A dictionary for Palestine.

It’s time to decolonize your vocabulary.

Pali-Dictionary

Educate

The language often used to describe the colonization of Palestine obscures the power imbalance between the settler colony of ‘Israel’ and Palestine. The portrayal of the genocide as a "war" or "conflict" between two equal parties argues that such descriptions fail to acknowledge the reality of the Israeli occupation's 75-year history of colonization and the systemic power dynamics at play.

Advocate

Words like "occupation," "apartheid," and "genocide" are used to best describe the Zionist regime’s actions, emphasizing ‘Israel’ as an illegitimate settler colony imposing oppressive and brutal rule over the indigenous Palestinians. We must insist on recognizing Palestinians not merely as victims of occupation but as an indigenous population fighting for their ancestral lands against Zionism. We must insist on using terms that correctly reflect the severity and nature of Israel’s colonization accurately. 

Mobilize

The Palestinian resistance is not only a reaction to immediate military actions by ‘Israel’ but, more importantly, a struggle against an ongoing process of colonization and erasure. This resistance is a fight for survival and self-determination in the face of efforts to marginalize and displace Palestinians from their land. Palestinian resistance is justified and a natural response to the conditions of occupation and subjugation.

Featured
IDF / IOF

IDF stands for the Israel Defense Forces, which is the military organization responsible for the defense of the the zionist settler colony of State of Israel, it encompasses the 'Israeli' Army, Navy, and Air Force. In Palestinian discourse, we call them IOF which stands for Israeli Occupation Forces, as we do not recognize the 'state of israel'.

From the River to the Sea

This phrase is a call to freedom for all Palestinians and their lands from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. It is not a call for death, destruction, or hatred towards Jewish people, contrary to Zionist beliefs. Palestinians living between the river and the sea are heavily restricted in their movement within and beyond the border of the Zionist state, and this phrase is simply calling for freedom, equality, and liberation for Palestinians.

Settler Colony

According to Cornell Law School, the concept of settler colonialism can be defined as a system of oppression based on genocide and colonialism, that aims to displace a population of a nation (oftentimes indigenous people) and replace it with a new settler population. In the context of Palestine, settler colonialism refers to the ongoing process of establishing and expanding illegal "Israeli" settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, including the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and the Syrian Golan Heights. It involves the displacement and dispossession of Palestinians from their land, resources, and livelihoods, while promoting the demographic and political dominance of Jewish "Israelis" in those areas.

  • Armed resistance is legal.

    Did you know that armed resistance against an occupier is legal according to international law?

    Algeria fought a protracted war (1954-1962) against French colonial rule. The National Liberation Front (FLN) led armed resistance efforts against French forces, ultimately leading to Algeria's independence.

    The French colonized Algeria for 132 years

    980,000 to 1 million Algerians were killed.

  • The Fourth Geneva Convention of 1949

    The convention protects civilians in occupied territories and provides rights to resist occupation. Article 1 of the convention establishes protections for civilians, and Article 27 acknowledges the right of individuals to resist occupation.

    Vietnam resisted occupation by French colonial forces initially and later by Japanese forces during World War II. After the war, Vietnam fought against French colonial rule (First Indochina War, 1946-1954) and then against American and South Vietnamese forces (Vietnam War, 1955-1975).

    400,000 to 1 million Vietnamese soldiers and civilians were killed during the First Indochina War.

  • United Nations General Assembly

    The UN General Assembly has affirmed the legitimacy of struggles against colonial and foreign domination in Resolution 37/43 (1982), which recognizes the right of peoples to fight for self-determination, including armed struggle.

    United Nations

We’re still updating this page. There is more coming soon. If you find any mistakes, please let us know.

Contact Us

If you have any questions please reach out to us via email or fill out the contact page. We’ll get back to you soon!

contact@palestinesdiasporamovement.com