Palestinians are preparing to mark “Nakba Day,” or the Day of Catastrophe (the
64th anniversary of the establishment of Israel), with a series of
demonstrations and rallies in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, as well as a number
of neighboring Arab countries.
In the West Bank, Palestinians have been
asked to converge on Ramallah for a major rally Tuesday at the Martyr Yasser
Arafat Square.
Palestinians have also been asked to raise black banners
and Palestinian flags to mark the event.
The Palestinian Authority
government announced that it would suspend work and studies in the West Bank to
allow as many Palestinians as possible to participate in the protests and
rallies.
In the Gaza Strip, representatives of Hamas, Fatah and other
Palestinian groups agreed to hold a joint rally Tuesday to mark Nakba
Day.
Organizers called on Palestinians to gather in the center of Gaza
City and march toward UN headquarters in the city.
On the same occasion,
the PLO reiterated its call for Israel to allow Palestinian refugees to return
to their original homes inside the Jewish state.
“The right of return
will remain one of the Palestinian national principles where there will be no
concessions,” the PLO said in a statement.
“This is an historic, legal
and sacred right.”