Desecrated and Concealed: The Destruction of Palestinian Archives by Israel

Hidden History: Israel’s Confiscation of Palestinian Archives Revealed

Jerusalem – A disturbing pattern of systematic confiscation and concealment of Palestinian cultural heritage by Israeli authorities has come to light, prompting renewed scrutiny of the region’s contested history. Researchers and archivists are uncovering evidence of a decades-long effort to seize photographs, films, audio recordings, and maps, reshaping the historical narrative and silencing Palestinian voices.

The Finding of War Booty

Investigations, initially spurred by the work of researcher Rona Sela documented in 2017, reveal that vast collections of palestinian materials are held within Israeli military vaults. These archives, dating back to the mid-20th century, include images from the 1930s and materials seized during the 1982 invasion of Lebanon. The deliberate collection and preservation of this “war booty” points to a calculated strategy of controlling the region’s historical record.

sabra and shatila: A Deliberate Eradication

The 1982 invasion of Lebanon, and the subsequent massacres at Sabra and Shatila, marked a turning point in the systematic erasure of Palestinian history. While often presented as a response to the PLO, evidence suggests a planned operation aimed at the extermination of Palestinian civilians.Along with the tragic loss of life, much of the work of Palestinian filmmakers documenting these events was deliberately destroyed, creating a vacuum of visual evidence.

Manufacturing a narrative: Zionist Propaganda

Sela’s research uncovered a complex apparatus of zionist propaganda, established prior to the creation of the state of Israel.Images were strategically curated and organized to portray a narrative of a barren land being revitalized by Jewish settlers, deliberately obscuring the presence and history of the Palestinian people. the camera,in this context,was wielded as a tool for shaping perception and legitimizing colonization.

The Scale of Appropriation: A Catalog of Loss

As 1948,israel’s defense forces have amassed a staggering collection of Palestinian cultural materials. According to available data, this includes approximately 38,000 films, 2.7 million photographs, 96,000 audio recordings, and 46,000 maps and aerial photos. This systematic appropriation, authorized by David Ben-Gurion, transformed Palestinian heritage into a captive resource, each image and recording representing a stifled voice.

A Look at the Numbers

Type of Material	Estimated Quantity
Films	38,000
Photographs	2.7 million
Audio Recordings	96,000
Maps & Aerial Photos	46,000

Semiotic Violence and the Erasure of Identity

The confiscation of these materials constitutes a “semiotic act of violence,” according to Sela, as it involves decontextualizing and recoding Palestinian narratives to serve a colonial agenda. by controlling the signifiers – the images and sounds that define Palestinian existence – authorities attempt to deny the legitimacy of the Palestinian people and rewrite history.

The Fate of Palestinian Photographers

The archives of Palestinian photographers such as Khalil Rissas and Ali Za’arur suffered a similar fate. Their work, documenting Palestinian life and resistance, was confiscated, relabeled, and repurposed. Despite these attempts at erasure, traces of Palestinian identity persist within the appropriated images, revealing a “hybrid look” where the colonizer’s outlook cannot fully suppress the original context.

Gaza: A Contemporary Crisis for Journalists

Today, the peril faced by those documenting events in Gaza underscores the ongoing effort to silence Palestinian voices. The Palestinian Journalist Union reports that at least 246 journalists have been killed and over 500 injured as October 2023 – a figure exceeding the number of journalists killed in both World Wars, Vietnam, Yugoslavia, and Afghanistan combined. This represents a deliberate targeting of those who seek to bear witness and preserve the record.

Resistance and the Living Archive

Despite the ongoing efforts to suppress Palestinian memory, resistance persists. Clandestine presses, oral histories, and digital archives continue to preserve and circulate information. The act of studying, sharing, and defending these records is a defiant affirmation of Palestinian identity and a challenge to colonial hegemony.

Did you know that the systematic destruction of a people’s memory is known as “memoricidio”?

Pro Tip: Support organizations dedicated to preserving Palestinian history and culture to help ensure these vital narratives are not lost.

The Importance of Archival preservation in Conflict Zones

The case of the Palestinian archives highlights the critical importance of preserving cultural heritage during armed conflicts. International law recognizes the protection of cultural property, yet these protections are consistently violated. The events described underscore the need for greater accountability and proactive measures to safeguard cultural heritage from intentional destruction or appropriation.

Furthermore, the digital age presents new challenges and opportunities for archival preservation. While digital archives are vulnerable to hacking and censorship, they also offer a means of circumventing customary power structures and ensuring wider access to information.Maintaining robust digital preservation strategies is crucial for safeguarding cultural heritage in conflict zones.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the significance of the Palestinian archives? The archives represent a crucial record of Palestinian history, culture, and identity, which have been systematically targeted for erasure.
• How did Israel confiscate these Palestinian archives? Through systematic appropriation ordered by David Ben-Gurion,begining in 1948,Israel’s military confiscated a vast collection of Palestinian cultural materials.
• what is “memoricidio”? Memoricidio is the systematic destruction of the memory of a people, a deliberate attempt to erase their history and identity.
• Why are journalists being targeted in Gaza? Journalists are being deliberately targeted in Gaza as part of a broader effort to silence Palestinian voices and control the narrative surrounding the conflict.
• What can be done to preserve Palestinian history? supporting organizations dedicated to archival preservation, promoting research, and raising awareness are all vital steps in preserving Palestinian history.
• What role did photography play in the conflict? Photography was used as a tool for both documenting reality and constructing narratives, with both sides employing it to shape public perception.
• How does the confiscation of archives relate to colonialism? The confiscation of archives is a form of colonial control, as it allows the occupying power to control the historical record and impose its own narrative.

What are your thoughts on the importance of preserving cultural heritage in conflict zones? Share your views in the comments below. And don’t forget to share this article with your network to raise awareness about this critical issue.

How does the destruction of Palestinian archives function as a tool of political control and narrative manipulation?

The systematic Erasure of Palestinian History

The deliberate targeting and destruction of Palestinian archives by Israel represents a profound act of cultural and historical erasure. This isn’t simply about lost documents; it’s a calculated attempt to sever Palestinians from their past, undermine their claims to land and identity, and control the historical narrative. The scale of this destruction, spanning decades, is only now beginning to be fully understood by archivists and historians globally, as highlighted by initiatives like the “Documentary Nakba: Reading Group for Archival Liberation” (https://connect.archivists.org/discussion/a-documentary-nakba-reading-group-for-archival-liberation-in-and-beyond-palestine-1). This article explores the methods, motivations, and consequences of this ongoing archival assault, focusing on Palestinian cultural heritage, historical records, and the fight for archival liberation.

Methods of Archival Destruction & Control

The destruction and control of Palestinian archives have taken many forms, evolving alongside the political landscape. These include:

* Direct Physical Destruction: During the 1948 Nakba and subsequent conflicts, numerous Palestinian libraries, schools, and municipal records offices were deliberately destroyed. This wasn’t collateral damage; eyewitness accounts and documented evidence point to targeted attacks aimed at eliminating records of land ownership, family histories, and community life.

* Confiscation and Transfer to Israeli Archives: Following the 1967 Six-Day War,Israel systematically confiscated Palestinian records from the occupied territories – the West bank and Gaza Strip. These records, including land deeds, municipal records, and personal documents, were transferred to Israeli state archives, military archives, and even private collections. this act effectively placed Palestinian history under Israeli control.

* Deliberate Neglect and Deterioration: Even archives not directly destroyed have been allowed to deteriorate through neglect. Lack of funding, inadequate preservation measures, and restricted access contribute to the slow but steady erosion of Palestinian historical memory.

* Digital Erasure & Control of Online Narratives: More recently, concerns have risen regarding the manipulation of digital archives and the suppression of Palestinian narratives online. This includes the removal of content from social media platforms and the control of search engine results related to Palestinian history.

* Legal Obstacles to Access: Israeli laws and regulations often create important obstacles for Palestinians seeking access to archives containing information about their own history and property. Restrictions on movement, bureaucratic hurdles, and security concerns are frequently cited as reasons for denial of access.

The Genealogy of Colonial Plunder: Israel’s Control Over Palestinian Archives

the control exerted over Palestinian archives isn’t simply about preserving or studying history; it’s deeply intertwined with the ongoing colonial project. As noted in discussions surrounding the “Documentary Nakba” reading group, this control serves several key purposes:

* Legitimizing Land Claims: By controlling access to land records, Israel can manipulate the historical narrative to justify its settlements and land confiscations.

* Suppressing Palestinian Identity: Destroying or controlling records of Palestinian family histories, cultural traditions, and political movements weakens Palestinian national identity and collective memory.

* Controlling the Narrative of the Nakba: restricting access to documentation related to the 1948 expulsion of Palestinians allows Israel to control the dominant narrative surrounding the Nakba, minimizing its impact and denying palestinian refugees their right of return.

* Impeding Legal Claims: Lack of access to archival evidence hinders Palestinians’ ability to pursue legal claims for restitution of property and compensation for losses.

Case Studies: Specific Instances of Archival destruction

* The Destruction of the Palestine Liberation organization (PLO) Archives in Beirut (1982): During the 1982 Israeli invasion of Lebanon, the PLO archives in Beirut were systematically destroyed, resulting in the loss of invaluable documentation relating to Palestinian political history, refugee experiences, and diplomatic efforts.

* Confiscation of Records from East jerusalem Municipal Archives: Following the 1967 occupation, Israel confiscated vast amounts of records from the East Jerusalem municipal archives, including land deeds, building permits, and census data.

* The ongoing Struggle for Access to Israeli Military Archives: Palestinian researchers and historians face significant challenges in gaining access to israeli military archives containing information about the occupation, the Nakba, and other key events in palestinian history.

* The Fate of the Islamic Waqf Archives on the Temple Mount/Haram al-Sharif: Concerns persist regarding the preservation and control of the Islamic Waqf archives on the Temple mount/Haram al-Sharif, which contain crucial historical and religious documents.

The Role of Digital Archiving and archival Activism

In the face of ongoing archival destruction, Palestinian activists, scholars, and archivists are employing innovative strategies to preserve and reclaim their history. These include:

* Digital Archiving Projects: Initiatives to digitize and preserve Palestinian historical documents, photographs, and oral histories are crucial for safeguarding cultural heritage.

* Community-Based Archiving: Empowering local communities