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Nov 05, 2022
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Palestinian-American Activist Nerdeen Kiswani On Iranian TV: Fighting, Resistance Are Beautiful, Should Be Celebrated; That's The Only Way To Liberate Palestine; Lion's Den, Jenin Brigade Are Involved In Active Resistance, Not Just Self-Defense

#9937 | 02:21
Source: Press TV (Iran)

Palestinian-American activist Nerdeen Kiswani of the Within Our Lifetime organization said in a November 5, 2022 show on Press TV (Iran) hosted by former British MP Chris Williamson that resistance is the only "political process" that has been effective for the Palestinian people. She said that active resistance by groups considered by Israel and the U.S. to be terrorist groups is the only way to fully "liberate" Palestine, and she praised the recently-formed "Lion's Den" and "Jenin Brigade" terror groups for taking matters into their own hands.

Later in the show, Kiswani said that the Palestinians should not describe their struggle solely in terms of human rights because they are "fighters" rather than "passive victims." She added that this is "something beautiful" that should be celebrated by people in the West. For more about Nerdeen Kiswani, see MEMRI TV Clips Nos. 9738, 9534, 9471, 9014, 8932, 8113, 7628, 6311, 6100, and 5560.

Nerdeen Kiswani: "Because of all of the oppression that Palestinians have been under for over 70 years, the only political process that we've ever seen be effective, is through resistance. And we have seen the resistance lead us, you know, through the intifada and get us even a seat at the table, to begin with.

[...]

"And we don't have any elected leadership that truly represents our desire for the right of return and full liberation of Palestinian land from the river to the sea, except for ourselves. Except for, you know, political parties, maybe, that are considered by the U.S. and Israel to be quote, unquote 'terrorist groups.'

[...]

"So, the Lion's Den, and you know, similar innovations like the Jenin Brigade, as you mentioned, are really a form of protection for the Palestinian people when there is no one to protect us, when the Palestinian Authority does not protect us because they are collaborating with the Zionist entity. So, it has emerged because Palestinians are taking matters into their own hands, and we have mentioned the May 2021 Unity Intifada earlier which really brought Palestinians together.

[...]

"It has emerged as a form of protection for the people of those cities. But also, as a form of resistance and not just self-defense, actually actively resisting the occupation every day. So, you know, I think that this is going to be continuous until all of Palestine is free.

[...]

"We should never try to make our movement palatable for Western consumption, just for that sake. We should never undermine the role of the resistance or hyperfocus on, you know, this human rights discourse that just places us as passive victims because we are not that, we are fighters, we are resisting. And I think that that's something that's beautiful and that should be celebrated by people in the West."

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