Photo by Palestinian photographer, Hosny Salah, in the Gaza Strip.
Kiera Merriam
The Port Elgin United Church is inviting community members to participate in an information series exploring the history of Israel and Palestine.
The series is titled 'It Didn't Start on October 7: Zionism and its Victims' and takes place on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 9pm. Sessions began January 21 and continue every Tuesday through to March 18.
Each of the presentations are one hour in length and will be followed by a 30 minute Q&A and discussion. Those wishing to attend can do so online or they can also attend in person, Port Elgin United Church at 840 Bruce Street.
The subject matter is introductory and non-academic and suitable for anyone who wants to learn more. No prior knowledge of the history of Palestine and Israel needed.
The illustrated talks cover themes such as the political ideology of Zionism and its influence on the region, the impact of the 1948 Nakba on Palestinian identity, Zionist and Israeli efforts to oppose Palestinian nationalism, Palestinian resistance, and western support for Zionism and Israel.
The goal of the series is for participants to come away with a greater understanding of Israel's oppression and Palestinian resistance; an understanding of causality and why things are the way they are; a greater understanding of the events of October 7, 2023 and beyond and an increased ability to critically assess mainstream narratives and propaganda.
The series is presented by a BC-based journalist, writer, editor, and advocate for Palestinian human rights.
"Since 2014, [Philip] has made over eighty in-depth presentations on Palestine in post-secondary classrooms as well as organizing and speaking at campus and community events. Philip has visited Israel / Palestine three times, most recently in late 2022 as part of a fact-finding delegation. He is a member of the coordinating team of the United Network for Justice and Peace in Palestine and Israel."
To attend online via Zoom, registration is available at https://tinyurl.com/zy9k73kn.
