One Step further to al-Quds*

By Khalid el-Gharby

Al-Akhbar, 15-03-2012

On March 30th dubbed "Land Day", hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees will march with Arabs and activists from Islamic, African, and Asian countries towards the nearest point to al-Quds (Jerusalem).

Shortly before the rallies would start, people were rushing impatiently to the march's registration centers. "We can't wait to take a whiff from home" were the calls.

The field preparations for the "Global March to Jerusalem (GMJ) -Lebanon" are set and go. The march commences, on March 30th, from various Palestinian refugee camps, and from different areas of Lebanon to al-Quds (Jerusalem). This is what was announced by the advisory board of the march in a press conference held yesterday at the Press Association.

Hundreds of thousands of Palestinian refugees and Arab justice seekers will try and reach the nearest points to al-Quds (Jerusalem). The GMJ will be accompanied by demonstrations and strikes in all Islamic and Arab capitals in major public squares as it takes place.

Demonstrations in front of "Israeli" embassies will be pulled in different capitals of the world, as well as land convoys from Europe, Africa, and Asia, according to every area's potential and circumstances.

What's the situation in the refugee camps upon the upcoming march??

In Ein El Helwe refugee camp, the preparations for the march are taking place efficiently. The event organizers stated that "children, men, women, and elderly of the revolution will be marching to al-Quds (Jerusalem)". Here, in Fateh quarters, Palestinians from all ages rushed to register their names in the march to al-Quds (Jerusalem). Taghrid al-Sadik, a participant in the march said "I am more than excited to take at least a whiff of my country". However, this girl who signed up for the event will not be taking the bus to the march, instead she will, with tens of her friends, go to the specified location on foot to join the march later on. They will go there two days earlier, on the 28th of March. The organizers confirmed that the location on boarders is yet to be specified for further notice because of logistic and security matters that concern the Lebanese legal forces.

At the registration centers, Abo Mahmoud el-Housein pleads loudly "you honorable ones, al-Aqsa is calling, what are you waiting for? al-Aqsa gates' are sealed, and will only open by our martyr". Abo thaer, a fateh soldier, wrote down in his registration form "blood group: my blood is Palestinian, and my wounds are Palestinian". This soldier is aware that he is going to the battlefield empty handed in the march to south Lebanon with his fellow refugees. He said "even though we don't bear weapons, we fight with our bare hands."

Upon the excited shouts of those signing up to the march, stands out the voice of the chief of the advisory board of GMJ, Abo Bassam al Makdah "We die for the prosperity of Palestine" he said. "Millions of people of more than sixty countries, was it Arab, Islamic, Asian, or African will be rallying to the Palestinian borders along with its surrounding countries," Abo bassam elaborated. El makdah emphasized that "we dream of civilizing our struggle with the enemy for the sake of al-Quds (Jerusalem) and Palestine".

Atif mousa, a member of the media committee of GMJ, describes this movement "as a kind of referendum for this struggle," adding "it is a big Yes for al-Quds (Jerusalem)". He also pointed out that "there are five registration centers in Ain el-Helwi refugee camp that have widely opened their doors towards those who wish to join GMJ, the strikes, and the photo exhibits that would be held prior to the march. As for Maher Shabayta, a Fateh Leader at Ain el-Helwe, pointed out that the event organizers are working so hard to comprise a large number of participants from the refugee camp, not to mention maintaining the security in this peaceful march, where no flag will be raised but the Palestinian national flag, in addition to the flags of participating countries and the unified slogans and calls.

Still the above doesn't completely erode Palestinian fear of the march being canceled any second because of the dangerous situations in Lebanon, or the gathering points being too far from the Palestinian soil , consequently " We won't be able to take a whiff from home", says the activist in the "The activist" group, mohammad Saed. He also adds "it's ok if the "Israeli" enemy shoots live bullets on unarmed civilians, as they did before in the march of the Return at the anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba, paving the way to Palestine".
*Translated by moqawama.org

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