Palestinian Heritage Exhibition Kicks Off: Hopes for Palestinian Liberty

Siraj Kobeissy

July has arrived, and with it comes the essence of resistance and victory echoing through the darkness of the enemy's aggression ongoing on Lebanon and Palestine.

The coalition of NGOs in Lebanon, organized for the 4th year, the Annual Palestinian Heritage Exhibition, which presents a group of traditional Palestinian handcrafts, food, art, folklore and the most prominent details that distinguish the Palestinian identity.

Under the auspices of Lebanese Speaker of Parliament, Nabih Berri, the exhibition held its opening ceremony Monday in the UNESCO Palace Beirut.

Participants from Palestine, Syria, Iran, Lebanon, Jordan, Turkey, India, and other countries were present in the ceremony.

The ceremony was launched by the Lebanese and Palestinian national anthems, followed by a group of speeches from different participating parties.

The first speech was delivered through satellite by Atallah Hanna, Pastor of Al Quds (Jerusalem), where he wished for the exhibition to blossom, calling upon fighting for Palestine and Al Quds (Jerusalem).

He expressed condolences to all Lebanese over the death of Sayyed Mohammad Husein Fadlallah, saying that he was a prominent figure fighting against the "Israeli" Zionist aggression against Palestinian territories and especially Al Quds (Jerusalem).

Pastor Hanna stressed that the Palestinian identity is fading away with the constant "Israeli" assaults and attempt to abolish the Palestinian sacred sites and firms.

He also referred to what late Sayyed Fadlallah said about Palestinians, "One Nation and One Family", stressing on the right to return for all Palestinians to their holly land.

It was scheduled that Shiekh Raed Salah was to deliver a speech from Al Quds (Jerusalem), yet the Zionist "Israelis" did not allow him to go through.

On behalf of Lebanese Speaker of Parliament, MP Walid Sukariyeh delivered a speech, in which he stressed on the importance of the resistance in fighting aggressions. He further praised the resistance and their leader, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, for it lit the road of resistance to freedom.

On the Palestinian level, Sukariyeh urged on the importance of the Palestinians' return to their homeland, "Not a partial return, but a full return of all Palestinians", he emphasized.

He praised all those who worked on the Palestinian Heritage Exhibition and made it happen, affirming his stance with the Palestinians and their issue.

At the end he shed the light on the brutal siege on Gaza, where he called upon international community and human rights to do whatever is possible to break the siege on Gaza.

In his speech, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Lebanon, Ghadanfar Rokon Abadi, stressed that his country stands side by side with the Palestinians in their issue, stressing on their right to return.

Rokon Abadi also stressed on the importance of the Palestinian reconciliation and unity, in all its bodies, which guarantees a sacred victory in confronting against the Zionist aggressive entity.

Iranian ambassador expressed that there is no benefit of any proximity talks with the "Israeli" enemy, for as he said, "History has proven that the enemy does not commit to any accord or pledge, for the resistance is the only way to achieve victory, liberty, and freedom of Palestine".

From Syria, Khaled Al Aboud, Member of Syrian Peoples' Council (Syrian Parliament) expressed his honor to participate and attribute in this exhibition, especially that it deals with the Palestinian heritage which should be taken good care of so it won't fade away due to the "Israeli" aggressions.

Speaking about the resistance, he said, "The resistance is not a strategic decision, it is rather a strategic inevitability", adding that no one should present any other choice put the choice of resistance.

He also thanked all organizers of the exhibition, stressing that if it wasn't for the resistance, such exhibitions and programs wouldn't have been organized in the light of the constant "Israeli" assaults and violations.

On behalf of the resistance in Lebanon, Loyalty to the Resistance Parliamentary Bloc member, MP Hassan Fadlallah spoke about the choice of resistance, stressing on its importance in confronting the enemy and fighting for Palestinian and Lebanese civil rights.

"It happens that today, July 12th is the 4th year anniversary of the July 2006 war, in which the resistance accomplished a great victory", Fadlallah said.

MP Fadlallah referred to the internal Lebanese level, and the foreign interference, referring to the "Israeli" espionage networks revealed at a regular basis, where the latest was the Alfa GSM network espionage agent, which according to Fadlallah, could be the most dangerous so far.

Hassan Fadlallah confirmed, "Resistance in Lebanon is alert for any "Israeli" threats, although the enemy should know better of its threats, for it was defeated by the resistance, which on its part became more confident".

Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc member concluded saying, "This exhibition is an attempt to form a bond between the people and their heritage", further stressing on the importance of resistance, whether by art, poetry, or education, referring that the most significant kind of resistance, is the resistance by weapons.

Hamas speech was delivered by Hamas Political Chief in Lebanon, Ali Barake, who praised Lebanon for its anniversary on the 2006 July war victory, expressing his respect to the people, army, and resistance formula to be adopted in Lebanon.

He also expressed his honor to be part of an exhibition organized by the people of his own country and his own heritage, hoping Palestinians would never forget their homeland, urging on the right of return.

Officials then made a tour in the exhibition, where they got introduced to many aspects of the Palestinian heritage.

Phillip Bannowsky, an American activist who happened to be in Lebanon on a research to write a book, attended the opening ceremony and expressed to moqawama.org his keen opinion about Palestine, where he considered solidarity as the major point that could hold Palestinians together.

Bannowsky considered that the Palestinian heritage is part of their identity, believing that they should fight for it, at the time where "Israel" is trying to vanquish it from existence.

Regarding the Lebanese July 2006 war, Philip said that he witnessed the "Israeli" brutal aggressions during the war, especially on the Beirut Southern Suburb (Dahiyah), expressing his anger on "Israel", saying that he was sure it was not only "Israel", the US was clearly part of this fully-armed aggression.

The Annual Palestinian Heritage Exhibition will remain for a week, where delegations from all over the world will be attending to take part and get to know the Palestinian heritage.

It is a great deal that the world expresses solidarity with the Palestinians, whether through resistance or condemnation of the "Israeli" aggressions and violations, which are erasing one step at a time the Palestinian identity.

Lebanon, along with its people, shows solidarity with Palestinians, in reviving their heritage, in order to keep it in the hearts of their children. The world should learn to defend their Arab neighbors, their brother, against the "Israeli" entity, for it is surely inhumane.

The world is silent; it is time to wake up.