Items that talk for itself

My final project will be about the history of the Israeli conflict since 1948, the first point where the problem of refugees was created, going until our recent day of the conflict. I will introduce what is the Nakba (Palestinian Catastrophe that in May 15^th marks its 63^rd year), the Naksa or the 6 day war of 1967, the first Intifada in 1987, the second Intifada in 2000, the eruption of the apartheid Wall within the West Bank lands (1967) with a focus on East Jerusalem, from an economic perspective to a humanitarian one including the house demolishing in East Jerusalem. I will end up in the possible solutions to the Palestinian – Israeli conflict and the International law responses to the conflict. I will include facts, pictures, maps and statistics and data about the conflict.

Regarding the things that represent who am I as Palestinian, I will choose two things, the Kuffyeh or the Palestinian traditional scarf and an image that represent any loyal Palestinian and the culture, which is Handalah, the kid that in 1948 was 10 years old, and till now did not turned his face to the public and is still 10 years, who did not grow, and wont until he returns to his home in Palestine. I will talk more about Handalah as a symbolic image of Palestine and the refugees.

For this week’s assignment, about LGBT rights and movements in Israel and Palestine, I stand in support for any human being regardless race, sexual orientation, ethnicity or nationality that is fighting non-violently for a decent recognition of his/her identity. I have nothing against LGBT movement no matter where it is, but if the movement is being used politically against one nation, then I will stand against it. As I mentioned earlier in class, some Israeli journalists are using this phenomenon against the Palestinians, and are saying that Palestinians non-straight people are being discriminated against within the Palestinian society. We have to understand the culture of the Arab countries and Palestine included, in the United States for instance, gays/lesbians were not accepted easily within the American society, and it took few years for them to be “accepted” yet, are still feeling kind off isolated from the rest of the public. In Palestine or the Arab countries, this issue is so sensitive and not yet accepted within most of the Arab societies. Although there are organizations that ask for the right of gays in Palestine as Al-Qaws, but it is still not accepted as a “new movement” in Palestine. I do respect the culture and do understand as well the point behind not yet accepting the LGBT movement, as there are still other more important issues and topics to be focused upon by the Palestinians within their own society.

http://www.pinkwatchingisrael.com/israels-gay-propaganda-war/
this article is entitled as Israel’s Gay Propaganda War by Jasbir Puar, an American queer theorist.

Alqaws for sexual and gender diversity in the Palestinian society is an organization that work collaboratively to break down gendered barriers. It seeks to create an open space for all its members so that they may be engaged in the struggle for equality and inclusion. It is a new organization within the Palestinian society, that is still growing, and I believe is still facing problems of being accepted within the Palestinian society.

This is Handalah, the Palestinian symbol of resistance yet hope and belief of returning to the land one day. This is the image i am choosing that represent me personally. 

Questions to Yonatan Gher:
Q1) To what extent is the LGBT movement is accepted in Israel?
Q2) What do you think about the Israeli war propaganda of “pinkwashing” ?
Q3) Do you think that the members of JOH are also interested in the violations of Israel to the human rights and international laws, since such organization is calling for equality and acceptance of the other?