“Taxi Driver” by Bayan Abu Nahla, Ink and watercolors on paper, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Palestinian Museum)
Zionism is now a dirty word, and politicians are starting to turn away from it.
Ron Kampeas at the Jewish Telegraph Agency asked both the Harris campaign and the Trump campaign if the candidates considered themselves a Zionist. Neither replied with an easy “yes.”
Asked by the Jewish Telegraphic Agency if Vice President Kamala Harris considers herself a Zionist, a campaign aide replied:
“The Vice President and Governor [Tim] Walz have been strong and longstanding supporters of Israel as a secure, democratic homeland for the Jewish people. They will always ensure Israel can defend itself from threats, including from Iran and Iran-backed terrorists such as Hamas and Hezbollah.”
Told that the first sentence of that response would meet perhaps the most common definition of “Zionist,” the aide replied that beyond the statement she relayed, she had “nothing for you.”
Thinking about what we’ve lost
I was deeply moved by the artwork of Bayan Abu Nahla, a Palestinian artist who grew up in Gaza. We published the English translation of a profile of her and her work from the Al-Akhbar Newspaper. Her work is haunting, with beautiful colors depicting tragic scenes. I hope you will give it a read and pause to take in the images she created. Much of her body of work is now lost, destroyed in the Israeli war on Gaza. The images shared in this article were sent to Bethlehem for an exhibit before the war began.
I was already thinking a lot this week about what had been lost before this collection of art was published. Estimates on rebuilding Gaza are starting to be thrown around and the numbers are staggering. The United Nations estimates that right now there are 40 million tons of rubble in Gaza that will take 15 years and as much as $600 million just to clear. Rebuilding could cost $18.5 billion. If the war stopped today, it would take at least 16 years to rebuild residential buildings, but likely many decades longer than that. The financial losses, of course, pale in comparison to the staggering loss of life. At least 41,000 Palestinians in Gaza have been killed in the eleven months of this genocide, and over 95,000 have been injured.
Sarah Friedland condemns genocide at the Venice Film Festival
Friedland’s debut feature film, Familiar Touch, won three awards at this year’s Venice Film Festival, including best director, and best actress for star Kathleen Chalfant. During her acceptance speech, Friedland said, “I stand in solidarity with the people of Palestine and their struggle for liberation.” She was met with loud applause from the audience.
Chalfant is an accomplished actor who has been outspoken for Palestinian freedom for many years. Here is a clip of a dramatic reading of the Caryl Churchill play Seven Jewish Children, written after the Israeli attack on Gaza in 2008-2009, featuring Chalfant.
No, Israel does not have a right to defend itself in Gaza. But the Palestinians do.
Readers of Mondoweiss likely know Craig Mokhiber well. He is an international human rights lawyer and former senior United Nations Official. He left the UN in October 2023, penning a widely read letter warning of genocide in Gaza, critiquing the international response, and calling for a new approach to Palestine and Israel based on equality, human rights, and international law.
In this piece, Craig explains that, under international law, Israel has no right of self-defense in Gaza, the West Bank, or East Jerusalem. Further, the acts of “self-defense” Israel routinely carries out are unlawful even in instances where self-defense applies.
