“Because settler colonialism, state-sanctioned violence, and femicide are co-constitutive evils, the Palestinian struggle must also be understood as a feminist struggle, and an intersectional abolitionist struggle.”

Nada Elia, a Palestinian author and grassroots organizer, writes on the similarities and differences between the Israeli and South African apartheid systems. She mainly focuses on women’s issues/circumstances as it relates to settler colonialism and racism, (both of which have historically been intertwined with gender violence). She also draws parallels not only between South Africa and Israel, but also the US and Israel especially the political relationship they share, as well as their shared history of genoc!de against indigenous groups.

Palestine liberation is feminist not only because of the inherent sexual violence from colonizers and the limitations in their freedom. It’s also a feminist issue because of the forced sterilization and lack of maternity care Palestinians receive (which was something new this book taught me). 

One resounding thought I had while reading this is coming to terms with this idea of “feminism” (aka non-intersectional, white feminism) looking like “freeing” women in the Middle East (and other parts of the ‘third world’) is just white saviorism in disguise. Also one thing that frustrated me after reading this is that early Zionists themselves, like Ze’ev Jabotinsky, knew they were colonizing Palestine and they [“Israelis”] were not indigenous to the land! So why are so many people defending Israel, acting as if Zionists belonged there and Palestinians aren’t indigenous?!

Because of the specific focus of this book, it does read slightly more academic at times. It has a lot of good information but it’s not as easy to read as some other books on Palestine. This book has given me so much to reflect on and think about. I highly recommend if you call yourself a feminist to read this book, as it shows how the liberation of Palestine is a feminist issue, and is important for intersectional feminism!