Palestine by Joe Sacco

BookNotes author: [[ Joe Sacco ]]

A very intense graphic-novel about the Isreali occupation of Palestine in the early 1990’s. Sacco speaks to Palestinians all over the occupied territory and documents their struggles. He uses the comics format to it’s fullest potential - scattering text boxes in the middle of panic, reducing frames to show forced imprisonment. But he also questions his role as an observer. Is his reporting actually going to change anything? Intense, political and essential reading to understand the current situation.

• Interviews multiple people in Palestine. Makes the point continually that the occupation is deeply unjust, morally rephrehnsible and is causing untold suffering.
• Palestinians are always hospitibale and friendly despite not having much to give.
• Author is a character in the story and it isn’t a flattering portrait. Makes the point repeatedly that he is a tourist and gets to leave. He considers himself nothing more than a misery tourist.
• Ultimately a depressing but necessary read. Things have got worse in the last ten years.