According to this Ha'aretz article, Israel has protested to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon over his use of the word "Nakba" in a phone call to Mahmoud Abbas, the Palestinian PM. The Nakba refers to the ethnic cleansing of over 750,000 Palestinians, two thirds of their population, just prior and following Israel's declaration of independence in May 1948.

About it, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni stated the following

(The) Palestinians will be able to celebrate their independence day on the same day that the word "nakba" or catastrophe is erased from their lexicon.

In truth, Livni's remark suggested that the Palestinians should forget their history. Mark Elf of Jews sans frontiers called it a "Zionist war on reality."

But that reality is being celebrated this month in Israel as well as the Palestinian territories as witnessed by these photos, which capture a selection of the demonstrations, as recorded by the Alternative Information Center.

Thousands of Palestinians and Internationals marched through the streets of Beit Sahour in commemoration of 60 years since the Palestinian Nakba

Palestinian children launched 21,915 (365 days x 60 years) black balloons over the skies of Jerusalem

Palestinian youth from the Bethlehem region on the march

Local youth scouts marching band

Palestinian and Israeli demonstration was held at Damascus Gate in the Old City of East Jerusalem, under the banner "End the Israeli Occupation Now! Uphold United Nations Resolutions and International Law!"

Palestinians in Beit Sahour marched in commemoration of 60 years since the Nakba, to the slogan, "The Right of Return is Not For Sale"

A float with a giant key was exhibited at the demonstration, representing the keys to the many Palestinian homes that were lost to families during the Nakba

Palestinian and Jewish citizens of Israel speaking during a peaceful march in the western neighborhoods of Jerusalem, commmorating 60 years since the Nakba

Children demonstrating against the Israeli military's attempt to close schools and orphanages in Hebron, Palestine

Photos reproduced by permission.