’ Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s senior adviser Dov Weisglass has told Ha’aretz. ‘And when you freeze that process, you prevent the establishment of a Palestinian state, and you prevent a discussion on the refugees, the borders and Jerusalem. Effectively, this whole package called the Palestinian state, with all that it entails, has been removed indefinitely from our agenda….’ Weisglass, who was one of the initiators of the disengagement plan, was speaking in an interview with Ha’aretz for the Friday Magazine. ‘The disengagement is actually formaldehyde,’ he said. ‘It supplies the amount of formaldehyde that is necessary so there will not be a political process with the Palestinians.’” (Top PM Aide: Gaza Plan Aims to Freeze the Peace Process, Ha’aretz, October 6, 2004)
1 of 2
A reminder:
The entity referred to as “Israel” is illegally occupying Lebanon’s Shebba Farms, Syria’s Golan Heights, East Jerusalem and the West Bank.
“Israel” is also illegally occupying the Gaza Strip:
Human Rights Watch: “…Israel will continue to be an Occupying Power [of the Gaza Strip] under international law and bound by the provisions of the Fourth Geneva Convention because it will retain effective control over the territory and over crucial aspects of civilian life. Israel will not be withdrawing and handing power over to a sovereign authority – indeed, the word ‘withdrawal’ does not appear in the [2005 disengagement] document at all… The IDF will retain control over Gaza’s borders, coastline, and airspace, and will reserve the right to enter Gaza at will. According to the Hague Regulations, ‘A territory is considered occupied when it is actually placed under the authority of the hostile army. The occupation extends only to the territory where such authority has been established and can be exercised’. International jurisprudence has clarified that the mere repositioning of troops is not sufficient to relieve an occupier of its responsibilities if it retains its overall authority and the ability to reassert direct control at will.”
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC): “The whole of Gaza’s civilian population is being punished for acts for which they bear no responsibility. The closure therefore constitutes a collective punishment imposed in clear violation of Israel’s obligations under international humanitarian law.” The ICRC thus unequivocally stated that Israel’s blockade of the Gaza Strip constitutes a violation of international humanitarian law embodied in the Geneva Conventions. The Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949, ratified by Israel, bans collective punishment of a civilian population. (cont’d)