Journalist brings reports of Gaza to campus\
ANNA MEHLER
Queen's Journal vol 133 no 34, 17 February 2006
Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario -- Jon Elmer's take on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is that of someone who has experienced the struggle up close.
In 2003, the Toronto-born Elmer spent four months in Jenin, in the West Bank, and six months in the Gaza Strip from June to December 2005. He was there as a freelance journalist, doing print, radio and photography, which has appeared in a range of publications including the Journal for Palestine Studies, The Progressive and The NewStandard.
He said the experience really allowed him to see the situation "on the ground" in the occupied territories.
Today, he has a photography exhibit in Toronto and is touring the country speaking of what he saw during his time in Gaza. He spoke at Queen's on Thursday in a talk entitled "Israel's 'Disengagement': A view from Gaza," presented by Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights at Queen's University.
In an interview with the Journal, Elmer said his talks are motivated by what he believes is incomplete coverage and a lack about understanding of Palestinians' day-to-day situation in the occupied territories.
"There's clearly an interest in reportage on the ground in these areas," he said. "It's completely missing from the discourse."
Elmer said that working as a freelance journalist in places like Gaza City gave him a unique perspective on the situation there.
"Reporting has tended to be somewhat incomplete, and I think the population on the ground in the territories know this and it doesn't endear them to journalists," he said. "Working as a freelancer, I am choosing my assignments. I think that provides me an important independence."
Elmer said his most powerful interviews are often with ordinary Palestinians.
"Interviewing a fourth-grade child about his experiences of simply walking to school in Jenin in the intifada ... He told me incredible stories of what it was like simply getting to school," Elmer said. "A lucid analysis from a child