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'Nakba Day' protests: What regional leaders said

Protests erupted on Israel鈥檚 borders and throughout East Jerusalem and the West Bank on Sunday as Palestinians marked the 63rd anniversary of Israel鈥檚 independence, which they refer to as the 鈥渘akba,鈥� or catastrophe, because it resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Israel has used the clashes to argue that it does not have a legitimate partner for peace, while Arabs have capitalized on the regional spirit of uprising to press Palestinian claims to statehood. Here is a roundup of notable statements:

Ali Jarekji/Reuters
People take part in a 'Nakba' sit-in protest outside the UN office in Amman, Jordan, on Sunday, May 15. Palestinians mark 'Nakba' or catastrophe on May 15 to commemorate the time when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were expelled or fled from their homes in the war that led to the founding of Israel in 1948.

Mahmoud Abbas, Palestinian Authority president

Ali Jarekji/Reuters
People take part in a 'Nakba' sit-in protest outside the UN office in Amman, Jordan, on Sunday, May 15. Palestinians mark 'Nakba' or catastrophe on May 15 to commemorate the time when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were expelled or fled from their homes in the war that led to the founding of Israel in 1948.

  • By Ariel Zirulnick Correspondent

鈥淎ddressing those who were killed, Abbas said the 鈥榖lood of the martyrs slain marking Nakba Day in the homeland and in exile was shed for the sake of the people's freedom. It was not shed in vain.鈥�

鈥楾o all who took part in the activities and events marking Nakba Day, I say to you that you have proved to all that right is stronger than time, and that the will of the people is stronger and more durable than the might of tyrannical forces and occupation,鈥� he said.鈥�

:

"After 63 years of expulsion and the occupation of our land, the time has come for Israel to understand that our people have not forgotten and that the opportunity for a historic solution still exists.鈥�

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