Invited to Witness: Solidarity Tourism across Occupied Palestine

Jennifer Lynn Kelly's book "Invited to Witness" explores the significance of contemporary solidarity tourism across Occupied Palestine, arguing that it functions as both a political strategy and an emergent industry. She demonstrates how Palestinian organizers have refashioned the conventions of tourism by extending invitations to tourists to witness Palestinian resistance and the effects of Israeli state practice.

Format: Hardback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 06 February 2023
Publisher: Duke University Press

Invited to Witness: The Significance of Contemporary Solidarity Tourism across Occupied Palestine

Jennifer Lynn Kelly delves into the profound significance of contemporary solidarity tourism across Occupied Palestine in her insightful book, "Invited to Witness." Through a comprehensive examination of the intricate relationships between race, colonialism, and movement-building in spaces where tourism and military occupation coexist, Kelly argues that solidarity tourism in Palestine emerges as a powerful political strategy and an emerging industry. Drawing from extensive fieldwork on solidarity tours in Palestine/Israel and engaging in insightful interviews with guides, organizers, community members, and tourists, Kelly seeks to unravel the captivating dynamics that unfold when tourism is marketed as activism and when anticolonial work finds its expression through tourism.

Kelly's research reveals that Palestinian organizers have ingeniously reimagined the conventions of tourism by extending invitations to tourists to witness firsthand the resilient resistance of the Palestinian people and the devastating impact of Israeli state practices on Palestinian land and lives. By leveraging the power of tourism, these organizers reclaim the ability to invite and the privilege to narrate their oppression and liberation, challenging the dominant narratives imposed by the Israeli regime.

Through her compelling analysis, Kelly sheds light on the transformative potential of solidarity tourism in empowering the Palestinian community and fostering international solidarity. She highlights how tourism can serve as a catalyst for raising awareness about the ongoing human rights violations and providing a platform for promoting peaceful conflict resolution. By offering tourists a glimpse into the daily struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people, solidarity tourism creates a space for empathy, understanding, and solidarity to flourish.

In conclusion, "Invited to Witness" is a groundbreaking work that offers a profound exploration of the significance of contemporary solidarity tourism across Occupied Palestine. Through her meticulous research and compelling storytelling, Jennifer Lynn Kelly provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the complex dynamics between tourism, colonialism, and resistance. This book serves as a call to action, urging individuals and organizations to support the Palestinian people and contribute to the struggle for justice and equality in the region.

Weight: 590g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478016656