In Israel and the Occupied Territories, Palestinians are marking the sixtieth anniversary of what they call the Nakba, or catastrophe. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians lost their homes during the war around Israel’s creation in 1948. Israel’s celebration of its sixtieth anniversary began last week in accordance with the Jewish calendar. President Bush is in Israel taking part in the festivities. On Wednesday, Hamas leader Mahmoud al-Zahar said Bush is celebrating Palestinian suffering.

Mahmoud al-Zahar: “He is here to celebrate our bloodshed since sixty years, our bloodshed since sixty years, our deportation, living in abnormal condition, confiscation of our national rights.”