Despite the so called Arab Spring in the Middle East and North Africa, Palestinian activists working non violently for their democratic rights have gotten little or no media coverage in America.
Produced by Dori Smith
Mazin Qumsiyeh instead teaches at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities in Palestine.
He also serves as chairman of the board of the Palestinian Center for Rapprochement Between People and coordinator of the Popular Committee Against the Wall and Settlements in Beit Sahour. His previous book was, Sharing the Land of Canaan: Human rights and the Israeli/Palestinian Struggle.
Why its so important to share Professor Qumsiyeh's message about resistance modeled after Mahatma Gandhi.
Palestinians have in fact a long history of non-violent protest, and had Professor Qumsiyeh been an activist working for peace and democratic rights in Tripoli, Libya, rather than Jerusalem, Palestine, his name might be more widely recognized in America. Moreover, had he been active in working to fight repression in Egypt, Yemen, Syria, or even China, Prof. Qumsiyeh's work might be under discussion at major universities.
Instead, since Mazin Qumsiyeh teaches at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities in Palestine, he must rely on Pacifica network, community and internet radio, and free press stations around the world, to get his news and his message across.
He discusses the history of his own efforts toward peace with Israel, an end to the separation wall, and an end to illegal Israeli settlement building. Within that context he talks about the history of his ancestors who also resisted Israeli occupation and occupation by England prior to that.
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