Following Israel Hayom's revelation about the planned "Nakba Week" at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem starting Monday, the "Dror" student group affiliated with the Religious Zionism party sent a strongly worded letter Sunday evening to University President Professor Asher Cohen and University Rector Professor Tamir Shefer. The letter demanded they prohibit all "Nakba Week" events from taking place on campus. According to students enrolled at the Hebrew University, this letter marks the first sign of organized resistance that is expected to intensify significantly in the coming days.

The student group began their letter by referencing various social media posts shared throughout Sunday that invited university students to participate in what was described as an enrichment week. They continued, "According to the publication in Israel Hayom, student groups at the university will hold a 'Memorial Week commemorating the Nakba,' scheduled to continue until Saturday and featuring multiple events under the heading 'Ongoing Genocide.' Unfortunately, this is not the first time such inflammatory events have been permitted on campus."

"We, members of the 'Dror' student group, are approaching you with an unambiguous demand to cancel this provocative week planned to take place within the university grounds," they emphasized. "This event, featuring one-sided political messages, contradicts the spirit of unity in the State of Israel. While we certainly respect freedom of expression, freedom of expression does not extend to freedom to incite."

In their continued statement, the group members added pointed criticism regarding the university administration's handling of the issue, which, as of Sunday evening, had not issued any public response on the matter. "Academia is intended to be a place for research and the deepening of knowledge, not an arena for disseminating one-sided political propaganda. Introducing divisive political messages to campus disrupts learning, creates tension between students, and undermines the sense of security for many of us. Moreover, this represents a deliberate attempt to damage the spirit of the IDF through accusations such as 'genocide' and similar inflammatory rhetoric."

"Given these circumstances," they concluded, "we demand the immediate cancellation of this inflammatory week and action to maintain a campus environment free from incitement." In a conversation with Israel Hayom, one student revealed that the letter serves as just the beginning of a series of planned actions that a coalition of students intends to organize across campus in response to the controversial event. Among these planned actions is a sustained counter-protest throughout the coming week, during which opponents will demand that university authorities prohibit the various scheduled events, representing a direct continuation of the concerns outlined in their letter to the institution's senior leadership.

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The May 14 Israeli independence celebration and the May 15 Palestinian Nakba commemoration caused competing rallies around the world.

Tensions flared at Tel Aviv University on Monday as students gathered to mark the Palestinian Nakba Day. Hundreds of demonstrators congregated in front of the university gates, holding signs and chanting slogans to commemorate the forced evacuation of Palestinians during the 1948 war and to demand the right of refugees to return. Police maintained a heavy presence between the opposing groups. Activist Yoseph Hadad and right-wing MK Almog Cohen were in attendance, raising Israeli flags across from watermelon-bearing protesters.

Yoseph Haddad is standing against terrorist-suppoters who enjoy freedom in our country protesting right fucking here in Tel-Aviv University. pic.twitter.com/lwswANzeYy

— Adam Albilya - אדם אלביליה (@AdamAlbilya) May 15, 2024

In Haifa, thousands of flag-waving Palestinians marched and called for Israel to end the war in Gaza. Meanwhile, jubilant celebrations broke out in song and dance at the Western Wall in Jerusalem's Old City as Memorial Day ended and Independence Day began. Thousands danced, sang, and prayed for the Jewish state. Many shared videos on X of IDF soldiers near the Gaza border singing the Israeli national anthem, Hatikva.

#IDF #Soldiers on a break sing near the #Gaza border!#Israel #IDFHeroes #AmYisraelChai #Israel76 #BringThemHomeNow #NeverForgetNeverForgive #YomHaatzmaut #YomHaatsmaout #YomHaAzmaut pic.twitter.com/4BZwJnxrXl

— Ora Levitt  חיילת צה"ל  עם ישראל חי (@IDFsoldiergirl) May 14, 2024

Yum HaZikaron (Memorial Day) has ended, and Israel's Independence Day is starting. The Kotal (Western Wall) with celebrations and prayers for the Jewish state pic.twitter.com/agKhA6Qjyq

— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) May 13, 2024

In London, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign posted on its website a call to "take collective action in your workplace to stand in solidarity with Palestinians resisting the ongoing Nakba." It instructs readers to "Discuss with your colleagues what kind of action is best suited to your workplace and its circumstances." It recommends organizing a lunchtime walk-out in solidarity with Palestinians or a film screening to educate colleagues about the Palestinian struggle. It asks readers to circulate a petition calling on employers to speak up in solidarity with Palestine or for the divestment of pension fund holdings from companies complicit in Israel's attacks.

On the Jewish state's 76th Independence Day, President Joe Biden wrote in a letter to President Isaac Herzog, "The United States is proud of our enduring relationship with Israel. As the first country to recognize Israel as an independent state in 1948, our bonds are underpinned by shared democratic values, common interests, and cultural affinities. In the Wall Street Journal, the Helmsley Charitable Trust took out a full-page ad displaying the 1948 Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel, hoping to contrast the growing anti-Israel sentiment in the US and remind readers of the Jewish people's ancient tie to the land.

The State of Israel was established 76 years ago. Throughout those years, Israel and the U.S. have been—and will remain—partners in democracy, their people bound by common values and interests.

The Declaration of the Establishment of the State of Israel: https://t.co/gBEiZT0aev pic.twitter.com/Kc86UJQhFK

— Helmsley Charitable Trust (@HelmsleyTrust) May 14, 2024

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A Ministry of Economy and Industry agency charged with overseeing vocational colleges has recently sent out an instructional video aimed at helping educators deal with Arab-Israeli tensions during Independence Day in which it implicitly recognized Israel's founding as a negative development for Palestinians. 

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Palestinians usually refer to Israel's independence as the Nakba, which means catastrophe in Arabic, and occasionally hold anti-Israel events on May 15, the date in 1948 when Israel declared statehood. 

Video: Ministry of Economy and Industry

In the video, which was sent along with a written document, was sent to the directors of various colleges in Israel, it said: "We must recognize that Independence Day is Nakba Day [Catastrophe Day] for Arab citizens and allow such workers not to stand in silence during the siren on Memorial Day." The presenters also added, "Expressing joyfulness during Independence Day can be misconstrued as disrespect for Nakba Day." 

The official government video shows an Arab man and a Jewish woman, with the former saying "Nakba Day" and the latter "Independence Day". It calls on college directors to adopt a "flexible" approach to Arabs who resist taking part in the moment of silence when the sirens blast nationwide. "Be considerate of those who want to avoid being present during those times," it says, referring to both Arabs and Jews.  

In response to an Israel Hayom inquiry, the ministry issued the following statement: "The colleges under our supervision serve as a home for all sectors of society in Israel and allow a fusion of various cultures and socioeconomic mobility for the student population. The document comprises general points that were devised by a research institution under the auspices of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. It is important to make it clear that this is not a binding document and it does not reflect the ministry's views. The document was sent to several ministries as general advice. However, we have been made aware of the controversy and therefore all colleges will get a clarification." 

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The protests, which included provocations aimed at hurting or killing Israeli troops, were part of the events the terrorist group Hamas organized to mark "Nakba Day." The Nakba ("catastrophe" in Arabic) refers to the displacement of Palestinian refugees during Israel's War of Independence. Nakba Day, commemorating this event, is marked on May 15, which was the first full day of Israeli independence in 1948.

Groups approached the border fence, planting Palestinian flags and throwing stones at Israeli soldiers despite the efforts of marshalls to keep protesters away from the barrier, witnesses said.

Palestinian media said that one Palestinian provocateur was dead, while the Gaza Health Ministry said at least 47 people were wounded, though it was not clear how many of those were hit by live ammunition or were hurt by rubber bullets or by inhaling tear gas.

The Israel Defense Forces said about 10,000 rioters and demonstrators gathered in several places along the security fence.

"The rioters are setting tires on fire and hurling rocks," the IDF said in a statement. "A number of explosive devices have been hurled within the Gaza Strip, as well and a number of attempts have been made to approach the security fence. IDF troops are responding with riot dispersal means."

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Nakhala, who was in Egypt when the latest round of violence between Israel and Gaza-based armed factions erupted last Friday, outlined in the interview how events unfolded and also issued threats against Israel.

"We used sniper fire in response to [IDF] soldiers' shooting at our innocent demonstrating civilians," he said, adding that "we will continue until all our objectives are met. What happened in the most recent escalation was a preparation for the next major battle. From now on, the rocket fire will focus primarily on Tel Aviv and other large cities."

Nakhala, who currently resides in Beirut, continued: "The test will be during the march of return demonstrations on Fridays, on Nakba Day and on the one-year anniversary of the relocation of the U.S. Embassy to holy Jerusalem. If there are casualties among our people, it is our right to respond and that's what we will do. We will intercept the enemy's soldiers on the border and launch long-range rockets beyond Tel Aviv. We are not afraid of the Zionist enemy. We defeated the occupation army in every round of escalation and we will do it again."

The terrorist leader claimed that "Israel attacked civilian buildings and that forced us to respond strongly. There was no prior plan for it. We still insist that Gaza is under siege and demonstrators are coming under live fire during the march of return protests. The siege must be lifted from Gaza. We are handling it. In the meantime, Israel is making promises to Egypt and isn't keeping them."

Nakhala took aim at countries in the Arab world, who he accused of remaining silent in the face of U.S.-backed Israeli aggression.

He also said there were numerous signs that a war against Gaza would be launched "this summer," and that his organization was prepared. Asked if he thinks such a war will entail demilitarizing the Gaza Strip, Nakhala said yes.

"Israel feels like a powerful country in the region. How can it be that tiny, besieged Gaza, a mere 360 kilometers (223 miles), makes its own weapons; how is it that this tiny area is rebelling against Israel, that arrogant country with the help of the United States and the entire world. It is viewed as a provocation."

Nakhala believes that the U.S. and Egypt sought the current ceasefire between Israel and Gaza. According to the terrorist leader, Israel was facing a dilemma: the need to choose between a desire to continue fighting and to celebrate Independence Day – the "Nakba" (Palestinian catastrophe) in his words – which were set to begin Wednesday night.

Hence he expects a war to erupt over the summer. In his view, it will be a large-scale political and military war amid the backdrop of American machinations the region.

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