Middle East News
Palestinians mark anniversary of 1948 Arab-Israeli war (Roundup)
By DPA
May 15, 2008, 13:41 GMT

Ramallah - Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip took to the streets Thursday with rallies, marches and a two-minute siren at noon to mark 60 years since the creation of Israel and the subsequent dispersion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees.

The central event of the Naqba (Catastrophe) commemorations took place in Ramallah, where, in a prerecorded speech, President Mahmoud Abbas told a jam-packed central square that Palestinians were marking the event not to feel sorry for themselves, but to remind the world of their long struggle.

'After 60 years, we are still here and there, rooting in our land and holding to the hope of return, salvation and an end to the hated Israeli occupation of our land and people. We carry one clear message: our Palestinian people have to live in freedom and peace,' he said.

'Is it not time to end the suffering of our people and for the Naqba to end?' he asked rhetorically. 'Is it not time for Israel to accept the call for a just and comprehensive peace to reach a historic reconciliation between the two people on this holy and suffering land?'

'The security of Israel is linked to our independence and security. Continuation of the occupation and prolongation of the Naqba will not bring security to anyone. Only an end to the occupation is what will bring security.'

The speech was preceded by a two-minute siren broadcast over Palestinian radio and people stood at silent attention to mark the occasion.

Some of those in the square carried black flags, and others wore black T-shirts with the legend '1948,' with the number '8' in red and the '194,' a reference to UN Resolution 194 calling for the return of the Palestinian refugees, in white.

A total of 20,000 black balloons - one for each day which has passed since Israel was created - were scheduled to be released in Ramallah, with the aim of darkening the skies over nearby Jerusalem as a symbol of Palestinian mourning while Israel celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Rallies and marches were also held elsewhere in the West Bank. In the Gaza Strip, which is administered not by Abbas' Palestinian Authority but by the Islamic Hamas organization, thousands demonstrated against the ongoing Israeli closure of the salient.

Witnesses said several dozen protestors tried to reach Gaza's Erez crossing point, but Israeli soldiers stationed at the border point fired warning shots to prevent them from getting too close.

Paramedics said several teenagers were shot and wounded by Israeli gunfire.

Jewish leaders in Palestine proclaimed the State of Israel on May 14, 1948, one day before the formal end of the British mandate. Six Arab armies invaded the nascent state on May 15, sparking the first Arab-Israeli war.

The war ended in 1949, with Israel controlling 50 per cent more territory than had been allocated to it by the United Nations, and Palestinians living under Jordanian control in the West Bank and Egyptian control in the Gaza Strip.

In addition, at least 726,000 Palestinians become refugees, having fled from their homes or having been evicted by the Jewish forces.

Israel celebrated its anniversary last week, according to the Hebrew calendar, and Arab-Israelis held their own Naqba commemorations, clashing with police in several locations.