For the first time in 63 years of being outcast from their home land, some 50,000 Palestinians have flooded the border of Lebanon and Palestine.
Press TV speaks with Franklin Lamb, international lawyer participating in the NAKBA commemoration and witnessing the extraordinary scenes at the Lebanese border. Following is a transcription of that interview.
Press TV: On this anniversary of NAKBA, so far we have 65 people injured and at least one person killed; we have reports of a journalist being critically injured in Gaza. We also have reports of 30 Palestinians hurt and four killed in Southern Lebanon. Do you think the Israelis are feeling they can get away with this violence without pressure or consequences from the international community?
Franklin Lamb: I'm at Maruno rock and your report is not accurate. There are 7 killed and maybe 18 wounded. I'm standing in the midst of thousands and thousands of Palestinians pushing their way into Palestine. Thousands more are still arriving here even though the ceremonies have ended because they are arriving late from areas far away.
Literally hundreds of buses have arrived. Hezbollah has arranged for 200 more buses to come from Syria; Palestinians from Syria. They are still arriving and I am amazed at what I am seeing. I've seen so many babies and so many pregnant women on so many buses here that you have to walk the last four or five miles up hills and through fields; there are people on crutches, old people. If there is anybody who thinks Palestine is not going to be liberated let them come to Maruno rock this May 15th.
This is a historic event similar to the freedom marches America used to have in the 1960s civil rights movement -- the spirit is so great. This is a momentous historic event of NAKBA and the need to be liberated because of the Arab and Islamic awakening and this is part of that awakening. It's amazing -- I've been to a lot of demonstrations -- nothing like this. Nothing like this has occurred on the question of Palestine for the past 63 years.
Press TV: On other occasions of the NAKBA there have been commemorations. So you're saying that it's starkly different from previous commemorations?
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