Busla Alquds: Teamwork in service of the local population
“We’re open to everyone, and anyone from any city or town in Palestine, to join in and participate.”
Jerusalem24– As settlers waved Israeli flags across the occupied Old City of Jerusalem during the flag march on Jerusalem Day, Palestinians have been raising their own flags across the West Bank and East Jerusalem.
An independent initiative called Busla Alquds, whose goal is to strengthen their identity as Jerusalemites as they have been cut off and isolated from their city, also painted the flag on the walls of Beit Duqqo northwest of occupied Jerusalem.
Muhammad Daoud of Busla Alquds tells Jerusalem24 that the initiative is independent and was founded last year by a group of young men and women who want to have a role in society, and whose goal is to promote teamwork and youth work, as well as serve the local population through different activities and projects. The group are not affiliated with any political or religious organizations or groups.
“We’re open to everyone, and anyone from any city or town in Palestine, to join in and participate,” says Daoud.
Daoud quotes the Israeli Jerusalem Day flag march as one of the factors driving their flag-painting campaign.
“I mean it’s as clear as day that they’re against the flag because it simply represents Palestinians. It represents Palestine. And for the Zionist project to actually succeed […] there can’t be a Palestine. There can’t be a representation of Palestine in any way, shape or form – beginning with the flag.”
“Our flag not only represents Palestine but it represents our struggle to exist, which is something I think no socio-political entity in human history has actually gone through or experienced. Our struggle is unusual. I don’t think people understand it who haven’t lived it or experienced it or learned about it.”
Watch the full interview with Muhammad Daoud on Vibes: