This article was originally published by Maan News and is republished with permission.

On Thursday midday, activities marking the sixtieth Palestinian catastrophe (Nakba) began in different Palestinian districts, with the main activities at Al-Manara square in Ramallah in the central West Bank.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas delivered the opening speech in Ramallah reiterating the right of return of forcibly displaced Palestinian refugees, and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

"Israel's security is dependent on our independence and security. Continuation of occupation and the catastrophe which it brought will never bring security to anybody. It is time the occupation came to an end and the mark of disgrace in human history called the Palestinian Nakba also came to an end. Israel should stop its settlement projects, if they do not intend to miss the available peace opportunity," Abbas said in his speech.

He went on to say that on behalf of the Palestinian people he extends a hand of peace which he said was not a sign of weakness. "So our message to the Israeli government," Abbas said, "is that all settlement projects, particularly those around Jerusalem including the E1 project which the Israelis are attempting to establish, must come to an end if the Israelis do not want to miss the opportunity for peace."

"Sixty years of suffering, bitterness, oppression, migration, tyranny and occupation could not make us lose our self confidence and our expectations from the great Arab and Islamic nations who supported us and are still supporting us to stay together. If Israel wants real peace, the Arab Peace Initiative launched in the Arab League summit in Beirut 2002 represents the best opportunity for that peace," Abbas added.