The Arabic literature and political response to Palestine’s occupation demonstrate a remarkable and consistent resistance over the years.
The Arabic literature and political response to Palestine’s occupation demonstrate a remarkable and consistent resistance over the years.
By Halim Gençoğlu
The ongoing Palestinian struggle for independence has been a central issue in the Arab world for over a century. From the early years of the British Mandate over Palestine to the ongoing Israeli occupation, the Arab world has consistently opposed the displacement and occupation of Palestine, voicing their support for Palestinian liberation through a variety of means.
The period between 1918 and the mid-20th century marked the beginning of a problematic relationship between Palestine and the British Empire. The end of World War I and the subsequent British Mandate over Palestine created fertile ground for Arab intellectuals and leaders to openly resist the Zionist movement and its support from the British authorities. Arab leaders strongly opposed the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which pledged the creation of a Jewish national home in Palestine, fearing it would result in the displacement of the native Palestinian population in the Ottoman region.
In the 1930s, numerous Arab intellectuals and leaders wrote extensively about the injustices faced by Palestinians. For example, Lebanese author Wadih al-Bustani’s 1936 work, el-Intidāb el-Filaṣṭīnī bāṭil ve-muḥāl (The Palestinian Mandate is Invalid and Impossible), strongly criticised the British occupation and the idea of a Jewish state in Palestine, even before the establishment of Israel.
As the years passed, the Arab world’s solidarity with Palestine intensified. This period saw a growing number of publications, conferences, and political statements by Arab nations.
In Egypt, the 1938 publication El-Shahādāt el-ʻArabīyah amām el-lajnah el-malakīyah (Arab Testimonies Before the Royal Commission) provided insights into the attitudes and responses of the Arab world during the Royal Commission’s investigation into the Palestinian situation. The work criticised the British colonial policy and highlighted the significance of Palestinian independence.
During this period, the Arab intellectual community continued to produce works challenging the Zionist narrative and advocating for Palestinian rights. One such work was Filasṭīn el-ʻArabīyah fī māḍīhā wa-ḥāḍirihā wa-mustaqbalihā(Arab Palestine: Its Past, Present, and Future) by Vahid Talhuk, which provided a historical context to the Palestinian tragedy and offered a vision for its future.
The declaration of the State of Israel in 1948 marked the beginning of an ongoing tragedy for Palestinians. This event, known as the Nakba (catastrophe), led to the displacement of over 700,000 Palestinians. The Arab world’s reaction was one of shock, solidarity, and political mobilisation. During this period, intellectuals like Ekrem Zuaiter, with his work el-Kaḍīyah el-Filasṭīnīyah (The Palestinian Cause), focused on detailing how the African nations responded to the Israeli occupation and critiqued Western colonialist policies in the region.
At the same time, literary contributions to the Palestinian cause flourished. In 1960, Palestinian poets like Salih Eşter, through works such as Fī shiʻr el-nakbah (In the Poetry of Nakba), brought the emotional and cultural weight of Palestinian suffering to the forefront of Arab and global consciousness. These intellectual and artistic expressions were essential in galvanising Arab public opinion against the occupation.
The Arabic literature and political response to Palestine’s occupation demonstrate a remarkable and consistent resistance over the years. As we continue to witness the ongoing struggle for Palestinian freedom, the legacy of these Arab intellectuals and activists reminds us of the power of resistance, solidarity, and the pursuit of justice. Their writings continue to inspire new generations of Arabs and others around the world who stand in solidarity with Palestine.
Bibliography
- Al-Bustani, Wadih. el-Intidāb el-Filaṣṭīnī bāṭil ve-muḥāl (The Palestinian Mandate is Invalid and Impossible), 1936.
- El-Shahādāt el-ʻArabīyah amām el-lajnah el-malakīyah (Arab Testimonies Before the Royal Commission), 1938.
- Talhuk, Vahid. Filasṭīn el-ʻArabīyah fī māḍīhā wa-ḥāḍirihā wa-mustaqbalihā (Arab Palestine: Its Past, Present, and Future).
- Zuaiter, Ekrem. el-Kaḍīyah el-Filasṭīnīyah (The Palestinian Cause).
- Eşter, Salih. Fī shiʻr el-nakbah (In the Poetry of Nakba), 1960.