UNDERSTANDING ISRAEL and PALESTINE - RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

Disclaimer - This collection of resources is intended to help people navigate their minds away from myths about Israel’s behavior and its often assumed and unquestioned intentions as well as many unchallenged Zionist talking points regarding the history of the Israel project. For example, there is a section entitled ‘Israeli Violence’ and there is no section entitled ‘Palestinian Violence’. Both sections could fill libraries with documented crimes and heinous behavior. If you are interested in hearing Jay’s thoughts on the practical complications of finding our way out of these cycles of violence and vengeance, please see his full conversations and arguments in Dilemma: The Palestine Collection.

THE SELF-CENSORSHIP of Israeli & American Media & The Bias of the U.S. Congress

CNN staff say network’s pro-Israel slant amounts to ‘journalistic malpractice’

McGreal, Chris. The Guardian, 4 Feb. 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/media/2024/feb/04/cnn-staff-pro-israel-bias.

CNN staffers claim long-standing journalistic malpractice resulting in a pro-Israel bias - seek approval from Israel/IDF before releasing articles and using or avoiding specific language as permitted through their Jerusalem bureau.

Exclusive: Israeli Military Censor Bans Reporting on These 8 Subjects

Klippenstein, Ken, and Daniel Boguslaw. "Exclusive: Israeli Military Censor Bans Reporting on These 8 Subjects." The Intercept, 23 Dec. 2023, https://theintercept.com/2023/12/23/israel-military-idf-media-censor/.

Revealed: Congress Backers Of Gaza War Received Most From Pro-Israel Donors

Perkins, Tom, with data reporting by Will Craft. "Revealed: Congress Backers Of Gaza War Received Most From Pro-Israel Donors." The Guardian, 10 Jan. 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/jan/10/congress-member-pro-israel-donations-military-support.

According to an analysis by The Guardian, during their latest elections, Congress members who expressed greater support for Israel at the onset of the Gaza war received an average of over $100,000 more from pro-Israel donors compared to those who leaned towards supporting Palestine. The analysis, which examined campaign contributions from pro-Israel groups and individuals, was conducted for nearly every current Congress member, juxtaposing their statements on the war through mid-November. Approximately 82% of Congress members exhibited stronger support for Israel, while only 9% leaned more towards supporting Palestine during this period. These findings underscore the prevailing alignment of most of Congress with conservative pro-Israel stances, highlighting a divergence from the preferences of the US public.

A Protest Against A Top Israel-Born Chef Was Called Antisemitic. Staff Tell A Different Story

Chan, Wilfred. "A Protest Against A Top Israel-Born Chef Was Called Antisemitic. Staff Tell A Different Story." The Guardian, 8 Dec. 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/08/michael-solomonov-philadelphia-restaurant-israel-antisemitic-protest.

In Philadelphia, a protest outside Goldie, a vegan falafel restaurant owned by Michael Solomonov, an Israel-born celebrity chef, has sparked heated debate. However, interviews with protesters and current/former employees reveal a more complex situation. They reject the notion that Goldie was singled out due to the owners’ ethnicity, arguing that their objections stem from management using the restaurants to fundraise for Israel and in particular the IDF. 

Reporters Without Borders 2023 World Press Freedom Index 

Reporters Without Borders (RSF). “Index 2023.” RSF - Reporters Without Borders, 2023,https://rsf.org/en/index?year=2023.

Israel's global press freedom grade of 57.6 ranks the country 97th out of 180 countries, positioning it between Albania and the Central African Republic.

Reporters Without Borders: Abuses in Real Time Barometer

Reporters Without Borders (RSF). “Abuses in Real Time Barometer” RSF - Reporters Without Borders, 2023,https://rsf.org/en/barometer?exaction_pays_pays=_none&exaction_pays_annee=2023&exaction_pays_statut=prison&type%5Btue%5D=tue&type%5Bemprisonnement%5D=emprisonnement&type%5Botage%5D=otage&type%5Bdisparition%5D=disparition&annee_start=2000&annee_end=2024#exaction-victimes.

Reporters Without Borders documents the number of Arab journalists in Israeli-Palestine that have been killed or imprisoned directly connected to their journalistic activities, spanning from the year 2000 to the present. As of now, the list comprises 196 journalists.

A Former State Dept. Official Explains Why He Resigned Over U.S. Arms Sent To Israel

Treisman, Rachel. "A Former State Dept. Official Explains Why He Resigned Over U.S. Arms Sent To Israel." NPR, 19 Oct. 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/10/19/1207037984/josh-paul-resign-state-department-military-assistance-israel-gaza.

Josh Paul, a former senior State Department official, resigned from his position due to his objection to the continued U.S. arms transfers to Israel. In a two-page letter posted on LinkedIn, he expressed his concern that the provision of lethal arms to Israel was “shortsighted, destructive, unjust, and contradictory to the very values that we publicly espouse.” While he acknowledged Israel’s right to defend itself, he criticized the impact of Israel’s actions on Palestinians, emphasizing that there are ways to address security concerns without causing harm to civilians.

How Israeli Journalists Carry Out PR For The Army

Ben Daniel, Sebastian (John Brown). "How Israeli journalists carry out PR for the army." 19 Feb. 2024, 972 Magazine, https://www.972mag.com/israeli-journalists-pr-army-october-7/.

Israel’s leading news outlets' military reporters consistently fail to thoroughly investigate the army and its actions, and this failure extends to their coverage of events on October 7.

EXAMINING WHAT A DEMOCRACY MEANS WITHIN ISRAEL & APARTHEID

Israel Is A Non-Democratic Apartheid Regime, Says Rights Group

Holmes, Oliver. "Israel Is A Non-Democratic Apartheid Regime, Says Rights Group." The Guardian, 12 Jan. 2021, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/12/israel-is-a-non-democratic-apartheid-regime-says-rights-group.

According to a position paper by the Israeli human rights group B’Tselem, Israel is not a democracy but rather an “apartheid regime”. The organization alleges that Israel enforces Jewish supremacy over all the land it controls. B’Tselem argues that there is one regime spanning from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea, and this system should be recognized as apartheid. 

ISRAEL’S APARTHEID AGAINST PALESTINIANS: CRUEL SYSTEM OF DOMINATION AND CRIME AGAINST HUMANITY

Amnesty International. "Israel’s Apartheid Against Palestinians: Cruel System of Domination and Crime Against Humanity." 1 Feb. 2022, https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/mde15/5141/2022/en/.

This extensive report details the substantial seizures of Palestinian land and property, illicit killings, forced transfers, severe movement restrictions, and the deprivation of nationality and citizenship to Palestinians. These actions collectively contribute to a system that qualifies as apartheid under international law. Amnesty International identifies that the violations sustaining this system meet the criteria for apartheid, classified as a crime against humanity under the Rome Statute and Apartheid Convention.

Data, Statistics, And Maps Documenting The Apartheid Compiled By Israeli Ngo

B’Tselem: The Israeli Information Center for Human Rights in the Occupied Territories https://www.btselem.org/about_btselem

An independent Israeli human rights organization established in 1989, aims to secure a future where human rights, liberty, and equality are upheld for all individuals, Palestinians and Jews alike, between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea by documenting and exposing human rights violations in the occupied territories, challenging the notion of a dual regime, and working towards ending the Israeli occupation and apartheid regime.

Examining the Divisions Within Israel

"Examining the Divisions Within Israel." Fresh Air Interview with Isabel Kersher about her book The Land of Hope and Fear: Israel’s Battle for its Inner Soul. NPR, 9 Nov. 2023, https://www.npr.org/2023/11/09/1197958427/fresh-air-draft-11-09-2023.

Regarding divisions within Israel arising from ideological, religious, ethnic, and generational disparities, this interview and book explores how these distinctions contribute to an understanding of Israel's shift to the right.

POLLING DATA ON PALESTINIANS

Polling Data on Palestinians Before And After October 7th, 2023

"Polling Data on Palestinians Before And After October 7th, 2023." Arab Barometer. https://www.arabbarometer.org/wp-content/uploads/Arab-Barometer-PSR-Palestine-Report-Part-I-EN-.pdf.

She Polled Gazans on Oct. 6. Here’s What She Found

"She Polled Gazans on Oct. 6. Here’s What She Found." Ezra Klein Show | The New York Times, 3 Nov. 2023, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/11/03/opinion/ezra-klein-podcast-amaney-jamal.html.

Princeton School of Public and International Affairs Dean Amaney Jamal discussed the Arab Barometer's pre-Hamas attacks survey in Gaza on October 6. Despite diverse beliefs in the population, the survey indicated Hamas was not widely popular. The article emphasizes the inaccuracy of accusing all Gazans of supporting Hamas, as the government's stance may not represent the views of the entire Gaza population.

What Palestinians Really Think of Hamas

Jamal, Amaney A., and Michael Robbins. "What Palestinians Really Think of Hamas." Foreign Affairs & Arab Barometer, 25 Oct. 2023,https://www.arabbarometer.org/wp-content/uploads/what-palestinians-really-think-of-hamas-2023-10-26-08-4941.pdf.

ISRAELI VIOLENCE

A Mass assassination factory: Inside Israel’s calculated bombing of Gaza

Abraham, Yuval. ‘A mass assassination factory’: Inside Israel’s calculated bombing of Gaza. 30 Nov. 2023, https://www.972mag.com/mass-assassination-factory-israel-calculated-bombing-gaza/

Permissive airstrikes on non-military targets and the use of an artificial intelligence system have enabled the Israeli army to carry out its deadliest war on Gaza, a +972 and Local Call investigation reveals.

International Court of Justice - Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel)

International Court of Justice. "Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide in the Gaza Strip (South Africa v. Israel)." 29 Dec. 2023, https://www.icj-cij.org/sites/default/files/case-related/192/192-20231228-app-01-00-en.pdf.

South Africa's ICJ applicant brief, an 84-page document which makes the case that Israel is in violation of the a genocide convention to which Israel is a party. The case was been accepted provisionally as a plausible case of genocide by the ICJ by a vote of 15-2 on Januarly 26th 2024.

Hebron Massacre of 1994

"Cave of the Patriarchs Massacre." Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_of_the_Patriarchs_massacre.

The Hebron massacre occurred on February 25, 1994, in the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron, West Bank targeting Palestinians during religious worship. Dr. Baruch Goldstein, an American-Israeli settler and religious extremist, opened fire on Muslim worshippers during the dawn prayer, killing 29 people and injuring more than 100 others before he was subdued and beaten to death by the survivors.

Breaking the Silence

"Breaking the Silence Testimonies Database." Breaking the Silence, https://www.breakingthesilence.org.il/testimonies/database.

Veterans involved with Breaking the Silence, an Israeli NGO founded by Israeli military veterans which collects and publishes testimonies from Israeli soldiers who have served in the West Bank, Gaza Strip, and East Jerusalem that tell of the human rights abuses and misconduct by the Israeli IDF in these areas.

Shocking spike in use of unlawful lethal force by Israeli forces against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank

"Shocking Spike in Use of Unlawful Lethal Force by Israeli Forces Against Palestinians in the Occupied West Bank." Amnesty International, 5 Feb. 2024, https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/02/shocking-spike-in-use-of-unlawful-lethal-force-by-israeli-forces-against-palestinians-in-the-occupied-west-bank/.

Amnesty International has reported a disturbing increase in the use of unlawful lethal force by Israeli forces against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. At least 507 Palestinians were killed in the West Bank in 2023. Over the past four months, Israeli forces have carried out unlawful killings, including using lethal force disproportionately during protests and arrest raids. They have also denied medical assistance to injured Palestinians. The investigation focused on four emblematic cases, resulting in the unlawful killing of 20 Palestinians, including seven children. The situation in Palestine and Israel is a litmus test for international justice, and the International Criminal Court is urged to investigate these incidents as possible war crimes.

‘Deeply Sick’: IDF Murder Porn Channel Compared to Horrors of Abu Ghraib

Johnson, Jake. "‘Deeply Sick’: IDF Murder Porn Channel Compared to Horrors of Abu Ghraib." Common Dreams, 12 Dec. 2023, https://www.commondreams.org/news/deeply-sick-idf-murder-porn-channel-compared-to-horrors-of-abu-ghraib.

The IDF manages several disturbing Telegram channels where soldiers purportedly engage in merciless killings of civilians, seemingly catering to a bloodthirsty appetite within the Israeli public. These channels reportedly have hundreds of thousands of subscribers. In one particularly distressing post, viewers are encouraged to increase the volume to hear the apparent killing of an elderly grandmother who they call a "terrorist,", with a callous invitation to listen to the sound of her bones crushing.

IDF Admits It Ran Gory Telegram Calling Palestinians ‘roaches’ To Be Exterminated

Gault, Matthew. "IDF Admits It Ran Gory Telegram Calling Palestinians ‘roaches’ To Be Exterminated." Vice Media, 05 Feb. 2024, https://www.vice.com/en/article/ak384p/idf-israel-run-telegram-72-virgins-psyop.

Defenseless: The Impact of Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children

Nicoll, Claire. "Defenseless: The Impact of Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children." Save the Children International, 2020, https://resourcecentre.savethechildren.net/pdf/defenceless_the_impact_of_israeli_military_detention_on_palestinian_children_0.pdf/.

Comprehensive report and fact sheet on the systematic detention of Palestinian children in the West Bank. Over the past two decades, approximately 10,000 Palestinian children worldwide have been systematically tried in military courts that consistently fall short of fair trial standards and fail to meet juvenile justice norms. The predominant charge levied against these children is stone throwing, carrying a maximum sentence of 20 years. These young individuals endure both physical and psychological mistreatment, encompassing interrogations, solitary confinement, and acts of violence. The entire process, from arrest to detention and trial, lacks essential safeguards, often resulting in prolonged incarceration without formal charges. This unjust system significantly impacts their education, health, and overall well-being. The enduring trauma from these experiences hampers their development and compromises their future prospects.

I Saw The Haunting Reality Of Palestinian Child Prisoners

Quran, Fadi. "I Saw The Haunting Reality Of Palestinian Child Prisoners." Time Magazine, 14 Dec. 2023, https://time.com/6366734/palestinian-child-detainees/.

Fadi Quran recounts his personal experience of being arrested by Israeli soldiers during a protest in the occupied West Bank. He describes the brutal treatment he and a 14-year-old boy faced, including physical violence, intimidation, and false accusations. The article sheds light on the plight of Palestinian children who are detained by Israeli authorities, highlighting their vulnerability and the impact of political conflict on their lives

Incarcerated Childhood and the Politics of Unchilding

Shalhoub-Kevorkian, Nadera. Incarcerated Childhood and the Politics of Unchilding. Cambridge University Press, 2019. Online publication date: August 2019.

https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/incarcerated-childhood-and-the-politics-of-unchilding/36A4B3C853F77EF66E16C6FD70F7F1D9

Shalhoub-Kevorkian crafted the term “unchilding” in the context of the Zionist settler-colonial project which uses Palestinian children, from conception through death, as tools to build the State of Israel. Explores the relationship between children and political power. The book critically examines how children are used as political capital by those in authority, particularly in the context of Israel-Palestine.The book provides a deeper understanding of the ways in which children are manipulated, targeted, and affected by the actions of those in power.

EXAMINING WHAT ANTI-SEMETISM MEANS

Data on Anti Semitic Incidents in the US since October 7, 2023

Anti-Defamation League. "Data on Anti-Semitic Incidents in the US Since October 7, 2023: Map of the US Indicating Locations and Reports of 'Anti-Semitism'." https://www.adl.org/stand-with-israel?utm_campaign=irshamatt2023&utm_medium=pr&utm_content=20231025.

ADL defines anti semitism incidences as: assault, harassment, vandalism, and “anti-Israel” “anti-zionism” rallies with 67% of those incidences tied to Israel criticism

In The Shadow of the Holocaust: How the Politics of Memory in Europe Obscures What We See in Israel and Gaza Today

Gessen, Masha. "In The Shadow of the Holocaust: How the Politics of Memory in Europe Obscures What We See in Israel and Gaza Today." The New Yorker, 9 Dec. 2023, https://www.newyorker.com/news/the-weekend-essay/in-the-shadow-of-the-holocaust.

Gessen asserts that Germany’s culture of acknowledging and seeking atonement for the Nazi regime’s atrocities has transformed into unwavering support for Israel, even in the face of its controversial actions. Simultaneously, Germany restricts most expressions of pro-Palestinian solidarity under the guise of combating antisemitism. The central tenet of this “memory politics” is the belief that “the Holocaust cannot be compared to anything else.” However, Gessen contends that meaningful historical understanding requires precisely such comparisons .

“Anti-Defamation League Staff Decry ‘dishonest Campaign Against Israel Critics”

Guyer, Jonathan, and Tom Perkins. "Anti-Defamation League Staff Decry ‘Dishonest Campaign Against Israel Critics’." The Guardian, 5 Jan. 2024, https://www.theguardian.com/news/2024/jan/05/adl-pro-israel-advocacy-zionism-antisemitism.

The Anti-Defamation League (ADL), a Jewish advocacy group, is internally divided over CEO Jonathan Greenblatt's statement equating "anti-Zionism" with "antisemitism." Some staff members dispute this comparison, citing concerns about its intellectual dishonesty and potential harm to the organization's reputation. Despite criticism and staff resignations, the ADL continues to prioritize pro-Israel advocacy. The ongoing controversy reflects tensions within the organization amid recent antisemitic incidents in the US, leading to staff departures.

Columbia Suspended Prop Palestine Groups The Faculty Revolted

Marantz, Andrew. "Columbia Suspended Pro-Palestine Groups. The Faculty Revolted." New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2023, https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-local-correspondents/columbia-suspended-pro-palestine-student-groups-the-faculty-revolted.

Columbia University recently suspended two student groups, Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP), citing violations of campus event policies related to their characterization of an incident as a genocide or their call for a ceasefire. This suspension comes in the wake of the university's controversial decision to target and suspend SJP and JVP for their involvement in a peaceful student demonstration and temporary art installation advocating for Palestinian rights last year. The university breached its own policies to penalize SJP and JVP, also accusing the groups, without merit, of threats and intimidation. This has raised serious concerns that the university's actions may be improperly motivated by the student groups' political stance in support of Palestinian rights.

A Protest Against A Top Israel-Born Chef Was Called Antisemitic. Staff Tell A Different Story.

Chan, Wilfred. "A Protest Against a Top Israel-Born Chef Was Called Antisemitic. Staff Tell a Different Story." The Guardian, 8 Dec. 2023, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/dec/08/michael-solomonov-philadelphia-restaurant-israel-antisemitic-protest.

In Philadelphia, a protest outside Goldie, a vegan falafel restaurant owned by Michael Solomonov, an Israel-born celebrity chef, has sparked heated debate. However, interviews with protesters and current/former employees reveal a more complex situation. They reject the notion that Goldie was singled out due to the owners’ ethnicity, arguing that their objections stem from management using the restaurants to fundraise for Israel and in particular the IDF. 

SETTLER VIOLENCE & FAR RIGHT POLITCAL PARTIES

Israeli Settlers and Their Political Allies Are Turning the West Bank Into Apartheid Land

Verter, Yossi. Haaretz. "Israeli Settlers and Their Political Allies Are Turning the West Bank Into Apartheid Land". https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2023-08-25/ty-article/.premium/israeli-settlers-and-their-political-allies-are-turning-the-west-bank-into-apartheid-land/0000018a-2902-df73-a5eb-793bf5ae0000.

This camp is no longer offended by the word 'apartheid' – in fact it's doing everything it can to make it happen. Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett might have a new 'brother' as part of his plans to form a new center-right party and unseat Netanyahu's Likud

A history of settler violence in the West Bank

The Economist. “A history of settler violence in the West Bank”. https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2024/02/08/a-history-of-settler-violence-in-the-west-bank.

West Bank settler violence – a photo essay

Lombeida, David. The Guardian. “West Bank settler violence – a photo essay”. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/07/west-bank-settler-violence-a-photo-essay.

A recent Human Rights Watch report says settler violence in the occupied West Bank has doubled since the 7 October attacks. Photographer David Lombeida stayed with Palestinian families facing threats and abuse from settlers encroaching on their land

Far-right Israel Explained

Haaretz. “What You Need to Know About Netanyahu's Radical New Government”. https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2022-12-12/ty-article/far-right-israel-explained/00000185-063f-dad3-afad-f73fda300000.

To end the unremitting cycle of elections, Benjamin Netanyahu unleashed far-right forces that will hold unprecedented power in the most religious, right-wing coalition in Israel’s history. Haaretz explains the key issues, profiles the extremists and analyzes how far this radical coalition could go.

The Likud Party: A Primer

Pallis, Elfi. “The Likud Party: A Primer”. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2537218.

The most striking fact about past and present Likud ideology is undoubtedly its clarity when it comes to the party’s ultimate objected - a Greater Israel, Jewish ruled forever. Contradictions only emerge only over the means to secure this state of affairs, and about Israel’s ultimate relationship with its neighbors; should there be a reliance on force, or on colonization, and will either of these ever bring peace?

The Israeli Radical Right: History, Culture, and Politics

Sprinzak, Ehud. “The Israeli Radical Right: History, Culture, and Politics”. https://www.aclu.org/wp-content/uploads/legal-documents/ACLURM018927.pdf.

Most Israelis were greatly shocked when they learned on the eve of April 27, 1984, that a plot to blow up five buses full of Arab passengers during a crowded rush hour was barely prevented. In the following week, twenty-seven men suspected of forming an anti-Arab terrorist network were arrested.

Gush Emunim

Rabbi Ed Snitkoff. “Gush Emunim”. https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/gush-emunim/.

Gush Emunim was founded in 1974 under the slogan “The Land of Israel, for the people of Israel, according to the Torah of Israel.” Its founders perceived the state of Israel as the instrument through which God was bringing redemption, making it imperative upon the people and the state to take practical steps to ensure Jewish sovereignty over all parts of the Land as it was defined in the Bible.

Israeli Politics as Settler Politics

Mitchell, Thomas G. “Israeli Politics as Settler Politics”. https://journals.lib.unb.ca/index.php/JCS/article/download/206/363?inline=1.

But by comparing the main practical features of Israeli politics with those of many independent settler colonies, i.e., settler colonies controlled by the local settlers rather than by a colonial metropole, it can be demonstrated that Israeli politics are settler politics. This article examines what the author considers to be the six main distinguishing features of the Israeli political system and argues that four of them are features of colonial settler regimes. It then uses these four features plus one of the two non-settler features to determine which settler colonies are/were closest to Israel in terms of politics.

HISTORY

History of Israel & Palestine through Maps and Charts

Haddad, Mohammed, and Ali Chughtai, Data Compiled by Sarah Shamim. "History of Israel & Palestine through Maps and Charts." Al Jazeera, 27 Nov. 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/11/27/palestine-and-israel-brief-history-maps-and-charts.

What The West Bank Actually Looks Like: A Detailed Map

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "West Bank Access Restrictions." June 2020. Wikimedia Commons, https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/West_Bank_Access_Restrictions_June_2020.pdf.

Detailed map of the West Bank delineating A, B, C zones (indicating Palestinian versus Israeli control), illegal Israeli settlements, checkpoints, movement obstacles, Israeli firing zones, Israeli military bases within the West Bank, and roads prohibited from Palestinian use.

West Bank: What a One State Reality Looks Like - The Maps of Israeli Settlements that Shocked Barack Obama (US State Department Map from 2018)

Entous, Adam. "The Map of Israeli Settlements That Shocked Barack Obama." New Yorker, 9 July 2018, https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-map-of-israeli-settlements-that-shocked-barack-obama.

Discusses an image in a government briefing book that had a significant impact. This image helped a State Department official see “the forest for the trees” in the West Bank, specifically regarding Israeli settlements. The image was later shared with President Barack Obama and motivated his views on the Israeli-Palestine crisis.

Maps of Vanishing Palestine

"Palestine Remix: Maps of Vanishing Palestine." Al Jazeera, 2022, https://remix.aljazeera.com/aje/PalestineRemix/maps_main.html.

The establishment of a Jewish state in Palestine was a prolonged and forceful process, marked by deliberate violence and dispossession of Palestinians from extensive land. In 1948, over 80 percent of Palestinians in the area that became Israel were suddenly turned into refugees. Zionist forces attacked Palestinian cities and razed around 530 villages. The year 1948 witnessed approximately 13,000 Palestinian deaths, with over 750,000 forcibly expelled, constituting the zenith of the Zionist movement's ethnic cleansing of Palestine. This resource shows a map of the individual villages and their destruction.

The Deir Yassin Massacre: Why It Still Matters 75 Years Later: The Brutality Of The Deir Yassin Prompted Thousands Of Palestinians To Flee, Just Weeks Before Israel Was Created

Al Jazeera. "The Deir Yassin Massacre: Why It Still Matters 75 Years Later." 9 April 2023, https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/4/9/the-deir-yassin-massacre-why-it-still-matters-75-years-later.

The Deir Yassin massacre remains significant even 75 years after its occurrence. On April 9, 1948, just weeks before the establishment of the State of Israel, members of the Irgun and Stern Gang Zionist militias attacked the village of Deir Yassin, resulting in the death of at least 107 Palestinians. This brutal event had a profound impact, generating panic among the Arab population and contributing to the mass flight of Palestinians from various areas.The failure to recognize such historical crimes perpetuates denial and undermines the pursuit of justice.

DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT PALESTINE, ZIONISM, & ISLAMISM

The Square - (2013) A group of Egyptian revolutionaries battle leaders and regimes, risking their lives to build a new society of conscience.

The Laws in these Parts - (2011) Can justice truly be served in the occupied territories given the current system of law administered by Israel for Palestinians?

Flying Paper - (2014) - Flying Paper tells the uplifting story of resilient Palestinian youth in the Gaza Strip on a quest to shatter the Guinness World Record for the most kites ever flown.

Gaza - (2019) - A beautiful portrait of everyday Gazan citizens, leading meaningful lives beyond the rubble of perennial conflict.

5 Broken Cameras - (2011) - A documentary on a Palestinian farmer's chronicle of his nonviolent resistance to the actions of the Israeli army.

Tantura - (2022) - In the war of 1948 hundreds of Palestinian villages were depopulated. Israelis call it 'The War of Independence. Palestinians call it 'Nakba"'. The film examines one village- Tantura and why "Nakba" is taboo in Israeli society.

Waltz with Bashir - (2008) - An Israeli film director interviews fellow veterans of the 1982 invasion of Lebanon to reconstruct his own memories of his term of service in that conflict.

1948 - (1998) - 54-minute film featuring testimonials from eyewitnesses of the Nakba. It includes villagers who escaped the massacres of Deir Yassin (near Jerusalem) and Al Dawayima (near Hebron) and former inhabitants from destroyed towns in Tiberius.

Al Nakba - (2008) - For Palestinians, 1948 was the year that dramatically affected everything. Lives were shattered in such a violent way and yet there has been little recognition of the injustice that occurred. Many of us cite this year as the starting point.

Lost Cities of Palestine: Haifa, Nazareth, and Jaffa (2014) - Archival footage, memories, and accounts shed light on the forgotten Palestinian cities, underscoring the catastrophic impact of the creation of Israel in 1948 on their existence.

Israelism - (2023) - When two young American Jews raised to unconditionally love Israel witness the brutal way Israel treats Palestinians, their lives take sharp left turns.

BOOKS ABOUT PALESTINE, ISRAEL, HISTORY OF THE MIDDLE EAST & POST WWI GEOPOLITICS

The Great War For Civilization - Robert Fisk - The book revolves around several key themes regarding the history of the modern Middle East: the Arab–Israeli conflict, the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Gulf Wars, the Algerian Civil War, as well as other regional topics such as the Armenian genocide.

The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine - Ilan Pappe - During the 1948 Palestine war, around 720,000 Palestinian Arabs out of the 900,000 who lived in the territories that became Israel fled or were expelled from their homes. The causes of this exodus are controversial and debated by historians. In his own words, Ilan Pappé "want[s] to make the case for the paradigm of ethnic cleansing and use[s] it to replace the paradigm of war as the basis for the scholarly research of, and public debate about, 1948."

Ten Myths About Israel - Ilan Pappe - The "ten myths" that Pappe explores-repeated endlessly in the media, enforced by the military, accepted without question by the world's governments-reinforce the regional status quo. He explores the claim that Palestine was an empty land at the time of the Balfour Declaration, as well as the formation of Zionism and its role in the early decades of nation building. He asks whether the Palestinians voluntarily left their homeland in 1948, and whether June 1967 was a war of "no choice."

The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine - Rashid Khalidi - In 1899, Yusuf Diya al-Khalidi, mayor of Jerusalem, alarmed by the Zionist call to create a Jewish national home in Palestine, wrote a letter aimed at Theodore Herzl: the country had an indigenous people who would not easily accept their own displacement. He warned of the perils ahead, ending his note, “in the name of God, let Palestine be left alone.” Thus Rashid Khalidi, al-Khalidi’s great-great-nephew, begins this sweeping history, the first general account of the conflict told from an explicitly Palestinian perspective.

How I Stopped Being a Jew - Shlomo Sand - Shlomo Sand was born in 1946, in a displaced person’s camp in Austria, to Jewish parents; the family later migrated to Palestine. As a young man, Sand came to question his Jewish identity, even that of a “secular Jew.” With this meditative and thoughtful mixture of essay and personal recollection, he articulates the problems at the center of modern Jewish identity.

The Iron Wall - Avi Shlaim - What was promulgated as an "iron-wall" strategy--dealing with the Arabs from a position of unassailable strength--was meant to yield to a further stage where Israel would be strong enough to negotiate a satisfactory peace with its neighbors. The goal remains elusive. In this penetrating study, Avi Shlaim examines how variations of the iron-wall philosophy have guided Israel's leaders; he finds that, while the strategy has been successful, opportunities have been lost to progress from military security to broader peace. The Iron Wall brilliantly illuminates past progress and future prospects for peace in the Middle East.

Age Of Anger- Pankaj Mishra - How can we explain the origins of the great wave of paranoid hatreds that seem inescapable in our close-knit world—from American shooters and ISIS to Donald Trump, from a rise in vengeful nationalism across the world to racism and misogyny on social media? In Age of Anger, Pankaj Mishra answers our bewilderment by casting his gaze back to the eighteenth century before leading us to the present.

Incarcerated Childhood and the Politics of Unchilding by Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian - Who has the right to a safe and protected childhood? Incarcerated Childhood and the Politics of Unchilding deepens understanding of children as political capital in the hands of those in power, critically engaging children's voices alongside archival, historical, and ethnographic material in Palestine. Offering the concept of unchilding', Shalhoub-Kevorkian exposes the political work of violence designed to create, direct, govern, transform, and construct colonized children as dangerous, racialized others, enabling their eviction from the realm of childhood itself.

The General’s Son: Journey of an Israeli in Palestine by Miko Peled - Israeli peace activist Miko Peled shares a compelling narrative of his evolution from a young man raised within Israel's elite and serving in its military with pride, to becoming a fearless advocate for nonviolent struggle and equal rights for both Palestinians and Israelis—an transformation paralleling the journey of his father, a highly decorated Israeli general, three decades earlier.