PHOTOS: Israeli army attacks event for launch of graphic novel in Budrus

The Israeli military interrupts the launch event for a new graphic novel created by the makers of the documentary film ‘Budrus.’

Text by: Jessica Devaney, Photos by: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org

PHOTOS: Israeli army attacks event for launch of graphic novel in Budrus
Young Palestinians girls read Budrus – The Graphic Novel aloud to each other, pointing out relatives and friends they recognize on the pages.

Just Vision launched an Arabic graphic novel at the Budrus Girls School on Thursday. Created by Irene Nasser and based on the award-winning documentary, Budrus (directed by Julia Bacha), the graphic novel looks at the unarmed movement in the village through the eyes of 15-year-old Iltezam Morrar.

Starting this summer, Just Vision’s outreach team will use the graphic novel to engage Palestinian youth in discussions surrounding the significance of women’s role in the nonviolent popular struggle and to examine other contested issues like how best to build unity across political lines.

Budrus the graphic novel is available online here.

PHOTOS: Israeli army attacks event for launch of graphic novel in Budrus
A Palestinian girl in Budrus, after receiving a copy of the graphic novel at the launch event on Thursday.

 

PHOTOS: Israeli army attacks event for launch of graphic novel in Budrus
As the event wrapped up, the Israeli army arrived and began shooting tear gas into the village. The heat from the tear gas canisters started a fire in the olive groves. Youth from the village attempt to put out the fire. Since the beginning of the year, the Israeli army has maintained a near-daily presence in the village. As a result, last month Budrus residents have resumed their weekly unarmed protests.

 

PHOTOS: Israeli army attacks event for launch of graphic novel in Budrus
The women of Budrus are known for the leadership they took in the village’s successful unarmed struggle against the route of the Separation Barrier. After 10 months of struggle, the residents managed to save 95 percent of their lands from confiscation. They gathered on Thursday at the Budrus Girls School to mark the launch of the Budrus – The Graphic Novel.

 

PHOTOS: Israeli army attacks event for launch of graphic novel in Budrus
The Budrus youth dabke troupe performs at the graphic novel launch event.

 

PHOTOS: Israeli army attacks event for launch of graphic novel in Budrus
Children from Budrus waiting for their copy of the graphic novel.

 

PHOTOS: Israeli army attacks event for launch of graphic novel in Budrus
Ayed Morrar, leader of the Popular Committee in Budrus, addresses the crowd, emphasizing women’s role in the unarmed popular struggle and the importance of unity across political lines.

 

PHOTOS: Israeli army attacks event for launch of graphic novel in Budrus
Linda Awad (bottom left), the sister of Sameer Awad , the 15-year-old Palestinian youth who was shot and killed by the Israeli army in Budrus on January 15, 2013, reads the graphic novel aloud to her friends. The graphic novel is dedicated to Sameer Awad, Hussain Al-Ayyan and all those who lost their lives due to the occupation.

 

PHOTOS: Israeli army attacks event for launch of graphic novel in Budrus
A Palestinian youth in Budrus, with his new copy of the graphic novel, after the Israeli army interrupted the event, shooting tear gas into the village.