In Honor of Palestinian Resistance
June, 2018
Sources Images:
Front: (1) Palestinian protesters in Gaza fleeing as Israeli forces fire a barrage of tear gas on May 14th. Photograph by Mohammed Abed. (2) Palestinian banknotes.
Back: (1) Nabi Musa (Prophet Moses) burial site in West Bank near Jericho, the most important Muslim pilgrimage in Palestine. (2) Muslim celebration in Gaza, 1943. (3) The Old Town, Gaza, Photography by Francis Frith, 1862-1863. (4) Arabic calligraphy. (5) Palestinian banknotes.
Each year Palestinians observe Nakba “the day of catastrophe” to commemorate the forced removal of over 750,000 Palestinians from their homes and villages in 1948, during the establishment of Israel. During the Great March of Return, a tradition of Palestinian resistance since their removal, they raise black flags, pay respect to the ones who have been lost, and hold protests to raise awareness of ongoing injustice and the colonization of Palestinian lands.
This year, The Great March of Return began on March 30th and continued until May 15th to mark the 70th anniversary of the Nakba. The US unilaterally moved its embassy to Jerusalem on May 14th, a controversial action which violated established agreements and the spirit of the two-state solution. Despite widespread international condemnation, diplomats from 31 countries attended the opening ceremony. During protests near the Israel/Gaza border, Israeli forces killed over 124 Palestinians and wounded more than 13,000 people including children, members of the press, and crisis workers.
Inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement, the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement is a Palestinian-led global campaign for freedom, justice and equality established in 2005. The BDS movement invites global citizens to stand in solidarity with Palestinians by participating in various forms of economic resistance against Israel until it withdrawals from the occupied territories, complies with international law, and grants Palestinians equality and the right to return home.
This banknote is available for sale. Half of the proceeds goes to Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) organization, a Palestinian-led movement for freedom, justice and equality, and the other half covers production costs.
For more information please email: email@azinseraj.com
Mission Statement from Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS):
Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) is a Palestinian-led movement for freedom, justice and equality. BDS upholds the simple principle that Palestinians are entitled to the same rights as the rest of humanity. Israel is occupying and colonizing Palestinian land, discriminating against Palestinian citizens of Israel and denying Palestinian refugees the right to return to their homes. Inspired by the South African anti-apartheid movement, the BDS call urges action to pressure Israel to comply with international law. BDS is now a vibrant global movement made up of unions, academic associations, churches and grassroots movements across the world. Eleven years since its launch, BDS is having a major impact and is effectively challenging international support for Israeli apartheid and settler-colonialism.
For nearly seventy years, Israel has denied Palestinians their fundamental rights and has refused to comply with international law. Israel maintains a regime of of settler colonialism, apartheid and occupation over the Palestinian people. This is only possible because of international support. Governments fail to hold Israel to account, while corporations and institutions across the world help Israel to oppress Palestinians. Because those in power refuse to act to stop this injustice, Palestinian civil society has called for a global citizens’ response of solidarity with the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice and equality.
Foreign Exchange incorporates the emblems taken from banknotes and utilizes images from news media to highlight voices of resistance from countries that have been impacted by U.S. national interests. The banknotes feature influential figures and monumental events that draw attention to socio-political tensions existing both within a country’s borders and beyond. Foreign Exchange offers an alternative platform to archive and share cultural currencies.