Available now:
al-majdal, BADIL English-language quarterly
Issue no. 32 (Winter 2006-2007)

"Uncovering Palestinian Memory A Role for Oral History"

This issue of al-majdal presents Palestinian oral history as related by refugees and the displaced, including their concept of homeland, the Nakba of 1948 and the right to return home. Oral history allows us to take a journey into historical perspectives and records often neglected or obscured by other historical narratives. Because the oral narratives focus on everyday life, they help us connect to life and people from the past who continue to shape Palestinian culture and struggle at present. While most Palestinian oral history accounts are still available in Arabic only, more and more are being made available in English.

Documenting Palestinian oral history is critical now also because 2008 may well be the last decade anniversary when Palestinian eye-witnesses from the 1948 Nakba are still able to tell their story. "We cannot think of any other project more important than the al-Nakba Oral History to work on. We call on all organizations, activists, and individuals to collaborate and share their findings so we all can learn from each other's experience, and to keep duplication of efforts and resources at minimum," writes Salah Mansour in his article entitled "Lessons' Learned from the PalestineRemembered.com's Oral History Experience."

A Call to Action for 2007 - 2008
In light of the above, al-majdal calls for a broad civil society campaign to protest 40 years of Israel's occupation (al-Naksa) in 2007 and 60 years of the Palestinian Nakba in 2008.

The "40 + 60 Campaign" marks a historic opportunity for faith-based organizations, individuals, community groups, the solidarity movement, unions and political parties to pool resources and activities and campaign for a rights-based solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Critical is the focus on the enforcement of the rights of Palestinian refugees under international law.

The future of the Palestinian people is at a crossroads. Now more than ever Palestinians are counting on local and global civil society to build pressure for the enforcement of international law - the foundation for a just peace.

Together we can make 2007 - 2008 into the campaign of freedom and return. Not just the return of the refugees, but also a return to the rule of law and respect for human rights and justice.

For more details about the "40 + 60 Campaign" contact:
mediaenglish@badil.org
 

A PDF version of al-Majdal, issue 32, is available at:
http://www.badil.org/al-majdal/al-majdal.htm.

Annual subscriptions are available online (www.badil.org) or from admin@badil.org for Euro 25 (4 issues).
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