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Since 1976, Palestinians worldwide observe Land Day and why it matters. Nationwide protests and general strike action erupted. At issue was Israel's land confiscation policy and brutal occupation harshness.
Israel declared demonstrations illegal. Palestinians ignored the threat and rallied. Thousands of Israeli security forces confronted them violently. Six Palestinians died. Dozens more were injured. Hundreds were arrested.
That's how police states operate. Nothing changed to this day. Professors Baruch Kimmerling and Joel Migdal said Land Day 1976 was special. Palestinians showed "daring confidence and political awareness" lacking earlier.
This time they weren't "passive or submissive." They "initiated and coordinated" nationwide political activity. Security force violence confronted them. Nonetheless, Palestinians showed they'd no longer be ignored.
Thirty-six years ago, Israel announced a plan to confiscate thousands of acres of Palestinian land for "security and settlement purposes." Palestinians had enough and resisted. They vowed to defend their land and rights.
They're important. So are Arab identity and heritage. Occupied Palestinians and Israeli ones united. They protested against Israel's plan to replace them with Jews.
In early 1975, Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin announced a project to Judaize the Galilee. "Developing the Galilee," he called it. The idea was to transform it into a majority Jewish region, construct eight industrial estates, and develop its economy overall.
On March 1, 1976, General Yisrael Koenig, in charge of Israel's northern region, prepared a secret report. It planned removing Arabs from the area, confiscating their land, and Judaizing it.
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