It is now almost six weeks since the horrors in Israel and Palestine
started – again, but this time in an unprecedented manner. It has never
been so cruel so far. So much has been said about all of it already and
it is still happening anyway. People are still getting killed on a daily
basis by a huge military apparatus that is supported by the big Western
countries of this world. Words don`t seem relevant or powerful enough in
the face of this.
The increasingly loud and aggressive discussions about Israel and
Palestine seem to create more and more division instead of an
understanding and an end to the killing. We took some time to reflect
how we could add something constructive to the horrors unfolding.
Because especially in those dark and violent times Utopias are needed
more than ever.
So in this episode we don`t give you a lecture about “the conflict”.
We`ll tell you how we tried to create an Utopian moment in the midst of
all the darkness, violence and despair happening. A tiny moment of
freedom and justice from Germany for Gaza and for people in Germany that
do not feel heard in their pain and disagreement towards what is
happening. We`ll talk about:
How we organized a protest with watermelons and for freedom rights for
all people
The very special German relation to Israel and Palestine
The difference between antisemitism and criticizing the government of Israel
The importance of freedom rights, especially the right of free speech
The relation between journalism and activism
A Haward study on the success of non-violent protest
A young man from Gaza who is sending messages of comfort to the
protesters in Hamburg
More information about context and history of Israel/Palestine:
BOOKS:
The blue between sky and water by Susan Abulhawa
The Birth of Israel: Myths and Realities by Simha Flapan
The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine: A History of Settler Colonialism
and Resistance, 1917–2017 by Rashid Khalidi
Gaza: An Inquest Into Its Martyrdom by Norman Finkelstein
The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine by Ilan Pappé
FILMS:
The Promise
Omar
5 Broken Cameras
The heart of Jenin
PODCASTS:
in German: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjYxIkjGvQE
in English: recommendations?
PEOPLE/ORGANISATIONS TO FOLLOW
Breaking the silence
B’Tselem
Motaz Azaiza
Noura Erakat
Issa Amro