Mohamed El-Kurd: Justice, Resistance, and Palestine
The Struggle in Sheikh Jarrah
Origins and Dispossession
Mohamed El-Kurd discusses his upbringing in Sheikh Jarrah, a neighborhood in East Jerusalem that has become symbolic of the broader Palestinian struggle against displacement. He explains that his family, like many others, were refugees from the 1948 Nakba and were resettled in Sheikh Jarrah in the 1950s. Since the 1970s, settler organizations have utilized, in his view, a political and discriminatory legal system to forcibly remove families from their homes.
The Legal and Political Asymmetry
"The Israeli courts would look at the Israeli documents, which we argue are falsified and fabricated, and they would take them at face value without authentication."
El-Kurd argues that the judicial system is designed to facilitate ethnic cleansing rather than resolve real estate disputes. He highlights the role of the judiciary in upholding laws that explicitly discriminate against Palestinians, noting that:
• Building permits are rarely granted to Palestinians.
• Settlers in the West Bank act as judges in cases involving Palestinians.
• The system creates a bureaucratic facade of legality to justify human rights abuses.
The Concept of Nakba and Resistance
The Ongoing Catastrophe
El-Kurd emphasizes that the Nakba—the Palestinian catastrophe—is not a historical event contained in 1948 but an ongoing process of dispossession, settlement expansion, and violence. He rejects the notion that the conflict is primarily religious, framing it instead as a struggle against colonialism and apartheid.
Redefining Resistance
Addressing the criticism of Palestinian violence, he challenges the double standards applied to Palestinian resistance compared to other global conflicts, such as the war in Ukraine. He asserts:
• Violence is a byproduct of being forced into "cages" (e.g., Gaza, West Bank).
• The focus on "hateful hearts" is a distraction from the reality of policies that destroy homes and lives.
• Resistance is not rooted in a desire for violence, but in a drive for collective survival.
Future Visions and Liberation
Recognition, Return, and Redistribution
For El-Kurd, the path to peace is simple but politically daunting: it requires the right of return for refugees, the redistribution of stolen land, and the recognition of past and current injustices. He envisions a world that transcends nation-states, moving toward a future defined by equality rather than hierarchies of power or supremacy.
Cultural and Intellectual Fronts
He discusses his role as a writer and activist, aiming to bridge the chasm between the reality on the ground and international perception. He highlights the power of literature and humor as mechanisms for maintaining dignity in the face of dehumanization.