Loading ...As The Sun Rises and Sets
“We are captives, even if our wheat
grows over fences and the swallows rise from our
broken chains.
We are captives of what we love,
What we desire and
What we are.”
Mahmoud Darwish
Palestinian poet
AS the sun rises and sets over the Mediterranean waters and hills of the Occupied Territories of Palestine, and the Gaza Strip, on May 15, better known to all Palestinians as Palestine Day, it remains the enduring light for dreams and justice to prevail….and a day to illuminate a paradise of destroyed dreams.
Since the creation of Israel was declared on May 15, 1948, on the indigenous Palestinians homeland, decades of an endless catastrophic siege of violent illegal wars against Palestinian humanity and human rights has now, unfortunately become 67 years of an historic injustice.
Today’s world community of peace seekers, from all walks of life, diligently extol their legitimate voices of resolve on the question of Palestine and the termination of 67 years of the overwhelming sea of Palestinian historical injustices. And yes, thousands of Palestinians who have been dispersed in an unholy diaspora from their homeland while living in all four corners of the world will tell you, Palestine Day is about a people with a national cultural identity of existence. Against all odds, the Palestinian legacy of steadfast endurance can never be erased.
And one might even ask, why is it that all relevant United Nations resolutions which were adopted over the years such as the United Nations’ UN resolutions 242, 338 and the UN General Assembly’s resolution 181 of November 29, 1947, which called for the partition of Palestine into an Arab and Jewish state, and guaranteed international legitimacy. As well as the UN General Assembly resolution 194 of December 11, 1948, which called for the Palestinian refugees to have the right to return to, or compensation for for, their homes and property, still awaits its implementation and the creation of a Palestinian State?
Worldly news sources reported on a glimmer of hope for the Palestinians when the Palestinian Authority became the 123rd member in the International Criminal Court of Justice in the Hague, Netherlands on April 1, 2015. According to the Palestinian Ambassador in the Netherlands, Dr. Nabil
AbuZanaid, “This can be seen as an acclaimed and healing opportunity to usher in justice for the Palestinian people who for over sixty years have no seen a day of total freedom, basic human rights or justice. Our committed intent is to seek a long prevailing justice, not vengeance.”
It is the hope of many human rights activists and people of moral conscience worldwide, that Palestine Day exemplifies days of a brighter ray of sun shine and overturns the 67 years of the Nakba (catastrophe) that has been scared not only by the loss of Palestine as a country, the destruction of its societal infrastructure, and forced exodus of over half of its native population, coupled with the destruction of Palestinian villages.
A 3000 year old olive tree in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus sat under and prayed with his Apostles after the Last Supper – Mt. of Olives – Jerusalem
And According to historical records from 1948, prior to the U.N. Partition resolutions, Palestine was never an empty land. Many of these historic records have always confirmed that Palestine comprised more than 900 Palestinian villages, and almost more than half of which were destroyed by the Israel forces.
Currently, in this world arena of unjust human conflicts, and while people of honor, human integrity and dignity, continue to stand in good faith with human justice to commemorate the historical sins of the past and present 67 years of Palestinian dispossession, it remains to be seen any ray of optimistic hope that unveils new horizons that embraces the future generation for an enduring imagery of a sustainable peaceful coexistence.
Palestine Day is a celebration of its unique cultural heritage, the images of Palestinian flowers, the olive trees, its vegetable and fruit farmers; its colorful embroidered, thobes, Palestinian village dresses,
and the innate spiritual richness of diversity among Jews, Christians and Muslims in the Holy land of Jerusalem.
As the sun rises and sets day by day over the hills and waters of the Palestine’s holy land, Palestine day is a testimony to its magnificent survival of uniqueness of the courageously brave women, men and children, and the unforgotten, honorable memory of the unstoppable tragedy of the innocent civilian injustices and martyred souls of Palestinians who fought and died for freedom.
Palestine day is the dawning of new days of sun light on the Palestinians paradise of deferred dreams and a celebration of their distinctive ancestral heritage roots in Palestine.
Leila Diab
Freelance Journalist