International Day of Solidarity with Palestinian PeopleNovember 29, 2021 by Tasneem Sultan
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Thirty years after the UN resolution 181 II adaptation of Palestine partition in two states, Jewish and Arab, the United Nations approved another resolution on November 29, 1977, for an annual observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. This day promotes Palestinian rights, cultural events, and remembrance that Palestinians have not yet achieved their inalienable rights.
The issue of Palestine is about colonization, occupation, and policies of the Israeli government targeting Palestinians and their human rights, which the US funds. Since World War II, Israel has been the largest recipient of US foreign assistance, receiving $3.8 billion American taxpayer dollars in 2020 alone, funds which could alleviate issues confronting the US right now. Israel continuously violates international laws, and currently keeps five million Palestinians under military occupation. In Gaza, the largest open-air prison, people live under constant danger of aggression and lack access to basic resources such as clean water. Among Israel’s acts of aggression against Palestinians are a 14 Year Blockade of Gaza, land theft, and deprivation of basic necessities. This past summer, protests erupted in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood as many Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah were fighting against the expulsion from their homes to make way for settlers. In Silwan, families faced home demolition, and across the occupied territories, Israeli forces arrest peaceful protesters, torturing, arresting, and killing children (this year alone Israel killed 80 children). The invasion of the Al Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan and attacks on farmers during the olive harvest season threaten religion and culture.
On social media, live videos illustrate the brutality in east Jerusalem, Sheikh Jarrah, and Gaza. Far-right Israeli activists chant 'Death To Arabs' in public. Facebook's whistleblowers uncovered that tech giants are repressing Palestinian content, taking down their posts, and suspending user accounts. A minority group of Israelis, however, is speaking and acting for the rights of Palestinians. Breaking the Silence, a group of former Israeli soldiers, a former Israeli Air Force pilot, and some young Israelis are refusing to join the military.
Settlements in the West Bank are expanding as the apartheid wall corners Palestinians into crowded quarters. Palestinians face war crimes such as settler attacks, discriminatory arrests by Israeli police, and ongoing forced displacement. B'tselem, an Israeli human rights group, and Human Rights Watch's recent reports state that "Israel is an apartheid and settler-colonial state, and Palestinians are deprived of all the economic, civic, and political rights because of the system of violence. "Recently, the Israeli government designated six Palestinian human rights groups as terrorist organizations to hide its crimes against humanity.
Criticism of Israel and its policies are frequently portrayed as anti-Semitism. Criticism of Israel, backed with truth and evidence, should be understood as a valid analysis of a government. Just as other countries are held accountable for human rights violations, Israel can be as well. Using the same mindset to criticize violence and abuse in the US or other histories, Israel’s history should be assessed critically as well. But if we speak about Israel and its human rights abuse against Palestinians we are deemed anti-Semitic. It is notable and well recognized in the history of Jews living in Muslim lands, they were protected, whether in the Middle East, the Ottoman empire, or Al-Andalus. There is no animosity among Jews and Muslims, it is a political issue.
UN resolution 194 officials recognize the 'right of return' of Palestinians who were expelled during 1948. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are respected organizations that agree on the right of return. In the words of Noam Chomsky, "The last paradox is that the tale of Palestine from the beginning until today is a simple story of colonialism and dispossession, yet the world treats it as a multifaceted and complex story—hard to understand and even harder to solve."
Acquire Knowledge and Support:
Learn the facts, do research, listen to experts, read books and history and make your minds, listen to the stories of Palestinian, hear the other side, keep in mind that misleading media does not necessarily show the facts. Do your homework. Sign a petition to end the occupation of Palestine and donate to a charity that is helping Palestinian people. Millions of Palestinians live in some neighboring countries as refugees. We need to take sides against apartheid, against violence, against murder, against oppression, against Injustice. Ask yourself, are you okay with home demolition, checkpoints, separated walls, and ethnic cleansing? The question is, are you up for human rights, dignity, and justice for all? You just need to be human to see the injustice in Palestine.
The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People serves as a reminder that Palestinians continue to struggle for their land and rights. This day offers an opportunity for the worldwide community to reflect on why the Palestinians have yet to achieve the inalienable rights recognized by the General Assembly. This day symbolizes the intensely rooted history of the destruction of the native people of this land but also a struggle for peacemaking and upholding the principle of equity, justice, and dignity for humankind.
For more resources on Palestine and to support them, please see the list below.
1. Jewish Voice for Peace Palestine/Israel 101
2. https://ifamericansknew.org/
3. https://nakba.amnesty.org/en/
3. Palestinian Children's Relief Fund
4. https://hhrd.org/web/Campaigns/Palestine-Relief
5. B'Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories
6. Human rights in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories | Amnesty International
7. National Students for Justice in Palestine (National SJP)
8. Human Rights Watch Report: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution
9. Mohammed El-Kurd, Palestinian writer (@m7mdkurd)
The issue of Palestine is about colonization, occupation, and policies of the Israeli government targeting Palestinians and their human rights, which the US funds. Since World War II, Israel has been the largest recipient of US foreign assistance, receiving $3.8 billion American taxpayer dollars in 2020 alone, funds which could alleviate issues confronting the US right now. Israel continuously violates international laws, and currently keeps five million Palestinians under military occupation. In Gaza, the largest open-air prison, people live under constant danger of aggression and lack access to basic resources such as clean water. Among Israel’s acts of aggression against Palestinians are a 14 Year Blockade of Gaza, land theft, and deprivation of basic necessities. This past summer, protests erupted in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood as many Palestinian families in Sheikh Jarrah were fighting against the expulsion from their homes to make way for settlers. In Silwan, families faced home demolition, and across the occupied territories, Israeli forces arrest peaceful protesters, torturing, arresting, and killing children (this year alone Israel killed 80 children). The invasion of the Al Aqsa Mosque during the holy month of Ramadan and attacks on farmers during the olive harvest season threaten religion and culture.
On social media, live videos illustrate the brutality in east Jerusalem, Sheikh Jarrah, and Gaza. Far-right Israeli activists chant 'Death To Arabs' in public. Facebook's whistleblowers uncovered that tech giants are repressing Palestinian content, taking down their posts, and suspending user accounts. A minority group of Israelis, however, is speaking and acting for the rights of Palestinians. Breaking the Silence, a group of former Israeli soldiers, a former Israeli Air Force pilot, and some young Israelis are refusing to join the military.
Settlements in the West Bank are expanding as the apartheid wall corners Palestinians into crowded quarters. Palestinians face war crimes such as settler attacks, discriminatory arrests by Israeli police, and ongoing forced displacement. B'tselem, an Israeli human rights group, and Human Rights Watch's recent reports state that "Israel is an apartheid and settler-colonial state, and Palestinians are deprived of all the economic, civic, and political rights because of the system of violence. "Recently, the Israeli government designated six Palestinian human rights groups as terrorist organizations to hide its crimes against humanity.
Criticism of Israel and its policies are frequently portrayed as anti-Semitism. Criticism of Israel, backed with truth and evidence, should be understood as a valid analysis of a government. Just as other countries are held accountable for human rights violations, Israel can be as well. Using the same mindset to criticize violence and abuse in the US or other histories, Israel’s history should be assessed critically as well. But if we speak about Israel and its human rights abuse against Palestinians we are deemed anti-Semitic. It is notable and well recognized in the history of Jews living in Muslim lands, they were protected, whether in the Middle East, the Ottoman empire, or Al-Andalus. There is no animosity among Jews and Muslims, it is a political issue.
UN resolution 194 officials recognize the 'right of return' of Palestinians who were expelled during 1948. Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch are respected organizations that agree on the right of return. In the words of Noam Chomsky, "The last paradox is that the tale of Palestine from the beginning until today is a simple story of colonialism and dispossession, yet the world treats it as a multifaceted and complex story—hard to understand and even harder to solve."
Acquire Knowledge and Support:
Learn the facts, do research, listen to experts, read books and history and make your minds, listen to the stories of Palestinian, hear the other side, keep in mind that misleading media does not necessarily show the facts. Do your homework. Sign a petition to end the occupation of Palestine and donate to a charity that is helping Palestinian people. Millions of Palestinians live in some neighboring countries as refugees. We need to take sides against apartheid, against violence, against murder, against oppression, against Injustice. Ask yourself, are you okay with home demolition, checkpoints, separated walls, and ethnic cleansing? The question is, are you up for human rights, dignity, and justice for all? You just need to be human to see the injustice in Palestine.
The International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People serves as a reminder that Palestinians continue to struggle for their land and rights. This day offers an opportunity for the worldwide community to reflect on why the Palestinians have yet to achieve the inalienable rights recognized by the General Assembly. This day symbolizes the intensely rooted history of the destruction of the native people of this land but also a struggle for peacemaking and upholding the principle of equity, justice, and dignity for humankind.
For more resources on Palestine and to support them, please see the list below.
1. Jewish Voice for Peace Palestine/Israel 101
2. https://ifamericansknew.org/
3. https://nakba.amnesty.org/en/
3. Palestinian Children's Relief Fund
4. https://hhrd.org/web/Campaigns/Palestine-Relief
5. B'Tselem - The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories
6. Human rights in Israel and Occupied Palestinian Territories | Amnesty International
7. National Students for Justice in Palestine (National SJP)
8. Human Rights Watch Report: Israeli Authorities and the Crimes of Apartheid and Persecution
9. Mohammed El-Kurd, Palestinian writer (@m7mdkurd)
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