Learn about the history of the Palestinian struggle for freedom, equality and justice by exploring major events in the history of their oppression on this day of the year.
18 March
ALGERIAN INDEPENDENCE INSPIRED PALESTINIANS
On this day in 1962, the Evian Accords were signed that led to the independence of Algeria. The final frames of Pontecorvo’s brilliant Battle of Algiers shows accurately how France crushed the Algerian armed insurgency but a mass uprising and the defeat of French colonialism followed. Overwhelming military superiority and capacity for massive violence did not defeat the resistance of the Algerian people. Palestinians were inspired by the Algerian example of a poorly equipped movement defeating a superpower.
18 مارس
في مثل هذا اليوم من عام 1962 تم توقيع اتفاقيات إيفيان التي أدت إلى استقلال الجزائر. تُظهر الأطر النهائية لمعركة بونتيكورفو الرائعة في الجزائر العاصمة بدقة كيف سحقت فرنسا التمرد المسلح الجزائري ، لكن تبع ذلك انتفاضة جماهيرية وهزيمة الاستعمار الفرنسي. إن التفوق العسكري الساحق والقدرة على العنف الهائل لم يهزم مقاومة الشعب الجزائري. استلهم الفلسطينيون النموذج الجزائري من هزيمة قوة عظمى من قبل حركة مقاومة ضعيفة التجهيز .
Algerian scholar and activist Hamza Hamouchene:
"...unshakeable and eternal solidarity with Palestinians: Algerians understand that their liberation won’t be complete without the liberation of Palestine. This is unique in the Arab world: alongside Algerian flags, you always see the Palestinian flag. And people commemorate Algerian and Palestinian martyrs without distinguishing between them. This can be explained by Algeria and Palestine being the only countries in the region that experienced racist, genocidal settler-colonialism."
Algerian regime declares its support for the Palestinian people
Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika yesterday renewed his country’s “full and continuous support” for the Palestinian people in their struggle to determine their destiny and regain all their legitimate national rights.
Large demonstrations in Algiers against the regime carry Palestinian flags
Unlike previous Fridays, when protests usually peak in the early evening, this time crowds began forming earlier. Many demonstrators had gathered in People La Grande Poste and Place Audin where street vendors could be seen selling Algerian, Amazigh[Berber] and Palestinian flags. Several of the flags could be seen draped on balconies around the area.
Battle of Algiers is a masterpiece of film, a brutally honest depiction of anti-colonial struggle 'warts and all'. The US Pentagon used the film in counter-insurgency education.
"The Pentagon arranged a special in-house screening in 2003, evidently fascinated by exactly the same qualities that have mesmerised the movie's followers elsewhere: its icy candour on the subjects of counter-terrorism, counter-insurgency, and the vital importance of torture in eliciting information."
38-sec video: Algeria fotball fans chanting for Palestinian martyrs.
1-minute video: Algerians cheer against own football team for Palestine
3-minute video: street conversation in Rio je Janiero