The Weaponization of Palestinian History from 1967-2006
Faculty Mentor Name
Laura Gutierrez
Format
Oral Presentation
Research or Creativity Area
Social Sciences
Abstract
“The Weaponization of Palestinian History from 1967-2006" examines the resistance efforts to preserve Palestinian culture by Palestinian liberation groups and historical erasure as a method of oppression against Palestinians by the Israeli state. Since al-Nakba in 1948, Palestinians have been fighting for their Indigenous lands. The resistance efforts in the preservation and documentation of Palestinian history and culture are less acknowledged. The Israeli occupation has frequently used the seizure and destruction of Palestinian archives, museums, and libraries as a tactic in expanding their territories and asserting their dominance over the region. I have chosen to focus on the period of Palestinian history directly following the Six Days War of 1967 through the end of the Second Intifada in 2006. This period was a time of great unrest as Palestinians worked to rebuild what had been destroyed without the help of other Arab Nations and a time in which Israel ramped up the collection and censorship of Palestinian History to further control the narrative. This period also saw the rise and fall of the Palestinian Liberation Organization as the central control unit of the Palestinian Liberation movement.
Location
University of the Pacific, DeRosa University Center
Start Date
24-4-2026 11:00 AM
End Date
24-4-2026 2:00 PM
The Weaponization of Palestinian History from 1967-2006
University of the Pacific, DeRosa University Center
“The Weaponization of Palestinian History from 1967-2006" examines the resistance efforts to preserve Palestinian culture by Palestinian liberation groups and historical erasure as a method of oppression against Palestinians by the Israeli state. Since al-Nakba in 1948, Palestinians have been fighting for their Indigenous lands. The resistance efforts in the preservation and documentation of Palestinian history and culture are less acknowledged. The Israeli occupation has frequently used the seizure and destruction of Palestinian archives, museums, and libraries as a tactic in expanding their territories and asserting their dominance over the region. I have chosen to focus on the period of Palestinian history directly following the Six Days War of 1967 through the end of the Second Intifada in 2006. This period was a time of great unrest as Palestinians worked to rebuild what had been destroyed without the help of other Arab Nations and a time in which Israel ramped up the collection and censorship of Palestinian History to further control the narrative. This period also saw the rise and fall of the Palestinian Liberation Organization as the central control unit of the Palestinian Liberation movement.
Comments
“The Weaponization of Palestinian History from 1967-2006" examines the resistance efforts to preserve Palestinian culture by Palestinian liberation groups and historical erasure as a method of oppression against Palestinians by the Israeli state. Since al-Nakba in 1948, Palestinians have been fighting for their Indigenous lands. The resistance efforts in the preservation and documentation of Palestinian history and culture are less acknowledged. The Israeli occupation has frequently used the seizure and destruction of Palestinian archives, museums, and libraries as a tactic in expanding their territories and asserting their dominance over the region. Simultaneously, Palestinian liberation movements have prioritized the preservation and production of history as methods of resistance. I have chosen to focus on the period of Palestinian history directly following the Six Days War of 1967 through the end of the Second Intifada in 2006. This period was a time of great unrest as Palestinians worked to rebuild what had been destroyed without the help of other Arab Nations and a time in which Israel ramped up the collection and censorship of Palestinian History to further control the narrative. This period also saw the rise and fall of the Palestinian Liberation Organization as the central control unit of the Palestinian Liberation movement. The Weaponization of Palestinian History embodies how control over the historical narrative is at the center of all colonial conflicts. In this paper, I argue preserving Palestinian history is an essential task more historians must take up. The loss of history is the loss of knowledge of humanity. In a time in which Palestinian life and culture is constantly under threat, we must strive for expanded protection of their history.