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: Paperback / softback
Length: 344 pages
Publication date: 06 January 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 intriguing 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 own 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 struggle and promoting a deeper understanding of the complex political realities in Occupied Palestine. By offering tourists a firsthand glimpse into the daily lives of Palestinians and the challenges they face, solidarity tourism creates a space for empathy, compassion, and collective action.

Furthermore, Kelly's book explores the complexities and challenges associated with solidarity tourism, including the potential for exploitation, cultural insensitivity, and the risk of reinforcing stereotypes. She emphasizes the importance of ethical practices, respectful engagement, and collaboration between tourists, organizers, and the local community to ensure that solidarity tourism contributes to the long-term sustainability and well-being of the Palestinian people.

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, insightful analysis, and compelling storytelling, Jennifer Lynn Kelly provides a valuable contribution to our understanding of the complex dynamics between tourism, activism, and colonialism. This book serves as a call to action, inspiring individuals and communities to support the Palestinian struggle for freedom and justice through tourism and other forms of solidarity.

Weight: 476g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781478019299