Nakba 63rd Anniversary 'Right to Return' Marches

Nakba Demonstrations, which commemorate the ‘catastrophe’ of the creation of the State of Israel, began this year on May 10, 2011 and will peak on May 15, 2011. The event is being orchestrated in many cities around the world and promoted as a popular, nonviolent demonstration to express an understanding, solidarity and support for ‘Justice in Palestine.’

This global event began in the Galilee on the day of Israeli Independence Day, May 10, 2011 with several thousand participants in a ‘March of Return.’ This year’s 63^rd anniversary is being commemorated in an exhibition hosted by The Islamic University of Gaza. May 14th and 15th will be highlighted with sit-ins at Israeli Embassies and ‘Right of Return’ rallies and marches worldwide.

There will be events in many cities including: Dublin, London, Bristol, Amsterdam, Brussels, Berlin, Bern, Rome, Paris, Barcelona, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec, Vancouver, Cote-des-Neiges, Tunis, Atlanta, New York, Cleveland, Washington DC, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Olympia, Allston, Boston, Sacramento, Livonia, Newark, Seattle, Brisbane, and Sydney.

In Lebanon, the ‘Return to Palestine March’ is set to head towards the Israeli/Lebanese border and will include various Palestinian and Lebanese civil and popular organizations, associations, federations, NGOs, political groups and individual activists from Lebanon.

Some are calling for this to be the beginning of the Third Intifada. Although PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas has ruled out a ‘Third Intifada,’ the unified Fatah and Hamas are reportedly coordinating Nakba Day demonstrations, while other Arabs claiming roots in Israel will stage rallies in Egypt, Jordan and Syria as well. It is being reported that thousands of Egyptians are preparing to march to the Gaza Strip to challenge the Israeli blockade by attempting to cross into the area via the Rafah Border Terminal between Gaza and Egypt.

Israel has been reinforcing its IDF security forces in preparation for ‘Nakba Day’ demonstrations that will begin in the region after Friday prays on May 13^th and continue thru Sunday, May 15, with the hope that they will not be necessary to control any violence amid these massive rallies. PM Benjamin Netanyahu emphasizes that the Palestinian Authority should stop any demonstrators from destroying and crossing the Separation Wall where they will be met by Israeli forces.

This is a weekend to keep Israel in your prayers.