That Israel will be celebrating 60 years since its existence in the occupied territory is amazing indeed. It is equally surprising to hear the world media advertising the celebration of 60 years of Israel. If it were the celebration of ethnic cleansing, racism, and the daily persecution of an entire nation, which it is even if they refuse to recognise it as such, the western media will most certainly not give so much time on its advertisement.

Yes, it is celebration of almost total destruction of Palestinians and their infrastructure by the Zionists regime; the state of Israel was built on the burning ruins of Palestinian homes, and is ensuring the destruction continues to this day. Any celebration of it’s 'birth’ is an open justification of the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in their own land. Is this what is being advertised?

Sixty years ago in May, the State of Israel was created in Palestine. Less than a year after the declaration, a ceasefire was declared after serious unrest. Later, Zionist forces were in control of 78% of Palestine.

The creation of this State came at unspeakable cost to the Palestinian people, who had been living there continuously for centuries. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were ethnically cleansed from their homeland, and forced to flee their territories. Is that what they are celebrating?

Thousands of Muslims and Christians Palestinians were forced out of their territory and their villages were destroyed.

The implication of this is that a 60 year Palestinian has been living under occupation throughout his life-an occupation which has paralysed all aspects of his life. Now life in Gaza is so terrible that the UN Aid organisation warns of serious human catastrophe. Just recently, the United Nations reported that it has been forced to halt desperately needed food aid distribution, upon which more than 1 million Gazans are dependent, because Israeli-imposed sanctions have created massive fuel shortages. Are they celebrating this?

We believe that this is not the time of celebration but protesting. It is the time in which all the freedom loving masses of the world should voice their condemnation. Yes, to condemn the illegal occupation, persecution of Palestinians and destruction of their infrastructures, not celebration, as they so much advertising to do.

Khalid Isa