Two stories from the West Bank
In two days I watched two movies about the West Bank. The first is called “Mayor”,
Mayor follows Musa Hadid, the Christian mayor of Ramallah, during his second term in office. His immediate goals: repave the sidewalks, attract more tourism, and plan the city’s Christmas celebrations. His ultimate mission: to end the occupation of Palestine.
The second movie you’re more likely to have heard of; “No Other Land” won Best Documentary at the Oscars a few weeks ago.
For half a decade, Basel Adra, a Palestinian activist, films his community of Masafer Yatta being destroyed by Israel's occupation, as he builds an unlikely alliance with an Israeli journalist who wants to join his fight.
This film, and it’s Oscar win, caused all sorts of valid uproar. From anger about the Israeli filmmaker’s speech, to his being included in the filmmaking at all. Many people, including Palestinians both in Palestine and the diaspora, however, celebrated having such a huge platform. I’m not here to give my opinion on any of that (though rest assured I have one).
The juxtaposition of these two films, one in a city and the other in a village, showing in detail how the Israeli army terrorizes Palestinians was poignant, and nauseating. The unnecessary terror and destruction, the cold unfeeling soldiers, and the way Palestinians have no recourse whatsoever, adding to the humiliation. It doesn’t feel right to use words like ‘resilient’ and ‘brave’ from my position of privilege because these words assume there is a choice.
Learning more about the West Bank, after spending so many months being intimately aware of the goings on of so many Palestinians in the Gaza strip, cements my resolve. I encourage you to think about what you’ve done so far this year for Palestinians, and whether it feels like enough.
Urgent Needs:
Hala needs a new phone to finish her studies. Can you imagine she is continuing her college education on a broken phone during a genocide? Please help her. If you can’t send Kroner to her GFM page, venmo me with the note “for Hala” and I’ll send it.
Heba and her family are very near to the northern border in the Gaza Strip and need money to travel somewhere safer now that the bombing has begun again.
Raffles and online fundraisers:
Art for Maryam — An original collage, painting, and drift wood on reclaimed wood, made in 2023 by Alli Bratt. Titled “Giving Flowers” and Measures approx. 4.5” by 10.75”
How to enter:
-$10/entry, multiple entries encouraged
-Send funds via Venmo (@)Alli-Bratt or cash app: $AlliJBee
-in the note add your Instagram or email-Last day to enter the raffle is Friday, March 28th.
Birthday Commissions — It’s @Sailorplutoirl’s birthday and the artist @nukazoid has agreed to accept 3 commissions for character line art for $25 donations. This would be a perfect gift for the D&D player in your life, or a drawing of yourself as a sexy mech for your partner, or any number of things!
Send a screenshot to the artist above with a request of your drawing. Or send to me and I’ll forward for you.
Raffle for Hala — Each Winner will choose designs from the Direct-Aid shop on redbubble.com to be printed on the items in the package of their choice.
3 winners! - 1 ticket = $10; 3 tickets = $20 (world-wide shipping!)
Send $ to Paypal @MadiMordaunt with note, ‘For Hala’s Raffle’ or donate to Hala’s campaign $10 = 100Kroner
Send receipt to @beef.cheeps (or to me, and I will forward)
Winners will be chosen on April 13th.
Package One = Lightweight sweatshirt sm-3xl + small sticker
Package Two = dad hat + spiral notebook lined or graph
Package Three = t-shirt sm-3xl + mug
Aboora’s family — Several amazing prizes! Use the link to see the raffle website (not instagram)
$10 = 10 entries; $25 = 30 entries; $45 = 60 entries
Home bundle — Well loved orchid and 2 rare baby cacti, 3 days house and pet sitting (in Portland area), set of locally carved wooden spatulas and spoons, decluttering and organizing session with Kristin Markling, 8”x10” photograph and 2 photography zines from Pine Island Press.
Magic Bundle — Locally handmade broom from broom corn, custom portrait of up to 3 humans or pets in 11”x14” or 12”x15”, three coaching lessons with Torin at Radicle Coaching.
Breathe Deeply Bundle — Basket of handmade, all natural body care products scented with essential oils including shampoo bar, body bar, 2 lip balm, epsom salt bath soak, and more! Organic pain salve by local herbalist, plant identification walk in nature wiht calm human knowldege of plants, two pounts of coffe, 2 tins of hot chocolate, 2 boxes of tea, and 4 chocolate bars from Equal Exchange.
Family Fun Bundle — Puppet show from local, joyful, creative, and curious human, 4 hours of childcare from Portland mom immersed in gentle parenting, 3 full meals for you and your kiddos, prepared by masked and gloved humans with experience in specialty diets.
PDX events:
Where Olive Trees Weep — March Toward Liberation Film Fest - Third Screening! This is a wonderful opportunity to come together in community, forging connections, making new friends, and engaging with organizers and like-minded individuals.
Join us Friday, March 21st, for the next installment of our film series, Where Olive Trees Weep (2024), an award-winning documentary of poignant stories shedding light on intergenerational pain and resilience. The film explores the current crisis while sharing stories from 2022 in the occupied West Bank. Beyond education, the film seeks to move hearts and minds, amplifying long-ignored calls for freedom, equality, and dignity.
Where: Filipino Bayanihan Center (SE Portland)
Doors: 6:00 PM | Film: 7:00 PM
Enjoy vegetarian/vegan light dinner spread, delicious treats & drinks – 100% of sales donated!RSVP now: tinyurl.com/march4film
FRIENDLY NUDGE: Share this with someone who may not fully understand what’s happening in P@laest1ne—encourage them to attend!
Swana Stitch Workshops — Come learn about Palestinian Tatreez embroidery from a local Tatreez artist and raise funds for @abod__ismail and his family in Gaza! This class is open to anyone who’s interested and wants to support Palestinian cultural knowledge and be in solidarity.
Plant Sale — We’ll have various indoor & outdoor plants including veggie starts, tree & tree cuttings, herbs, and plenty of easy-to-care-for houseplants. Everything will be sliding scale pricing. Bring your friends and the gardeners in your life to give these plants a good home while taking care of our Palestinian families.
April 6th 1:00-4:00pm
SWANA rose 2942 NE MLK Jr. Blvd.
Masks required
Highlighted Merch:
As we pass through the first full 24 hours since Israel decided to continue their indescriminate bombing and shooting campaign on the starved and grieving Palestinians left in the Gaza Strip, I return to this phrase; NEVER AGAIN MEANS NEVER AGAIN FOR ANYONE.
The horrors and devestation persists and the importance of our dollars, our voices, our constant pressure on government and businesses continues to be vital. This happens because our tax dollars pay for it. Please think about this every day and call your reps. Call your city officials to divest. Every day, do something.