Jerusalem icon Muna El-Kurd highlights Sheikh Jarrah struggle in graduation speech

Palestinian activist Muna El-Kurd who, along with her twin brother Mohammed, has become a symbol of the Jerusalemites’ struggle against Israel’s systematic ethnic cleansing policy, chose to convey the suffering of the Palestinian residents of Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood during her graduation speech at Birzeit University yesterday.

“God willing, the illegal closure imposed on the Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood will end, and the forced displacement decisions against us will be revoked so that I welcome you into my home,” El-Kurd said.

“I carry with me greetings from the steadfast Sheikh Jarrah neighbourhood, and from the steadfast castle of Silwan. I am sure you know about the neighbourhood, not only because it is being talked about in the media and news, but also because it reminds us of the Nakba [catastrophe] that has not ended since 1948 and continues to happen in the neighbourhoods of Sheikh Jarrah, Silwan and Lifta, and in all of Jerusalem, in Beita [village], the Jordan Valley, across the [occupied] West Bank, the occupied interior [Israel], Gaza and in diaspora including the forced displacement, house demolitions, ethnic cleansing, arrest and exile, and the list goes on,” Muna continued.

READ: Don’t look away from Palestine 

The Palestinian activist added that for the first time in many years Palestinian united to confront the Israeli policies of uprooting them from all of historic Palestine and their message has succeeded in reaching the world.

“My advice to you is that we should not remain silent about injustice, about oppression, the suppression of freedoms, and political arrests, and always document and spread attacks,” she added.

Muna El Kurd during her graduation speech at Birzeit university:

“Don’t be Silent about oppression, suppression of freedoms,political arrest & detention.Always document these violations & post.We live a new era where Palestinians r able to speak loud & express themselves”

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— Abier (@abierkhatib) June 30, 2021