2425 Virginia Ave, NW | Washington, DC 20037

202.338.1958 | info@thejerusalemfund.org

INSIDE THE FUND JULY—OCTOBER 2014

In October, we hosted Dr. Judith Butler, Professor of Comparative Literature and

Critical Theory at the University of California at Berkeley, who delivered a talk

entitled, “What is the value of Palestinian lives?” to a packed house at the 2014

Edward Said Memorial Lecture. During her lecture, she addressed the differential

value accorded to Palestinian and Israeli lives in light of considerations that the IDF

committed massacres in Gaza, in its most recent “Operation Protective Edge.”

Judith Butler delivers 2014 Edward Said Lecture

Board of Directors

Dr. Subhi Ali

Chairman

Mr. Omar Fayez, Esq.

Secretary

Dr. Eid B. Mustafa

Treasurer

Mr. George S. Hishmeh

Mr. Walid M. Keilani

Dr. Mohayya H. Khilfeh

Dr. Sari A. Nabulsi

Dr. Tawfik Z. Ramadan

Ms. Samera Sood

Staff

Yousef Munayyer

Executive Director

Mohamed K. Mohamed

Finance, Grants & Development

Associate

Samirah Alkassim

Program & Communications

Manager

Tamara Kamel

Program & Communications

Assistant

Dagmar Painter

Gallery Curator

Dr. Judith Butler speaking on the differential value accorded to Palestinian and Israeli lives.

Various media outlets covered Dr. Butler’s

eye-opening talk, including CSPAN and

AlQuds Daily. Dr. Butler incorporated her

renowned theories of identity in discussing

the lack of “grievability” of Palestinians

perpetuated by the mass media and the

Israeli government and thoughtfully engaged

with the audience as attendees posed various

questions. The video is available to view

online for those who were unable to attend.

Attendees filled the conference room to hear Dr. Butler’s lecture.

THE PALESTINE CENTER

The Palestine Center was busy this summer with our intern lecture series,

summer film series and additional talks. In June, author John Judis

presented his book, Genesis: Truman, American Jews and the Origins of the

Arab / Israeli Conflict, discussing the critical post-war years during the

Truman administration as essential to understanding all that followed in

the American policy towards the Arab/Israeli conflict. In June, we also

held a panel with media analysts Jack Shaheen and Edmund Ghareeb, each

of whom reflected on the images and portrayal of Arabs and Muslims in

American mass media.

In July and August, our summer interns, Molly Robertson of Colby

College, Paul Racco of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and

Rebecca Watson of Middlebury College, conducted a rich lecture series

entitled “Palestine Abroad:

the Role of the International

Community in the Palestinian Issue,” featuring speakers Lena

Ibrahim, Andrew Kadi, Michele Dunne, Muhammad Jenab

Tutunji, Nidal Sliman and Phyllis Bennis, each taking on different

questions related to the Palestinian issue abroad, including global

solidarity with the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS)

movement, foreign state actors and the peace process, and

Palestinian membership and recognition in the United Nations

and the International Criminal Court.

Later lectures included speaker Samer Abdelnour of Al-Shabaka Policy Network, who explored the topic of

the apartheid analogy and differences between Israel and South Africa, and an early September panel on the

challenges confronting Iraq with the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria featuring analysts Sami Albanna,

Adil Shamoo and Raed Jarrar.

BDS, the Media and Iraq discussed in summer lectures

Author John Judis presenting his latest book, Genesis:

Truman, American Jews and the Origins of the

Arab / Israeli Conflict.

Activists Lena Ibrahim and Andrew Kadi discuss the

role of student activists in the global solidarity movement.

Join us on November 14th for the 2014 Palestine Center Annual Conference

THE HUMANITARIAN LINK

The past few months have been very difficult for Palestinians.

Thousands of people have been uprooted and their lives

shattered. Some have even lost their entire families. For the

third time in five years, Israel unleashed a savage assault on

Gaza with a complete disregard for the loss of civilian lives. In

fact, 75 percent of the 2,191 killed by Israel were civilians,

including 527 children, 299 women and almost 100 elderly

Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Center for Human

Rights. Sadly, these numbers do not include the people that

have since died due to injuries they sustained.

Although Israeli bombs are no longer raining down, the

tragedy in Gaza is far from over. More than 11,000 people

were injured in the recent attack, and many will endure the

physical and psychological effects for the rest of their lives. Basic infrastructure has been devastated, hospitals

are struggling to cope and entire neighborhoods have been flattened. Israel's violence caused the displacement

of over 500,000 Palestinians, and in a cruel repetition of history, many of them have been forced to live in

tents as their parents and grandparents did decades ago.

Due to the horrible economic conditions in Gaza that

have become even worse after the latest onslaught,

most families suffer from a lack of electricity, gas and

other basic utilities. With a grant made possible by

your generosity and support, the Future Association

for Culture and Development is now able to provide

many impoverished families with light chargers and gas

cookers to help make their lives more bearable. The

situation in Gaza is tough and recovering from the

destruction will not be easy, but we can help ease the

pain of many people during the process.

For this reason, we are continuing our emergency appeal and we urge you to assist us in supporting the

people of Gaza during this crisis. Victims of severe burns and amputations make up a significant

percentage of those wounded by Israel, and our relief efforts will focus on providing long-term treatment and

rehabilitation to these people.

Every dollar donated to this appeal will be 100 percent restricted for providing desperately needed humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza, and your contribution to The Jerusalem Fund is always 100

percent tax-deductible.

Help needed in time of Gaza Emergency

To make a TAX-DEDUCTIBLE donation to help the people of Gaza,

please visit www.thejerusalemfund.org/donate today.

Your generosity helps Palestinians remain steadfast despite the vast

hardships they face after Operation Protective Edge.

GALLERY AL-QUDS

Artist Helen Zughaib’s exhibition of paintings,

calligraphy and installations drew a record crowd at the opening reception in September. Representatives from the World Bank Art Program, Art in Embassies and several DC art galleries joined more than 150 visitors in admiring and purchasing Zughaib’s artwork. Especially popular was Peace Puzzle, comprising 32 moveable blocks spelling Salaam and Generations Lost. The Gallery hosted Zughaib and a packed audience for a lunchtime artist talk on 17 September. Gallery Al-Quds and Fractured Spring were recently profiled in The Washington Post! Click here to read our review.

Fractured Spring A Memorial to the Arab Spring

2425 Virginia Ave, NW | Washington, DC 20037

202.338.1958 | info@thejerusalemfund.org

Visitors mingle during a meet-and-greet with artist Helen Zughaib.

Palestinian Artist Taysir Batniji in Dialogue with Gallery Curator

Dagmar Painter was invited by the Middle East Institute to engage in an evening of dialogue with prize-winning Palestinian artist Taysir Batniji, who visited Washington during a three-month sojourn in Brooklyn under the auspices of Edge of Arabia and Art Jameel’s Culture Runners.

The 2014 Annual Souk

On 6 December, bring your friends and family to soak in the ambience of a traditional Middle Eastern souk, stock up on Palestinian keffiyehs, organic olive oil and zaatar from Palestine, listen to the soothing sounds of qanun music, get your hand painted with intricate henna designs, and choose from among thousands of lovely items galore for holiday gifts while indulging in delicious Middle Eastern fare from the Jerusalem Restaurant.

Author and diplomat Marjorie Ransom lectured about her new, ground-breaking book, Silver Treasures

from the Land of Sheba. During the talk she presented an entire antique Yemeni bridal costume

(pictured left) and jewelry to a rapt audience.