Marking a Decade of Existence, SMART 171 Launches Book
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – The SMART 171 institution marked a decade of its journey with a public event titled “A Decade of Nurturing Solidarity, Safeguarding the Movement”. The event featured a variety of educational activities, including talkshows, monologues, exhibitions, and a book launch. It was held at the National Library of the Republic of Indonesia on Sunday (10/5/2026).
Over the past decade, SMART 171 has been known for its active involvement in various humanitarian and educational efforts for Palestine, from direct aid in Gaza and Lebanon to building public education movements through classes, research, media, youth communities, and digital campaigns.
The Palestinian Ambassador to Indonesia, Abdul Fatah Al-Sattari, attended and delivered a speech. He said he did not feel like a stranger at the SMART event, likening it to being in Indonesia, which truly felt like home. He expressed gratitude for everything the Indonesian nation has done for his country.
“Soon, we will pray together in a free Al-Aqsa Mosque. After that, we will go to my home in Gaza, which will be rebuilt after Israel destroyed it,” he stated.
Although still serving as a steering committee member for the Global Sumud Flotilla abroad, SMART 171 Director Dr. Maimon Herawati greeted the audience via video. Campaign Manager and young influencer Farah Qoonita then delivered a speech reminding attendees to keep moving until Palestine is free.
In the monologue session, Dian Chairunisa explored how Hasbara operates. Fidela Rudiana followed by discussing how organic youth movements serve as a counterbalance to dominant narratives. Berisik emerged from the restlessness of young people wanting to voice their concerns through creative and inclusive methods and is now present in more than 20 locations across Indonesia.
The event became even more lively with a performance by Bella Fawzi, who sang the song Land of the Prophets. Hosted by Sarah Widad, Bella, Riska Rahman from Greenpeace Indonesia, and Selvia Sri Rahayu from Julid Fii Sabilillah discussed how Israel damages the environment and how grassroots movements have successfully mobilised other netizens to actively “attack” the occupying forces.
The part that drew the most attention from participants was the exhibition titled 12 Pillars of Zionism, packaged as two-metre-high infographic pillars. There was a miniature of Gaza’s destruction. Various installations were also set up along the corridors, like a diorama of a burning Israeli flag, an empty guillotine for ICC fugitives, and a board depicting cracks in relations showing the world turning against Israel. This exhibition was designed as an engaging learning space for guests of all ages.
On this decade milestone, SMART 171 also launched the book Understanding Palestine A-Z: Faith, History, and Resistance. The book launch served as the climax of a series of 100 educational points across various regions in Indonesia this year.
The presence of the book Understanding Palestine A-Z: Faith, History, and Resistance is hoped to serve as a comprehensive reference for the public seeking to deeply understand the Palestinian issue in a holistic and contextual manner.