Perfect Victims: And the Politics of Appeal

In Perfect Victims, “appeal” refers to the strategic efforts by Palestinians and their allies to present themselves in ways that garner sympathy and support from Western audiences. El-Kurd critiques this approach, arguing that it often requires Palestinians to suppress their anger, resistance, and complexity to fit into a mold of the “perfect victim.” This form of self-censorship is seen as a distraction from the core issues of occupation and colonization.​

“Defanging” describes the process of stripping Palestinian narratives of their potency and resistance to make them more palatable to Western sensibilities. El-Kurd discusses how this sanitization diminishes the reality of Palestinian suffering and undermines the legitimacy of their struggle. By removing the “fangs,” or the elements of anger and resistance, the narrative becomes less threatening to the status quo.​

Dignity is a central theme in El-Kurd’s work, representing the inherent worth and humanity of Palestinians beyond their victimhood. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining dignity in the face of dehumanization and refusing to conform to narratives that demand passivity. Dignity involves asserting one’s rights and humanity without seeking validation from oppressive systems.​