It is doubtful whether there has ever been an idea in the modern history of Israel and Palestine whose consideration of the feasibility and development of possibilities has been so rejected and neglected as that of the idea of the return of the Palestinian refugees. Israel’s denial since the end of the 1948 war of the Palestinian refugees’ right to return home has focused public attention about the refugees on the right of return, thereby banishing the development of all political vision and practice from the public debate.
Sedek 6 is a challenge to this negation, which has effectively imposed a freeze on the return of the Palestinian refugees as a practical possibility. Sedek 6 provides a tri-lingual textual and visual platform for initial experiences in thinking – political, visionary, and planning – toward the return of the Palestinian refugees.
The starting point of these initial experiences is the acceptance of the right of the Palestinians to return to their homes and country. From this starting point, contributors go on to draft various possibilities for return while addressing all its implications for the returnees and those who live here.
The ideas published in this issue of Sedek were raised and developed in workshops, and they are still in the working stage. Within the workshop framework, participants also planned and designed the materials included here. Thus, the content of this issue is not for reading only, but should be approached as raw material and a starting point for the continuing development of spatial planning toward the return of the refugees.
We welcome everyone – individuals and groups – to use these materials for the above purposes. Zochrot will organize workshops to consider and develop possibilities for the return of Palestinian refugees. Groups interested in participating in such workshops are invited to contact us.
Language: Hebrew