cultural resistance

Screening of ‘No Other Land’ in At-Tuwani, Masafer Yatta, occupied West Bank, March 14, 2024. (Oren Ziv)

Israel decries Hollywood boycott — while silencing its own critical filmmakers

Films challenging dominant Zionist narratives have long faced bans, funding cuts, and smear campaigns from Israeli officials and right-wing activists alike.

By Roy Cohen September 22, 2025

Rally in solidarity with Jenin's Freedom Theatre in New York, January 15, 2024. (Ken Schles)

Art world takes the stage to defend a Palestinian theater

After an unprecedented response to Israel’s latest raid on Jenin's Freedom Theatre, there will be no going back to show business as usual.

By Dana Mills February 15, 2024

A puppet fills one seat in the empty El-Hakawati Theater on June 27, 2013 in East Jerusalem. The theater would have been filled with children and families, but the Israeli Public Security Ministry canceled the annual festival. (photo: Matt Surrusco, +972 Magazine)

El-Hakawati Theater – the complementary nature of stones and puppets

Israel shut down a Palestinian puppet theater festival last month, but ‘cultural and artistic organizations are those parts of the iceberg of Palestinian resistance that remain underwater. If discovered by the State, they vanish and appear elsewhere, in different form, like a phoenix, striving for a freedom that is prefiguratively victorious by its nature.’ By…

By +972 Magazine July 1, 2013

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Carrying giant puppets, residents of Al-Walaja, together with Palestinian, international, and Israeli supporters, march through the West Bank village of Al-Walaja to protest the Israeli separation wall, September 28, 2012. If completed as planned, the wall will surround Al-Walaja and cut off its access to surrounding Palestinian communities. (photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)

A week in photos: September 27-October 3

Protest theater, media strikes, Palestinian demonstrations, and more: Activestills images tell the stories of the week.

By Activestills October 4, 2012

Carrying giant puppets, Palestinians of Al-Walaja, together with Palestinian, international, and Israeli supporters organized by the Freedom Bus campaign march through the West Bank village of Al-Walaja to protest the Israeli separation wall, September 28, 2012. (photo: Ryan Rodrick Beiler/Activestills.org)

Photo essay: Freedom Bus tour teaches cultural forms of resistance

Text by Decca Muldowney The Freedom Bus, an initiative of Jenin’s Freedom Theatre, uses interactive theatre and cultural activism to bear witness, raise awareness and build alliances throughout occupied Palestine and beyond. From September 23-October 1 2012, Palestinians and allies from around the world took part in a 9-day solidarity ride through 11 communities in the West…

By Activestills October 2, 2012

The Freedom Theatre, Jenin refugee camp Photo by: Keren Manor/Activestills.org

Jenin’s Freedom Theater raided by the Israeli army

Overnight, roughly 50 Israeli Special Forces troops raided the Jenin Freedom Theatre in the Jenin Refugee Camp in the Northern West Bank according to members of the theater. The Freedom Theater is often associated with slain Palestinian-Jewish actor Juliano Mer Khamis and his vision of cultural resistance to Israeli occupation. Mer Khamis was shot by unknown gunman outside of…

By Joseph Dana July 26, 2011