The Ongoing Nakba Of Palestinians

18 May 2010

Demonstrations have been organised this week in all the occupied Palestinian territories, to commemorate the 62nd Anniversary of the Nabka, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were forcibly displaced from their houses and driven out of their homeland. Palestine Monitor interviewed Palestinian singer Rim Banna.

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Rim Banna

Photo: Activestills

Rim Banna sings the notes of Onadikum, the notorious ballad of the Palestinian folkloristic tradition, whilst behind the scenery of the stage the Israeli Army is patrolling the entrance of Al- Masara. This West Bank village lies 13 km from Bethlehem and, like the 8 other villages in the area, is completely encircled by the illegal Israeli settlement of Efrat (part of the Gush Etzion block).

In Al-Masara on Friday the internationally-known Palestinian singer openedthe rallies commemorating the Nakba, an event organised by the local committee with the support of the Popular Struggle Coordination Committee, and in cooperation with the Minister of Culture, Siham Barghouthi. As Mahmoud Zawhre, Head of the Popular Committee, commented, “Israeli oppression means also oppression of the Palestinian culture, music and heritage”.

Photo: Activestills

“The national culture is part of the popular resistance and music is an important tool for cultural self-assertion” says Rim, whose repertoire includes modern Palestinian poetry and traditional songs. Thanks to her work, many songs and rhymes haven’t sunk into oblivion and are still very popular among Palestinians. “We have our story, our heritage, our narrative and it is also through the preservation of culture that we fight against the occupation. Look at what we have done today. We set up a stage, we sang and danced in front of the soldiers. The preservation of culture is vital to instill the state of origin in the new and young generations, to let them remember what happened in 1948, but also to let them take an active role in this process of awareness.” Rim does not see herself as an artist only. “I am a fighter before being a singer. I have a gift- my voice - and I use it as a weapon against Israeli occupation.”

Rim, who has participated in several editions of “The Land’s Day Festival” and other national political celebrations, has been inspired for her songs by the suffering of the Palestinians, and she aims to musically return the daily life of her people. 15 May, 2010 marks the anniversary of the Nakba, The Great Catastrophe for over 700.000 Palestinians, who were exiled from their own lands and houses as a direct consequence of the establishment of the State of Israel. Three tents set up in Al-Masara symbolise 62 years of dispossession, remembering the villages whose residents have become refugees.

Photo: Activestills

In a fusion of art and protest, the Nakba has been celebrated in Al–Masara, followed by other villages all over the West Bank, in Nebi Saleh, Ni’lin, Bi’lin and nearby Ramallah, where Palestinians were joined by international and Israeli activists marching together, approaching the barrier and the gate which separates the residents from their agricultural land. The activists carried a big key, symbolising the right of return, and were accompanied by some protesters resembling Handala, cartoonist Naji Al-Ali’s creature, the refugee child who remains a potent symbol of the struggle of the Palestinian people for justice and self-determination.

Protest in Bi’ lin

Several events and rallies have been organised for Friday and Saturday: candle vigils in all the refugee camps, photo exhibits showing images of the villages destroyed by the Zionist Army. Larger and better attended demonstrations have been taken place on Sunday and Monday in Jerusalem, Nablus, Jenin, Hebron, Jericho and Ramallah.

Photo: Activestills

Meanwhile, all over Israel the number of Israeli flags doubled or even tripled in an effort to reaffirm its nationalistic pride. Ironically, on Friday a brand new Israeli flag waved on the nose of military vehicles blocking the entrance to Al-Masara village. As Israel celebrates 62 years of Independence, several human rights organisations warned of further Israeli attempts to deprive Palestinians of their sacred right to remember their tragic story. The Israeli Knesset passed the Nakba Bill in April on the first reading. This additional discriminatory law, proposed by Libermann’s nationalist party Yisrael Beitenu, will revoke funds or will issue economic sanctions on those groups who organise mournings on Independence Day in Israel. The slogan “Their independence. Our Nakba” will be considered illegal.

The article was written for Palestine Monitor by Malika Malini

More about Rim Banna: http://www.rimbanna.com/