(Yom Al-Ard in Arabic, Yom Ha-Adamah in Hebrew)\r\nObserved annually on March 30, Land Day marks the first large-scale political protest organized by
Palestinian citizens of
Israel since the establishment of the State of Israel. In March 1976, Israel published its plan to confiscate approximately 1,500 acres of land from Palestinian villages in the Galilee region, in order to establish military bases and new Jewish settlements. A General Strike and marches were called for March 30, 1976 to protest this land expropriation The demonstrations resulted in violent clashes in which six unarmed Palestinians citizens were killed by the
Israeli police and army, and hundreds more were wounded and arrested. An unknown number of Israeli police and military were also wounded. The day is commemorated both by Palestinian citizens of Israel and Palestinians within the Occupied Palestinian Territories to honor Palestinians who have died in the struggle to hold onto their lands and identity. See "
Palestinian Land Day: Frequently Asked Questions," March 29, 2004, MIFTAH; and "
This Week in History: the 1976 Land Day protests," Michael Omer-Man, The
Jerusalem Post, March 25, 2012.