Notes from the Fifth Annual Lecture of the Center for Palestine Studies

Introduction

• Speaker: Gilbert Ashkar, Chair of the Center for Palestine Studies (6 years)
• 70th Anniversary of the Nakba and the foundation of the State of Israel
• Reminder: Event is recorded; no unauthorized filming allowed

Special Guest: Elias Khoury

• Longtime friend of Gilbert Ashkar
• Connected deeply to the Palestinian cause and Nakba
• Notable works:
  • "Gate of the Sun" (translated into English)
  • Upcoming "Children of the Ghetto"
• Born in 1948, the year of the Nakba

Elias Khoury's Background

• Political Activist: Involved in Palestinian national movement from youth; editor of cultural supplement in Lebanon
• Academic: Taught at notable universities including Columbia University and NYU; authored literary criticism
• Novelist: Known for his exploration of Palestinian themes in literature

Wen-Chin Ouyang's Introduction to Elias Khoury

• Highlighted Khoury's contributions as a writer, critic, and supporter of Palestine
• Impact on Arab literature and education in North America and Europe
• Experience meeting Khoury in the context of challenges faced by Arabic literature programs in academia

Elias Khoury's Lecture: "Nakba, the Memory and the Present"

• Begin Lecture: Reflections on the difficulties of obtaining a British visa

Key Themes and Points:

• Continuous Nakba:

  • The Nakba is ongoing, not a historical event; exemplified by young activists who named their village Bab Shams
  • The Nakba represents a persistent existential threat faced by Palestinians

• Concept of Present Absence:

  • Palestinians who lost their homes are classified as either "present absent" or "absent"
  • Discussed complexities of identity and visibility of Palestinians in Israeli law

• Literary Representation:

  • Palestinian characters often depicted as shadows or mute in Israeli literature
  • Examples from notable Israeli authors illustrating the absence of Palestinian voices

• Israeli Strategy:

  • Tactics to render Palestinians invisible, including bypass roads, checkpoints, and the separation wall
  • The siege of Gaza as an example of extreme oppression

• Comparison of Holocaust and Nakba:

  • Both are examples of human suffering; however, they arise from distinct historical contexts
  • The importance of recognizing and preserving the memory of both events

• Caution Against Equating Suffering:

  • The danger of drawing parallels that simplify or obscure the unique aspects of each tragedy
  • The call for a solid moral stance against both anti-Semitism and colonial oppression

Conclusion

• The ongoing nature of the Nakba demands continuous recognition and action
• The importance of collective memory in resisting erasure and promoting justice
• Acknowledges the shared humanity among oppressed peoples globally

Q&A Session

• Time for questions at the end of the lecture.