Since working as a volunteer for an Iraqi refugee family the Middle East and the Arab world have been placed firmly on my radar, which I'm very grateful for because it is giving me a glimpse of how people in that part of the world view the West. My dear Moroccan friend A. has added to my fascination with this region because of her frank opinions on issues such as arranged marriages, observing Ramadan or interpretation of the Koran. During our many conversations the focus has inevitably turned to the Israel-Palestine conflict, which is very much at the root of most political strife in the region. I'm by no means an expert on this topic and won't espouse opinions but let's just simply state that I'm dumfounded by Israel's non-relenting occupation of disputed territories and by the building of its 'West Bank barrier' (referred to as the 'segregation wall' by Palestinians). Last w
eekend V. and I came across creative representations from both sides of the fence (so to speak) that made me think about who's winning or losing in all of this. First we visited ‘Occupation & Resistance - Photos from Palestine', an exhibition that featured images showcasing the daily experience of Palestinians living under occupation. The photos were taken by a group called ‘ActiveStills', a collective of photographers based in Israel, who believe in the power of photography as a tool for social justice. According to the organiser this was a rare opportunity for New Zealanders to see a different side of the conflict: “We want to show the different ways in which Israel destroys people’s livelihoods, homes, land and hope”. The photos had the desired effect because I walked out of Thistle Hall outraged and full of emotion. Coincidentally though, we went to the cinema straight afterwards and ended up watching Noodle, an Israeli film about grief and loss with its main character a twice-widowed woman who lost both her husbands in the armed conflict. It goes to show that both sides have something to lose and was a timely reminder that not all Israelis support the government's stance. An eye-opening afternoon!
eekend V. and I came across creative representations from both sides of the fence (so to speak) that made me think about who's winning or losing in all of this. First we visited ‘Occupation & Resistance - Photos from Palestine', an exhibition that featured images showcasing the daily experience of Palestinians living under occupation. The photos were taken by a group called ‘ActiveStills', a collective of photographers based in Israel, who believe in the power of photography as a tool for social justice. According to the organiser this was a rare opportunity for New Zealanders to see a different side of the conflict: “We want to show the different ways in which Israel destroys people’s livelihoods, homes, land and hope”. The photos had the desired effect because I walked out of Thistle Hall outraged and full of emotion. Coincidentally though, we went to the cinema straight afterwards and ended up watching Noodle, an Israeli film about grief and loss with its main character a twice-widowed woman who lost both her husbands in the armed conflict. It goes to show that both sides have something to lose and was a timely reminder that not all Israelis support the government's stance. An eye-opening afternoon! 
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