Among the most invisible contributions of the gift economy are efforts deployed by activists, especially peace activists in Palestine. Dating back to the early 1900’s and continuing until today, Palestinian women have sought alternatives to conflict first by establishing charitable societies to provide food and shelter, and bring hope and healing to those devastated by the Zionist enterprise. Later, women became more politicized, took to the streets to protest and challenge the brutal occupation and to protect their children from Israeli soldiers. The world press continues to ignore this aspect of nonviolent struggle. While led by women, it has not been exclusive to women’s efforts. The Israeli response to peaceful demonstrations and civil disobedience has been incredibly brutal. Not only against Palestinians but also against internationals and Israelis –the International Solidarity Movement, Women in Black and others — who joined Palestinians in their struggle for freedom. In contrast, the U.S. government continues to underwrite the dismantling of Palestinian society by further militarizing Israel, providing it with financing, and giving it diplomatic cover in the form of a disingenuous “peace process” and the UN votes to shield Israel from international law. This presentation will contrast the patriarchal values underlying US policy to the values of the gift economy that characterize the struggle for Palestinian freedom.
This talk was presented by Sylvia Shihadeh at the International Conference on the Gift Economy in 2004.
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