While I very much appreciate this post acknowledging that Israel has targeted Palestinian leaders for assassination for decades, describing Ghassan Kanafani as a leader akin to Yahya Sinwar is erroneous. He was a much admired writer and editor, and he continues to be admired worldwide today, decades later, much in the way James Baldwin d…
While I very much appreciate this post acknowledging that Israel has targeted Palestinian leaders for assassination for decades, describing Ghassan Kanafani as a leader akin to Yahya Sinwar is erroneous. He was a much admired writer and editor, and he continues to be admired worldwide today, decades later, much in the way James Baldwin does. The fact that Israel not only targets Palestinian militants and political leaders for assassination, but also writers, poets and journalists, should be of great concern to all of us. It means that Israel not only goes after perceived political enemies, but is keen to stamp out Palestinian culture. That explains why during its Gaza onslaught it has bombed all the universities, many schools, printing presses, cultural centers, theatres and libraries. There is a case to be made for genocide. We should not turn away from the facts. —Jordan Elgrably, editor, The Markaz Review
Thank you Jordan on your accurate reply (I read your comment about Kanafani after my comment about him). I recall meeting you at the UCLA symposium in the 90’s called Open Tent where Dr Rashid Khalidi spoke, small world we meet on line again
Yes, Bassam, what a small world, and long, long ago. It was actually in 2000 and I subsequently published an interview with Dr. Khalidi, which has been saved online here: https://wsarch.ucr.edu/wsnmail/2000/msg01721.html Open Tent evolved into the Levantine Cultural Center, which ran for years before changing names to The Markaz cultural center, which closed during the pandemic, at the same time I launched The Markaz Review. But the work remains the same—to transform Israel and occupied Palestine into one democratic state.
Thnx for sharing the Dr Khalidi’s interview, worth reading these days as I recall the Open Tent was a positive action in my mind. How can I follow you in the Markaz Review? Let’s stay connected
While I very much appreciate this post acknowledging that Israel has targeted Palestinian leaders for assassination for decades, describing Ghassan Kanafani as a leader akin to Yahya Sinwar is erroneous. He was a much admired writer and editor, and he continues to be admired worldwide today, decades later, much in the way James Baldwin does. The fact that Israel not only targets Palestinian militants and political leaders for assassination, but also writers, poets and journalists, should be of great concern to all of us. It means that Israel not only goes after perceived political enemies, but is keen to stamp out Palestinian culture. That explains why during its Gaza onslaught it has bombed all the universities, many schools, printing presses, cultural centers, theatres and libraries. There is a case to be made for genocide. We should not turn away from the facts. —Jordan Elgrably, editor, The Markaz Review
Thank you Jordan on your accurate reply (I read your comment about Kanafani after my comment about him). I recall meeting you at the UCLA symposium in the 90’s called Open Tent where Dr Rashid Khalidi spoke, small world we meet on line again
Yes, Bassam, what a small world, and long, long ago. It was actually in 2000 and I subsequently published an interview with Dr. Khalidi, which has been saved online here: https://wsarch.ucr.edu/wsnmail/2000/msg01721.html Open Tent evolved into the Levantine Cultural Center, which ran for years before changing names to The Markaz cultural center, which closed during the pandemic, at the same time I launched The Markaz Review. But the work remains the same—to transform Israel and occupied Palestine into one democratic state.
Thnx for sharing the Dr Khalidi’s interview, worth reading these days as I recall the Open Tent was a positive action in my mind. How can I follow you in the Markaz Review? Let’s stay connected
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