RAMALLAH, May 15, 2009 (WAFA)- Palestinians all over the world commemorated, today and yesterday, the 61^st anniversary of the Palestinian Nakba (Catastrophe), through demonstrations and various activities carried out inside the Palestinian Territory and out.

President Mahmoud Abbas had said, yesterday, in a televised speech, that ending the Israeli occupation of Arab and Palestinian territories, the establishment of an independent state of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital, solving the refugee's issue according to the Arab Peace Initiative adopted in Beirut in 2002, will be the minimum required to lift the historical injustice against our Palestinian people.

The President, added that Israel has tried to force Palestinians to give up, and to erase their national identity, but, 'we are here to stay, holding on to our rights, determined to get rid of the occupation.'

The President renewed his demand to Israel to commit to the international will, and to immediately stop working with their policy that would only lead to the continuation and escalation of violence. He stated, 'the time has come fro Israel to respond to the call of comprehensive just peace, and to accomplish the historical reconciliation between two peoples living on this tormented holy land.'

He affirmed that bringing back Palestinian unity, and ending this state of division on Gaza is the first thing we are looking forward to accomplish during the Palestinian national dialogue.