Understanding palestine

Films, texts, and websites to help grasp the history of Palestine's illegal occupation, as well as what the future can and should hold. Free links and PDFs provided whenever possible. Regularly updated.

Books – Fiction, Non Fiction, and Poetry

While we urge you to support authors writing and speaking out about Palestine by purchasing their work, we understand this is a financial constraint for many, and have provided access to free download for most books.

Salt Houses (fiction) – Hala Alyan
(click here to buy)

Men in the Sun and Other Palestinian Stories (fiction) – Ghassan Kanafani
(click here for the English PDF, here for the Arabic PDF, or here to buy the English version)

Speak, Bird, Speak Again (fiction) – Ibrahim Muhawi & Sharif Kanaana
(click here to download the eBook or here to buy)

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I Saw Ramallah – Mourad Barghouti
(click here to download the eBook or here to buy)

Boycott Divestment Sanctions: The Global Struggle for Palestinian Rights – Omar Barghouti
(click here for a PDF or here to buy)

Gaza in Crisis – Noam Chomsky & Ilan Pappé
(click here for a PDF or here to buy)

On Palestine – Noam Chomsky & Ilan Pappé
(click here to download the eBook or here to buy)

Freedom Is a Constant Struggle: Ferguson, Palestine, and the Foundations of a Movement – Angela Davis
(click here to download the eBook or here to buy)

The Way to the Spring: Life and Death in Palestine – Ben Ehrenreich
(click here to download the eBook or here to buy)

Justice for Some – Noura Erakat
(click here for a PDF or here to buy)

Method and Madness – Norman Finkelstein
(click here to download the eBook)

Black Power and Palestine: Transnational Countries of Colour –
Michael Fischbach
(click here for a PDF or click here to buy)

Israel’s Occupation – Neve Gordon
(cliick here for a PDF or here to buy)

Blaming the Victims: Spurious Scholarship and the Palestinian Question – Christopher Hitchens
(click here to download the eBook or here to buy)

Apartheid Israel: The Politics of an Analogy – Sean Jacobs
(click here for a PDF or here to buy)

Palestine on a Plate: Memories from my Mother's Kitchen – Joudie Kalla
(click here to download the eBook or here to buy)

The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine – Rashid Khalidi
(click here to download the eBook or here to buy)

The Iron Cage – Rashid Khalidi
(click here for a PDF or here to buy)

Palestine: A Four Thousand Year History – Nur Masalha
(click here for a PDF or here to buy)

Essays on Palestine and Zionism – Joseph Massad
(click here for a PDF or here to buy)

I Found Myself in Palestine – Nora Lester Murad
(click here to buy)

Ten Myths About Israel – Ilan Pappé
(click here to download the eBook or here to buy)

The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine – Ilan Pappé
(click here for a PDF or here to buy)

False Prophets of Peace: Liberal Zionism and the Struggle for Palestine – Tikva Honig-Parnass
(click here for a PDF or here to buy)

Out of Place: A Memoir – Edward Said
(click here to download the eBook or here to buy)

Orientalism – Edward Said
(click here for a PDF or here to buy)

Power, Politics & Culture – Edward Said
(click here to download the eBook or here to buy)

The Question of Palestine – Edward Said
(click here to download the eBook)

Palestine (graphic novel) – Joe Sacco
(click here for a PDF or here to buy)
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So What: New and Selected Poems (poetry) – Taha Muhammad Ali
(click here to buy)

Unfortunately, It Was Paradise: Selected Poems (poetry) – Mahmoud Darwish
(click here for a PDF or here to buy)

Why Did You Leave the Horse Alone? (poetry) – Mahmoud Darwish
(click here to download the eBook or here to buy)

الأعمال الجديدة الكاملة (poetry) – Mahmoud Darwish
(click here for the Arabic PDF)

Films

A collection of documentaries, short films, and full-length films exploring the history of the illegal occupation of Palestine, as well as the life stories and experiences of Palestinians around the world.

The Present (2020) – Watch this short film on Netflix
Gaza Fights for Freedom (2019) – Watch this documentary on YouTube
The Occupation of the American Mind (2016) – Watch this documentary on YouTube
Stories of the Intifada (2014) – Watch Part 1 and Part 2 of this mini-series on YouTube
Hunger Strike (2014) – Watch this Al Jazeera World episode on YouTube
Area C (2014) – Watch this Al Jazeera World episode on YouTube
Against the Wall (2013) – Watch this Al Jazeera World episode on YouTube
Forbidden Pilgrimage (2013) – Watch this Al Jazeera World episode on YouTube
The Price of Oslo (2013) – Watch Part 1 and Part 2 of this mini-series on YouTube
My Neighbourhood (2012) – Watch this short film on Just Vision
When I Saw You (2012) – Watch this film from a third party website here
5 Broken Cameras (2012) – Watch this documentary on YouTube
Al Nakba (2008) – Watch Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of this mini-series on YouTube
(2004) التغريبة الفلسطينية – Watch the series on YouTube (Episode 1)
Like 20 Impossibles (2003) – Watch this short film on YouTube
Jenin, Jenin (2002) – Watch this documentary on YouTube

Podcasts

A collection of podcast shows and episodes exploring news and stories about Palestine, as well as discussing the intricacies of Palestine's illegal occupation.

The Palestine Pod – Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or SoundCloud

"The Palestine Pod is a weekly podcast where we break down the latest Palestine-related news providing historical context, light hearted commentary and interviews with the aim of supporting Palestinian liberation, justice, and equality on the ground and in exile."

This is Palestine – Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

"This Is Palestine is a podcast that highlights people, issues and events around Palestine. We bring you stories from the ground in Palestine, and we speak with experts and activists to bring you unique perspectives and analysis about Palestine from across the world. This podcast is a project of the Institute for Middle East Understanding (IMEU)."

Israel/Palestine - Interview with Dr. Noam Chomsky – Listen on Apple Podcasts or Spotify

Videos

A collection of interviews, news coverage, webinars, and more.

Israel-Palestine with Noam Chomsky & Rudy Rochman – Debate
Gideon Levy makes sense of the violence consuming Israel-Palestine – News
Genocidal Israeli Mobs Attack Palestinians - Exclusive Ali Abunimah – Interview
Ongoing Nakba: Palestinian activist blasts Israeli violence at Al Aqsa and Sheikh Jarrah – Interview
Mohammed El-Kurd on CNN – Interview
The Ongoing Nakba in Sheikh Jarrah – Webinar
Impending Dispossession and the Struggle to Live in East Jerusalem: Palestinians in Sheikh Jarrah – Webinar
Palestinians in Jerusalem – Webinar
Britain-Palestine APPG briefing on the Forced Eviction & Dispossession of Palestinians in Jerusalem – Webinar
Jerusalem on the Verge: Dispossession & Violence in Sheikh Jarrah – Webinar
Ghassan Kanafani: A Conversation Between the Sword and the Neck – Interview
Mehdi Hasan: Why Anti-Zionism is Not Anti-Semitism – Speech
Melanie Phillips, Einat Wilf vs. Ilan Pappé, Mehdi Hasan: Anti-Zionism is Anti-Semitism – Debate
Zionism Explained – A Short Introduction
Zakir Naik: Terrorists in Palestine – Speech Clip

Websites

Websites providing information, images, and resources regarding Palestine and the liberation movement, as well as its history.

Quick Facts Jerusalem – Institute for Middle East Understanding
The Legal Status of Jerusalem – Institute for Middle East Understanding
Interactive Timeline of Palestine's History
Map – Vanishing Palestine
What is BDS?
BDS Guide – Companies and Individuals that Support Israel
Stories of Resistance, Persistence, and Hope – The Palestinian Museum & The Institute for Palestine Studies
Interactive Map – Navigate the Palestinian Oral History Archive
Electronic Intifada – Chicago-Based Online News Publication

Instagram Accounts

Instagram accounts keeping up with or reporting on the occupation of Palestine, as well as Palestinian culture and livelihood.

Poet and Writer Living in Sheikh Jarrah – @mohammedelkurd
Palestinian Living in and Reporting from Sheikh Jarrah – @muna.kurd15
Palestinian-American Comedian and Political Activist – @subhitaha
Human Rights Attorney and Author – @nouraerakat
Foods & Politics – @foodbenders
News & Updates – @letstalkpalestine
Official Account for the BDS Movement in Toronto – @torontobdsnetwork
Palestinian Lawyer and Activist – @gazangirl
Palestinian-led Community Organization in NYC – @wolpalestine
News & Updates – @eye.on.palestine
Jews and Allies Working for Liberation and Justice in Palestine – @jewishvoiceforpeace
Untold Stories, Facts, and Expert Sources on All Things Palestine – @theimeu
Palestine Solidarity Collective At York University – @psc_yorku
Author, Speaker, Human Rights Activist – @mikopeled
Grassroots Movement of Palestinian and Arab Youth Struggling for the Liberation of Our Homeland and Our People – @palestinianyouthmovement
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network – @samidounnetwork
Palestinian Freelancer and Influencer – @salehzighari
Reports & Updates from Jerusalem – @ramzi.ans
Focusing on Palestine, its People, Politics, Culture and Place in the World – @electronicintifada

Emails and Petitions

A collection of emails to send to local representatives and other government officials, as well as petitions to sign in support of Palestinian liberation.

PETITIONS
Discontinue Munk One's 'Research Trips' to Israel Apartheid State – Sign here
Stop Israel's Forced Displacement of Palestinians from East Jerusalem – Sign here
Tell the Canadian Federal Government to Help End the Attacks on Al-Aqsa Mosque – Sign here
Help Protect Palestinians from Israeli Violence by Applying Canadian Law – Sign here
Stop Selling Arms to Israel – Sign here
End U.S. Complicity in Israeli Violence Against Palestinians – Sign here

EMAILS
Canada Must Cancel $36M Contract for Israeli Drone – Send the automatic email here
Canada Must Condemn Israel's Actions and Impose Sanctions – Send the automatic email here
Parliament Must Uphold Canadian Values and Stand Up for Palestinian Human Rights – Email template here
Call on Government Representatives to Stand With Gaza and Jerusalem, and end apartheid in Israel – Send the automatic email here
End the Spiral of Violence: Sanctions Now – Send the automatic email here
Call on the Canadian Government to Protect Palestinian Families and Stop Israeli Ethnic Cleansing in Jerusalem – Send the automatic email here
Call on CBC to End its Silence on the Ethnic Cleansing in Jerusalem – Send the automatic email here
Canadian Government: Save Sheikh Jarrah, Sanction Israel – Email template here
Canadian News Outlets: Report on Palestine – Email template here
Canada's Response to the Crisis in Palestine has been Insufficient – Send the automatic email here
Ontario Education Leaders: Speak Out in Support of Students and Staff – Send the automatic email here
Pressure the Canadian Government to Condemn Israel and Protect Palestine – Send the automatic email here
Phone and Email Zap: Rosedale Riding – Phone and email scripts here