Renowned Palestinian writer speaking at the University

Renowned Palestinian writer speaking at the University of Auckland

Palestinian writer Samah Sabawi will give a public lecture at the University of Auckland next week.

Ms Sabawi is Gaza born but her family was displaced as a result of Israel's occupation of the Gaza Strip in 1967. Now Melbourne based, she is an internationally renowned political commentator, advocate, writer, author, poet and playwright.

In her lecture, Roadmap to Liberation: Understanding demography as a defining factor in shaping Israeli policies, she will explore the main obstacles to resolving the conflict and the challenges that exist within the current Palestinian political landscape. Ms Sabawi will also touch on the role and responsibilities of the international community, especially countries like New Zealand.

‘New Zealand now has a voice at the UN Security Council’ said Ms Sabawi, ‘this will enable it to play a significant role on the world stage’.

New Zealand's representative to the UN Security Council recently voiced strong criticism of the UN's inability to resolve the Palestine/Israel issue, proposing a Palestinian state as the only 'realistic' option to bring peace to the region.

Ms Sabawi saw this move as a ‘positive step forward’ but she highlighted the importance of understanding the ramifications of the Palestinian Authority’s idea of a state. ‘Palestinians need a state that can ensure their human rights, civil liberties and security, but what is being offered is a demilitarized, non-viable, non-contiguous fragmented pieces of land.’

Ms Sabawi is a Policy Advisor to Al-Shabaka: The Palestinian Policy Network, and member of the board of directors for the National Council on Canada Arab Relations (NCCAR). Her past work includes being public advocate for Australians for Palestine, Executive Director for the National Council on Canada Arab Relations (NCCAR) and Subject Matter Expert (SME) for the Canadian Foreign Service Institute’s Centre for Intercultural Learning.

Roadmap to Liberation: Understanding demography as a defining factor in shaping Israeli policies is on Thursday 19 February, 6pm at the 220 Lecture Theatre, level 2, Arts 1 Building, 14a Symonds Street.

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