In this first counter-narratives session of 2025 we will return to Palestine, where we started a few months ago, and where 20th century imperialism and the neoliberal interests backing it have by now perpetrated genocide and destruction at a scale surpassing anything we've witnessed before. 

At this session will discuss the new anthology of essays "Their Borders, Our World: Building New Solidarities With Palestine" released by the Palestine Festival of Literature (PalFest). We will also use this opportunity to discuss the Palestine situation in general, so other thoughts and ideas on solidarity with Palestine are welcome, too!

Everyone attending needs to do the reading beforehand, but it's OK if you don't manage to finish in time!

PalFest is an international cultural solidarity initiative committed to the creation of language and ideas for dismantling colonialism in the 21st century. This anthology of ten essays by PalFest writers connects Palestinian resistance with global freedom struggles against settler colonialism and calls on us to think more concretely about building new solidarities with the heroic Palestinian struggle for self-determination.

The writers' varied backgrounds make for a diverse collection grappling with how to make sense of this history of destruction, uprooting and dispossession, and constructing mutuality to face a seemingly impossible reality. The collection reveals some of the global solidarities underlying the united cry from streets around the world that "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free," despite and in defiance of a Western-backed genocidal campaign against an entire people.

In considering specific aspects such as the banality of settler colonialism or the violence of its architecture, we are invited to explore pathways to new solidarities by making new connections and contributing to the reshaping of our collective history.

Please contact me (Sona) at spxx@kpnmail.nl for further info or if you plan to attend. Looking forward to seeing you!

About the authors: this anthology was edited by Mahdi Sabbagh, co-curator of the Palestinian Festival of Literature. Contributing writers are Yasmin El-Rifae, Jehan Bseiso, Keller Easterling, Dina Omar, Tareq Baconi, Samia Henni, Omer Shah, Kareem Rabie, Ellen Van Neerven, Omar Robert Hamilton and Mabel O. Wilson

NOTE: There will be a donation jar and some refreshments available (cash or pin). Please think about donating something if you are able; a place like NieuwLand can only exist through the contributions of volunteers and friends, who know of the importance of places like this, which exist alternative to an individualistic society, capitalist economy and gentrifying neighbourhoods.