Open Initiatives Day Highlights Palestine Issues Through Book Discussion on "Palestine Laboratory"

Jakarta, 17 November 2025. More than 70 participants attended the public discussion Laboratorium Palestina, held at Ruang & Tempo as part of the Open Initiatives Day program in collaboration with Marjin Kiri and Hearts of Palestine. The event served as one of the stops in the Indonesia tour of Antony Loewenstein, author of Laboratory of Palestine, a book that examines modern colonial practices, surveillance technologies, and the structured violence faced by Palestinian communities.

The discussion unfolded through thematic presentations, a Q&A session, and an open dialogue exploring how military technology, digital surveillance systems, and the global security industry are tested, developed, and commercialized through the protracted conflict in Palestine. Loewenstein emphasized that Palestine has long been used as an “experimental zone” for various population-control tools later exported to numerous countries an issue increasingly relevant to global societies today.

This event was one of Open Initiatives Day’s key activities focused on creating cross-sector discussion spaces. Participant enthusiasm was reflected in the wide range of professional backgrounds represented, including students, journalists, researchers, academics, human rights activists, and community members engaged in humanitarian issues. The discussion was further enriched by insights from the Hearts of Palestine community, offering perspectives on solidarity work and Middle East conflict advocacy in Indonesia.

The program was made possible through the collaboration of Ruang & Initiatives, organizer of Open Initiatives Day, Marjin Kiri as the book publisher, and Hearts of Palestine as a supporting community on Palestinian issues. This partnership strengthens Ruang & Tempo’s position as a public dialogue space grounded in literacy, research, and collective participation.

The discussion contributed to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including:

• SDG 4 Quality Education: enhancing geopolitical and human rights literacy through public education forums
• SDG 10 Reduced Inequalities: opening space to examine the structural inequalities experienced by Palestinians
• SDG 16 Peace, Justice & Strong Institutions: raising public awareness on accountability, state violence, and global conflict issues
• SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals: strengthening cross-community collaboration between literacy institutions, activism networks, and public spaces

With strong participation and in-depth dialogue, the Laboratorium Palestina book discussion at Ruang & Tempo underscored the importance of public spaces that promote critical literacy and global solidarity. The program further reinforced Open Initiatives Day’s commitment to presenting inclusive and relevant discussions on humanitarian and sustainability issues.

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More Information:

‍Instagram: @openinitiativesday
Inge Meivi Fania

Community & Public Relations Ruang& Initiatives

‍085183039738