"Haymarket Books" has published an important book titled "Against Erasure: A Photographic Memory of Palestine Before the Nakba," by Spanish photographer Sandra Barillaro and her compatriot journalist Teresa Aranguren. The book features a large collection of photos documenting daily life in Palestine before the Nakba of 1948.
The release of the book is particularly significant amid the ongoing Israeli war on Gaza, which has continued for over four months and is the bloodiest since the Nakba of 1948. According to the British newspaper "The Guardian," it stands as a remarkable event and evidence of the Palestinian life that many in "Israel" wish to claim never existed.
Barillaro and Aranguren, both experienced in the Arab-Israeli conflict, published the book in response to the Israeli narrative regarding what happened in 1948, which not only erased the Palestinian community but also seeks to erase its memory. The book serves as proof of Palestinian life before the Nakba that many in "Israel" prefer to deny.
"The Guardian," in an article by American writer and journalist Chris McGreal, explained that the original title of the book in Spanish translates to "Against Oblivion," which is the title of a poetry book. Therefore, English-speaking publishers opted for "Against Erasure" instead of the previous title. McGreal noted that the title of the book appears clearer, not only due to the current Israeli war in Gaza but also after years that human rights groups in Israel describe as a system of Jewish supremacy in the West Bank aimed at eliminating any possibility of a viable Palestinian state.
The book stands as a visual testimony of what existed in Palestinian society before the Nakba, with its strength and significance lying in the images that represent the vastness and richness of Palestinian society before the event, showcasing a complete and abundant community. It also highlights the diversity of the society, which significantly counters the Zionist narrative claiming "a land without a people for a people without a land."
