jq-abstract

As a national Palestinian concept, sumud, or, literally translated, “steadfastness,” carries the meaning of a strong determination to stay in the country and on the land. In this article,1 we will sketch the historical development of the concept and then make the case, on the basis of dozens of interviews and discussions with Palestinians in the West Bank, that today’s meanings projected onto the concept have become more plural, “democratic,” and closer to people’s experiences in daily life.