Becoming Pro-Palestinian

This book brings together testimonials from people of different nationalities and professions who are pro-Palestinian, whether as scholars, film-makers, artists, musicians, activists, or NGO workers. Using what oral historians call the ‘focused life history’, renowned scholar Rosemary Sayigh invites her contributors to describe the experiences, events, motives, and feelings that led them to support the Palestinian cause.

Becoming Pro-Palestinian is the first of its kind in Palestiniography and includes voices from countries across the world. A chapter is dedicated to each country, and contributors are asked to reveal how they ‘discovered’ Palestine—given that Palestine is rarely mentioned in school textbooks or university courses—whether by travel, friendship, study, membership in a political party, or book group. They are also asked to detail what specific forms their engagement has taken, ranging from scholarly, creative, militant, or charitable, and what their hopes are for the international solidarity movement.

Finally, each contributor reflects on whether they feel a just and equitable solution can ever be achieved for Palestinians, and if they accept the label pro-Palestinian or would rather define their relationship to the Palestinians in some other way.

With testimonies from both high profile and grassroots activists, the book is a rich and personal selection that reflects the diversity, dynamism, and global nature of the movement for Palestine.