On January 24, 2024, we had the privilege of hosting an insightful conversation with Rawan Damen, a renowned journalist who has been changing narratives and training hundreds of journalists. This post is a detailed account of the discussion, providing an in-depth look into the Palestinian history, current situation, and the pivotal role of journalism in shedding light on the truth.
Rawan Damen – The Storyteller
Rawan Damen, a seasoned journalist, has been volunteering for <a href=’Palestine”>https://palambassador.org/’>Palestine Ambassador for five years. Her work is focused on producing fact-based content and training journalists to do the same. Her passion for unraveling the truth has led to the production of numerous documentary films over the last 20 years.
A Journey Through History
Rawan’s work delves into the history of Palestine dating back to the nineteenth century. She shed light on pivotal historical events such as Napoleon’s 1799 call for the relocation of Jews to Palestine and the 1840 British plan to move British Jews to Palestine. Rawan highlighted that these events took place long before the Zionist movement started in the 1860s.
The Palestinian Narrative
Rawan emphasized the importance of accurate representation of the Palestinian story. Contrary to popular belief, she pointed out that in 1948 around one million Palestinians were expelled, not 750,000, and only 160,000 stayed. The stories of these Palestinians are captured in the second section of the Palestine Ambassador site titled <a href=’“>https://palambassador.org/courses/unit-2-owners-of-the-land/’> ‘Owners of the Land’. This section also covers the destruction of Palestinian cities within Israel.
Documenting the Present
Rawan also discussed contemporary issues such as the Oslo Accords’ impact and the current situation in the West Bank and Gaza. She highlighted the work of several filmmakers documenting the Palestinian experience, such as ‘Gaza Here We Come’, ‘Stronger Than Words’, and ‘Gaza Lives On’, which she commissioned when working at Al Jazeera.
The Untold Stories
Rawan pointed out the existence of stories seldom told, like the use of Palestinians as human shields by Israeli soldiers and the British in the 1930s and 1980s, respectively. Also, she drew attention to the different Jewish communities within Israel and their complex relationship.
Next Steps
Rawan Damen’s work is a reminder of the importance of telling the complete story. As readers, it is our responsibility to seek out these stories and amplify them to challenge the dominant narrative. Let’s continue to educate ourselves and others about Palestine’s history and its present struggles.
Freedom Advocacy Network 
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