By Palestine Center Interns
With the illegal blockade on Gaza nearing its eleventh year, more questions about the role of the UN and its humanitarian agencies in sustaining the blockade have been rising in the political arena.
Blog
Permission to Narrate is the blog project of The Jerusalem Fund and its education program, the Palestine Center.
The name derives from a quote by the late Palestinian scholar, Edward Said, who remarked that Palestinians had been denied permission to narrate their history and speak of the day-to-day experiences of life in the margins. Their voices are so often absent from popular media.
The blog seeks to educate the public by offering Palestinian perspectives on the news and events of the day.
Handala, the cartoon character who is writing our blog’s name on the blackboard, is the signature character of the famed Palestinian political cartoonist and critic Naji Al-Ali. Al-Ali was murdered in London in 1987 by unknown assailants.
Handala, typifying the Palestinian refugee, is always depicted by Al-Ali with his back turned, as if walking away from his homeland. He is present in each of Al-Ali’s cartoons, a constant reminder of refugee experience and the hopes of the generation to come.
With this blog, we are permitted to narrate.
Please note that the views expressed in blog posts do not necessarily reflect or represent the views of The Jerusalem Fund.
Egyptian Policy in Palestine: A Downward Spiral
By Palestine Center Intern
The government desperately wants not only to secure its northern border, but to remove Hamas from power. Recent talks between Cairo and Hamas regarding Mohammed Dahlan’s return to politics in Gaza reveal that the Egyptian government would rather see the man once accused of murdering Yasser Arafat in power than the democratically elected government.
Interview with Dorit Naaman about “Jerusalem, We Are Here”
By Palestine Center Interns
Dorit Naaman, film and media professor at Queen’s University, directed and produced an interactive documentary called, “Jerusalem, We Are Here”. The purpose of this project is to restore the lost or stolen homes, mainly in Jerusalem, of pre-1948 Palestine, if not physically then through the communicative power of art and new media. Until this day, houses are being demolished in Palestine adding another facet to the fact that the Nakba never ended. Acknowledging the existence of Palestinian homes, as this project does, is a form of resistance against cultural erasure. This interview highlights the importance of recognizing the past in Palestine, how it lives in the reality of our present, and challenges our future.
The Manipulated Narrative of Anti-Semitism and the Pro-Palestinian Movement
By Palestine Center Interns
Non-violent demonstrations by pro-Palestinian groups, such as chanting or protesting, are held as an act of solidarity for the Palestinians in crisis. In response, pro-Zionist organizations have begun to counter with claims that such pro-Palestinian demonstrations are anti-Semitic. This has produced a new dialogue that being pro-Palestinian is inherently anti-Semitic and in some cases resulting in lawsuits. The manipulated narrative of anti-Semitism is being employed by pro-Zionist groups as a smear tactic against pro-Palestinian groups in attempt to delegitimize the movement.
Open Secrets: The UAE’s Deals With Israel
By Mohamed Mohamed
The UAE’s underhanded dealings with Israel, aided by Mohammed Dahlan and facilitated by countries like Jordan, provide a sobering and disappointing reminder that Palestinians are being betrayed by some of the people closest to them.
Keith Ellison and the Anti-Semitism Smear
By Mohamed Mohamed
It is difficult to say with certainty whether the smear campaign did or did not result in Rep. Ellison’s defeat in the race for DNC chairman. It is unlikely that a voting member would admit to being swayed by anything other than the candidates’ credentials, let alone a malicious attack. Regardless, one thing is certain: some of Israel’s most fervent supporters felt that the race was close enough to require discrediting Ellison.
Why Carter is Right on the State of Palestine
By Mohamed Mohamed
If Obama is genuinely interested in achieving a peaceful settlement to the conflict, upholding U.S. interests, and leaving behind a legacy consistent with his word, he should immediately recognize the state of Palestine.
Governor Cuomo: A False Champion of Civil Rights
By Mohamed Mohamed
Governor Cuomo’s contradictory positions may seem illogical, but they are in fact quite rational. The governor is a Democrat and self-proclaimed progressive, but above all, he is a shrewd and ambitious career politician.
Legacies of State Violence and Black-Palestinian Solidarity
By Jada Bullen and Marie Helmy
In the wake of Trump’s victory, the world waits with trepidation for what 2017 will bring to U.S. domestic and foreign policy. The future is uncertain for Palestinians and Black Americans, whose parallel struggles have become increasingly highlighted in the last few years.