"To refer to the 1948 Nakba (catastrophe in Arabic) as a “Palestinian exodus” overlooks the fact that approximately 750,000 to 1 million Palestinians were expelled from their homes by Zionist militias and made refugees. Many are still refugees today, along with their families. They were forced to make a life for themselves elsewhere in the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, and in Mr. Najjar’s case, Jordan."
April 24, 2023
To:
Steve Bartlett, Senior Managing Editor, Saltwire
Bradley Works, Managing Editor, Saltwire
Dear Mr. Bartlett and Mr. Works,
I’m writing to you on behalf of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME, https://www.cjpme.org) to express my appreciation for the article “Things to know to help shape your week in Newfoundland and Labrador April 24-30” written and published by Saltwire on April 24, 2023. You highlight several local events and activities taking place in the upcoming month.
I am especially pleased that you included a mention of the documentary The Tree by Jason Sherman which will be streamed in honour of Nakba Day.
Palestinian and pro-Palestinian perspectives are often ignored or excluded from Canadian public discourse. Highlighting a film like The Tree is a positive start to sensitizing the Canadian public to Palestine, especially devastating events such as the Nakba. By including such a film, you valorize the lived experiences of Canadian Palestinians and draw attention to the dispossession Palestinians have endured and continue to endure through forced expulsion and resettlement.
I hope to see Palestinian history, culture, and perspectives more frequently profiled in future articles by Saltwire. Should you wish, you can contact me at 438-380-5410 for more information.
Sincerely,
Tayla Shair
Media Analyst, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East