Today is the 58th anniversary of the Nakba, or the “Catastrophe”
The following quotes are from Palestinain refegees (first generation and second generation) interviewed by IMEU to mark the 58th anneversary of Nakba-Catastrophe.
Darwish Addassi wishes his fellow Americans could spend a day in his shoes. Maybe then they would know what it feels like to be a refugee. The 72-year-old retired chemist still remembers the day he was expelled from his home 58 years ago and became a refugee.
In May of 1948, 14-year-old Wilhelmine Baramki and her family packed a few of their bags and fled their west Jerusalem home. For several months prior, Zionist gunmen had been shooting at the bus that carried her father to and from work and the occasional bullet came through the windows of their home.
Mahira Dajani knows what it is like to lose everything. Born into a large, wealthy family in what is now West Jerusalem, Dajani fled her home in 1948 during the Palestinian “Nakba,” or catastrophe. In April 1948, 16-year-old Dajani returned home one afternoon after completing her high school exams to find her mother and younger siblings gone.
Ibrahim Fawal was 15-years-old when he woke up in May of 1948 to tens of thousands of Palestinian refugees streaming into his small West Bank town of Ramallah. It is an image he still cannot forget. “They were pitching tents anywhere they could: churches, schoolyards, open fields and cemeteries,” he said.
Read the entire untold stories of these Palestinian refugees and more at IMEU.
The IMEU asked prominent Palestinians to share their thoughts on the day that more than 700,000 of their brethren became refugees. The IMEU also asked the panel, ranging from business leaders to comedians, what comes to mind on the 58th anniversary of the Nakba and why Americans should care?
… I move from confusion to sadness to anger that the world allowed this to happen, and permits it to continue, Khaldoun Baghdadi, a lawyer and Chair of San Francisco’s Human Rights Commission.
… more than five million Palestinians live almost within a stones throw of their homes and their homeland, and their right to return has been consistently recognized by the international community, yet nothing has ever been done to effectuate that right, George E. Bisharat, a professor of law at Hastings College of the Law in San Francisco
… What instantly comes to mind is the fact that the people who became refugees in 1948 are still refugees now; that the situation 58 years later has still not been solved. Did these people who left their homes thinking they would go back in a few days have any idea that generations later their great grandchildren would be living in camps? Maysoon Zayid, an actress and professional stand-up comedian.
Why should Americans care about the Nakba, 58 years later?
The Nakba is not a memorial for the dead. It is a remembrance of the living, of a proud and steadfast people yearning to return home and begin the bitter and difficult process of repatriation. Every US citizen who would like to see a stabilized Middle East — one that does not breed violence, but vehemently breeds tolerance, should use this Nakba Day remembrance to make their voice heard and call for Israel to let the refugees return home, Sam Bahour, a Palestinian-American businessman and activist based in Palestine.
…while the U.S. advocates (and even fights for) the return of Bosnian and East Timorese refugees, Palestinian rights are extinguished by the U.S.; while the U.S. claims that it supports civil rights, the U.S. also supports a state that advocates superior rights for a certain class of people; while the U.S. is opposed to the taking of property without compensation, it supports regime after regime in Israel who make no secret of the fact that they have stolen property in the past and will continue to do so in the future, Diana Buttu, a Palestinian-Canadian lawyer based in Gaza.
Read more of the interviews at IMEU.
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20 Comments on “Today is the 58th anniversary of the Nakba, or the “Catastrophe””
The least thing we could do to our cause is not to forget it.
A moment of silence. A lifetime of activity. Free Palestine.
From the above excerpt,stating “while the U.S. advocates (and even fights for) the return of Bosnian and East Timorese refugees, Palestinian rights are extinguished by the U.S.”
I think this is all due to geography, mainly. Bosnia is in Europe, East Timorese in Asia, while Palestine is in the heart of the Middle East. However, let me remind you 1/3 of Bosnia’s Muslim population was whiped out, while those who survived the genocide fled. Muslims in Bosnia are now the minority, and sadly there will never be justice for them. The Bosnian-Serbs are the majority today. By this refenrence above applies that the US is “helping” only the ‘Bosnian-Serb’ population in Bosnia, not the Muslims. Those Bosnian-Muslims that do live in Bosnia are refugees in their own country, as are Palestinians. Even after the “war” cases of murder are still fresh. Since the Muslim homes are now occupied by the Serbs there is ongoing tension. Many who have returned home never saw daylight the next morning.
Having just returned from a six-week hiatus from computer unavailability (with a rather foggy and out of circulation brain)
I logged on once more to find out what is going on here on Haitham’s blog. Yesterday I saw this link and became curious. As an American, this is not “my” personal day of rememberance. But as a citizen of the “greater world” at large I can but express my own despair for the Palestinian “Nakba”. Since blogging here, I have become MUCH more educated to the facts of the tragedy. Thirty-two years ago I was very much unaware. Here in the US, the state Israel is seen as an accomplishment of a dream, destined to occur, rightfully gained and to be supported by our government and our citizens with blind faith. Then I met a Moslem who later became my husband. Munich had occured in 1972, the Ramadan War had been fought and won by Israel and those damn Arabs had us all waiting in long lines for gas just because they supported a savage people, the Palestinians. In other words, what I am trying to say is that I, like most Americans, had only seen and experienced one side of the equation. After meeting my future husband (we have since divorced), I began reading about the actual history of Palestine. I learned of the atrocities commited in order to establish this “well deserved” state. I saw first hand Palestinian refugee camps in Beirut and sat paralyzed as Israeli planes flew overhead threatening to bomb.
I am not Palestinian. I am not Moslem. I am an American with some limited knowledge and experience concerning this issue. The insight which I have gained here is inmeasurable.
I wondered why May 15th was chosen as the anniversary of the Nakba (as I am still in the process of learning). I wondered at first, “is it a celebration of a victory during a certain battle or some other significant event”? Sadly I found why. I found that the declaration of the state of Israel was on this day. How can it be that these two celebrations, one joyful, the other a day of loss co-exist side by side and the rest of the world not understand the contradiction? And yet in this small beautiful corner of the earth, a policy has been set in place to justify and cover-up this fact. My American government lends a blind eye to this juxtoposition and continues it’s financial and moral support. Haram. Haram.
On a different note, I found this site http://www.anis-online.de/pages/_orient-online/Zochrot.htm which offered a ray of truth. It is about an Israeli group called Zochrot founded in 2002 which is seeking to educate Israelis about the Palestine which existed before Israel became a state. Some sites about Zochrot say they are a “fringe radical” group. What little I see they are simply trying to expose the lies of Israel to its citizens. Hope this is interesting if anyone wants to check it out.
On the day of rememberance, yesterday, today and all the days to come, I pray for the Palestinian people to find peace and safety wherever they may be and that some day the Nakba will be reversed.
Haitham you made me cry ….
The post is so touchy . I am really glad that people still remember this anniversary.
Please take a look at my post on 15/may.
http://halataha.jeeran.com/archive/2006/5/49680.html
Thank you.
Born in 1949 I don’t remember. But I do remember my Jewish grandmother telling me that this was a sad day for the Jewish people in Denmark.
She hated all conflicts. She hated violence!
She was the same woman that told me that the woman I met at work at Oktoberfest was the woman I would marry. (In Canada)
Long story short. She was of German descent (I’m of Danish descent) and she was taller than me. Not only that, she was partially native ( part Indian, Canadian Indian).
We met by chance that night (a really remote chance) after my grandmother told me that I would marry her.
My mother hates her because of her past. THE WAR IS OVER!
We just celebrated our 33 Aniversary!
Just to confirm my feelings. 33 years is not long enough. I still love her! I want another 33 years!
If I have these feelings for a person, Why can’t the Israelis and the Palestinians have these feelings?
Well, I guess the Palestinians have these feelings but the Israelis don’t because it doesn’t fit into their agenda!
Kimmy,
As individuals, we can ALL choose to love or at the very least tolerate eachother. As long as an individual is not stepping on your toes or another’s toes, they deserve respect. It’s so very hard sometimes to get past the “stats” of an individual. Hmm, that person is German, must be bad. Hmm, that person is Jewish, must be bad. Hmm, that person is Arab, must be bad. Hmm, this person is Palestinian, must be suspicious, probably wants to destroy Israel. Hatred and distrust of other peoples is both taught and acquired. Sometimes we grow up with it in our homes. Sometimes we learn it by experience. We build shells around ourselves out of self-preservation and fear. Then as individual armored individuals we go on to perpetuate our distrust and fear and often resort to victimizing others. The point here, is that it is NOT right to victimize ANYONE simply by virtue of their birth status.
In my own experience here on this blog I’ve gone off on alot of tangents researching different aspects. One of the more hopeful tangents has resulted in finding several Jewish organizations who do NOT support Zionism. There are several Peace groups which seek to right the wrongs of the Israeli government. Some are political organizations and some are charitable organizations. The wrongs which the Zionists have perpetrated are NOT going to be reversed merely by any one method. As we’ve both discussed, the US has to get the hell out of problem and discontinue their one-sided approach. The refugee problem MUST be solved, full rights, including the right of return must be granted to the Palestinians and economic issues must be addressed. There are a host of problems TODAY which must be addressed equitably.
I always enjoy reading your responses and truly admire your courage to state your mind. You come to this forum as an Atheist Jew (is that an oxymoron, no, you’re Kimmy). You have a unique and much appreciated viewpoint and openess. I’ve done a little looking and have come up with these sites:
http://www.jewsagainstzionism.com/ - 25k -
http://www.jewsnotzionists.org/ - 9k -
http://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/ - 27k -
http://www.againstbombing.com/peacegroups.htm - 136k -
These are just the first that came up. I simply googled “US Jewish peace organizations” and “Israeli peace organizations”. It is a simple axiom, change comes from many places. “Within” is certainly one place where change can come Having said this I absolutely realize that there is no “within” in Zionism except if you are Zionist. But there IS hope (maybe some of you think I’m being naive) when I see Jews opposed to the attrocities of Zionism. The way I see it is simple: Here in the States in particular we are taught to support the “Jews” due to our own Judeo-Christian roots and certainly (sarcasm) due to the holocost and the overwhelming necessity of an exclusive Jewish homeland. Well, think about it, how many people are aware that not ALL Jews are Zionists ( a little secret well kept, keep them stupid and they’ll support everything we do).
Just some thoughts Kimmy. I know you don’t practice your Judaism but your heritage is yours alone. You were born into it and have chosen not to practice (of COURSE that’s ok). On a personal level there is absolutely nothing to “suspect” in your heritage. Your heart and mind are both open. German, Jew, Arab, the birth need not matter. It is the “intent of the individual heart” towards others which marks us as human beings.
Again, in rememberance of the Nakba, and praying for justice and peace.
Thank you Robin.
An update: My mother who hates my wife just had a stroke. She can’t talk (a blessing) or function fully.
I have an uncle who is dying of cancer of the throat.
My father who is 88 years old is failing fast.
My wifes best friend is suffering from a disease that I can’t pronounce.
I cannot complain because the Palestinians have suffered more than I will ever know.
All I can say is that I still have my wife and I love her dearly.
How many Palestinians can say that about their spouses that are dead by Israeli hands?
I forward many blogs by Haitham to my friends and I find that many like Bush and find these sites full of lies.
Stay blind and the world will be beautiful in your imagination.
My heart bleeds for the palestinians!
Kimmy,
My heart bleeds also, to the point of outrage. Recall what I said, I’m not always such a peaceful and optomistic person. So sorry to hear about all the illness in your family. I also read somewhere about your little grandaughter. Everyday life “sucks”
when these things happen. No, the Palestinians certainly have it much, much, much worse of. As you and I and others suffer the common ailments of just living (bad things included), their lives are unimaginably distorted and removed from anything which we would consider “doable”. I keep “praying” (sending positive thoughts, hoping for peace) and trying to learn. Check out some of those organizations, and others. Maybe there’s something you can actually do so the frustration is a “little” alleviated. I contacted some others (Rachel Corrie Foundation is GREAT!) and got some good info on how to donate, write letters etc. Be careful though, I don’t know how it is in Canada but unfortunately here in the US it can bring some scrutiny from the powers that be.
Did anyone see the Wolf Blitzer interview with Olmert? It was so absolutely frightening. Briefly, they have NOT ruled out the option and are preparing for a unilateral strike against Iran if Iran does not back off. On the Palestinian issue, “I am not aware of ANY humanitarian problem in the occupied territories…..We are simply not paying the citizens who are working for terror…..We will purchase and provide all the necessary medical supplies and deliver them ourselves to the hospitals in the West Bank and Gaza”. How VERY humane of Israel. Absolutely SICK how these Zionists are able to twist things. I’m speechless. Olmert is here for a state visit. I’m cringing.
Sorry, I misquoted Olmert, he actually said Israel is far from considering a unilateral attack. Here’s some of the interview
http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/05/21/iran.nuclear/index.html
If you heard the actual interview you would be very VERY suspicious (even if you didn’t know much about the issue). Tone is everything. The substance was PURE LIES.
Kimmy, here’s the link for Rachel Corrie: http://www.rachelcorriefoundation.org/ - 12k - and another one too about her: http://www.rachel-corrie.com/ - 53k - . Haitham had a link about her back in February I think. I often find I’m most effective when I’m really mad. If you don’t know about Rachel and you read about her, I assure you it will be maddening. She was not Palestinian, she was an American college student working with a peace organization when Israeli bulldozers ran over her as she tried to prevent them from demolishing a Palestinian home. Her family is suing Caterpillar. YES!! One more in a long line of American complicity and outright support. Again, very sorry to hear about all the illness in your family. Take care.
The Israelis used money they held back from the PA to pay for these medicines.
How sweet of them!
Yes, the Israelis are such great proponents of providing healthcare to the Palestinians. That’s why they delay or deny PRCS ambulances from reaching their destinations:
http://www.palestinercs.org/pressreleases/Year%202006/pr140506wbrr.htm
Ah, yes, our good friend Wolf Blitzer who launched his career in the first Iraq war by spinning lies on CNN. If Olmert and his regime is humanitarian, then I’m the tooth fairy.
Raymond and Kimmy
While I was in Texas, my nine-year old called to tell me she lost a tooth. She needed $20 (!!!) from the tooth fairy to add to her savings for an x-box (what a little schemer, she doesn’t even believe in the tooth fairy any more!) I say the Zionist “tooth fairies” owe one HELL of a lot of money for the attrocities they are commiting.(out of their own monies, not those withheld from the Palestinians,)
I have a question. As I understand it there are two “solutions” floating around to the crisis, the one-state verses the two-state solution. I came across several sites and am wondering which solution most Palestinians favor. It’s naivite
on my own part (forgive please) because I thought most Palestinians wanted their own state but I’m finding many who do not, they want one. There’s the question of the “right of return” To me obviously, if there was a two-state solution no Palestinians could return if their homes had been in Israel (which is currently the status). I’m needing some clarification.
Both solutions at this point are problematic.
A one-state solution would allow Israel to continue it’s expansion of settlements, which would become legal. Everything would be Israel… Palestine would no longer exist, and since the Israelis already have the power, the Palestinians would likely be the built-in subordinate lower classes (as they have been).
A two-state solution could be problematic also, in that the Israelis could kick the Palestinians out of Israel, thus robbing the remainder of 48 territory Palestinians of their homes and land. The other problem with this is that Gaza and West Bank are not contiguous territories, which has been a problem, to date, in terms of governance and simple economic and social logistics.
Either way, unless the world community seriously holds Israel accountable, the right of return will never be granted. Imagine all of the external refugees and diaspora Palestinians moving back to the 13% sliver of land that remains of Palestine. It’s not feasible anymore, unless, again, the world community forces Israel to hand back a lot of the land that they took in 1948 and 1967.
I think more Palestinians favor a two-state solution than a one-state, but it’s an educated guess, rather than statistical info.
Keep in mind that this is all problematic because of the “facts on the ground” that the Zionists and Israel have been creating since the late 1800’s, buying land from absentee landlords and then kicking the indigenous populations off of it. They know that the more homes and settlers they manage to place in the West Bank, the more difficult it will be for Palestine to every be restored to even a fraction of what it once was.
I’d like to recommend a book to you called “Blaming the Victims.” It was published in the 1980’s and edited by Edward Said and Christopher Hitchens, with essays by Noam Chomsky and others. It is quite thorough in explaining historic Palestine and the politics of Zionism to delete it from history and memory.
Raymond,
Thank you for the book suggestion. I’m going to buy it to have on hand for reference. Christopher Hitchens supports the war in Iraq, STRONGLY. Were you aware?
Yesterday this article http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oe-gorenberg22may22,1,7233479.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
was in the LA Times. Interesting if you care to read it.
One state. Wasn’t it one state to begin with? It just didn’t call itself and “exclusive state”. Two states? Not contiguous. Doesn’t make sense. Israel still exclusive. Kick out the rest so they can go over to the other state. To many options, not enough addressing Israel. Only addressing the Palestinians which are given crumbs. Maybe (sarcasm big time) Israel is the problem from the get-go (Oh no, can’t even mutter those words or you’re “Anti-Semitic” HAH! Arabs are Semites too!) It is a de-facto state now, the longer it goes on, the longer it goes on. As I said on another link, the most rediculous part of the Israelis statement is “we are a peace loving people”. I guess the Palestinians should have just “peacefully” packed up their bags and moved on with their lives. Come on all you supporters of this notion, something is WRONG with this equation.
Robin,
Yes, I’m aware of Christopher Hitchens’ flip-flop to the other side of politics in the Middle-East. He was once a strong critic of the very thing he now supports. I hope that he was offered a sizeable payroll to fork his tongue. Surely no other explanation, as people don’t turn stupid overnight.
Anyway, the Christopher Hitchens of 1988 still had his head screwed on properly, so I recommend the book. It’s on Verso, the same publishers that put out a good deal of Chomsky’s work. Another recommended read. Anything by this MIT Linguistics professor is worth it’s weight in gold for it’s concise and scholarly approach to politics. “Fateful Triangle” is a good one, or the “Chomsky Reader”, both for highlighting the hows and whys of U.S. policies abroad.
Good reading to you.
Now the Palestinians won’t have to pack their bags. They’ll all just starve to death. I just caught a BBC broadcast of the effects of pulling funds from Palestine. Hospitals are terribly low on supplies, which means people are not getting necessary treatment, such as dialysis.
Write your representatives. Make sure they know that they are killing people with their votes in Congress. Make sure everyone you know realises the effects of their government’s policies abroad.
Robin, I very painfully read your entry regarding your parent’s reaction to Iran. Members of my own family, too, are equally cold about the havoc that the U.S. is wreaking abroad. Our only possible response to be couriers of the truth.