Resistance, Subversion, and Mobilization Media Roundup (October 2021)

Members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement march from the Khan Yunis Refugee Camp in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on 27 September 2021. [Ali Jadallah - Anadolu Agency] Members of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad Movement march from the Khan Yunis Refugee Camp in solidarity with Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on 27 September 2021. [Ali Jadallah - Anadolu Agency]

Resistance, Subversion, and Mobilization Media Roundup (October 2021)

By : Resistance, Subversion, and Mobilization Media Roundup Editors

[This is a monthly roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Resistance, Subversion, and Social Mobilization in the Arab world and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the DARS Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each monthly roundup to DARS@jadaliyya.com.]

News


“Sudanese protesters demand civilian rule, want army out”
, Associated Press (1 October 2021)

On Thursday of last week, thousands gathered in the capital of Khartoum to demand for an exclusively civilian transitional government. Since the toppling of autocrat Omar al-Bashir in 2019, Sudan has been ruled by a joint civilian-military government. Protesters claim that the generals in charge are hindering Sudan’s transition to democracy. They also accuse the military of protecting the remnants of al-Bashir’s regime and refusing to bring accountability towards those responsible for the killings of dozens of protesters in June 2019.

Palestinian prisoners start week of protests against Israel prison restrictions”, Middle East Monitor (4 October 2021)

Yesterday, Palestinian prisoners started a protest against the punitive restrictions imposed on them by the Israeli prison authority. After last month’s prison escape from Gilboa Prison, occupation authorities have increased security on the remaining prisoners. Some of the punitive measures include, raiding cells, transfers, isolation, seperation, attacks on prisoners, and denial of other rights. According to the Palestinian Prisoners Club, dialogue between prisoners and the Israeli Prison Services has been unsuccessful. This Friday, prisoners will decide whether to escalate their protest.

“Lebanon: Anger as MPs refuse to discuss women’s quota proposal for 2022 elections”, Middle East Eye (8 October 2021)

MP for Lebanon’s Amal Party, Inaya Ezzedine, walks out of a joint parliamentary committee session after her colleagues refuse to address her proposal to introduce a women’s quota for next year’s general elections. The bill calls for 26 out of 128 parliamentary seats to be reserved for women, with at least 40 percent of both men and women on candidates lists. Lebanese women have long been excluded from the political sphere in Lebanon, with only three to six women ever being elected in Lebanon’s past five parliamentary elections. 

“Iraq elections 2021: Shia parties reject results as armed group threatens violence”, Middle East Eye (12 October 2021)

After the results of Sunday’s parliamentary elections were announced, various Shia parties claimed that the outcomes were “fabricated”. One armed militia faction appears to have gone as far as to threaten violence in response to the results. In Iraq’s lowest recorded election turnout, the Sairoun movement led by cleric Muqtada al-Sadr came out ahead with 72 of the parliament's 329 seats. Meanwhile, the Fatah coalition, previously the second-largest party in the parliament, lost a significant amount of their seats and the Huqoq party only gained one. On Monday, a meeting was held at the home of Nouri al-Maliki, former prime minister and leader of the State of Law bloc, where the leaders of the Shia political forces and the leaders of the Iran-backed armed factions discussed their next step.

On Thursday, hundreds of supporters of the Hezbollah and Amal party called for the removal of Tarek Bitar, the judge who is leading an investigation into the deadly explosion that happened at Beirut’s port last August. As protesters were marching towards the capital’s Palace of Justice, shots were fired at them by snipers on rooftops. Violence escalated even further when masked gunmen, apparently affiliated with the demonstrators, fired RPGs and AK-47s from the ground. According to the Lebanese Red Cross, six people were killed and more than 30 people were injured. Hezbollah and Amal have accused the right-wing Christian party The Lebanese Forces of the attacks. After denying the accusations, The Lebanese Forces blamed the violence on “widespread weapons”, an allusion to Hezbollah’s arms. 

Tunisia’s #MeToo: Landmark sexual harassment case kicks off”, Al Jazeera (29 October 2021)

This week, a high-profile figure faced prosecution for alleged sexual wrongdoing for the first time in Tunisian history. In 2019, a schoolgirl captured and shared a photo of parliament member Zouhair Makhlouf, allegedly performing a sexual act in his car outside her high school. The case then became a catalyst that prompted thousands of Tunisians to share their personal experiences of sexual assault and harassment online in 2019. This week, feminist activists held a small protest outside the court in Nabuel, chanting and waving placards that read “My body is not a public space”. Moreover, the #EnaZeda Facebook page currently has more than 90,000 likes, and is updated daily. Makhlouf insists that the photo is a misunderstanding and that he is innocent of sexual harassment.

Opinion


“Rising resistance in the West Bank increases Israeli concerns”
, Middle East Monitor (4 October 2021)

Recent armed attacks in the West Bank are increasingly concerning Israel with what they believe to be an awakening of Palestinan resistance cells. As a response to Hamas’ new military infrastructure in the West Bank, Israel has pushed to improve their intelligence work. This suggests that Israel’s campaign efforts to strike the long-standing infrastructure of resistance forces in Jerusalem and Jenin were not completely successful. Moreover, it has become clear that Hamas is seeking to establish an active armed infrastructure in the West Bank. They intend to “lure the army into intensive activity in the heart of the main localities in the territories, and thus embarrass the Palestinian Authority and its security apparatus as collaborators with Israel.”

Iraq’s early elections merly reshuffled the old ruling elite. Despite the fact that protesters called for substantial “change” within the government, low turnout at the polls resulted in electoral gains for the ruling parties that could mobilize their bases to vote. Old fractious power-sharing methods are expected to continue in the newly elected parliament, allowing party interests to prevail over national interest. In order to bolster trust and transparency in Iraq’s future elections, there needs to be technical improvements to the voting machines and the entry of new “outsiders” into the political game. Until the government can foster trust in Iraq’s voting system, young protesters will continue to favor street protests over voting.

“Beirut violence shows that Taif Agreement is dead”, Arab News (18 October 2021)

Last week’s violence that was allegedly initiated by Maronite Christian militia and then retaliated by armed supporters of Hezbollah and Amal, was a cold reminder of Lebanon’s sectarian fault lines. Central to the violence is the investigation into the Beirut blast, which has already resulted in the removal of judge Fadi Sawwan. Similarly, judge Tarik Bitar has been accused of bias, halting all proceedings and efforts to hold those responsible of the blast accountable. Lebanon’s 15-year civil war ended in the signing of the Taif Agreement, which secured “mutual coexistence” and power sharing amongst the country’s religious groups. However, the agreement inadvertently reinforced the separation between different communities, fostering separation instead of unity. And as last week’s violence shows, Lebanon is arguably just as divided and unstable as it was three decades ago. The escalation in itself is indicative of Lebanon’s weak government, absence of any form of social justice, and confessional militia who serve the interest of their community at the expense of the country.

“Hunger strikes from Gandhi to Al-Singace are the last resort in the struggle for freedom”, Middle East Monitor (26 October 2021) 

Hunger strikes are usually used as a last resort to claim rights, express opinions or as defense. Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is well-known for using his hunger strike to demand for civil and human rights, and the independence of his country from British occupation. This phenomenon has been growing in prisons wherein detainees face injustices that impact their hygiene, health care, food, personal property, treatment, and space. The first Palestinian hunger strike took place in Nablus Prision in early 1968. Less than a year after the Israeli occupation of the West Bank began, prisoners went on a three-day hunger strike to protest against abuse, and to demand for an improvement in their living conditions. Much international attention has recently been shifted towards prominent political prisoner Dr Aduljalil Al-Singace, who has been on a hunger strike for more than 100 days in Bahrain. His demands include the return of his book about Bahraini dialects and their historical development. Many voices, including the European Parliament and several national parliaments in Europe have called for his release without success. 

“The Sudanese Coup”, Middle East Monitor (26 October 2021)

Yesturday, Sudan’s military seized power and arrested Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok. Known for his stubbornness and principle, Hamdok refused to compromise and surrender to the military, leading to his arrest. However, this is not the first time, since Sudan’s independence, that the military overthrew civilians. Sudan has a long history of successful military coups led by Ibrahim Abboud, Jaafar Nimeiry, Omar Al-Bashir, and Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, and an even longer list of failed coups led by Ismail Kabeida, Hashem Al-Atta, Hassan Hussein, Mahmoud Nour Saad, Abdul-Kader al-Kadro and Mohammad Osman, Ahmed Khaled, and Hashem Abdel-Muttalib. Although it is clear the military is in control, it does not seem likely that matters will play to their favour.      

Art


Iraqis vote for new parliament amid tight security”, Al Jazeera (10 October 2021)

Although authorities called for early elections in response to the uprisings that took place in late 2019, many of the demonstrators who took part in the protests boycotted the polls on Sunday. As a result of the death of more than 600 people during the protests and a series of kidnappings and targeted assassinations, many were discouraged from participating in the elections. Despite all this, the collection of pictures show Iraqis taking part in this year's elections as security forces stand guard outside the polling stations. This is the first year since the fall of Saddam to take place without a curfew. It is also the first time Iraq introduces biometric cards for voters, and a new election law that divides Iraq into smaller constituencies.

“Simsimiyya: Songs of resistance from Suez to Gaza”, Mondoweiss (11 October 2021)

During England’s occupation of the city of Suez and Israel’s invasion of the Gaza Strip and Sinai, music played a fundamental role in bolstering popular resistance. Songs of resistance, such as Simsimiyya, instilled feelings of hope and determination in the hearts of the displaced people of Suez. As part of his collection of resistance songs from around the Arab world, Haidar Eid performs Simsimiyya while giving it a Gazan flavor. The song “celebrates the ‘heroism of refugees, students, workers,’ and all other social strata of the population, promising to ‘replant the field of barley that were burnt by the bombs of the aggressors.’”

Palestine underground: A new face for local radio”, Al Jazeera (20 October 2021)

Radio Alhara is a Palestine-based online radio station that has become one of the biggest voices for Palestinian liberation. Started by Yousef Anastas, his brother Elias, and a group of international friends, Radio Alhara was first set up in March 2020 as a way to broadcast the groups’ mood on a particular day of isolation. A few months later, the station turned its focus entirely to Palestinian liberation, with broadcasts such as “Fil Mishmish”—a sonic protest against proposed plans by Israel to annex parts of the West Bank last July. The station has a base of over 40,000 followers on social media, where they broadcast everything from historical photographs, to daily show schedules and artwork. Although online media is restrictive on content about Palestine, the station’s online visibility has flourished with the help of artistic support and presence of pro-palestinian DJs and musicians. 

“Thousands protest against arrests of civilian leaders in Sudan”, AlJazeera (25 October 2021)

According to Sudan’s information ministry, military forces have arrested Sudan’s acting prime minister, Abdalla Hamdok, and senior government officials. Furthermore, they have disrupted internet access, blocked bridges in the capital, Khartoum, stormed the offices of Sudan’s state-run television in Omdurman and detained a number of their workers. In response to what the ministry describes as a military coup, thousands of Sudanese have flooded the streets of Khartoum and Omdurman. The apparent military takeover came after weeks of rising tension between Sudan's civilian and military leaders. In the pictures, protesters are seen flashing victory signs, holding national flags, and blocking streets with bricks and burning tyres. 

Resistance, Subversion, and Mobilization Media Roundup (September 2021)

[This is a monthly roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Resistance, Subversion, and Social Mobilization in the Arab world and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the DARS Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each monthly roundup to DARS@jadaliyya.com.]

News 


“Israel: six Palestinian prisoners escape from high-security prison”
, Middle East Monitor (6 September 2021)


Six Palestian prisoners have escaped Israel’s high-security Gilboa Prison, which was built in 2004 and intended for Irael’s “most dangerous” Palestinian prisoners. The prisoners, Munadil Nafayat, Mahmoud and Mohammad Al-Arida, Iham Kahamji, Yaqoub Qadiri, and Zakaria Zubeidi, all of whom are from Jenin, reportedly started the escape around 1:30 am this morning. Most of the prisoners have spent 20 years or more years serving life sentences and one hasn’t been sentenced to any crime. Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett commented on the escape as being “dangerous”, while it recieved praise for the Palestinian resistence movement, Hamas.  

Three protesters killed in south Yemen as conflict cripples economy”, Reuters (15 September 2021)

Violent protests in Aden and other cities in South Yemen have killed three and left dozens wounded. Prevalent poverty and electricity outages within Saudi-backed areas have ignited violent clashes between protesters and security forces in Aden’s Khour Maksour, Crater and Sheikh Othman districts. The following Wednesday, witnesses claimed that dozens of demonstrators stormed Maashiq presidential palace, where Hadi’s government is based. The government said they would not tolerate “destruction of public and private property”. 

Algeria: resistance fighter Saadi Yacef dies, aged 93”, Middle East Monitor (17 September 2021)

Notable Algerian independence fighter and leader, Saadi Yacef, dies at age 93. Yacef was born to ethnic Berber parents on 20 January 1928 in the Casbah district of the capital Algiers. After personally witnessing discrimination against Arabs during his time in France, 21 year old Yacef joined the National Liberation Front (FLN) upon his return. During the Algerian war of independence, Yacef played an instrumental role as the military chief of Algiers—which claimed the lives of 1.5 million Algerians and 25,000 French citizens. Despite the controversies surrounding Yacef and the FLN, Yacef will continue to be remembered as a key figure during the Algerian War. 

Palestinian man shot and killed during West Bank clashes with Israeli troops: ministry”, Reuters (24 September 2021) 

On Friday, Israeli troops shot and killed a Palestinian man while injuring at least eight others during a protest against Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. Palestinians from the village of Beita, south of Nablus, have staged near-daily protests in reaction to a nearby Israeli settler outpost. Although the settlers agreed to evacuate the outpost in July, under an agreement with Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennet, many of the outpost’s buildings have remained under the protection of the military guard. Protesters, who claim the land the outpost was built on, vow to continue their demonstrations until receiving control of the land.

Sudan protesters agree to resumption of oil exports”, Al Jazeera (27 September 2021) 

In recent weeks, protesters from the Beja tribes in eastern Sudan have been demonstrating against poor economic conditions and lack of political power in the region. In addition to blocking roads, protesters blocked oil ports suffocating Sudan’s access to the global oil market. With only 10 days before the port’s oil depots would be forced to halt production, the government secured a deal with the tribal elders to allow oil exports to resume from the Bashayer port. All the while, tension between Sudan’s military and civilian leaders continues after last week’s attempted coup.   

As Tunisia’s President Cements One-Man Rule, Opposition Grows”, The New York Times (27 September 2021)

Widespread opposition grows as Tunisian president, Kais Saied, continues to consolidate power over the state. On July 25, Saied suspended parliament, fired the prime minister, and asserted full executive powers. Originally he claimed these measures would only last a month, but since then he has extended his power, further bypassing the constitution. As a response to the president's constitutional violations, 2,000 protesters took to the Capital on Sunday to demand for the end of what they define as a “coup”. This is the first major action against the president’s actions since July 25.   

Opinion 


The Palestinian Authority’s crackdown on protest shows it will never serve its own people”, The Guardian (1 September 2021) 

After well-known activist and critic, Nizar Banat, died suspectingly at the hands of the Palestinian Authority (PA) on June 24, protests erupted across the West Bank demanding for accountability. Through the course of the subsequent weeks, the PA responded to protesters with violent repression and absurd arrests. The government’s authoritarian behavior towards those they supposedly represent is not surprising given that the PA heavily depends on foreign donors in order to operate. In exchange, Israel and its allies expect the Palestinian Authority to manintian militarised control over its own people. Due to its interdependent relationship with Israel, the PA only serves to obstruct Palestinian liberation. 

Young Lebanese driving crypto ‘revolution’ after banks go bust”, Middle East Monitor (17 September 2021)

Due to years of systemic corruption and mismanagement from the ruling elite, Lebanon faces one of the worst economic crises since the 1850s. As the lira has lost more than 90 percent of its value, many young Lebanese have turned to cryptocurrency to protect themselves from currency depreciation. Some regard cryptocurrency as being part of the resistance against state control, corrupt institutions, and Lebanon's banking system. Although cryptocurrency inhabits a legal grey area, it serves as an alternative to Lebanon’s plummeting economy to many.   

Tunisia: Why what happens next is of huge international significance”, Middle East Eye (22 September 2021)


Tunisian president, Kais Saied’s coup is capable of undermining what seemed to be the only success story from the Arab Springs. Saied and his supporters were able to bypass the constitution relatively easily due to the government’s inability to address the effects of the pandemic and economic crisis. Although there is strong civil opposition to the president’s actions, the country is in danger of “political degradation”, comparable to Egypt’s 2013 coup that overthrew democratically elected president Mohamed Morsi. For southern European countries, instability in Tunisia complicates the management of its neighboring country, Libya, and the Sahel region as a whole. Securing Tunisia’s accomplishments from the Arab Springs would serve to benefit the EU’s agenda in the region.  

Lessons learned from the escaped Palestinian political prisoners”, Mondoweiss (24 September 2021) 

The six Palestinian prisoners that escaped from Israel’s notorious Gilboa Prison, inspire hope and bravery even after their capture. With nothing but presumably spoons and willpower, the six astonished the world while daringly defying the colonial Zionist project. Munadil Nafayat, Mahmoud and Mohammad Al-Arida, Iham Kahamji, Yaqoub Qadiri, and Zakaria Zubeidi collectively proved that Israel’s security is not unbreachable. In doing so, the six shared their vision of how colonized Palestinians can overcome subjugation to Zionist ideology.

Art


A Palestinian kitchen full of memories”, Mondoweiss (16 September 2021)

Palestinian cusine holds generations of stories that unite Palestinian communities together across artifical borders. In this article, Zaid Ali shares Palestinian family recipies and the meaningful stories behind them. In doing so, it touches on topics such as memory, longing for the homeland, and preservation of identity. 

'Music helps Palestinians remain steadfast', teacher says”, Middle East Monitor (18 September 2021)


Palestinian musician, Khader Al-Bayed, claims that music provides an important medium of reistance to Israeli ocupation. Now in his sixties, Al-Bayed not only struggled living under Israeli occupation as a Palestinian living in Gaza, but also as a musical. He explains that “part of the occupier’s policy is to eradict Palestinian art and culture”. Al-Bayed remembers a time when weddings used to be a popular venue for musicals, like himself, to raise spirits and gain support against the occupation. With hopes to inspire and educate future generations of musicals in Gaza, Al-Bayed turned one of the rooms in his house into a music education centre. 

Spoons become a new symbol of Palestinian resistance”, Al Jazeera (19 September 2021)After the historical prison escape of the six

Palestinian political prisoners, spoons have become the latest addition to Palestinian resistance symbols. On the 6th of September, the six reportedly used utensils to dig a tunnel through the foot of a sink and out of the infamous Gilboa prison. Although all six have now been recaptured, spoons preserve their legacy amongst the resistance.   

Elbouma: Egypt's feminist band fighting misogyny through music”, Middle East Eye (23 September 2021)


Egyptian sisters Mariana and Mariam Samir, better known as the feminist band Elbouma [owl], address topics such as racism, FGM, child marriage, and women empowement through their music. Using traditional Egyptian folk sound and symbolism, the sisters aim to create a medium where women with similar experiences can find one another. Elbouma’s latest album, Mazghouna, takes its ideas, themes, and lyrics from storytelling workshops in Upper Egypt that consist of 34 women. As the sisters confront patriarchal cultural norms head on, they dedicate their music to the women of Egypt.       

Mass protests as Tunisia political crisis escalates”, Al Jazeera (27 September 2021)

Tunisian protests against President Kais Saied’s recent unconstitutional actions are captured and presented in pictures. Approximately 2,000 protesters gathered in the capital to resist Saied’s seizure of government powers. The demonstrators are seen carrying copies of the constitution, flags, and banners with them. Tunisian human rights groups have condemned the president’s actions, labeling them as “a first step towards ‘authoritarianism'”.