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GUEST: Dr. As’as Abu Khalil, Professor of Political Science at California State University, Stanislaus and has authored numerous books including, “The Battle for Saudi Arabia.” His popular blog is The Angry Arab News Service.

Chief Palestinian peace negotiator Ahmad Qurei urged Israel on its 60th anniversary of statehood last week to recognize the Palestinian right of return. In an article published commemorating the 60th anniversary of al Nakba, or “the catastrophe,” as Palestinians refer the founding of Israel, Qurei hinged prospects for peace on Israeli recognition of the principle. He also utilized the occasion to call on Israel to create a culture of confession regarding the expulsion of Palestinian people from their land in the Nakba as a necessary conduit to a lasting peace. Locally, in Southern California, Al-Awda, The Palestinian Right to Return Coalition held an international convention marking the 60th anniversary of Al Nakba. The three day conference featured workshops, speakers and culminated in a march and rally last Sunday in Anaheim’s Little Arabia district. Invited guests and speakers included Haneen Zoabi, Ilan Pappe, and As’ad Abu Khalil. In addressing the convention, Dr. Abu Khalil offered his reflections on the 60th year of Al Nakba by suggesting the anniversary can be marked not as a mournful funeral, but as an occasion to reassess strengths and weaknesses in the path to Palestinian liberation.

Abu Khalil’s speech was recorded by Uprising producer Gabriel San Roman at the Al-Awda Convention.

For more information, visit www.al-awda.org.