Jepke Goudsmit
Jepke Goudsmit is a theatre maker. Since 1985 she has been co-director of Kinetic Energy Theatre Company. Since 2004 the company has focused on social justice and human rights issues through theatre-in-education.
Recent articles by Jepke Goudsmit
14 April 2025
Gaza's trees now bear a strange fruit
Nobody following the real news, and aware of the long history of colonial occupation, ever believed that Zionist Israel would proceed into the second phase of the ceasefire as agreed.
5 April 2025
Palestine is the issue to consider when you enter the voting booth
On the day Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced the election date, Jews Against the Occupation '48 issued an open statement addressing the current government in the hope that Labor would shift its policies on Israel/Palestine.
20 March 2025
Words under occupation
In our post-truth world, the art of messing with words has been perfected. When the Ramallah-based Ashtar Theatre issued a global call to creatives of all disciplines to join the cultural intifada in solidarity with the Palestinian people, I responded by writing a series of poems. Words under Occupation is an act of resistance and disentanglement. It comes in two versions: as text and as video. You will find the link to the video under the text.
6 March 2025
Is there a shift in our appreciation of dissent?
Since the Israel/US alliance went into full-throttle war machine mode in the name of Israel’s right to self-defence, fissures have appeared in the global community, delineating various camps. Roughly speaking: those who support Israel, those who condemn Israel, and those who question Israel.
17 January 2025
URGENT: Following ceasefire, Israel’s ban on UNWRA must be stopped
The long-overdue ceasefire in Gaza may be the beginning of a new chapter, and hopefully one that heralds freedom for the people of Palestine. It certainly will provide relief and respite, but we all know that the work of true peace building is only starting and the old work towards justice and liberation continues on just like before. Israel’s extreme apartheid regime and expansion politics still need dismantling and the Palestinian Rights movement will need our constant vigilance and ongoing support. In this light, Jews Against the Occupation ’48 is heeding the global call against Israel’s ban on UNWRA.
19 December 2024
Zio-Judeo-Conflation? No Thanks!
Equating anti-Zionism with antisemitism and Judaism with Zionism are two dangerous misconceptions that play into the hands of those who are justifying apartheid and Israel’s genocidal war in Gaza. They inhibit us from using our critical faculties to apply our findings with clarity and consistency.