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By Issam Khalidi
There have been many legends depicting Palestinian resistance to the Zionist colonial growth and occupation all through fashionable Palestinian historical past. Heroism in Palestine was a byproduct of physique resistance and bravado. It was usually the physique’s endurance, steadfastness, and agility in confronting and evading the occupation forces that contributed to the Palestinian wrestle. On the forefront of this wrestle is the willingness of this physique to die for its homeland.
Palestinian our bodies fought heroically towards their executioner, even after being diminished to bones and pores and skin. Khalil Awawdeh, who remained 172 days on starvation strike, mentioned:
“Oh free individuals of the world, this rickety physique is left with nothing however bones and pores and skin, it doesn’t mirror weak spot of the Palestinian individuals, fairly it’s a mirror within the face of the true occupation.”
Within the Palestinian resistance dictionary, we frequently hear the expression “timber die whereas standing,” particularly when referring to martyrs who stood tall regardless of being shot.
Palestinian residents’ well being and our bodies have clearly been adversely affected by the day by day struggling they endure on account of the occupation and its obstacles (together with different social and financial elements). Nevertheless, Palestinians developed the flexibility to adapt to those harsh circumstances. Utilizing their our bodies, they had been capable of overthrow their jailor and resist the occupation wherever: at checkpoints, in prisons, and on the streets. They’d demonstrated to the world that they’re stronger than the occupation troopers and their armor with the power of their our bodies, morale, and braveness.
The Palestinian physique served as a supply of energy in numerous cultural settings and contexts as a farmer, trainer, employee, refugee, mom, freedom fighter, and martyr. It was the main focus of consideration of writers, poets and artists. Palestinians, their our bodies, and their resistance to the occupation have change into symbols of freedom preventing around the globe.
Caring for one’s physique is a societal accountability in addition to a private one. Palestinians should preserve a excessive degree of bodily health and well being to live on, survive, and wrestle beneath these tough and complicated circumstances. Typically, it’s believed that the stronger the physique, the stronger the nation. Thus, underestimating the physique’s energy can be an egregious mistake.
Many intellectuals (together with writers and poets) and nationwide leaders ignore the big potential of sports activities, neglect their well being and our bodies by following an unorganized way of life. They overlook the significance of the physique in enhancing the standing of the thoughts and soul and in attaining optimum self-integration. Reasonably than selling bodily exercise and sports activities, they undervalue them and consider sports activities as a leisure exercise or a waste of time. Furthermore, a few of them argue that sports activities are a distraction from nationwide duties geared toward ending the occupation.
In 1987, the Nationwide Unified Forces of the Intifada didn’t shut social-athletic golf equipment within the West Financial institution and Sector Gaza. Nevertheless, as a precautionary measure, many golf equipment closed after their members had been arrested or stormed by the Israeli authorities. On account of inactivity, many athletes developed sagging our bodies and misplaced bodily talents. Inactivity was not restricted to athletes but additionally to a big proportion of residents.
Again in 1988, I wrote an article for Al-Bayader Al-Siyasi (A Jerusalem-based political journal, based in 1981) lamenting this inactivity and warning towards its penalties. Intifada-related unwanted side effects together with this phenomenon didn’t be counteracted by intellectuals and nationwide leaders. By exposing its risks, advocating well being points, and selling train amongst all mass populations, this might have been achieved. Nevertheless, in the long run, the primary Intifada was a triumphant political and social revolution.
As part of the Arab and worldwide liberation motion, the Palestinian wrestle is designated as a revolutionary motion towards the occupier. Historical past reveals that various liberation actions have promoted and integrated sports activities and bodily train as the principle a part of their ideological agenda in two instructions: to organize their fighters bodily and militarily, and to boost the well being degree of their residents.
Well being is likely one of the most important nationwide duties for all actions, whether or not they’re nationwide, cultural, labor, ladies, college students, or others. Preventing inactivity and unorganized dwelling is a nationwide mission. It is sufficient to ignore this vital side. It’s time for everybody involved about Palestine to respect, glorify, and look after this physique – the pillar of existence and resistance.
– Issam Khalidi is an unbiased scholar, is the writer of Historical past of Sports activities in Palestine 1900-1948 (in Arabic), One Hundred Years of Soccer in Palestine (in Arabic and English), co-edited Soccer within the Center East, in addition to articles and essays with regards to sports activities included at
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