"The living heritage of Palestine has been focused and repurposed for the aim of creating a culture of resistance. To imagine Palestine does not mean to contrive something that was not there, but rather to make possible the very idea of resistance, victory, and liberation--an enabling idea."
Subthemes
Several other themes occur through Tahrir's analysis of those Imagining Palestine.
The complicity of Arab regimes is reiterated frequently and although not dwelt upon, it is recognition that the 'regime', the leaders of the Arab countries, are more concerned about their own survival than the problems faced by the Palestinians. Platitudes are made, peace treaties are made, official recognition of Israel is given, and still the Palestinians are ignored. Except--.
Except as shown by the recent Football World Cup in Qatar (after the publication of this book), the Arab street is still very much aligned with the Palestinians regardless of their separate government's attitudes and actions. [3] Farther abroad from Ireland and Scotland to Argentina and others, solidarity with Palestine is strong at the level of international football - not the organizers, but the fans and the players.
Another subtheme, related to all above, is the vast amount of US support for the Israeli government as well as the influence the US carries over many of the Arab states. Capitalism thrives in this environment: three companies "and others thrive on the 'always war' policy of the world capitalist system, which gave birth to slavery and the colonialist enterprise." A strong (im)moral component enters into this support as well with the combination of the evangelical right wishing for the end times and the antiterrorist rhetoric used mainly to reinforce US attempts at global hegemony (via military support for the US$).
Indigenous rights is another subtheme mentioned throughout the book. In particular the rights of Indigenous North Americans and South Africans are used in comparison in their similarities to the colonial settler regime in Israel. African Americans, while not 'colonized' in the strictest sense, are a product of the capitalist-colonial mindset where the 'other' is at best property to be bought and sold, and when not useful, to be eliminated in one fashion or another.
Resistance
The recreation and remembering of Palestinian culture in all its forms, and the bringing together a collective national identity, a living heritage, creates an imagined future Palestine as a unitary democratic and peaceful society. The will to resist is alive in many forms and an Imagined Palestine exists, anticipating its liberation as a free, independent country.
[1] see also: click here
[2] .unrwa.org/content/resolution-194
[3] A listing of articles on this topic: .palestinechronicle.com/?s=qatar+football
Greater Than the Sum of Our Parts - Feminism Inter/Nationalism & Palestine. Nada Elia. Pluto Press, 2023. London.
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