Israel demolishes three Palestinian homes on Palestine’s ‘Independence Day’

Palestine

Published: 2017-11-15 17:08

Last Updated: 2024-03-27 18:07


Palestinian Cartoonist Mohammed Sabaaneh cartoon.
Palestinian Cartoonist Mohammed Sabaaneh cartoon.

While Palestinians are celebrating their so-called ‘Independence Day’, Israel continues its policy to demolish Palestinians homes in Jerusalem.

Israel’s demolition policy

On Wednesday alone, the Israeli municipality of Jerusalem demolished a two-storey building under construction in the neighborhood of al-Issawiya, in occupied East Jerusalem, and another residential structure in the same neighborhood, under the pretext of lacking an Israeli construction permit.

In the village of Beit Surik, to the northwest of Jerusalem, Israeli forces also blew up the family home of Nemer al-Jamal, according to WAFA News. Al-Jamal was killed by Israeli forces in September after he carried out a deadly shooting attack near the village, which left three Israeli Border Guard Police officers dead.

Independence declaration

Meanwhile, Palestinians are celebrating their ‘29th Independence Day’, announced on 15 November 1988 by former President Yasser Arafat. Palestinians rallied in Tulkarm, West Bank, celebrating the so-called Independence Day, calling for the international community to make it a reality on the ground.

The Independence declaration was adopted by the Palestinian National Council and the legislative body of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), by a vote of 253 in favour 46 against and 10 abstentions.

It was written by the Palestinian Poet Mahmoud Darwish, proclaimed by Yasser Arafat who read at the closing session of the 19th Palestinian National Council to a standing ovation.

The declaration came following the withdrawals of Egypt from Sinai and Gaza, in 1982, and Jordan from the West Bank in 1988.

Hanan Ashrawi, a member of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee, said that the declaration of independence "was a unique step forward in the Palestinian history, and found a real identity for the Palestinian people and their just cause,” in an emailed statement.

A Palestinian state?

Palestine did receive support in the international community. By mid-December 1988, 75 states had recognised Palestine, rising to 93 states by February 1989, according to the Palestine Yearbook of International Law, 1989.
However, what it did not consider was the contradiction of declaring statehood within an occupied country, and Palestine is still fighting for an internationally recognised, independent state.