Washington - Pro-Palestinian activists, seeking ways to commemorate the 40th anniversary of 1967’s Six Day War, have found a new ally in Washington: the Venezuelan Embassy. An art exhibit titled “Made in Palestine,” launched Monday under the embassy’s auspices, depicts life in the occupied territories through the eyes of Palestinian artists.
The exhibit, one of a variety of events scheduled this week to mark the anniversary of the war, is the only one to receive diplomatic sponsorship. Venezuela is among the few non-Arab countries represented in Washington that maintain a pro-Palestinian policy and that routinely attack Israel’s conduct.
“Venezuela has a very long relationship with the Palestinians. We are promoting the idea of solidarity among the people,” said Patricia Abdelnour, the embassy’s cultural attaché.
The small exhibition hall at the Venezuelan Embassy, located in Washington’s Georgetown neighborhood, could accommodate only a fraction of the original exhibit, which was previously shown in Houston and New York. Most of the works chosen represent the hardship of Palestinian life under Israeli occupation, as well as the notion of martyrdom in Palestinian society.
In a huge mural that takes up an entire wall, artist John Halaka portrays a black-on-gray march of faceless refugees. Close inspection shows that the mural’s figures were made with a small rubber stamp bearing the words “forgotten survivor.”
Artist Noel Jabbour presented three photographs centering on Palestinian “martyrs” killed in the struggle against Israel. In large color photos, Jabbour positions family members around posters of their deceased son. Posters of martyrs have become central to the symbolism of the second intifada.
Phyllis Bennis of the Institute for Policy Studies, the progressive Washington think tank sponsoring the exhibition, said that the Venezuelan decision to host the art show is “reflective of a kind of internationalism that isn’t around anymore.” Bennis, who is Jewish, said that while it is “not easy” to find sponsors in Washington for a pro-Palestinian event, “it is not nearly as difficult as it used to be.” According to Bennis, voices critical of the pro-Israel lobby and the fact that Jews are participating in Palestinian advocacy groups are ushering in a new era of openness with regard to the Palestinian issue in America.
The relationship between Venezuela and Israel has been strained ever since Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez began adopting an increasingly pro-Arab and anti-American line. Chavez’s ties to Iran and Hamas, and his criticism of Israel (which reached its peak during last summer’s war in Lebanon, when Chavez claimed that Israel’s actions are “what Hitler did against the Jews”), have led to intense tension between the two countries.
Venezuela was among the first to engage with Hamas leaders, and recently it has strengthened ties with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Abdelnour said Monday that her government had made clear that the ties with Iran should not be seen as an endorsement of Ahmadinejad’s rhetoric against Israel and the Jews.
Last week, legislation introduced in Congress called on the administration to work with American neighbors to ensure that action is taken against Latin American terrorist organizations within their countries. The authors of the proposed bill — Democrat Ron Klein and Republican Connie Mack, both from Florida — point to Chavez as one of the problems with which the administration needs to deal, stating that Chavez “has been building alliances with proven enemies of freedom.”
The central pro-Palestinian event commemorating the war is a June 10 Washington demonstration followed by a concentrated political advocacy effort the next day. Pro-Palestinian groups will also mark the anniversary with seminars, memorial services and political action events.
The Forward welcomes reader comments in order to promote thoughtful discussion on issues of importance to the Jewish community. In the interest of maintaining a civil forum, the Forward requires that all commenters be appropriately respectful toward our writers, other commenters and the subjects of the articles. Vigorous debate and reasoned critique are welcome; name-calling and personal invective are not. While we generally do not seek to edit or actively moderate comments, the Forward reserves the right to remove comments for any reason.
To post a comment, click to login:
Copyright © 2012, Forward Association, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
There is no "Palestine." There has never been a Palestinian country, people, culture or language. It's all a creation of the Plo and the Arab propagandists. These Arabs are natives of what is now Saudi Arabia. End the Arab occupation of Israel now!
Marc Brukhes has it exactly right. and it's no wonder that the pro-Venezulean lefties in the House are also pro-Arab. The recent vote in the House to direct a committee to increase funding for the Arrow Missile System is an indication. By 29-1 (Ron Paul) of the votes against it were from Ron Klein's fellow Democrats including two committee chairmen, David Obey and John Conyers as well as Maurice Hinchey of Sullivan County. They are financed by the Central Park West, Fifth and Park Avenue and Scarsdale idle wealthy who think they can purify themselves of their wealth by contributing to business bashing Democrat Party scum.
On second thought I think I might have gone overboard with the Stalin equation--at least I hope I have. But not the Mussolini equation, and perhaps the best parallel on the contemporary world stage is Zimbabwe's wanna-be Idi Amin, Robert Mugabe; like Mugabe, Chavez had every opportunity to liberate his nation and make it a model for progressive reform. Like Mugabe, he has systematically betrayed every promise he has made and every promise history offered him. Of course, the ultimate precedent for a petty criminal unable to distinguish governance from thievery or self-determination from the intimidation of others is Yasser Arafat--which might provide the best explanation possible for Chavez's attraction to the Palestinian cause....
This sounds a lot more benign than a lot of Venezuela's other actions vis-à-vis Israel since Chavez took power. He is the worst sort of dictator (not that there's a beign kind...): a combination of thuggishness and clownishness, cut from the same cloth as Mussolini and Stalin and Kim Jong-Il, and worst of all we've seen him evolve in this direction out in the open, before our very eyes. It is thoroughly possible to believe that the antagonism that the Bush administration has always shown him has only made the situation worse, while recognizing that he is responsible for a nightmare developing in slow-motion as we speak. Right now I feel most sorry for the other Latin American leaders forced to deal with him and share a podium with him. I hope when all is said and done that the number of his victims doesn't spread further than that, but my optimism feels, by my own admission, a little forced....
To "No more lies" Have you open up a reliable source like the Encyclopedia Britannica? I have a 1950's version which will give you a better lesson in history.
Hugo Chavez is a demented and dangerous individual. I am a venezuelan citizen, living in venezuela, and i am an eye witness not only to his anti-american, anti-israeli commentes, but also to the INTERNAL DAMAGE he is causing to this beautiful country. The opposition is tremendous here, more than 80% of the population want him out! Unfortunately, the international media has paid less than necessary attention to his urgent situation. Hugo Chavez is a danger to the world!