By: Kayhan Int’l Staff Writer
 
Every year on May 15, Palestinians and human rights activists all over the world hold demonstrations to commemorate Nakba Day, which marks the anniversary of the forcible eviction of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homeland by Israel in 1948.
More than 750,000 Palestinians - now estimated to number nearly five million with their descendants - were driven out of their homes on May 14, 1948. Since 1948, the Israeli regime has denied Palestinian refugees the right to return, despite United Nations resolutions (all vetoed by the United States) and international law that upholds people’s right to return to their homelands.
It’s the perversion of justice and exorbitance of legal authority. The global West, led by the U.S., the Israel lobbyists and certain Arab officialdom are still doing everything they can to force the Palestinian unity government to recognize Israel.
To this end, they have blockaded Gaza altogether. U.S. lawmakers have even advanced a legislation that penalizes international participation in the growing movement to boycott, divest from, and sanction Israel (BDS) for human rights abuses against Palestinians. Under the new law, the U.S. would put pressure on other countries not to engage in BDS against Israel of any kind, including refusal to do business with illegal settlements.
It is said tyranny and anarchy are never far asunder and oppressed people cannot remain oppressed forever. The political groups and factions in Palestine are fully aware that the Israelis will stop at nothing to expand their territories or stop them from returning. That’s why they are fighting back.
Their legitimate fight and demand for the right to return, and for equal opportunities and self-determination, is humane and in accordance with each and every human rights book in the world. It should be fully acknowledged and legally backed by each and every human rights organization in the world too. Oppression can only survive through silence.
The good news is that the world has said yes to the BDS campaign. For instance, Norway’s largest trade union body has just voted in favor of economic, cultural, and academic boycott of Israel over its treatment of Palestinians. Despite U.S. pressures, the Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions made the decision at the Congress on Friday, May 12. The Congress is the organization’s highest authority and holds its meetings every four years. The Confederation is launching an effort "to achieve an international economic, cultural and academic boycott of Israel.”
Indeed, the global boycott serves as an instrument for Palestine to be recognized as state, and to bring an end to Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land and the Gaza blockade. The right of return for refugees to their homes from where they were forcibly removed cannot be compromised either. It’s a right guaranteed by international law and enshrined in UN General Assembly Resolution 194.
International law also says Palestinians have the legal right to fight occupation and they can use force (armed resistance) to achieve their independence. Seeing that:
-The only way to ensure justice for Palestinians is to hope for a change in the world order. The actions of civil societies, conscientious politicians and independent states have not yet changed that balance.
-As a consequence of U.S.-led wars and discord in the Muslim world, Palestinians are suffering. Israel continues to kill Palestinians and steal their lands. The regime has destroyed a nation and the Muslim world is not doing anything about it.
-Israel’s war on Gaza showed only through armed resistance will it be possible for Palestinians to secure their freedom.
-Last but not least, a national referendum could help resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. But until such democracy prevails, armed resistance is the only choice for Palestinians to repel the U.S.-backed Zionist aggressors, and rid themselves of decades of occupation, loss and despair.