- Title: ISRAEL: Arab-Israelis and Palestinians mark 35th anniversary of Land Day
- Date: 31st March 2011
- Summary: SAKHNIN, ISRAEL (MARCH 30, 2011) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF ARAB ISRAELIS AND PALESTINIANS MARCHING DURING LARGE DEMONSTRATION MARKING THE 35TH LAND DAY VARIOUS MORE OF DEMONSTRATION (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) ARAB-ISRAELI MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT, HANEEN ZOABI, SAYING: "We commemorate the memory of Land Day, we commemorate not the events of the past but an ongoing Israeli police acti
- Embargoed: 15th April 2011 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Israel, Israel
- Country: Israel
- Topics: History,Domestic Politics
- Reuters ID: LVACOKUC9JMMQIR7OULY5GII5MSO
- Story Text: Palestinians marched across parts of Israel on Wednesday (March 30) to mark the 35th anniversary of "Land Day".
"Land Day" commemorates the 1976 Israeli government announcement that it will expropriate Arab land in the Galilee region, that resulted in a general Arab-Israeli strike and mass marches. The annexation of the land was seen by the Arab community as a means to alter the demographic situation in the Galilee and to create a Jewish majority in the area.
In the confrontations between Israeli security forces and Israeli Arabs during the event in 1976, six Israeli Arabs were killed. Ever since, March 30th has become an Israeli-Arab commemoration day, also marked with a week of protests by Palestinians in the West Bank and worldwide.
Thousands marched in the Israeli Arab town of Sakhnin to mark Land Day. Residents waved Palestinian flags and chanted slogans against Israeli policies in Arab cities and villages.
"We commemorate the memory of Land Day, we commemorate not the events of the past but an ongoing Israeli police action to expropriate land, combating Palestinian presence in Israel. Israel continues to expropriate, build Jewish cities and village at the expense of Arab presence," Arab Israeli member of Parliament, Haneen al Zoabi said during the demonstration.
In al Araqib village located in the south of Israel, thousands of bedouins live in villages unrecognized by Israel.
Hundreds took part in a rally commemorating Land Day.
Arab-Israeli member of Israeli Parliament Talab al Sana said that land for Palestinians and Arab-Israelis symbolizes their very existence and continuity.
"On this day, Arab crowds renew the vow with the martyrs of the land...Because the land for us is not simply real estate, the land is our identity, our existence, and the means for our existence. The Zionist policy targets Arab presence through expropriation of Arab land and controlling its development, and limiting the possibilities and potential for their existence," he told Reuters Television. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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