Israeli historian Ilan Pappé (1954), author of The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine and other prominent works, has played a crucial role in challenging the dominant Western narrative that presents Israel as a liberal democracy born in innocence. His work exposed the foundational violence and displacement at the heart of the Israeli state project. 

Palestinian journalist Mariam Barghouti (1993) documents from her home in the occupied West Bank how the process of dispossession and erasure continues today — through military occupation, segregation, and control over every aspect of Palestinian life. 

Yet in the Netherlands, as in much of the West, politicians and major media outlets largely cling to a sanitized image of Israel that bears little resemblance to reality. Poll after poll, however, shows that a growing majority of Dutch citizens wish to break with this long-held but false ideas about Israel and support meaningful action for Palestinian liberation. Why, then, does a just policy toward Palestine remain so elusive?

In this programme, Pappé and Barghouti connect past and present — exploring the persistence of colonial frames, the power of narrative, and the possibilities for change. 

Following the discussion, there will be time for questions from the audience. 

The event is moderated by Erella Grassiani - Associate Professor at the Department of Anthropology, University of Amsterdam.

Doors open: 13:00  
Start: 13:30   
End: 15:30

Want to see more events like this? Become a donor of The Rights Forum at rightsforum.org/steun-ons. (Ticket revenues do not cover all organizational costs.)

Israeli historian **Ilan Pappé** (1954), author of _The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine_ and other prominent works, has played a crucial role in challenging the dominant Western narrative that presents Israel as a liberal democracy born in innocence. His work exposed the foundational violence and displacement at the heart of the Israeli state project. 

Palestinian journalist **Mariam Barghouti** (1993) documents from her home in the occupied West Bank how the process of dispossession and erasure continues today — through military occupation, segregation, and control over every aspect of Palestinian life. 

Yet in the Netherlands, as in much of the West, politicians and major media outlets largely cling to a sanitized image of Israel that bears little resemblance to reality. Poll after poll, however, shows that a growing majority of Dutch citizens wish to break with this long-held but false ideas about Israel and support meaningful action for Palestinian liberation. Why, then, does a just policy toward Palestine remain so elusive?

In this programme, **Pappé** and **Barghouti** connect past and present — exploring the persistence of colonial frames, the power of narrative, and the possibilities for change. 

Following the discussion, there will be time for questions from the audience. 

The event is moderated by **Erella Grassiani -** Associate Professor at the Department of Anthropology, University of Amsterdam.

Doors open: 13:00    
Start: 13:30     
End: 15:30

_Want to see more events like this? Become a donor of The Rights Forum at_ [rightsforum.org/steun-ons.](https://rightsforum.org/steun-ons.) (_Ticket revenues do not cover all organizational costs.)_

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Ilan Pappé

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