Let´s Talk about Palestine — let’s listen to Palestinians
A Series of Lectures and Discussions at Tallinn University
I
In recent years, we have read and heard countless opinions about what is happening in Palestine, Israel, and the wider Middle East. Yet the voices of Palestinians themselves — as well as the perspectives of scholars who study Middle Eastern conflicts, genocide, and collective memory in a thoughtful and academic way — have too often been missing.
At the beginning of December, Tallinn University will host three public lectures and discussions with scholars and Palestinian writers. These events are open to everyone and aim to deepen understanding of Palestinian history and culture.
We invite you to take part in the lecture series “Let’s Talk About Palestine – Listening to Palestinian Voices”.
4.12 Memory Wars and the War on Palestinian Memory: 77 Years of the Ongoing Nakba Public Lecture by Prof. Ihab Saloul (University of Amsterdam)
16:00 – 17:30, Room T-223, Tallinn University
“What is beautiful about Gaza is that our voices do not reach it. Nothing distracts it; nothing takes its fist away from the enemy’s face. Gaza is devoted to rejection… hunger and rejection, thirst and rejection, displacement and rejection, torture and rejection, siege and rejection, death and rejection. Enemies might triumph over Gaza — the stormy sea might swallow an island; they might cut down all its trees. They might break its bones, embed tanks inside its children and women, or cast it into the sea, sand, or blood. But Gaza will never surrender to lies or say ‘Yes’ to invaders. It will continue to explode. It is neither death nor suicide — it is Gaza’s way of insisting it deserves to live.” (Samt Min Ajl Gaza, Mahmoud Darwish, 1973; translated by Sinan Antoon, 2007)
On the day Israel celebrates as its “Day of Independence,” Palestinians commemorate their nakba — catastrophe. To Palestinians, the devastating loss of Palestine in 1948 marks a critical turning point in their collective history. From thriving
society to a dispersed “nation of refugees” across multiple borders, their trauma continues to shape their lives.
This lecture explores how Palestinian generations remember and interpret al-Nakba and its ongoing impact. It considers how collective memory fragments in the face of exile, and discusses contemporary debates surrounding conflict heritage, genocide, and analogies with the Holocaust. The goal is to understand how societies can develop cultural narratives that transcend political divisions and incorporate diverse memories within a broader history of victimization and resistance.
About the speaker:
Ihab Saloul is a Professor of Memory and Narrative, founder and Research Director of the Amsterdam School for Heritage, Memory and Material Culture (AHM). He is also a founding editor of Heritage and Memory Studies (Amsterdam University Press) and Palgrave Studies of Cultural Heritage and Conflict (Palgrave Macmillan).
Organized by Tallinn University’s School of Humanities. Moderator: Professor Eneken Laanes
8.12 How and Why Genocide is Distinguished from Warfare Public Lecture by Professor Dirk Moses (CUNY)
16:30 – 18:00, Room M-134, Tallinn University
This lecture examines the legal and conceptual distinctions between war and genocide. Originally designed to criminalize warfare against entire populations, the legal definitions have historically limited the scope of accountability — allowing states to pursue mass violence without facing charges of genocide. The memory and legacy of the Holocaust have reinforced this divide, shaping international law and public perception. Yet, many recent conflicts, including in Ukraine and Gaza, reveal the dangers of this conceptual gap.
Professor Moses argues that understanding these distinctions is crucial for addressing ongoing atrocities. Recognizing how international law and collective memory have been shaped to serve state interests is vital in working toward justice and prevention.
About the speaker:
Professor Dirk Moses is the Anne and Bernard Spitzer Professor of International Relations at CUNY’s City College. His research spans genocide studies, memory, and intellectual history. His recent books include The Problems of Genocide (2021) and edited volumes on the Holocaust memorials, Ukraine, and the history of memory.
Organized by the Department of International Relations, School of Governance, Law and Society. Moderator: Associate Professor Birgit Poopuu
11.12 Does the Word Still Have Power in Our World? Discussion with Palestinian Writers Hazem Jamjoum and Heba Hayek
16:00 – 17:30, Room M-649, Tallinn University
Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish once said, “Against barbarity, poetry can resist only by confirming its attachment to human fragility — like a blade of grass growing on a wall while armies march by.” How does literature respond to violence inflicted upon innocent communities? Is it a mirror reflecting harsh reality, a voice rallying resistance, an escape from unbearable suffering, or a beacon of hope for the future? What stories are told by contemporary Palestinian writers living in Gaza, the West Bank, or abroad? Do these stories reach a global audience, and what impact might they have?
To explore these questions and more, we have invited Palestinian writers Heba Hayek and Hazem Jamjoum to join us for a heartfelt discussion. They will reflect on the current state of Palestinian literature, sharing their personal journeys and creative visions.
During the event, we will also delve into Heba Hayek’s acclaimed book, (Hajarpress, 2021),
a poignant series of vignettes about girlhood in Gaza. It offers a deeply compelling look at how Palestinian women nurture resilience amidst colonial occupation and patriarchal constraints.
About the speakers:
- Hazem Jamjoum is a cultural historian, archivist, and educator based in London. He serves as the editor-in-chief of Safarjal Press and has translated significant works such as Ghassan Kanafani’s The Revolution of 1936–1939 in Palestine, which won the Palestinian Book Award in 2024. His translation of Maya Abu al-Hayyati’s novel was published in 2024 by CSU Poetry Center.
- Heba Hayek is an author, workshop facilitator, and communication consultant focused on challenging traditional archives and promoting alternative narratives. Her debut, Sambac Beneath Unlikely Skies, received the Palestinian Book Award in 2022, and was named Book of the Year 2021 by The White Review, Middle East Eye, and The New Arab.
This engaging discussion is organized by the Literary Club ÜDI in collaboration with the Institute of Humanities and Department of International Relations at Tallinn University and the literary magazine Vikerkaar. Moderators: Robin Lek, head of the ÜDI Literary Club, and Mariia Ivanova, PhD student in literary studies.
For information: Daniele Monticelli (daniele.monticelli@tlu.ee)