Anguish and Optimism

Dear Reader,

It is rare that an author wishes for their work to be irrelevant soon after it is written, but that is my genuine desire: that Why Palestine? would not be germane as a contemporary primer, but rather, as historical record, since that would mean that Palestine would have been liberated. Unfortunately, it looks like Palestine will continue to be in the political and moral consciousness of humanity for a while, and till then, hopefully my book could serve as a useful resource for Singaporeans and those in the region.

Palestine has been clarifying, I write in the book. It has exposed the double standards of Western institutions which overtly purport to uphold human rights and democracy, but somehow, make the Palestinian exception. It has also been clarifying in a couple of more positive ways: the world has witnessed a cross-national, inter-generational, multi-religious coalition that advocates for Palestine; more pertinently, the Palestinians have demonstrated the pinnacle of human perseverance and endurance. For the Palestinians, the mere fact that they exist is an act of resistance.

Writing this book is my small contribution to the Palestinian cause. I address common questions I have received but also general, and lazy, arguments against Palestinians. History did not start on 7 October 2023, Palestine was not a ‘land without people’, and the issue is not that complicated, just to name a few. I pay tribute to the solidarity the Palestinians have inspired around the world, including in Singapore.

Why Palestine? is thus a thoroughly human story, one which combines both anguish and optimism, and one which denounces atrocities and celebrates resolve, both of which only humans are capable of. One of the takeaways readers hopefully get from the book is that activism works, as evidenced by the changes we have witnessed in Singapore. And that should give everyone hope that things will be different one day, and Palestine will be free. After all, change is always impossible until it happens.

Walid Jumblatt Abdullah

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