This upcoming event offers an on-the-ground report from the occupied West Bank, following a two-month protective presence mission with the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). Centered around the communities of Masafer Yatta, south of Hebron, the presentation details the daily realities facing Palestinian families amidst ongoing pressure, harassment, and displacement from Israeli settlers, local police, and the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Through protective presence, documentation, and community accompaniment, international volunteers work alongside local residents as they assert their right to remain on their ancestral land.
Featuring direct field reports and photo documentation from the southern West Bank, this session provides a detailed look at life under occupation and the mechanisms of grassroots peacebuilding:
- Historical & Geopolitical Context: A concise overview of the legal framework, land rights struggles, and policy decisions impacting Masafer Yatta and the broader Hebron region.
- Daily Life Under Occupation: Visual evidence and eyewitness accounts illustrating how Palestinian communities navigate movement restrictions, military presence, and frequent settler encounters while sustaining their daily routines.
- Nonviolent Resistance in Action: An examination of the unarmed strategies, creative organizing, and persistent efforts local communities employ to safeguard their homes, schools, and livelihoods.
- Opportunities for Involvement: Practical pathways for individuals interested in human rights monitoring, international accompaniment, or supporting local awareness campaigns.
Rush Rehm is an actor, director, and Professor Emeritus of Theater & Performance Studies and Classics at Stanford University. His scholarship spans ancient Greek tragedy, ancient culture, contemporary politics, the media, and U.S. foreign policy. Drawing on decades of teaching, creative practice, and political analysis, Rehm brings a sharp, critical perspective to his human rights work in the field.
