The National Day of Palestine is on the 15 November. As you will note that the National Day of Palestine is celebrated annually on the 15th November. This to celebrate the declaration of independence of Palestine in 1988. The day is also known as Independence Day or Yawm al Istiqlal in Arabic.
National Day of Palestine
The history behind this declaration dates back to the aftermath of the 1967 Six-Day War. During this time Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza Strip, as well as East Jerusalem from Jordan (National Day of Jordan) and Egypt (National Day of Egypt). This event ultimately led to the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Those who became refugees in their own land. In response, the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) was formed in 1964. The aim of fighting was for the rights of Palestinians and establishing an independent Palestinian state.
In November 1988, the PLO’s National Council declared the establishment of an independent Palestinian state, with East Jerusalem as its capital. The declaration was made in Algiers, Algeria (National Day of Algeria), and was supported by the majority of the international community, including the United Nations. The declaration also renounced terrorism and recognized Israel’s right to exist.
However, it is important to note that the celebration of the National Day of Palestine is not recognized by all countries. It is often met with opposition from Israel and its allies. The issue of Palestinian statehood remains a contentious issue in international politics. There are many advocating for a two-state solution while others call for a single democratic state in which Israelis and Palestinians can live together as equals.
Public Holidays in Palestine
Firstly this is a short list of public holidays in Palestine.
- New Year’s Day – January 1st
- Christmas Day – January 7th (celebrated by the Christian community)
- Labor Day – May 1st
- Eid al-Fitr – date varies each year, marking the end of Ramadan (a month of fasting)
- Eid al-Adha – date varies each year, marking the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca
- Palestinian Independence Day – November 15th, commemorating the declaration of independence in 1988
- Christmas Day – December 25th (celebrated by the Christian community)
- Islamic New Year – date varies each year, marking the start of the Islamic calendar
Finally in addition to these holidays, there are other important religious and cultural celebrations. See also the National Day of Qatar as well as the National Day of Saudi Arabia.
