Apartheid in Palestine: Hard Laws and Harder Experiences

by Ghada Ageel (Editor), Richard Falk (Foreword by), Samar El-Bekai (Contribution by), Reem Skeik (Contribution by), Tali Shapiro (Contribution by)

Overview

"Of all the crimes to which Palestinians have been subjected through a century of bitter tragedy, perhaps none are more cruel than the silencing of their voices. The suffering has been most extreme, criminal, and grotesque in Gaza, where Ghada Ageel was one of the victims from childhood. This collection of essays is a poignant cry for justice, far too long delayed." —Noam Chomsky

There are more than two sides to the conflict between Palestine and Israel. There are millions. Millions of lives, voices, and stories behind the enduring struggle in Israel and Palestine. Yet, the easy binary of Palestine vs. Israel on which the media so often relies for context effectively silences the lived experiences of people affected by the strife. Ghada Ageel sought leading experts—Palestinian and Israeli, academic and activist—to gather stories that humanize the historic processes of occupation, displacement, colonization, and, most controversially, apartheid. Historians, scholars and students of colonialism and Israel-Palestine studies, and anyone interested in more nuanced debate, will want to read this book. Foreword by Richard Falk.

Contributors: Yasmeen Abu-Laban, Ghada Ageel, Huwaida Arraf, Abigail B. Bakan, Ramzy Baroud, Samar El-Bekai, James Cairns, Edward C. Corrigan, Susan Ferguson, Keith Hammond, Rela Mazali, Sherene Razack, Tali Shapiro, Reem Skeik, Rafeef Ziadah.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781772120820
Publisher:	University of Alberta Press
Publication date:	01/15/2016
Pages:	312
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Ghada Ageel is Visiting Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Alberta and a columnist for the Middle East Eye, London. She holds a PhD and MA in Middle East Politics from the University of Exeter (Britain) and a BA in Education from the Islamic University/Gaza.

Table of Contents

Foreword Richard Falk ix

Preface xv

Acknowledgements xxi

Introduction xxv

Part I Indigenous Voices

1 Beit Daras: Once upon a Land Ghada Ageel 3

2 I am from there, I am from here Reem Skeik 23

3 Palestine: Via Dolorosa Sa'mar El-Bekai 37

4 The Man with the White Beard: Uniting the Palestinian Narrative Ramzy Baroud 49

Part II Activist Views

5 International Solidarity and the Palestinian Freedom Struggle Huwaida Arraf 65

6 Palestine Calling: Notes on the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement Rafeef Ziadah 91

7 Culture of Resistance: Why We Weed You to Boycott, Divest, and Sanction Israel Tali Shapiro 107

8 Complicit Dissent, Dissenting Complicity: A Story and its Context Rela Mazali 129

Part III Academic and Expert Insights

9 Israel's Legitimacy? Time for a European Moratorium Keith Hammond 149

10 Israeli Apartheid, Canada, and Freedom of Expression Abigail B. Bakan Yasmeen Abu-Laban 163

11 Political Truths: The Case of Pro-Palestine Discourse in Canada James Cairns Susan Perguson 181

12 A Hole in the Wall, A Rose at a Checkpoint: The Spatiality of Occupied Palestine Sherene Razack 199

13 Israel and Apartheid: A Framework for Legal Analysis Edward C. Corrigan 213

Contributors 247

Index 253

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"Ghada Ageel was for some time the Guardian's ever brilliant, brave and astute fixer in Gaza. On a visit there I found her local knowledge and sense of history to be invaluable in understanding the Palestinian side of the intractable and endless conflict which has been a tragedy for so many. She brings those qualities to her writing, which is often informed by her own personal experiences, and those of her family and friends."—Alan Rusbridger

"This book, edited by Ghada Ageel, is an intimate study of a people and place both central to, and isolated by, current international policy. The writing is personal and articulate, reflecting Ageel's own history as a child of Gaza, a respected academic, and a gifted author. It should be read by all of us who love or want to better understand Gaza and the people who live there."—Craig and Cindy Corrie, Parents of Rachel Corrie who was killed in Gaza in 2003

"This is an incisive anthology of scholars and activists that finally takes the conversation on Palestine a step further. This timely collection leaves behind stale and outdated paradigms and boldly offers a new one for looking at the past, the present of the future of the evergreen issue of Palestine. Its lucid structure, original contributions and above all the courageous guidance of its editor makes this book the most valuable contribution to the struggle for justice in Palestine."—Ilan Pappe, Professor of History, Director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies, University of Exeter

Editorial Reviews

"Apartheid in Palestine is an anthology of analytical writings sharply critical of Israel's treatment of its Palestinian Arab population. Contributors include Palestinians who voice their frustrations and decry human rights abuses; Jewish Israeli citizens who openly criticize the government's ongoing policies; academics; activists; and more. An index rounds out this thought-provoking testimonial, recommended for scholars, historians, students and anyone interested in reviewing anti-occupation perspectives on the Israel-Palestinian debate."—The International Studies Shelf, Library Bookwatch
"Apartheid in Palestine is a collection of essays that both humanize and analyze issues of occupation, displacement, colonization, and apartheid.... However, far from being inflammatory, these stories of struggle are balanced in their presentations, including authors that are Palestinian, Israeli, activists, academics, and people who have lived in the region and witnessed that which they seek to tell the world. Ageel herself is a third-generation Palestinian refugee, born and raised in the Khan Younis Refugee Camp in the Gaza Strip.... Regardless of what position you hold with regard to Israel and Palestine, this is an important and challenging read that presents perspectives worthy of study and discussion." [Full post athttp://www.iheartedmonton.org/2016/05/review-apartheid-in-palestine-hard-laws.html]—Paula E. Kirman
"In the book Apartheid in Palestine, Ghada Ageel has gathered a group of essays about Israel's policy of occupation. The authors are Jewish, Christian and Muslim. They are of various nationalities—American, Canadian, Israeli and Palestinian. Some are the descendants of families who have been displaced by Israeli policies. They shed much light on what is now taking place in the occupied territories and whether 'apartheid' is an appropriate term to describe the current situation. Those who seek to make sense of what is certain to be a continuing discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict would do well to read [this book]." [http://jewishcurrents.org/is-the-israeli-occupation-moving-towards-apartheid/]—Allan C. Brownfeld, Jewish currents

"Ghada Ageel was for some time the Guardian's ever brilliant, brave and astute fixer in Gaza. On a visit there I found her local knowledge and sense of history to be invaluable in understanding the Palestinian side of the intractable and endless conflict which has been a tragedy for so many. She brings those qualities to her writing, which is often informed by her own personal experiences, and those of her family and friends."—Alan Rusbridger
"This book, edited by Ghada Ageel, is an intimate study of a people and place both central to, and isolated by, current international policy. The writing is personal and articulate, reflecting Ageel's own history as a child of Gaza, a respected academic, and a gifted author. It should be read by all of us who love or want to better understand Gaza and the people who live there."—Craig and Cindy Corrie, Parents of Rachel Corrie who was killed in Gaza in 2003
"This is an incisive anthology of scholars and activists that finally takes the conversation on Palestine a step further. This timely collection leaves behind stale and outdated paradigms and boldly offers a new one for looking at the past, the present of the future of the evergreen issue of Palestine. Its lucid structure, original contributions and above all the courageous guidance of its editor makes this book the most valuable contribution to the struggle for justice in Palestine."—Ilan Pappe, Professor of History, Director of the European Centre for Palestine Studies, University of Exeter

From the Publisher