5SR - November 14, 2023

Today’s curator is Qudsiya Naqui. Qudsiya is the creator and host of the podcast, Down to the Struts about disability, design, and intersectionality. You can also subscribe to Qudsiya’s newsletter, Getting Down to It, for updates on the podcast and news from the disability community. When she’s not podcasting, Qudsiya loves organizing adaptive sports adventures through the Metro Washington Association of Blind Athletes. Qudsiya lives in Washington DC with her husband.

Timeline: Israel and Palestine’s Complicated History (Vox)

I curated my reads today to bring together some of the best work I’ve consumed recently that provides historical context for the current conflict in Israel and Palestine.

As an Indian American Muslim woman whose family survived the collective trauma of partition on the South Asian continent, the events of the last few weeks have been gut-wrenching to witness.

In times like this, I find it helpful to steep myself in history as a way of understanding with greater nuance, the events of the present. I recognize that this is not helpful for everyone, so if you need to stop reading to protect your peace, please do so and know that I am sending you care and healing vibes.

If you’d like to keep reading, this excellent timeline of the conflict is a great place to start.

What is Hezbollah and Its Role in the Israel-Hamas War? (Vox)

The war in Israel and Palestine has had very real and direct effects on those who live in the immediate geographical area, but it also could have grave implications for the overall peace and stability of the region as a whole.

This is a long read, but an incredibly important one if you want to understand the broader consequences of this conflict. The piece centers Hezbollah and its complicated relationships with Iran, Israel, and Hamas. It expertly analyzes the question of whether Hezbollah will escalate its clashes with Israel, and the potential consequences of that decision.

This one is absolutely worth your time.

1948 (The Daily, The New York Times)

This was a phenomenal listen. It’s an account of the 1948 war from the Times bureau chief in Israel. It is rigorous in its interrogation of facts, and nuanced in its discussion of the opposing Israeli and Palestinian myths that stemmed from the conflict that led up to Israeli independence.

The strengthening of these myths have fueled the situation Israelis and Palestinians find themselves in today, and there’s truth and inaccuracies on both sides. Of course, this story starts well before 1948, but if you’re looking for a thorough account of this particular historical snapshot, this is a must-listen.

A Disability Lens on Conflict: Israel and Gaza War (Disability Debrief)

I would be remiss if I did not include a piece about the impact that this conflict has had for disabled communities in both Israel and Palestine.

With his usual depth and care, Peter Torres Fremlin has compiled disabled perspectives from the ground. Understanding the disabling effects of such a conflict and its impact on disabled people is critical to recognizing the grave harm and damage that war wreaks on both sides.

The Israelis and Palestinians Embracing Peace (Al Jazeera)

It’s hard to believe that, just a few months ago, many Israelis and Palestinians came together to forge a new way of thinking about their collective memories. Even though they held different positions on how to move forward, they were united in their insistence on peace over bloodshed.

I leave you all on a hopeful note in what has been an incredibly dark time for so many of us. Wishing you all peace in whatever struggles you are facing.