I want to tell the World a story
Palestinian culture
Palestinian culture has an ancient history 4,000 years that predates Israel's creation and Nakba of 1948.
Palestinian culture is similiar to cultures and traditions of its neighbors
across the Arab World & Middle East, particulary Lebanon and Syria. On a religious note, Christianity and Islam have played a major role throughout Palestinian culture for 2000 years.
Palestinians, both Christian & Muslims claim descendant from the ancient Canaanites who originally lived in ancient Canaan before being exiled and expelled
by the ancient Israelites who the Israelis claim descendant from. Many cities and towns long associated with Jesus, Abraham,
Issac, etc and many figures of the Bible such as Nazareth, East Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Hebron, Gaza, etc are all
Palestinian towns and have existed for a millenium and are regarded as religious and culturally signficant and sacred to Palestinian society.
Palestinian Christians regarded themselves as children of Jesus & Holy Land along with their christian brothers and sister in U.S., Europe and Africa who have been forgotten by the
wider Christian World because of the conflict between Israel-Palestine constantly identified as a war between Islam and Judiasm with no reference made to the vibrant and surviving
Christian Palestinians living under Israeli occupation in occupied East Jerusalem & West Bank under the same conditions as their Muslims brothers and sisters.
The most famous and well known aspect of Palestinian culture is the debkah,
a popular and ancient dance across the Arab world and in African countries. The debkah has symbolized the resistance of Palestinian people to continual
Israeli occupation and land confiscation. It's a folk dance which tells the story of land, fellahin, history, culture, nature, freedom and poetry
through fast rythms, music and dance. It is often danced by several Palestinian dance troups such as Al Juthoor (roots), Al Zaytoun and many others.
The land and olive tree are greatly important to Palestinian identity, history, politics and culture. It's often plays with oud another famous instrument from Palestine and other Arab countries.
The olive tree is renowned across the world as the symbol of peace and also for its strong, deep roots embedded into the soil, its ability to grow in the harshest climate
and under stessed conditions. It has symbolized the determination and steadfastness of Palestinian people to remain on their lands as the
Israeli occupation's destruction and illegal settlement growth literally eats up what remains of privately owned lands and farms in occupied Palestine.
For many Palestinian families agriculture is still forms a large part of a suffocated Palestinian economy
as most of Palestine relies on agriculture and light industry. Throughout history, families have always been connected to the land through farming,
growing and planting orange, lemon, olive, date palm orchards, fishing in Mediterranean Sea, producing ceramics, textiles, distinct artwork and
belonged to the fellahin class of society. In Palestinian poems, literature, art work, folksongs and folklore, the land is seen as a living being with feelings,
a heart & with an identity of its own. Poetry is the most famous literature in Palestine and across the Arab World and has been so for several thousand years.
State of Siege by Mahmoud Darwish
State of Siege or Hilat Hissar
Congratulations Al Quds/Jerusalem as Arab Cultural capital
Despite 42 year old Israeli occupation, East Jerusalem or Al Quds in Arabic was named and won the prestigious title for Capital of Arab culture for 2009!
Al Quds 2009 Capital of Arab culture
Pictures from Palestine & Israel
Photos by Palestinians and Israelis on daily life in occupied Palestine particulary East Jerusalem and West Bank, olive trees, Aparthied wall,
schools and neighbors dealing with occupation forces, etc. A little bit of everything else. Also includes images from Israel as well.
The photos are part of an interesting slide show. Compliments to
Active Stills
Jerusalem Dispossed
What U Think U See
Al Damir al Arabi (The Arab Conscience)
100 Arab celeberites from various Arab countries join together to sing for Peace and promote justice and equality between all humanity!
Al Damir al Arabi part 1, Eng sub
Al Damir al Arabi part 2, Eng sub
Al Damir al Arabi part 3, Eng sub
Al Damir al Arabi part 4, Eng sub
Palestinian Cinema
Amreeka
A brandnew award winning comedy film about what it means to Arab American and a human being, an immigrant in a new and strange land and part of the Palestinian Diaspora
The Land Speaks Arabic
Director Maryse Gargour's 61-minute film The Land Speaks Arabic documents the founding of the Zionist movement and the expulsion of Palestinians in the early part of the 20th century.
The historical narrative is reconstructed by weaving archival materials such as photographs, films, news reels and official documents, with the testimonies of Palestinian survivors
of the forced expulsion of 1947-48, referred to as the Nakba, and the findings of British-Palestinian historian Nur Masalha.
Salt of This Sea
French trailer for Salt of This Sea. This film was also under French production.
Closed Zone:
One of the creators of Oscar-nominated animation Waltz With Bashir has made a short film to alter Israeli perceptions of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
A 90-second film Closed Zone has been launched online in support of the human rights group Gisha, which advocates freedom of movement for Palestinians.
It shows a Palestinian boy chasing a bird but having his path blocked.
Closed Zone official website
Gish: Legal Center for the Freedom of Movement of Palestinians.
A human rights groups based in Israel advocating, demanding and calling for freedom of movement of
palestinians in the occupied territories particulary Gaza that has endured a 2 year long Siege, war,
holocaust and continual occupation by Israeli military.
Arab Film Festival
Right to Education
Visit Palestine & experience Palestinian culture
Despite the continual violence from settlers, Israeli military, continual land confiscation & checkpoints, there are many Palestinian, Western
and Israeli organizations that offer trips, delegations, fact finding missions, study abroad programs and cultural exchanges & activist programs to occupied Palestine to experience
Palestinian culture, art society and life. These programs offer rare opportunities for anyone to see what life and reality is like in occupied Palestine beyond the headlines.
Palestine Summer Encounter
Palestine Summer Encounter (PSE) is a one, two, or three month service learning and cultural immersion program in Bethlehem, Palestine.
Participants study Arabic in and outside of the classroom setting, live with a Palestinian host family, meet with both Israeli and Palestinian
NGOs and peacemakers and volunteer with one of thirty-seven participating nonprofits and organizations.
Holy Land Trust
Holy Land Trust seeks to deepen international awareness and advocacy by presenting unique travel and
encounter programs as well as authentic and comprehensive media and news programs. Holy Land Trust recognizes the important
role played by the international community in advocating for a just and comprehensive peace in the Middle East. It also hosts Palestine Summer Encounter
Siraj Center
Siraj is a non-governmental organization based in Beit Sahour, Palestine.
Zochrot
Other Voice-Srderot, Israel
Interfaith Peace Builders
