On Saturday, December 19, the ISM Support Group in Northern California (NorCal ISM) hosted a webinar on the current situation, with a focus on grassroots resistance to colonialism and the importance of international solidarity. The webinar was held over Zoom and also streamed on the ISM Facebook page.
Abdelkarim Dalbah, ISM activist and coordinator for over 20 years, spoke directly from Palestine, providing insight into how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected Palestinians and the escalation of settler colonial violence targeting Palestinian farmers. He also discussed the current political situation, including the U.S.-backed normalization by some Arab regimes (such as the UAE, Morocco and Sudan) with the Israeli occupation, noting that these normalization efforts were being advanced to serve narrow self-interests and the demands of imperialism, at the expense of the people of Palestine and these Arab countries.
In this context, he emphasized the necessity of international solidarity, both on the ground in Palestine as an ISM volunteer and in people’s own countries, challenging official policies and corporate complicity and profiteering from the Israeli occupation. He noted the importance of the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign as well as the direct action work being done by groups like Palestine Action in the UK.
Edmond Sichrovsky, an ISM activist of Jewish origin based in Northern Europe who has been banned by the Israeli government from returning to Palestine, spoke about his experiences as an ISM volunteer in Palestine. He shared his firsthand account of Israeli home demolitions and settler colonial violence as well as the transformative power of Palestinian resistance and organizing. He noted the importance of media work, especially as people in countries around the world often gather inaccurate, anti-Palestinian concepts from mainstream and corporate media, in order to challenge Israeli apartheid.
Sophie, an ISM volunteer from Spain, also shared her experiences in Palestine. She encouraged all who are able to go – especially after the conditions of the pandemic change – to volunteer with ISM in Palestine, noting that even as an academic who had studied the area, going to Palestine and becoming a volunteer provided new insights. She also noted the importance of boycott campaigns and other local activism in countries around the world to provide meaningful support for the Palestinian struggle for justice.
The event was moderated by Charlotte Kates, representing NorCal ISM. The full video of the event, including all presentations and the question-and-answer session, is available to watch, below and on YouTube:
For more information about the International Solidarity Movement, please visit the ISM website at palsolidarity.org. To get involved with ISM Northern California, please see the ISM NorCal website or contact solidarity@ism-norcal.org.