"Tel Aviv-Yafo-Over 1,000 Arabs marched through the port city of Yaffa to protest Israel’s plans to move 500 Palestinian families out of Yaffa and to commemorate the killing of of six people in 1976 over the confiscation of Palestinian land. The Palestinian families have been issued notices to prove that they own the land that they reside in or to leave it. Given the sensitivity of a large Arab demography in a Jewish state, proving one’s prior residence is a long and hard legal battle that can take time. Palestinians claim that they are being evicted to pave the way for Jewish immigration from other countries.
Across Israel were other rallies commemorating Land Day. Land Day takes place on March 30th which was the date in 1976 when six unarmed protesters were shot demonstrating against a decision by the Israeli government to confiscate land in the Galilee region which is home to many Palestinians who stayed in Israeli following the war in 1948. Although the Israeli government claimed the land confiscations were for security reasons, they were used to build a military training camp and Jewish settlements. Protests and general strikes were held the 30th of March and during the protests, six demonstrators were shot and 100 people were wounded as the Israeli Occupation Forces and police fired into the crowd.
Land Day is attended by both Israelis and Palestinians who wish to see and end to the land confiscations. Banners in both Arabic and Hebrew denounced the Israeli policy of land confiscations. Although Arab citizens of Israel are supposed to be guaranteed equal rights under Israel’s basic laws, widespread discrimination is common particularly in areas such as housing and education."
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