Almost everything in the
conflict that has lasted for over half a century is related to the land;
Palestinians forced from their homes, unable to return, their houses
demolished, fields of olive trees being destroyed by settlers,
checkpoints and roadblocks keeping families apart and above all, the
Israeli occupation of Palestine.
Thirty-six years ago, in March 1976, Israeli authorities announced that
5,500 acres of Palestinian-owned land would be confiscated from villages
in the Galilee. The land was expropriated for ‘security and settlement
purposes’, and declared a closed military zone. The decision to
confiscate the land was followed by curfews on surrounding Palestinian
villages, effective from 5 pm, March 29. Local Palestinian leaders
responded by calling for general strikes and protests against the
confiscation of the land, to be held the following day, March 30, 1976.
This is the day that has been commemorated ever since, as Youm al-Ard;
Land Day.
The events of the day were unprecedented. This was the first time, since
1948, that Palestinians, in what was now called Israel, stood together
and collectively confronted Israeli authorities. The Israeli government
declared all demonstrations illegal and yet, general strikes and
peaceful marches took place throughout Palestinian towns in Israel, from
the Galilee in the North to the Negev in the South. More than 400,000
people participated in the strikes. Simultaneously, solidarity strikes
were held in the West Bank, the Gaza Strip and in refugee camps in
Lebanon. The Israeli response was militant and violent, aimed at
subduing any signs of nationalism and resistance, as Israeli troops,
backed by tanks, entered Palestinian villages and reoccupied them. The
clashes resulted in the death of six unarmed Palestinians, three men and
three women. Four were shot dead by the Israeli military, two others by
the Israeli police. About 100 Palestinians were wounded and a further
300 were arrested.
Now, after decade upon decade of struggling and facing life under
occupation, March 30 is still a date commemorating the day Palestinians
took a collective stand against Israeli attempts to steal their land.
Land Day is marked as a day of remembrance for those who were killed,
and a day of protests against Israel’s ongoing policy of land
expropriation from the Palestinians.
Israel’s expansionist policies and theft of Palestinian land did not end
that day, 36 years ago. The thousands of acres of land that were
confiscated and declared military zones were later utilized for massive
illegal settlement expansion. Today Palestinian land is continuously
being eaten up by Israel, with the separation wall, buffer zones,
settlements and bypass roads expanding and removing the Palestinians
from what means the most to them – their land. Almost everything in the
conflict that has lasted for over half a century is related to the land;
Palestinians forced from their homes, unable to return, their houses
demolished, fields of olive trees being destroyed by settlers,
checkpoints and roadblocks keeping families apart and above all, the
Israeli occupation of Palestine.
But Land Day is so much more than a day portraying Palestinians as
victims of Israel’s colonialist policies. It is about Palestinians
everywhere standing up against the expropriation of their land. Land Day
is marked in Palestine and throughout the world, by Palestinians and
those who stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. It is a time
to remember and protest the injustice against and systematic oppression
of the Palestinian people. Commemorating the events of March 30, 1976 is
not only about everything the Palestinians have lost, but also about
the Palestinian people standing together against those who have taken it
away.
Julie Holm is a Writer for the Media and Information
Department at the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global
Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH). She can be contacted at mid@miftah.org.
The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy
VISION: An independent, democratic and sovereign Palestinian state, which
grants Palestinians their basic rights, preserves their dignity, and
enjoys international recognition and respect.
