Labbayki ya Ummi by Muhammad Abdi

'Labbayki ya Ummi' by Muhammad Abdu

'I will answer your call, my Mother!'

A video about the rape of Palestine by the Zionists.

We bear witness: For you, Palestine

Growing up in Palestine...

Traditional Dabke Exhibition

This is a very charming video of traditional exhibition-style dabke, a type of Palestinian folkdance. It evidently formed part of a performance by the SPHR on 10 March 2007 in Montreal entitled 'Citizenship... Palestine?' (Performers are identified as Baker in black and Haithem in green. Baker uploaded the video to 'You Tube.' It is a wonderful exuberant performance of male expertise in the traditional dance arts. If this doesn't bring a smile to your lips... I offer it to balance the heartrending videos that show the terrible plight of the Palestinian people under Occupation.)

Song for Palestine

The song is a traditional 'dabke' folkdance tune that has been given words describing the loss and destruction of the Palestinian homeland.

Min irhabi? Who is the Terrorist?

The Palestinian rap group, DAM, makes a powerful statement about the current situation in Occupied Palestine. The song is performed in Arabic, with English captions. Here is the English:

'Who's the terrorist? I'm the terrorist?
How I am the terrorist when you've taken my land?
Who's the terrorist? You're the terrorist!
You've taken everything while I'm living in the homeland.

You're killing us like you killed our ancestors.
You want me to go to the Law?
What for?
You're the Witness, the Lawyer and the Judge.
If you're the Judge
I'll be sentenced to death.
You want us to be the minority?
To end up the majority in the cemetary?
In your dreams!

You're a Democracy?
Actually, it's more like the Nazis!

Your countless rape of the Arabs' soul
Finally impregnated it,
Gave birth to your child.
His name: the Suicide bomber!
And then you call him the terrorist?

You attack me but still you cry out
When I remind you it was you who attacked me.
You silence me and shout
'But you let small children throw stones!
Don't they have parents to keep them at home?'
WHAT!?
You must have forgotten you buried our parents
under the rubble of our homes.

And now while my agony is so immense
You call me the terrorist?!
Who's the terrorist?

Why terrorist?! Because my blood is not calm?
It's boiling!
Because I hold my head high for my homeland?
You've killed my loved ones
Now I'm all alone
My parents driven out
But I will remain
To shout out

I'm not against Peace.
Peace is against me.
It's going to destroy me,
Erase my culture.

You don't listen to our voices.
You silence us and degrade us.
And who are you?!
And when did you become ruler?!
Look now how many you've killed
And how many orphans you've created!
Our mothers are crying
Our fathers are in anguish,
Our land is disappearing,
And I'll tell you who you are!

You grew up spoiled,
We grew up in poverty.
Who grew up with freedom?
And who grew up in confinement?

We fight for our freedom
But you've made that a crime
And you, the terrorist
Call me the terrorist?!

Who's the terrorist? I'm the terrorist?
How I am the terrorist when you've taken my land?
Who's the terrorist? You're the terrorist!
You've taken everything while I'm living in the homeland.

So when will I stop being a terrorist?
When you hit me and I turn the other cheek.
How do you expect me to thank
the one who harmed me?!

I'll tell you what!
You tell me how you want me to be!
Down on my knees with my hands tied up,
My eyes to the ground,
Surrounded by bodies.
Homes destroyed,
Families driven out,
Our children orphaned,
Our freedom chained up,

You oppress,
You kill.
We bury,
We'll remain patient.
We'll suppress our pain.
Most importantly, you feel secure,
Just relax and leave us all the pain.
You see, our blood is like that of dogs,
NOT EVEN!
When dogs die, they receive sympathy,
So our blood is not as valuable as a dog's.

No! My blood is valuable,
And I will continue defending myself
Even if you call me a terrorist.

Min irhabi, min irhabi, min irhabi... (Who's the terrorist?)

(An old man narrates the following)
Those were my olive trees, all over here,
All of this land was full of olive trees.
... all of it.
Look! Look what they did to this tree! the poor thing...
They came and uprooted them.
A tree like this is 200 years old.
For two hundred years
We lived from its olives.
And they just come and destroy them.'

Does the World Know?

Does the world know what is happening in Palestine?

This is a compilation video. If you are patient, you will hear a song in English by Hilm al 'Arabi that was very popular in Arabic.

The English version:

And we demand
Every one to stand
Strong, hand in hand,
To free our land.

How can we not care
Our land is occupied?
Let the world be aware
Our land is our Pride.

How can we not cry?
Our children are not safe.
And we see them die
Filling grave after grave.

How can we not be sad
When Palestine's in tears?
It's the land that we had
For hundreds of years.

And we demand
Every one to stand
Strong, hand in hand
To free our land.

Sijjin Akka: The Prison of Akka

From the early days of Palestinian resistance, a famous and well-loved song...

This is a traditional Palestinian lament for the martyrdom of three great heroes in 1930: Fouad Hejazi, Muhammad Jamjoum, and Atta Al Zeir.

Introduction:

Three men and three verdicts, the accusation: love of Palestine, the ruling judgement: execution.
O Atta Al Zeir, Foud Hejazi, O Jamjoum, O three shining stars! You lit up the land of my nation, and from Akka came funerals for three doves, emerging from the darkness and spreading rays of light over my country.

Song:

Three men were they, racing towards death. In front of them was the deadly force of the oppressor. They met it with bravery and courage as immense as the land they defended.

Ya 3ain Ya 3ain (x3)

O the darkness of the prison (of Akka) is too great! When will it end for these brave men? The day is Tuesday the 3rd. O My Land (Palestine) answer...who will run to give his life and blood for you?

Ya 3ain Ya 3ain (x3)

From Akka's Prison came the funerals of Muhammad Jamjoun and Fouad Hejazi.
Mourn for them, O my people, mourn,
The grief of the year has come. (x2)

(The tolling of bells)

Muhammad Jamjoum with his will, Fouad Hejazi with his love of righteousness, see what they offered! Only to be exectued by the judgement of the Oppressor! (x2)

And Say, O Muhammad 'I am the first among you!', my voice, O Atta, is in your honour, and say, O Hejazi: 'I am the first among you', that is the strength of their honour. (x2)

(The tolling of bells)

O, my dear loving mother, the time has come. With all the nations of the world to witness, they called Fouad. O Fouad, they cannot even say farewell! (x2)

They call to Atta. O Atta, you are the glory of men and bravery. He attacked the garrison with sweeping passion! (x2)

(Tolling of bells)

O my brother Yousef, and you my mother, do not (take revenge), my sister, lest you fall into death. For the sake of this country I sacrificed my blood, it is all for you, O Palestine. (x2)

These three died the death of lions! Stay steadfast, O mother, stay resilient. For this nation (of Palestine) we give up our lives, our bodies, and our souls! And the crown of freedom and victory sits waiting for us! (x2)


(The tolling of bells)

On this day of Tuesday, these young men will hang. The people of brave Atta and Fouad, they do fear neither torture nor death!! (x2)