As the U.S.-Israeli spat over a settlement freeze continues, the reality of Israel’s continuing expansion of illegal settlements throughout the occupied territories becomes ever more important. In Hebron, for example, a few hundred armed Israeli settlers are protected by the Israeli military, suppressing normal life for the 150,000 Palestinian residents of the city. The illegal Israeli occupation is supported and enabled by the U.S., including military aid amounting to $30 billion of U.S. taxpayer money over the next 10 years.

Using a creative mixture of art and activism, Ellen O’Grady will present the everyday stories of Palestinians with a discussion of her new book, Outside the Ark: An Artist’s Journey in Occupied Palestine.

Ellen O’Grady is an artist and social justice activist with seven years’ experience working in Palestine and Israel. She recently ended a nationwide tour with her book and is currently working on a visual essay, based on interviews with Palestinians and Israelis.

This event is co-sponsored by U.S. Campaign to End Israeli Occupation and Foreign Policy In Focus, a project of the Institute for Policy Studies. Please RSVP to netfa@ips-dc.org or by calling 202-787-5229.