Watermelon as a Palestinian symbol. What does watermelon symbolize?

Fruit is no longer just an important part of the diet, it also plays an important role in today’s geopolitical arena. For example, while watermelon is a favorite of many people around the world, it has also become an interesting choice for those who want to talk about Palestinian solidarity.

Yes, as Israel continues its offensive in Gaza, the world has chosen the “watermelon” as a symbol of solidarity with the Palestinians. This symbolism has long served as a symbol of protest.

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Here we dissect watermelons, not for the delicious taste, but as a symbol of protest against the war between Israel and Palestine.

Why not other fruits?

Cut a watermelon in half and you will find all the colors of the Palestinian flag in the slice. The colors are red, white, green, and black. Now, it is worth noting that Israeli authorities often prohibit the flying of the Palestinian flag. Therefore, the watermelon is seen as a symbol of Palestinian solidarity.

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Additionally, watermelon is widely grown in Palestine and is an important part of Palestinian cuisine, so using watermelon to symbolize Palestinian unity seems a fitting choice.

Watermelon Becomes a Symbol – History

In 1967, immediately after the Arab-Israeli war, a law banned the public display of the Palestinian flag. This meant that anyone carrying or displaying the Palestinian flag, or even its colors, could be arrested. However, to the relief of Palestinian supporters, the ban was lifted in 1993 with the Oslo Accords.

Now, Israel’s National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir intends to bring back the old days by banning the flying of the Palestinian flag in public places.

Interestingly, the exact history of how the fruit became a symbol of Palestine is not known, however, the credit is usually attributed to the much admired Palestinian artist Slimane Monsour. Most of his early works revolved around showcasing Palestinian culture. He used to paint olive grove landscapes. Some of his works also depicted landscapes of Palestinian communities working on farms. However, his works do not have any political influence. The artist stated that the idea came to him in the 1980s when an Israeli soldier visited his gallery for a review. The soldier told the Palestinian artist that he could not paint in red, black, green, and white because these were the colors of the Palestinian flag.

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At this point, another artist in the gallery, Issam Badr, asked the soldier what would happen if he painted a flower using those colors. The Israeli officer responded that in that case, they would confiscate it. The Israeli soldier further stated that even if the artist painted a watermelon, the work would be confiscated.

Mansour said the ban on certain colors has further fueled the boycott. Such a ban has caused a huge stir among painters and artists. Mansour and the artists have received support from artists around the world. Some Israeli artists have also given their support.

As mentioned above, Mansour’s artwork often centers on Palestinian culture, which angered Israelis. Just one year after the Israeli soldiers’ visit, the artist was randomly detained. Since then, the Palestinian artist has started painting watermelons.

This caused a stir, and activists and artists began to use the watermelon as a symbol of resistance. Palestinians began carrying slices of watermelon as a symbol of protest.

Source: https://dinhtienhoang.edu.vn
Category: Optical Illusion