Israeli army attacks event for launch of graphic novel in Budrus

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Another grave security threat to Israel: comic books....

PHOTOS: Israeli army attacks event for launch of graphic novel in Budrus

The Israeli military interrupts the launch event for a new graphic novel created by the makers of the documentary film ‘Budrus.’

Text by: Jessica Devaney, Photos by: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org

Young Palestinians girls read Budrus – The Graphic Novel aloud to each other, pointing out relatives and friends they recognize on the pages.

Just Vision launched an Arabic graphic novel at the Budrus Girls School on Thursday. Created by Irene Nasser and based on the award-winning documentary, Budrus (directed by Julia Bacha), the graphic novel looks at the unarmed movement in the village through the eyes of 15-year-old Iltezam Morrar.

Starting this summer, Just Vision’s outreach team will use the graphic novel to engage Palestinian youth in discussions surrounding the significance of women’s role in the nonviolent popular struggle and to examine other contested issues like how best to build unity across political lines.

Budrus the graphic novel is available online here.

A Palestinian girl in Budrus, after receiving a copy of the graphic novel at the launch event on Thursday.

As the event wrapped up, the Israeli army arrived and began shooting tear gas into the village. The heat from the tear gas canisters started a fire in the olive groves. Youth from the village attempt to put out the fire.

The women of Budrus are known for the leadership they took in the village’s successful unarmed struggle against the route of the Separation Barrier. After 10 months of struggle, the residents managed to save 95 percent of their lands from confiscation. They gathered on Thursday at the Budrus Girls School to mark the launch of the Budrus – The Graphic Novel.

The Budrus youth dabke troupe performs at the graphic novel launch event.

Children from Budrus waiting for their copy of the graphic novel.

Ayed Morrar, leader of the Popular Committee in Budrus, addresses the crowd, emphasizing women’s role in the unarmed popular struggle and the importance of unity across political lines.

Linda Awad (bottom left), the sister of Sameer Awad , the 15-year-old Palestinian youth who was shot and killed by the Israeli army in Budrus on January 15, 2013, reads the graphic novel aloud to her friends. The graphic novel is dedicated to Sameer Awad, Hussain Al-Ayyan and all those who lost their lives due to the occupation.

A Palestinian youth in Budrus, with his new copy of the graphic novel, after the Israeli army interrupted the event, shooting tear gas into the village.

http://972mag.com/photos-israeli-army-attacks-graphic-novel-launch-in-budrus/70394/

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

By the way (in case nobody was intrigued by the side story here - what this particular comic book focuses on) - there is a huge push underway in the Palestinian educational system to teach gender equality and to empower Palestinian girls and young women to take their full roles in society, including in the workforce and in politics as well. (These programs are funded mostly by European non-governmental organizations) This comic book is part of that effort.

But even Israeli soldiers in full combat gear tear-gassing Palestinian girls learning about gender equality will not get nearly the coverage that angry naked screaming FEMEN skanks mocking Islamic symbols will get.....

Edited May 3, 2013 by Falastin_Qalbi

[GandD 5,966]

By the way (in case nobody was intrigued by the side story here - what this particular comic book focuses on) - there is a huge push underway in the Palestinian educational system to teach gender equality and to empower Palestinian girls and young women to take their full roles in society, including in the workforce and in politics as well. (These programs are funded mostly by European non-governmental organizations) This comic book is part of that effort.

I was going to ask. The site was all in arabic.

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

I was going to ask. The site was all in arabic.

I don't think they translated the page about the comic book into English yet, but Just Vision's main website is available in English and Hebrew as well as Arabic:

http://www.justvision.org/

[himher 634]

Another grave security threat to Israel: comic books....

Unarmed schoolgirls are a threat to national security

Hell freedom of assembly was identified as a threat to oppression back in the 1780's

Edited May 4, 2013 by himher

[sandinista! 1,816]

Those kids, squee.

That little girl in the second picture is too cute. The little girl in pink in the sixth picture too, the expression on her face is too funny

[PalestineMyHeart 1,897]

Those kids, squee.

That little girl in the second picture is too cute. The little girl in pink in the sixth picture too, the expression on her face is too funny

Isn't she something The girl next to her has gotta be her sister.

This event so many activities, for kids and for adults. I love the dabka pic, and also the scene where Ayed Morrar is speaking to the men about women's role as partners.

And then of course the grand finale with the soldiers shooting tear gas at them was like a big exclamation point to everything that had been said.