independence day

Protesters wave Palestinian flags during the 27th annual March of Return in the depopulated villages of Hawsha and Al-Kasair, northern Israel, May 14, 2024. (Ahmad Al-Bazz)

‘The fourth generation remembers’: Nakba commemorated in shadow of Gaza war

Thousands of Palestinian citizens of Israel joined the annual March of Return, with many making connections to the violent displacement in Gaza.

By Baker Zoubi and Ghousoon Bisharat May 14, 2024

Protest against Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich during his visit to Washington DC, March 13, 2023. (Gili Getz)

‘A moment of disillusionment’: American Jews torn as Israel turns 75

Grappling with a far-right government and growing awareness of the Nakba, American Jews revealed mixed feelings marking Israel's independence.

By Emily Tamkin June 2, 2023

Palestine refugees initially displaced to Beach camp in Gaza board boats to Lebanon or Egypt during the first Arab-Israeli war, 1949 (UN Archives Photo/Hrant Nakashian)

Israelis, drop your denial and recognize the Nakba

Israeli recognition of its role in the Palestinian catastrophe is essential for both communities to survive. Other societies in conflict already figured that out.

By Dahlia Scheindlin May 21, 2020

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Arab citizens of Israel seen dancing in the village of Baqa al-Gharbiyye. (Moshe Pridan)

When Israel planned ‘fantasy’ tours to Arab villages under martial law

New documents reveal how Israel’s leaders prepared to celebrate the country’s 10-year anniversary: by bringing tourists to participate in orientalist ‘fantasy’ tours to Arab villages, then under military rule. If you’re a young Jewish person, chances are you or someone you know has gone on a Birthright trip. If you have gone on Birthright, chances are…

By Edo Konrad July 23, 2018

Israelis covered fireworks in central Jerusalem on Independence Day, May 5, 2014. (Hadas Parush/Flash 90)

Why I’m going on hunger strike on Israeli Independence Day

As Israelis go out to enjoy barbecues and fireworks, I will be fasting in solidarity with the Palestinian prisoners on hunger strike, and the millions of Palestinians who live under occupation. By Adi Golan Bikhnafo On Tuesday, as the smell of barbecued meat and fireworks envelops Tel Aviv, I will be fasting in Jaffa’s Clock…

By +972 Magazine May 1, 2017

An Israeli child waves an Israeli flag in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's Old city during a march celebrating Jerusalem Day, May 12, 2010. (Gili Yaari/Flash90)

In Israel’s official portrait, only Jewish lives matter

A new government report published on the eve of Israel’s Independence Day only concerns itself with infant mortality statistics and life expectancy of Jewish citizens. What does that say about Israel’s attitude towards non-Jews? It is not all that uncommon for nationalist Israelis to accuse anybody politically to the left of them of supporting, or…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man April 30, 2017

Israelis standing at attention on the side of the road during the Memorial Day siren. (ChameleonsEye / Shutterstock.com)

Standing up to the monopoly on mourning in Israel

For those of us who confront the realities of what goes on here every day, especially those of us who cannot escape it, or who make it part of our profession, every day is a form of Memorial Day and Independence Day. That is what we are trying to change. I went to one of…

By Mairav Zonszein May 11, 2016

Palestinians in Bethlehem commemorate the Nakba, May 14, 2013. (Activestills.org)

How I explained the Nakba to my kids

By Noam Rotem Say Dad, what is independence? An independent person is a person who can do whatever they want. They are free and nobody makes decisions for them. When a state is independent, it means that no one tells it what to do and it can decide for itself what it deems to be…

By +972 Magazine May 11, 2016

A father and daughter take part in the annual ’March of Return’ to the demolished Palestinian village of Kabul in Israel. Although Nakba Day is commemorated on May 15, the 'March of Return' occurs on the same day Israel celebrates its Independence Day, according to the Hebrew calendar, May 10, 2011. (Photo by Oren Ziv/Activestills.org)

Liberating Israelis from the mentality of occupation

The occupying identity has become second nature — a state of being. Recognizing the Nakba and Palestinian right of return would go a long way toward liberation — of Israelis. By Eitan Bronstein Aparicio and Dr. Eléonore Merza Bronstein On the 67th Independence Day of the State of Israel, its citizens appear to be further than ever…

By +972 Magazine April 23, 2015

Palestinian citizens of Israel take part in the march of return (Activestills)

PHOTOS: March of return to a destroyed Nakba village

On the day that many Israelis celebrated their Independence Day, thousands of Palestinian residents of Israel and Jerusalem marched to the site of the northern village of Lubya. Lubya was one of more than 500 Palestinian communities destroyed by Zionist militias in the Nakba, Arabic for ‘catastrophe,’ the term given to the forced displacement of…

By Activestills May 7, 2014

Border police officer stands in front of Palestinian as they wait to cross from Qalandiya checkpoint outside Ramallah, West Bank, into Jerusalem to attend the Ramadan Friday Prayer in the Al-Aqsa Mosque, July 26, 2013. Photo by: Yotam Ronen/Activestills.org

On Memorial Day, Israelis must reflect on Palestinians’ collective punishment

This year’s Memorial Day and Independence Day come at a time of increasing incidents of terror against the Palestinian population in both Israel and the West Bank. And yet, Palestinians are the ones being put under total closure. The Israeli military imposed a closure on Palestinians in the West Bank as of 6 p.m. local…

By Mairav Zonszein May 5, 2014

Israeli settlers march into the Old City of Jerusalem during the 'Jerusalem Day' march, East Jerusalem, May 8, 2013. Earlier that day, police forces ordered Palestinian shops and stands inside the Old City to close at 15:00. In previous years, Israeli settlers had vandalized and destroyed many Palestinian shops that remained open during the march. (Photo by: Yotam Ronen/ Activestills.org)

Left Jabs: Getting ready for Independence Day, and more

Short, polarizing comments about the news. ————- Celebrate Israel Former heads of Shin Bet and Mossad say Israel could, without question, stop the runaway settler attacks on Palestinians if it wanted to, it just doesn’t want to. On Tuesday, why shouldn’t we celebrate Israeli Independence Day? This is a great country if you’re Jewish.…

By Larry Derfner May 4, 2014

A Bedouin man whose home was demolished [illustrative photo] (Anne Paq/Activestills.org)

Land, my land: One issue that can be resolved

The time has come to allow ourselves to see this country not only as the battleground of a national struggle but as a shared homeland, which with painful concessions and tremendous confidence-building efforts on both sides, we can turn into a good place where our children will want to live. By Ron Gerlitz As Israel’s…

By +972 Magazine May 6, 2013