1 Message from the Editor

It should not be news that women worldwide are facing higher workloads due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nor is the fact that the situation of Palestinian forthcoming Issues women is particularly difficult because they have to overcome both the April 2021 repercussions of a military occupation and the social and economic Our Environment restrictions placed on them by a patriarchal society. So why are we publishing yet another issue highlighting the same old themes? Because we are not May 2021 giving up! Some of the solutions are as easy as at least once a week picking Palestinian Realpolitik up a broom, preparing a light dinner, and doing the laundry. (I am talking June 2021 about sons, husbands, and fathers in all types of societies… just in case This Is Sumud (Steadfastness) anyone is wondering.) Others require what seems like a political earthquake, as emboldened Israel has engaged in increasing oppression, confiscation and destruction of Palestinian property, and expansion of its settlements. But Cover: Artwork by Malak Mattar many of our readers likely have witnessed the fall of the Berlin Wall, the fall advisory Board of the Iron Curtain, and the end of apartheid in South Africa. All these events Hani Alami, CEO of COOLNET were preceded by internal and external pressure and advocacy. So let us get to H.E. Mounir Anastas, Ambassador, work! (And the smallest step you can take today to bring about social change Alternate Permanent Delegate of the at home is mentioned above.) This Week in Palestine would like to extend its State of Palestine to UNESCO sincere thanks to The Representative Office of But beyond the political and social areas that require our engagement, you will Norway to the Palestinian Authority, UN Women, Sari Khoury, architect find in this issue stories of women who are defying the odds and institutions and UNFPA for their support through a Gold Sponsorship. Rima Najjar, activist, researcher, and that help them achieve their dreams, support their families – helping many of retired professor of English literature them rise out of poverty – and bring about economic development and social change. Thanks go to our authors, including Dr. Amal Hamad, Minister of Muzna Shihabi, communications expert Women’s Affairs, and Maryse Guimond, UN Women Special Representative in Palestine; the Business Women Forum; UNFPA; Tala El-Yousef, head of Sari Taha, principal consultant, experimentation at the Palestinian Accelerator Lab that is embedded within Momentum Labs UNDP/PAPP; Amal Abusrour, director of programs at Women’s Centre for Legal Aid and Counselling; Samah Jaber, head of the advocacy department United Nations Population Fund at the Union of Agricultural Work Committees; Heba Zayyan, head of UN tWiP Team Women’s Gaza Sub-Office; Karmel Najjar, monitoring and evaluation and reporting officer at The Palestinian Businesswomen’s Association–Asala; The views presented in the articles do not Publisher: Sani P. Meo necessarily reflect the views of the publisher or of Oxfam; Aid and Hope Center–Gaza; and Rafah Anabtawy, the general director this issue’s sponsors (the Representative Office of Taisir Masrieh Norway to the Palestinian Authority; UN Women; Art Director: of Kayan–Palestinian Feminist Organization. Our Personality of the Month and UNFPA). Neither do the views presented Graphic Design: Tamer Hasbun is Najat Ermely, the Book of the Month is The Honey, Artist of the Month is reflect those of the United Nations or any of its Jenna Barghouti, and the Exhibition of the Month is Tales of a Rebellious Body. affiliated organizations. Maps herein have been Editor: Tina Basem prepared solely for the convenience of the reader; Enjoy hiking Marj Sanur, as presented in Where to Go, visiting the Sufi shrine, the designations and presentation of material do not imply any expression of opinion of This Week presented by Ahlan Palestine Postcard, and cooking TWiP Kitchen’s recipe. in Palestine, its publisher, editor, or its advisory board as to the legal status of any country, territory, Last but not least, TWiP would like to extend its sincere gratitude to the city, or area, or the authorities thereof, or as to the delimitation of boundaries or national affiliation. Representative Office of Norway to the Palestinian Authority, UN Women, and UNFPA for their support through the gold sponsorship of this issue! From all of us at TWiP, we wish you a good start into spring (or fall), with best Telefax: +970/2 2-295 1262 wishes for your health, well-being, and economic security, [email protected] www.thisweekinpalestine.com www.facebook.com/ThisWeekInPalestine Tina Basem Printed by Studio Alpha, Al-Ram, Jerusalem. 2 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 3 THIS WEEK IN

Issue 275 Women’s Empowerment March 2021 www.thisweekinpalestine.com THIS WEEK IN

Personality

www.thisweekinpalestine.com of the Month 66

46 Book of the Month 68 Why Gender Matters in Humanitarian Action in Gaza Artist 6 25 of the Month 70

Palestinian Women’s Contribution Israa Ashami Exhibition to Peace and Security of the Month 72

50 TWiP Kitchen 74 28 Empowerment, Agency, 10 and Inclusion Where Unpaid Care Work to Go 76 The Women Here Have Become My Real Family Ahlan Palestine Postcard 78 58

34 Aid and Hope Program for Cancer Patients Care Events 80 14 From Crisis to Possibility Bridging the Gender Gap Cultural Centers 82

Directory 84 38 60 Knowledge Products Maps 85 18 Whose Digital Space? Ours!

BWF: Women’s Path to 98 Economic Opportunities The Last Word 42 62

The Intersectional Impact of The Odds Doubled 22 COVID-19 on Palestinian Women Bayan Ikteit

4 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 5 Women’s Empowerment Palestinian Women’s Contribution to Peace and Security

Four years later, on the 20th 1325. The State of Palestine’s anniversary of UNSCR 1325, the Second Action Plan is an opportune State of Palestine adopted its second moment to do just that. National Action Plan to consolidate During its First Action Plan on By Dr. Amal Hamad, Minister of Women’s Affairs, and and enhance Palestinian women’s UNSCR 1325, the State of Palestine Maryse Guimond, UN Women Special Representative in Palestine gains in their quest for equality in successfully highlighted the decision-making and peace efforts. particular impact of the occupation This renewed commitment, led by and conflict on Palestinian women. the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and Efforts during the second generation supported by UN Women and the of the plan should focus on Government of Norway, came at a effectively increasing women’s timely yet challenging moment for equal participation in their country’s the Palestinian people. peace and security. For example, Apart from the Israeli occupation increasing the representation and whose accumulative impact over the participation of Palestinian women decades has caused untold suffering in the security sector can help ore than 20 years ago, the for countless Palestinians, COVID-19 shape security institutions that are United Nations Security Council came to wreak havoc on a worn- responsive and representative of Resolution 1325 on Women, out population. Beyond the health Palestinian society at large, including Peace and Security (UNSCR crisis that the pandemic caused, women. Similarly, the participation 1325) was unanimously adopted, many jobs have been lost and many of women in managing crises, marking a global recognition of the livelihoods severed. Palestine’s such as the COVID-19 pandemic, disproportionate impact of war and conflict on women and their vital role in poor got even poorer. While this ensures that the response and peacebuilding. SinceM then, numerous additional resolutions have been passed, has affected the entire population, recovery efforts effectively address reinforcing the urgency to address violations against women in conflict and its impact has been particularly the specific needs of all, including their rightful inclusion in all aspects of peacebuilding. Although home to many harmful for women whose economic women and girls, and leave no protracted conflicts, the Arab region is yet to fully recognize the particular participation is concentrated in the one behind. Palestinian women are impact of conflict on women and to include them in peace- and state-building. informal sector which was worst already on the forefront of the battle And the State of Palestine is no exception. Palestinian women’s voices on how hit by the pandemic. Indeed, the against COVID-19, both at home and they have experienced decades of occupation and how to end it remain largely pandemic has made inequalities at health centers. Seventy percent unheard. However, this is slowly but surely changing. even more glaring, and gender of the frontline health workers in the The change started in 2016, when the State of Palestine became the second inequality intersects all inequalities. State of Palestine are women, but Arab state to adopt a National Action Plan to translate the global Women, If anything, the pandemic has only 14 percent of the Council of Peace and Security agenda into concrete steps to enhance Palestinian only shown us the urgency to Ministers are women. women’s participation in decision-making, reconciliation, and peace efforts. meaningfully implement UNSCR

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Palestinian women have indeed a right and interest to participate in decision-making and peacebuilding; This year’s International it affects them, their families, and Women’s Day sees the future of their country. But most Palestine firmer on importantly, research shows that its commitment to women’s engagement in peace women’s contribution processes and reconciliation talks brings substantive advantages to peace and security. and increases the likelihood of successful negotiations. Growing

Yet, across the Arab world, only 32 out of 119 peace agreements signed so far include provisions on gender and women, considerably fewer than the current global average of 50 percent. It is time that Palestine, which suffers from one of the longest conflicts in the world, finally recognizes women’s rightful place at the table. The Second Action Plan also comes at a time when the Palestinians are hopeful Artwork by Manal Deeb. that the status quo, marked by political divisions that only made the occupation harsher, is about to change. evidence has shown that women’s They are looking to their leaders participation in peace processes to put their differences aside and increases the durability of peace allow for a new inclusive leadership agreements. When women are that can finally improve the lives included in these processes, there of all, including women. This is an is a 20 percent increase in the excellent opportunity to ensure that probability that an agreement would the voice of the other half of the last at least two years, and a 35 Palestinian people is finally heard. percent increase in the probability Women’s inclusion should not be Artwork by Manal Deeb. that an agreement would last a a matter of quotas and box ticking. minimum of 15 years. In addition, Their concerns, needs, expertise, women’s participation in peace and aspirations must be brought efforts adds a broader range to the table so that they can fully of perspectives and increases and equally help Palestine transition inclusivity and diversity, thus towards a democratic, inclusive, allowing for the inclusion of united, and peaceful future. provisions on gender and women. 8 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 9 Women’s Empowerment

time to a man in his sixties. “I got divorced a month after the wedding The Women Here Have day. He was old and physically ill; he was beating me all the time.” A year later, she met a man who Become My Real Family appeared kind and reliable. Soon after they became close, however, United Nations Population Fund he asked her for money and then left Shelter Support Offers a her. He threatened to kill her if she New Start for Women Facing Violence reported him, and her family refused sessions. I was also supported to help. in continuing my education at the Amany felt that she was unable to go shelter.” on and that she had nowhere left to This shelter is one of five in Some 29 percent of Palestinian women, or nearly turn. “These were the worst days of Palestine. For women who face one in three, have reported psychological, physical, my life. I was helpless. I had no hope gender-based violence (GBV), it sexual, social, or economic violence perpetrated by and began to contemplate suicide.” provides comprehensive multi- their husbands at least once during the preceding She mustered the courage to try one sectoral services that include legal, 12 months, according to 2019 data. Following the final request for help and approached health, and psychological services the police station in Jenin to tell them as well as economic empowerment. onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, service providers that she did not want to stay at her have seen a dramatic increase in demand for their Ikhlas Soufan, the shelter’s family’s house. They referred her to director, believes that economic services, due to increased household stress and the Family Defence Society women’s empowerment is very important: financial pressures compounded by lockdown. shelter in Nablus. This was the first “We support these women so step to a new and better life for that they can become financially Amany. independent. They feel like they are “I was supported from day one at producing something, which also the shelter. I felt safe. In the three helps them on a psychological level. years that I have now spent at the UNFPA supports us in providing shelter, I have never wanted to leave. various types of training for these The social workers helped me keep a women, including drawing on glass, self-reflective diary and provided me ceramics, embroidery, and beauty with individual and group counseling care. They also support women who Courtesy of ne of the women behind these UNFPA grim figures is 30-year-old Amany (name is changed for privacy and protection), from a town in the governorate of Nablus in the West Bank. “I faced a difficult childhood in poverty and suffered from violence from many people around me throughout my life,” Oshe reflects. She suffered years of verbal, physical, and sexual abuse at the hands of her father, and little or no support from Achieving zero other family members. Her dream of completing high school and pursuing a gender-based violence – one university education remained just that – a dream. of UNFPA’s three global strategic Amany was 20 years old when she was first forced into marriage to a man objectives – she did not know. “I could not tolerate the marriage. He had psychological by providing issues and was abusing me. Three years later, I got a divorce and went back psychosocial, legal, and awareness- to my parents’ house. The abuse I faced at the hands of my father intensified.” raising services Much to her dismay, she was again forced into marriage at the age of 24, this for gender-based- violence survivors. 10 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 11 Women’s Empowerment

“The day I received my results was without their interference. “I felt like the best day of my life. They threw a a victim before, but I have become party for me at the shelter that was a new person, stronger and more attended also by police officers and resilient.” She tells girls and women officials from the Ministry of Social facing GBV: “Don’t be afraid to seek Development.” help when you need it. Do not stay Amany’s ambition did not stop silent and never give up.” there. With the support of the shelter Ikhlas makes clear that despite the workers, she began to study social tremendous work of many service work at Al-Quds Open University and providers, much more is required: today has just one semester left. “I “More national and international plan to do my master’s degree in efforts are needed to end GBV in psychology and a PhD afterwards,” Palestine. It is important to tackle she asserts. the root causes of this issue at the The shelter soon offered Amany a community level.” job as a social worker. She enjoys Despite the hard work of many supporting GBV survivors: “I was organizations and individuals, in their place at one time. I listen to Palestinian women who face UNFPA supports activities that aim to prevent and respond to gender-based violence, including multi- the women and support them. I am violence continue to lack proper sectoral services and economic empowerment activities to help women get back on their feet. very grateful for this opportunity. legal protection. The Draft Family This work helps me develop on a Protection Bill, pending for several personal level and gives me the years, is required to provide a wish to enroll in management or dedicated quarantine room and make strength to keep going.” She adds: framework for these services and to secretarial courses, or other fields of use of personal protective equipment “I belong to this shelter and will ensure that perpetrators face justice. their choice.” to keep staff and survivors safe. always belong here. I am proud to be With the onset of COVID, however, “Ikhlas saw that I was ambitious working here. It is truly a safe home. UNFPA is the United Nations sexual such shelters faced unprecedented about education and told me she The women here have become my and reproductive health agency, with challenges. Not only did more could help me to complete my real family.” a mission to deliver a world where women require support, but the school diploma. At the shelter, Amany’s relationship with her family every pregnancy is wanted, every shelter also struggled to ensure they bought me all the books and has also changed, and she now childbirth is safe, and every young infection prevention and initially the stationery that I needed and visits them on a weekly basis. They person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA was unable to quarantine new supported me with tutoring lessons respect her more, she says, and she supports a range of services for arrivals. With support from UNFPA, during the last months before the is able to make personal decisions women experiencing violence, the shelter was able to establish a exams,” says Amany. including this and several other shelters, as well as “safe spaces” where women can access support and advice. Achieving “zero gender-based violence and harmful practices” is one of UNFPA’s global goals, and the agency works closely with both national and international partners to prevent and respond to GBV.

Article photos are courtesy of UNFPA Palestine.

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rights from Nablus. Enas Dajani, a reproductive health expert from Bridging the Bethlehem, agreed, saying that although women enjoy rights in health and education, there are other rights that still need to be Gender Gap fulfilled, including having equal opportunities in life. “The social burdens shouldered by women are Palestinian Youth Leaders Call for Efforts much bigger than those shouldered to Bridge Gender Gap, Empower Women by men… women still have the stereotypes that wrongfully depict responsibilities of caring for children, women as incapable have made preparing food, and carrying out many of them afraid of assuming all other household chores,” she leadership positions. said, noting that this deprives them of having equal opportunities and Bissan Ouda, a content the right to make choices in life. writer from Gaza, said that “Women should be allowed to discrimination and marginalization choose what to study, which jobs are problems faced not only by older women but also by young males and females. Izz Aljabari Courtesy of ccording to young leaders from blamed this discrimination on the UN Women various Palestinian areas, there is Equality is a basic political system, which, he said, a great need for concerted efforts principle of human works to hamper the progress to support the empowerment of rights. of youth. Mustafa Alqut put the women and girls and bridge the blame also on political parties, widening gender gap in Palestine. In religious ideology, and the an online meeting convened by UN Women on February 15, 2021, members prevailing masculine mentality: of the Palestinian GenderA Innovation Agora affirmed the importance of coming to take, and who should be their “Women’s participation in together to work towards supporting the empowerment of women who “were partners in life.” Izz Aljabari, a trainer political life and their numbers marginalized for long” and to ensure that they be represented fairly in various in cultural and heritage fields in in leadership positions remain walks of life, most importantly in political and leadership positions. Such Hebron, affirmed the importance limited. In the municipal councils steps are presently paramount as the country gears up for general elections, of widening the scope of choices where they are represented, their said members of the group, which is a consultative forum that was set up offered to women in all walks of life. participation can be described in January 2021 by UN Women Palestine as part of a regional endeavor Samar Thawabteh, a radio as symbolic.” According to that aims to conduct regular dialogue and advocacy on gender issues. presenter from Ramallah, said that Alqut, political parties minimize The Palestine group includes 32 young female and male leaders who were because women shoulder more the chances of independent selected from various Palestinian areas based on their leadership roles and responsibilities and face more candidates, mainly youth and their contributions to the promotion of gender equality. hurdles than men, they need to exert women, in any elections. Tamara “Gender equality is a basic human rights principle; it is about justice and more efforts to achieve their goals, Altibi, a lawyer and trainer in the fairness in offering equal political, economic, social, and other rights to even when they have the same field of gender from Tulkarem, women and men,” affirmed Mustafa Alqut, a field researcher in children’s capabilities and qualifications as added that the civil service law their male counterparts. “We need impedes the progress of talented equality in various fields of life: Equal young people, particularly opportunities, rights, social justice, women. leadership positions. All these are Ahmad Yassin, who works at Set up by UN Women, Palestine Gender Innovation contained within the equality we are a cultural institute in Ramallah, Agora conducts regular dialogue on gender issues. demanding,” she said. According said that women carry part of the to Osama Naim, a law student at blame for the drop in leadership Al-Azhar University in Gaza, the roles, particularly when compared 14 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 15 Women’s Empowerment

to their active participation in the earlier years of the struggle against women and youth. Osama Naim called for breaking discriminatory the occupation in the 1970s and 1980s. “We blame our leadership, stereotypes by encouraging and highlighting women’s success stories masculinity, and society, but we overlook the fact that women themselves and enhancing their role in civil society organizations. He also called for are not doing enough in this regard,” he said. Aya Abu Mayyaleh, a boosting women’s representation in university student councils, which media professor at Palestine Polytechnic University in Hebron, voiced can prepare them for political and leadership roles later on in life. agreement but reminded us that even when women are qualified for “Meanwhile,” Aya Abu Mayyaleh added, “for women to succeed, they leadership roles, many still lack family support. This family support, need the support of other women in addition to that of men. Women mainly provided by fathers and husbands, is highly needed to enable should work on enhancing their roles and capabilities and should not talented, qualified women to succeed in assuming senior government and wait for others to support them. Educational resources are available political positions, according to Enas Dajani, who pointed to the existence online now. So women can work to empower themselves.” of traditional gender roles that impose burdens on women and girls.

Both young women and young men are being marginalized.

Participants in the meeting agreed that change could also be achieved through elections, particularly as the country is heading towards general polls this year. Bissan Ouda said that more efforts should be exerted to encourage young women and men not only to register to vote in the elections but also to run as candidates, suggesting that the Agora members pay visits to qualified candidates and Members of UN Women Palestine Gender Innovation Agora act as a consultative forum and that social media be utilized platform for regular dialogue on gender issues. to raise awareness in this regard. Enas Dajani said that there is a dire need to move towards a redistribution UN Women Special Representative in Palestine Maryse Guimond said of gender roles and start educating children from a young age on these that the country office supports such efforts by young leaders: “The issues. She pointed out that school curricula have to change and take skills, talents, commitments, and inspiration of young women and gender mainstreaming into consideration. Mustafa Alqut called for men represent critical drivers for accelerating progress on sustainable launching advocacy efforts that affirm the need to activate the role of development and gender equality in Palestine. They are key partners in the achievement of an equal future. Young Palestinian leaders, such as the Palestinian Agora members, have the potential to serve their country and people and should be given all possible support to contribute to Palestinian youth stress that there is a great need positive change in Palestine.” to find solutions.

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Some women begin their entrepreneurial journey with a clear BWF: Women's Path to idea of what they want to accomplish and only need support to acquire the skills necessary to produce and Economic Opportunities market their products, whereas others need more encouragement to help them realize that they are capable of generating an income and being successful in the pursuit of their dreams. Regardless of the starting point, through the development of their ideas and the growth of their businesses, these women are better Heba Hussein, from positioned to have their voices heard Gaza, is the owner Courtesy of and to increase their access to family of a sound studio Business alestinian women are shouldering and societal decision-making. This Women Forum a double burden as a result of not only helps this generation but that provides audio living in a patriarchal society, also creates a shift in the society as services for a variety which for decades has been under a whole, where women and girls will of promotions, stories, military occupation. This has have more of a voice in deciding their created a situation where these and books. During futures, particularly when it comes to this past year which women must not only assert their right to equality and nondiscrimination their education, career, and the choice as women within their communityP and households but must also remain has been shaped by to get married and have children. resilient against oppression as Palestinians. Despite these challenges, creative the coronavirus and Established in 2006 as a national women entrepreneurs can be found across many cities, as well as in rural global pandemic, Heba and marginalized areas. Their business ideas are diverse and include organic nonprofit association to strengthen agriculture, traditional food production, and handmade products, such as Palestinian businesswomen and was able to turn this traditional embroidery and pottery, as well as engagement in the banking sector, women entrepreneurs through economic nightmare IT, engineering, and other services. advocacy, networking, and service into an opportunity by provision, Business Women Forum expanding her business, (BWF) has supported more than and she has managed Ramallah, Atarah, Al-Qatrawan, BWF campaign against breast cancer. 6,800 women on their journey to a successful business, which has to sign contracts and resulted in the registration of 350 reach new markets in women’s businesses, the provision Tunis and Dubai. of 16,000 hours of training and coaching sessions, the organization of and participation in 55 local and international exhibitions, the provision out of poverty, as well as leave of access to finance through $652K abusive environments, to become as grants, and the facilitation of role models, women champions, $350K in loans. and leaders of social change. Targeting youth, fresh graduates, Furthermore, the women who BWF and women of all ages, BWF has works to support have not only helped women transform themselves. improved the livelihoods of their Through increased access to families, they have also transformed economic opportunities and with the disadvantaged communities as they support of the forum, some women advocate for women’s issues at all have even been empowered to rise levels.

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BWF applies a holistic business development approach in the support it provides, with interventions ranging “Even my kids looked from mentorship, which builds a at me differently after woman’s trust in her potential and I started selling my abilities, to expert technical advice products and went that fosters product development, on a trade mission to such as streamlining processes to increase the quality and quantity of Bologna. They never production. The forum’s demand- believed that I could be driven support focuses on capacity more than a mom.” building, skill development, one- Um Ahmad from the on-one coaching and mentoring, northern Jordan Valley on-the-job training, the provision of seed funding, and more. Aspiring women entrepreneurs receive training Ramallah, 2021, Jifna, Arine Rinawi Academy, “Work-Life Balance through Yoga” in how to access local, national, and training sessions for women’s MSMEs. international networking platforms and markets, and BWF enhances access to export chains. Emerging Aiming to encourage young in national teams for drafting relevant Khitam, from the village businesswomen and women entrepreneurs to join either the policies and a member of the entrepreneurs learn how to create business sphere or the labor market, Palestinian coordination council for of Beita, started her their brand and market it online, as BWF offers tailored programs that the private sector. BWF counts on its business seven years well as how to access and manage include an internship program, partners, beneficiaries, and society ago as an entrepreneur, financial resources. BWF’s work Promoting Success Through at large. never expecting that she relies on the cumulative experience Promoting Role Models, Wassalny, BWF aims to institutionalize its newest would become a trainer gained during 14 years of supporting OSS, Life, Amal, and OBADER. The addition, the Business Development and coach for other women-owned businesses, forum engages in advocacy and the Center, its current One-Stop Shop, to women entrepreneurs, women’s promotion of women-related issues, young soapmaking become the new, innovative platform businesses. She owns cooperatives, and unemployed female as it has become the voice of women titled “Innovative Women’s Economic graduates in various sectors and from in the business and entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Empowerment and runs a shop in numerous backgrounds. sector. BWF is also an active member Ramallah that sells the well-known Biladi soap.

Hub.” This sustainable, innovative business model aims to serve BWF beneficiaries, members and nonmembers, and start-ups, providing services to members and beneficiaries of all stakeholders working within the ecosystem of women’s economic empowerment.

Ramallah, 2020, BWF assembly meeting and board elections. 20 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 21 Women’s Empowerment

one-third. This allowed me to register at the local chamber of commerce Bayan Ikteit and enabled me to participate in two marketing exhibitions where I displayed my fresh and processed “We Have Your Back!” products.” Women entrepreneurs in the West Bank and Gaza Strip work in a disadvantaging environment where women’s ownership of land and other means of production is very limited. A recent study shows that Luckily, Bayan has a supportive A success story among those who own agricultural father, and a family that can help from the Women land, 76.3 percent of the reported throughout the production process. and Youth t the age of 24, Bayan Ikteit, the Entrepreneurs owner of Amal Ecological Farm, Leading Change - may be one of the youngest OBADER Project members of the Business Women Forum (BWF) and OBADER project. A Bayan, who started her journey as a young activist in her village of Raboud to the south of Hebron, was always keen to follow her dream. “Farming is my happiness,” she says. Bayan’s business idea started in 2018 when she took a course in organic farming and was encouraged to start a home garden that produced healthy vegetables on 200 square meters next to her house, yielding more than the family needed. This enabled Bayan to sell some of her products. Her home garden became one of the few successful ecological farms in the southern West Bank. The early lockdown in April and May 2020 due to COVID-19 was a nightmare for others but a great opportunity for Bayan. She became a reliable source of vegetables in her community, which encouraged her to develop and grow her idea into a larger business and to include a nursery to produce plots of land are fully owned by This is not the case for many women seedlings, organic compost, and men, 7.3 percent are owned jointly entrepreneurs who struggle with home-processed food. by women and their husbands, 15 social acceptance, the stigma of Bayan was able to overcome percent are owned by the wife alone, some types of work, and a lack numerous challenges and major and 1.3 percent of the land is owned of access to financial and other obstacles with the support of by other female family members. resources. her family. “My father trusted The gender gap is more pronounced But to be truly independent, Bayan me,” she says. He agreed to when it comes to more valuable was in need of technical assistance allow me to do my project on mechanized farm equipment (e.g., and the financial means to build a this land using a ‘plantation tractors, irrigation system), where greenhouse and an irrigation water arrangement’ that he insisted 93.2 percent is owned solely by well. She therefore joined Business be registered with a lawyer. It men, 3.4 percent shared between Women Forum’s (BWF) capacity states that I own two-thirds of husband and wife, and 3.4 percent building program, offered through the profit while my family takes owned solely by women.* 22 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 23 the OBADER project. Here, Bayan While Bayan still does not own her received advanced training on land and relies on family members to business planning, digital marketing, help carry out extra chores, her story Israa Ashami and risk management. In addition, shows how women’s empowerment she received technical support and a and the shared control of resources grant that allowed her to prepare 700 and decision-making are the first A Mother’s Legacy Continued square meters of land for ecological steps to any transformation and farming. Through this support, success. Bayan has managed to increase her “Women and Youth Entrepreneurs production capacity. Leading Change – OBADER” is “The new land will support my family implemented by CARE International as well,” she says, “by creating a (WBG) in close cooperation with the Ministry of National A success story y mother is my idol, and she is now Economy and funded from the Women my partner. She taught me everything by the Government of and Youth I know,” says Israa Ashami, a young Canada for four years Entrepreneurs fashion designer from Beit ‘Ur al-Tahta Leading Change - near Ramallah in the West Bank. (2018–2022) in OBADER Project There is the assumption that women- partnership with the led entrepreneurship in Palestine is Business Women a new phenomenon. In fact, Nihaya Forum and the Abdeljaber, Israa’s mother,M is a living example of how women’s creativity Center for Continuing and ability to sustain a business have been possible Education at Birzeit even in difficult times. “My mother used to mend University in the West clothes for a small fee. She worked alone, was not Bank, and Save Youth supported by any cooperative or community- Future Society and based organization,” Israa recalls. Her mother’s new business opportunity through Small Enterprises Center in the Gaza income sustained the family when her husband working with my brother who Strip. OBADER aims to enhance could not find a job due to the political situation graduated from university and is still the economic empowerment and in the West Bank. Her chosen occupation did unemployed.” While this pattern of increase the prosperity of low- not challenge any social norms. Neither her a family-run business is not unusual income women and/or female and husband nor the community objected to a job and part of the enabling ecosystem, male youth as entrepreneurs and done from home. young women like her will eventually employees in the central (including Women’s labor market participation has need independent financing sources Nablus) and southern West Bank not changed much in the last 20 years and proper financial management and Gaza trip (WBG). in West Bank and Gaza. It was at systems to avoid the risk of a male 12.7 percent in the year 2000, and member of the family taking over the reached 18 percent in the year business and to ensure that family 2019.* Existing social norms, support is properly paid. legal framework, taxation policies, and needed support systems *Palestinian Working Women Society for Development, 2020, In-depth Assessment of Women’s have not shifted much in favor Access to and Ownership of Land and Productive Resources in the occupied Palestinian territory. of women’s entrepreneurship. Israa’s motivation to start her business, however, was totally different from that of her mother. “I wanted to prove myself and have a purpose in life,” she This article has been made possible explains. “My husband was through support received from the Government of Canada. opposed to any work outside

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was always opposed to her work; learned the importance of using all especially because they lived in social media and digital marketing his parents’ house. Things did not in creating networks. I am getting change until Israa used her savings support from OBADER-BWF on to move her family into a separate designing my logo and brand, which house. is a dream come true.” Israa realizes A creative young woman, Israa that there are many things she needs managed to use all the skills she to learn to transform her passion into learned from her mother to create a successful business and to market modern, colorful designs that met her products in “the city,” where the customers’ needs. Israa was marketing opportunities are abundant. trained to delegate work, and today, While the legal and policy framework “It’s a great feeling of she employs other women in her has not changed much for the accomplishment to enjoy my family’s village to do the embroidery for her, two generations of women, the support and encouragement,” creating employment opportunities fact that there is more support Israa says, beaming. “They finally for other women in her community. for entrepreneurs provided by recognized my abilities and are She has also managed to find ways organizations such as the Business willing to partner with me on any to economize by buying supplies in Women Forum makes a difference. project idea -Israa Al Shami.” bulk and is paying reasonable wages Israa was elected vice president Business incubators and NGOs that to the women who work with her. of the Textiles Trade Union, which support women entrepreneurs have While her mother never pursued was established one year ago to the responsibility to create a more additional education or training raise awareness on the existing enabling environment for women opportunities, Israa feels that she labour laws especially minimum such as Israa. Younger women are needs to learn more. She recently wage requirements. This was an highly motivated to succeed and joined Business Women Forum achievement because women are survive in a complex environment (BWF) through the OBADER project rarely represented in decision-making where resources are limited, and where she learns business skills – positions in trade unions. She also unemployment rates are high. An especially digital marketing – that signed on to speak at Ramallah TEDx enabling environment where families the house. He wanted to provide have taken her work to another level. and share her experience to inspire and communities support women everything for me and insisted that I “I am not professional in using social other women. In a short time, she has entrepreneurs and were women’s did not need to work.” media to promote my business,” been able to create new connections organizations, business development she says. “Just recently though, I’ve and strengthen her network and centers and incubators assume their While Israa’s mother never thought personal capacities. This has led responsibilities, would go a long way of starting a formal business, this Israa to connect with TV presenters in paving the ground for these young was Israa’s primary goal. Her fashion who agreed to promote her products women. design and traditional embroidery during their shows that are watched business was initially established in by thousands by wearing her designs. a house she shared with her in-laws. Soon, after her business started to flourish, her in-laws refused to host customers, which also fueled her *“H.E. Dr. Awad Highlights the Situation of the Palestinian Women on the Eve of International Women’s Day, 08.03.2020,” Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, available at http://www.pcbs. husband’s opposition to her business. gov.ps/site/512/default.aspx?lang=en&ItemID=3679. Israa needed to find a shop outside the house – in a place close to home because she had to juggle between her business and her household chores. Her father did not object to her mother working because she This article has been made possible provided the family’s only source of through support received from the income. Israa’s husband, however, Government of Canada. 26 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 27 Women’s Empowerment

firm Arab World for Research and Development (AWRAD) in May 2020, 68 percent of women reported a significant increase in household Unpaid Care Work ii duties, compared to 44 percent of men. Caring for children and managing households A Gateway for Gender Equality is handled mainly by women and girls in the State of Palestine – deepening gender equality gaps and negatively affecting the livelihoods and well-being of women and girls.iii Women are put in the impossible position of choosing between caring for their children, attending to household chores, and working from home or for their own businesses. With the ince the beginning of the COVID-19 extended disruptions to life as we By Tala El-Yousef/ pandemic, countless reports have knew it and no benefits to support Courtesy of the been published on the increasing women, especially those working UNDP Palestinian burden of unpaid care work that in the informal sector, the risks of Accelerator Lab this crisis places on women women losing their jobs and of a globally. Governments around the reversal of the progress made world have taken different approaches in their response to the pandemic and so far to reach gender equality consequent socioeconomicS effects. The common denominator, however, are imminent. If the burden of seems to be that progress made towards gender equality pre-pandemic is unpaid care work continues at serious risk, as evidenced by the rise in cases of gender-based violence. to fall disproportionately on Another worrisome indication that gender equality is in jeopardy is the fact women, this will influence that women’s jobs are 1.8 times more vulnerable to this crisis than men’s, the economy with lower as women make up 39 percent of global employment but accounted for 54 GDP growth and take a percent of the job losses between May and September 2020.i The pandemic huge toll on women’s has exposed structural weaknesses in reducing the gender equality gap. But well-being. Working this situation presents opportunities for designing interventions to ensure a toward better recognition strong comeback toward achieving gender equality in the coming years. of unpaid care work UNDP/PAPP, through its Accelerator Lab, is exploring a specific angle that is might seem subtle but connected to gender equality and, if appropriately addressed, could help end could positively affect © UNDP/PAPP. all forms of violence against women: unpaid care work. the larger goal of attaining Unpaid care work relates to the provision of direct or indirect care without gender equality by creating better conditions for those who tend to these remuneration, carried out within the household. It includes, but is not limited tasks. to, caring for children, older people, and sick individuals, washing, cooking, Tackling unpaid care work requires a broad approach of looking at policies, shopping, cleaning, and helping other families with their chores. These household dynamics, cultural influences of fixed gender roles, and the activities are considered work because theoretically, one specific needs of women, men, boys, and girls. Working toward easing the could pay a third person to perform them. burden of unpaid care work will require interventions at various levels (policy, Globally and in the State of Palestine, the burden of unpaid community, household, and individual) by an array of actors in sectors that care work has been exacerbated by the pandemic, as are not confined to working on gender equality. Other areas that ought to be schools have closed and working from home has become a “new normal.” Globally, women perform 76 percent of the total hours of unpaid care work, which is more than three times as much as men. In the State of Palestine, it What is unpaid care work anyway, and is almost eight times more than men, as indicated by a why does it matter? survey administered by the Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics. According to a survey conducted by the research

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care work and assess whether any changes in intrahousehold dynamics have taken place regarding men’s share of unpaid care work. We are interested in learning about the kind of support women have received from their communities and what they would have liked to see as a response from the government, development actors, and civil society organizations. Once we receive the findings, several experimental initiatives will be rolled out among communities. We have some preconceived ideas of potential interventions based on preliminary reports and anecdotes, but we will validate our thinking by following up with the survey respondents through the holding of a focus group discussion to which we are planning to invite spouses. We know already that there is no one-size-fits-all intervention, as individual household dynamics and societal pressures influence the levels of unpaid care work. In some communities, the answer might be that minor infrastructure support is © UNDP/PAPP - Mohammad Za’noon. needed (an additional laptop/iPad to allow for online learning and working from home), whereas in other tackled include closing the gender scale-up of successful solutions by gender roles, even among women. communities, the solution might be gap in digital inclusion, gaining communities, the government, and The silver lining we noted after this to create a network where members significance with the increase other development actors. first conversation was that there is take turns in attending to childcare. in remote work, and promoting a hunger to change things on the The first step for us consisted in Before rolling out any interventions, positive attitudinal biases through ground. Some of the suggestions convening with representatives we want to hear from women and campaigns. that emerged from the conversations from various ministries, such as their partners on what they think with ministry representatives While strategic work to address the ministries of labor, education, would be useful to test out. Stay focused on how employers can offer entrenched gender norms is under and national economy, to better tuned for our next steps! way, especially on the policy level, understand the magnitude of unpaid flexible working hours, after-school the magnitude of the problem care work and what is being done at support, and childcare at the office. requires immediate action to the national level. We were surprised Another area of interest is how the reduce the burden of unpaid care to hear from the heads of gender role of media can be strengthened in promoting positive masculinity. What can we do work. To this end, UNDP/PAPP’s units that they themselves are to improve the Accelerator Lab is partnering with struggling with an incredible amount These preliminary findings led UN Women to test community-based of unpaid care work while little is us to design a flash survey that recognition of unpaid interventions that could alleviate part being offered by employers or their will be administered to women care work? of the burden of unpaid care work families. The problem is entrenched to understand how the pandemic and to advocate for the uptake and in deep-seated cultural beliefs of has affected the levels of unpaid 30 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 31 Women’s Empowerment

© UNDP/PAPP.

Tala El-Yousef is the head of experimentation at the Palestinian Accelerator Lab that is embedded within UNDP/PAPP. It is part of the Accelerator Labs Network, whose founding investors are the Federal Republic of Germany; the State of Qatar, represented by the Qatar Fund for Development; and UNDP’s core partners.

Artwork by Randa Maddah.

i Deepa Mahajan, Olivia White, Anu Madgavkar, et al., “Don’t let the pandemic set back gender equality,” Harvard Business Review, September 16, 2020, available at https://hbr.org/2020/09/ dont-let-the-pandemic-set-back-gender-equality#:~:text=Our%20analysis%20shows%20that%20 women%27s,pandemic%2C%20falls%20disproportionately%20on%20women. ii “Coping with COVID-19 Pandemic: Impacts and Coping Strategies among Palestinians,” Arab World for Research and Development, May 18, 2020, available at http://www.awrad.org/print. php?id=9b5ed5y10182357Y9b5ed5. iii COVID-19: Gendered Impacts of the Pandemic in Palestine and Implications for Policy and Programming, UN Women, April 2020, available at https://www2.unwomen.org/-/media/field%20 office%20palestine/attachments/publications/2020/4/covid%2019%20-%20un%20women%20 rapid%20gender%20analysis.pdf?la=en&vs=4626.

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When the COVID-19 crisis broke out last year, we saw right away From Crisis that it created a parallel crisis of violence for Palestinian women. We saw an increase of 40 percent in cases of gender-based violence to Possibility reported to Kayan and other Arab Palestinian feminist organizations Grassroots Palestinian Women’s in Israel. Pandemic lockdowns severely limited women’s abilities to Leadership in COVID-19 escape domestic violence by cutting off access to friends or family in other households. Shelters filled up rapidly and faced severe budget and capacity limitations. Although have always faced gender-based we had hoped that these conditions violence of all kinds and across all would wake up the people in power, levels. COVID-19 only enhanced and nobody – not the government, not highlighted the problem. Palestinian the police, not the social welfare women living in Israel navigate a he COVID-19 pandemic has clearly shown the reality of gender-based violence in a way that we cannot ignore. We at Kayan have seen By Rafah Anabtawy that women have been overlooked on all levels, which exacerbates gender-based violence caused by deeply rooted sexism and patriarchy. COVID-19 has highlightedT the weakness of both societies and governments in the fight against gender-based violence, as well as the precarious nature of our achievements so far in the struggle for gender equality. Even in crisis, however, there is still hope. Throughout this past year, we have witnessed the true strength and power of grassroots Palestinian women. Kayan’s grassroots movement centers on 100 women in 12 local women’s groups in Arab Palestinian localities across Israel who have undergone an extensive empowerment process that positions them to be transformative community activists. They are led by Jusur Forum that consists of 25 Palestinian women Jusur forum. activist leaders who represent the local groups. Jusur Forum and the local groups organized their communities to lead an emergency response that offices – responded seriously to the complex sociopolitical environment ensured that no woman was left behind. situation. Instead, Israeli formal state and encounter overlapping institutions, such as the Ministry oppressions, as a marginalized A demonstration against gender-based violence. of Welfare and the police, which minority in a discriminatory Jewish are responsible by law to fight state and as women in a patriarchal gender-based violence, were even society. Society condones violence more reluctant than usual to take to control women, and the Israeli women’s safety seriously while they state demonstrates a systematic shortsightedly focused only on the lack of responsibility toward Arab COVID-19 response. Palestinian citizens. When COVID-19 Why? The reality of women’s lives broke out, women were more is something that Kayan has always likely to be in economically and known and fought against: Women socially vulnerable groups, such

34 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 35 Women’s Empowerment as single mothers and domestic would otherwise not have had workers. Stereotypical gender access to information or resources roles meant women faced pressure – society’s so-called “invisible to do additional care work with women,” including single mothers, fewer resources, as entire families domestic workers, elderly women, stayed home and lost income. As and women with disabilities. the traditional caretakers, women In our opinion, the key to our also bore most of the emotional successful response was the fact and psychological burden of the that grassroots women are deeply crisis. Economic stress contributed rooted in their communities and to increased levels of domestic are able to perceive nuances that violence and emotional abuse, organizations cannot discern from while many women could not leave the outside. Most organizational for varying reasons, including research done on the topic of lack of shelter openings, financial women in COVID-19 neglected to resources, and familial and social include women’s own points of view support, as well as societal norms on the crisis, did not acknowledge that silence women. the power of community-based Although the situation was dire, we social activism, and failed to saw the power of the grassroots. highlight women’s personal voices Palestinian women activists and and stories. In contrast, grassroots leaders in their communities have women’s activism ensured that stepped up to the challenge and vulnerable groups did not remain shown remarkable leadership and invisible and that women would initiative. The crisis was a turning not suffer alone in silence. Though point for grassroots women, who this year of crisis has been difficult, already had a strong, empowered, grassroots Palestinian women’s and deeply connected network in leadership inspires us to hope for place. It was the right moment to a more just and equal future for all invest more in supporting them women. to quickly organize themselves to perform community needs Rafah Anabtawy is the general assessments, build and expand director of Kayan Feminist partnerships, and lead a gender- Organization, which was sensitive emergency response. established in Haifa in 1998 by Especially in a time of crisis, making Palestinian feminist activists to a difference in women’s lives could advance the status of Palestinian not happen without a bottom-up women in Israel and end gender- approach, as it is clear that no based discrimination. For 20 years, one else is able to have a holistic, one of Kayan’s key projects has gender-sensitive point of view. They been addressing and preventing positioned themselves as trusted gender-based violence through resources, raising awareness about a grassroots, community-based the parallel crisis of violence and approach. For more information, Artwork by May Murad. ensuring that women were informed please visit http://kayanfeminist. and encouraged to take advantage of org. available resources, such as Kayan’s support hotline. Crucially, grassroots connections reached women who

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gender-based violence (GBV) in the v world. In the oPt, one in three women Can promoting women and experiences online GBV,vi including Whose Digital Space? girls’ digital literacy and online harassment, violent threats, and hate speech which has led to skills contribute to closing self-censorship, deterring their digital the digital gender gap and Ours! rights. promote the rights of women Youth, specifically young women, are and girls in the oPt? Amplifying Young Women’s Voices in an at the heart of leading the change! A short video about Oxfam’s Increasingly Digital Future Oxfam and partners are working closely with young women to claim program that empowers safer and inclusive digital rights by youth, and particularly promoting their capacity on ICT, online young women, to voice their GBV mitigation strategies, digital (socially critical) opinion security, activism, laws, and rights. on social media (in Arabic Young women are collectively working to challenge misinformation and with English subtitles) disinformation, the restrictive social is available at https:// was called for interrogation by the and legal environment, and GBV in fb.watch/3DhsavIK-a/. de-facto Authority on the basis of my online spaces. tweets on social media. I was under “I have always dreamed of bringing interrogation for hours, my mobile was about change! And now, I am Courtesy of Oxfam confiscated for 45 days, and I was confident not only in expressing obliged to sign a pledge that prevents myself in online spaces but also in law, and its impact on young women.” me from posting what is defined as critical tweets.” taking a leading role in conducting Riham, a member of a youth group Riham, a member of a youth group supportedI by Oxfam and partners in Gaza dialogue at local and national levels, supported by Oxfam and partners in Technology provides a crucial platform with opportunities for women and addressing online GBV, cybercrime Gaza girls to unite, access information, claim social and economic rights, challenge stereotypes, and realize their potential. The radical growth in the field of technology and digitalization in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) can contribute to more inclusive development. To seize such opportunities, it is vital that no one, especially women and girls, be inhibited in claiming their digital rights. The unprecedented global growth in connectivity in the digital space has not been enjoyed equally by everyone. Youth, specifically young women, face systematic exclusion when it comes to their digital rights. The policies and practices applied by the government of Israel continue to suppress Palestinian freedom of expression in digital spaces in favor of the occupying country’s national security.i The Palestinian Authority (PA) and the de facto government of Hamas use Cyber-Crime Law and the Penal Code respectively to impede digital activism. Data shows that 42 percent of Palestinian youth have been interrogated for their political participation online either by the Israeli authorities, the PA, or Hamas.ii The digital gender divide is exacerbated by factors such as access and the capacity to utilize the digital space, social norms, and conservatism. Forty-five percent of the households headed by women in the oPt do not have access to the internet, compared to 17 percent of households headed by men.iii Likewise, 77.5 percent of women (as compared to 65.0 percent of men) believe that they iv Youth activists and the Palestinian minister of Telecommunication and information technology after have no understanding of digital security. Even more concerning is the fact a round table discussion that aimed to enhance digital-space security in the oPt. Photo by Ahmed that the oPt is currently witnessing one of the fastest-growing rates of online Badarneh, Taghyeer/2020.

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Recently, young women lobbied to create an infrastructure for safe the private sector internet service “alternative” spaces for young women providers to amend their digital where they can raise their voices security policies. They were safeguarded from online abuse, successful in influencing four internet allowing them to claim their rights. service providers in Gaza and the West The time has come to ensure that Bank to offer security services free of the digital transformation gives equal charge! opportunities for women and girls and By using an open-source approach, creates a more inclusive digital world. Oxfam has supported and invested in existing and new digital platforms

Afnan, a youth groupa member, conducts an awareness-raising session about digital rights and security for school students in Hebron. Photo by Hisham al-Lahham, TAM/2019.

i “Hashtag Palestine 2019, an overview of digital rights issues of Palestinians,” 7amle Arab Center for Social Media Advancement, p. 11. ii “Silenced Networks: The Chilling Effect among Palestinian Youth in Social Media,” 2019, 7amle Ghosts of Girlhood by Suhad Khatib. Arab Center for Social Media Advancement, p. 20. iii Data from the household survey on information and communication technology, 2019, Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, available at http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/site/512/default. aspx?lang=en&ItemID=3738. iv “Gender-Based Electronic Violence in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip,” TAM–Women Media and Development, June 2019, p. 34. v 7amle Arab Center for Social Media Advancement, “Online GBV Means Losing Out on Women’s Participation,” GenderIT.org, June 11, 2018, available at https://www.genderit.org/feminist-talk/ online-gbv-palestine-means-losing-out-womens-participation. vi “Silenced Networks,” p. 29.

40 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 41 Women’s Empowerment

Women’s Center for Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC) paid attention The Intersectional to this situation and developed an emergency response plan and mitigating measures to prevent its impact on Palestine women in general Impact of COVID-19 and vulnerable ones in particular. It was clear that confinement in the home with all family members are working from home, connecting in one place would create social, our free helpline with their mobile on Palestinian Women economic, and psychological pressure phones. This ensured around-the- on disadvantaged family members, clock provision of phone consultations especially women and girls. Frustration for women on issues related to social among male members due to their and psychological pressures from inability to perform their traditional which they might suffer, gender-based roles based on patriarchal norms, violence, and means of attaining their

ealth, social, political, and economic emergencies have different impacts on men and women due to the prevailing social and cultural norms By Amal Abusrour and structural inequalities. Social injustice and inequality leave women highly vulnerable and disproportionately affected by shocks. It is therefore important to understand Hthe impact of any crisis and emergency situation on different social groups to determine a relevant response while ensuring gender equality and tackling stereotypes regarding gender needs and gender roles. Following the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, the measures taken in Palestine to contain spread of the virus and the repeated lockdowns imposed since March 2020 have increased the burden of unpaid care work on women and girls. Women and girls have taken on the responsibility to care for Photo courtesy of the Institute for Palestine Studies. children, the elderly, and family members who suffer from disease and disability. This situation has furthermore been combined with taking care of those who have acting as provider and protectors, rights. Mainstream and social media been in quarantine or who have contracted the virus. Women have to bear the was expected to be diverted towards were also among the options for brunt of limited access to services, especially psychosocial support and protection disadvantaged family members. women to attain information not only from violence. They have to deal with social burdens and with men intruding This would be reflected in various about the pandemic but also about into their private sphere, which has long been the only space over which women forms of violence, especially physical available resources and services. have power and control. Sadly, the public sphere has not been any better for and psychological violence and Thus, dissemination of simple women. Inequalities and the exclusion of women from decision-making processes the deprivation of basic rights. The messages with contact information has increased, and the response plans developed to overcome the impact of lockdown, the shutdown of various supported women to better understand emergency measures have not reflected the needs and priorities of women. institutions, and movement restrictions how to protect and claim their rights, The impact of COVID-19 has affected gender equality globally, and Palestine is exacerbated women’s vulnerability; despite their inability to physically no exception. The declaration of a state of emergency and the measures taken thus some mitigating measures were access services. WCLAC data show to prevent the spread of the virus have deepened inequalities within Palestinian put in place to prevent and respond to that the number of phone calls to our society, exacerbated sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and normalized this situation. free helpline from women seeking women’s confinement within the private sphere. This situation has threatened the WCLAC’s immediate response was consultation almost doubled during limited social, political, and economic gains that Palestinian women have made to continue to provide social and legal 2020, with 711 phone consultations. over the last three decades. counselling while our social workers Analysis of the data shows that 35

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committees amounts to 16.6 percent, the impact of Israeli violations of 8.3 percent in the COVID-19 security international human rights law and committee and 60.8 percent in international humanitarian law, COVID-19 local committees across contributing to a report submitted to various geographical localities.iv UN Special Rapporteurs, calling on In conflict and post-conflict countries them to address Israel’s obligation such as Palestine, women are hit as an occupying power to ensure the hard by the impact of emergencies health safety of Palestinian civilians that cause limited access to health during the pandemic. services and information and the The multi-faceted intersectional impact loss of their means of living while of COVID-19 on Palestinian women increasing SGBV, in addition to Israeli requires that any response plan take occupation-caused violations of their into account the social, cultural, human rights and of international economic, legislative, and political humanitarian law. Fundamental factors. These plans should not only percent of the consultations centered Palestinian government to abide by the rights were brutally violated by Israeli respond to women’s needs as a result on psychological violence, 30 percent international conventions and treaties occupation forces that made use of of the COVID reality but also empower on the deprivation of economic and to which the State of Palestine acceded the lockdown, which directly affected them and protect their previous social rights, and 19 percent on legal and to fulfil its responsibility towards Palestinian women in the West Bank, political gains. Palestinian women have rights, while the rest related to physical adopting the Family Protection Bill. including East Jerusalem and the Gaza always been at the forefront during Strip. We took note of this situation times of social and political shocks. and sexual violence in addition to life Palestinian women were also excluded threats. through addressing different UN Thus, any immediate response to from the decision-making process, Special Rapporteurs about the impact emergencies such as the COVID-19 Discriminatory laws against women although they are the first ones to of COVID-19 on Palestinian women pandemic requires the engagement of constitute a major obstacle towards suffer from the social and economic prisoners in Israeli prisons. One letter women at various levels, not only to gender equality in Palestine. During the consequences of the pandemic. A in particular called for the immediate introduce the gender component to the ii state of emergency and in response to rapid gender analysis, conducted release of women and children response plans but also to ensure that the above-mentioned facts, the Family by UN Women, revealed that women from Israeli prisons and detention they effectively participate in decision- Protection Law was needed more than represent 60 percent of the workers centers. Israel’s military measures making and decision-taking processes. ever. WCLAC immediately responded in the care sector in Palestine and 70 intensified through night raids, house by joining efforts with women’s percent of frontline health workers, demolitions, and the imposition of Amal Abusrour is the director of and human rights organizations that which makes them more exposed facts on the ground to implement its called for the enactment of the Family to the virus. Men, however, have programs at Women’s Centre for de facto “annexation plan.” WCLAC Legal Aid and Counselling (WCLAC). Protection Bill. WCLAC in particular enjoyed high levels of political and field workers documented women’s emphasized the state’s responsibility community engagement in the fight testimonies on the impact that Israel’s to issue relevant laws with due against the pandemic. For example, culture of acting with impunity had diligence towards the most vulnerable around 52 percent of men said that on their lives. Women described groups through the prevention of they volunteered in community work, GBV, investigation, prosecution of compared to 24 percent of women.iii perpetrators, and compensation of This rendered women’s voices victims, as laid out in the Convention unheard and their role unvalued in on the Elimination of All Forms of the decision-making process to Violence Against Women (CEDAW) prevent transmission of the pandemic. i “Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic and the Istanbul Convention 2010.i Currently, women’s equitable violence,” Council of Europe Treaty Series No. 210, 2010, available at https://rm.coe.int/168008482e. ii UN Women, “COVID-19: Gendered Impacts of the Pandemic in Palestine and Implications for Policy and Through this research, WCLAC participation in decision-making on Programming Findings of a Rapid Gender Analysis of COVID-19 in Palestine April 2020.” not only emphasized the state’s national responses to the COVID-19 iii United Nations, COVID-19 Risks Creating and Exacerbating Women’s Vulnerabilities and Gender responsibility towards women but crisis is a critical gap and concern. Inequalities in Palestine, Warns UN Women – Press Release, May 6, 2020, available at https://www. also influenced different women’s In Palestine, for example, according un.org/unispal/document/covid-19-risks-creating-and-exacerbating-womens-vulnerabilities-and-gender- inequalities-in-palestine-warns-un-women-press-release/. and human rights organizations and to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, iv networks to exert pressure on the women’s representation in COVID-19 The Palestinian Ministry of Women’s Affairs (reported verbally/anecdotally). 44 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 45 Women’s Empowerment Why Gender Matters in Humanitarian

“We live in an Action in Gaza emergency state for the four months of winter. The cold and polluted water goes into our home. All this cleaning up and other tasks are the cause of he Gaza Strip remains in a protracted Face your fears. chronic pain in my humanitarian crisis due to an Israeli knees.” blockade, successive rounds of Mrs. A. D., a Gaza resident conflict, and the ongoing internal impact of the blockade have taken Palestinian divide. A deteriorating By Heba Zayyan their toll on all Gazans, they have humanitarian situation, high resulted in increased levels of gender- unemployment, food insecurity, electricity blackouts, and sanitation disasters have based and domestic violence whose increased poverty and overwhelmedT social and humanitarian services. Seventy-one usual victims are women and girls. standards. Dealing with the aftermath percent of Gaza’s 2.1 million residents are thought to be in need. Only one-tenth School dropouts and early and forced of flooding or sewage leaks in a house of Gazan households have direct access to safe drinking water and over half live marriages are also consequences of is no easy task. below the poverty line. Roughly half socioeconomic crises that impact of Palestinians in Gaza are women Having access to clean drinking girls more than boys. Through six and girls who are differently and water, sanitation, and hygiene Challenge yourself. case studies conducted in Gaza, UN disproportionately affected by this (known as WASH) is paramount Women has recently illustrated the dire humanitarian situation. Yet, the to alleviate people’s hardships and necessity of mainstreaming gender in relationship between humanitarian limit disease and epidemics in the understanding of the humanitarian needs and gender inequality is yet humanitarian situations. Access to situation and in the response to the to be fully understood by many proper sanitation as well as related distinct circumstances and needs of humanitarian policymakers and knowledge and practices are directly women, men, boys, and girls. practitioners. influenced by gender relations and Gaza’s recurrent winter floods and roles. Responsibilities to ensure Women and girls experience conflict nonfunctional sewage systems, for adequate water, hygiene, and sanitation and crises differently because they example, have exposed an already standards in Gaza, like elsewhere, are impacted by gender norms and vulnerable population to waterborne are typically undertaken by women preexisting inequalities that make them diseases, property losses, disruption since they are the ones responsible for more vulnerable and limit their coping in access to livelihoods and services, meeting the family’s basic needs inside abilities. While the dire humanitarian and displacement. While on the face the house. Having clean and adequate situation and accumulative harmful of it, floods affect entire families and water close to the home and better communities, they are much harsher sanitation systems can dramatically on women precisely because of their reduce women’s workloads and free up Graffiti on the walls of Gaza done as part of a gender role as the guardians of the time for other activities, including paid documentary about gender-based violence. Artist: Salman Al Nawati /UN Women. house and guarantors of its hygiene employment. This can also reduce the 46 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 47 Women’s Empowerment risk of girls dropping out of school to “I tried to tell my family many times. help their mothers at home. A risk that I finally told my mother, because boys rarely face. I knew she wouldn’t disgrace her Ensuring food security is another field daughter….I feel so much indignation of humanitarian action that can benefit towards society….When my school from a strengthened focus on gender. principal found out about my case, she For example, women’s essential, suspended me and shamed me,” said and often unpaid, contribution to the a high school female student. agricultural sector is often overlooked Education is a key sector of in the humanitarian response to the humanitarian action in Gaza. The main Strip’s chronic food insecurity. Gazan challenges for schoolchildren and female farmers continue to face youth in the Strip include lack of access gendered barriers to land ownership to quality schooling and safe, child- and agricultural livelihoods. friendly learning environments. This Drug addiction is another issue where has led many students and parents to gender relations and stereotypes give up on education, particularly in the need to be adequately understood. access-restricted area in Gaza. Many The perpetually deteriorating boys leave school to work and help the socioeconomic conditions in Gaza Dream like Rafiqa. family, while many girls drop out to help The ladder to success is waiting for you to take the first step. have not only increased rates of trauma their mothers with household chores. and psychosocial problems, but when Some parents might opt to marry them combined with a defunct health care off at a young age to save expenses monitoring, more adequate and and/or worry less about their safety and system and systemic restrictions on “Most people around comprehensive integration of gender harassment on their way to school. can go a long way in alleviating movement, especially for women, they me think that have aggravated the spread of drug Providing effective health services the hardships of all those living in abuse. Female drug addicts are more education has no value to affected people must be gender- a protracted humanitarian crisis, likely to experience gender-based and for a girl; regardless responsive. For example, timely access including women and girls. This can of the education she to information on cancer-related only be achieved by recognizing attains, she will end services and diagnosis can save and making good use of the roles that women play as responders to up in the kitchen; so women’s lives. But because of the Build your future. stigma that is sometimes associated humanitarian needs. Indeed, women we see no point in with breast cancer, many women in provide food, water, shelter, and health education.” Gaza try to hide their illness from their care and protect their family members a school-age girl in Gaza families and husbands until the disease in the most extreme circumstances. advances into severe stages and can Humanitarian actors need to fully no longer be hidden. Men with cancer, recognize women’s contribution to on the other hand, are more likely to family and community resilience and provide them with the support domestic violence. Men and boys, on be seen as ill and in need of immediate medical care, without issues of stigma that meets their distinct needs and the other hand, are more likely to be concerns. treated as ill and in need of support framing their illness. and treatment to overcome their These are but a few examples of addiction. Moreover, cultural norms and how humanitarian situations have Heba Zayyan is the Head of UN expectations that women and girls are gendered impacts. Even what seems Women’s Gaza Sub-Office. She “chaste” and “honorable” often deny to affect everyone can be experienced has more than 17 years of work that women and girls can resort to differently depending on gender. experience in the field of gender drug use. Not only does this perception While the different needs of women, equality and women’s empowerment. obstruct possible support, but it girls, men, and boys are increasingly Ms. Zayyan leads UN Women’s also conceals the warning signs and mainstreamed into humanitarian portfolio on women, peace, security, symptoms that girls and women show. aid planning, implementation, and and humanitarian action in Palestine.

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agricultural interventions, UAWC provides safe spaces and an Empowerment, Agency, enabling environment for women, helping them to identify their priorities and then act upon them. UAWC’s women leaders exercise and Inclusion agency at many levels, both individually and within the family, UAWC’s Model for Supporting Women collectively within agricultural cooperatives and nationally, as they in the Agriculture Sector contribute to determining national iii priorities and policy amendments. 90 percent of their income on the Agency and inclusiveness of rural food, health, and education of their women is progressively identified families – compared to only 30 and recognized as a global priority. to 40 percent among menv – yet Women produce 70 percent of remain marginalized and ignored the food worldwide,iv spend up to in most societies. In Palestine,

mpowerment means fostering the power within women in a process that allows women to make sense of their individual By Samah Jaber worlds, become aware of their interests, and perceive themselves as capable of decision-making.i In order to achieve women’s empowerment, gender perspectives haveE to be mainstreamed in all-inclusive policies. Gender inclusion enables women to exercise their human rights fully,ii but this goal requires true political will and necessitates hard work by all defenders of women’s human rights who must engage in bringing more support to the process. My experience as a researcher and gender specialist who has worked closely with women’s groups associated with the Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC) has taught me to recognize and admire the union’s approach towards women’s empowerment. UAWC literature and practice show that it considers rural empowerment a multidimensional process that involves social, educational, political, cultural, and economic elements in order to enable women and help them gain control over their lives. Through

In 2020 alone, the union helped women reclaim ownership and rehabilitate 4,000 dunams of agricultural lands, which directly contributed to strengthening the steadfastness and livelihood of 760 agricultural families, many of which are headed by women.

50 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 51 Women’s Empowerment women’s entrepreneurship and To achieve gender equality, UAWC Based on UNDROP principles, UAWC continues to work on securing the their contribution to the Palestinian stands up for women’s rights and inclusion of women in national planning processes, promoting women’s right community is vital. But women do calls for an end to the displacement to proper access to information by providing them with all types of training not enjoy the same rights as men, of rural families and the defense of and education, advancing women’s positions in social structures, promoting and empirical evidence shows women’s right to have access to and women’s associations and cooperatives, and enhancing women’s equal that they lag behind men in many sovereignty over land, water, and access to economic opportunities and financial services, including agricultural areas. For example, the percentage seeds; it advocates and takes action to credit and loans. Moreover, UAWC’s gender equality interventions provide of agricultural holdings owned by eliminate violence against women and responsive agricultural-extension services, tools and machinery, and capacity women is estimated at 6.7 percent encourage women to break the silence, building in various specializations, including rights and management. Women’s of the total agricultural holdings, take heed of inequality, and reach out empowerment is a crosscutting objective for all UAWC interventions. compared to about 93.1 percent to hold women’s hands throughout the The stories of Nabila Jacob and Amina Abu Zneid exemplify UAWC’s approach of agricultural holdings controlled journey of exploring their strengths. vi towards women’s rights, an approach that empowers women by increasing by men. their sense of self-worth, their ability to determine their own choices, and their awareness of their right to influence social change for themselves and others.

As an integral part of its policy of Nabila Jacob is a pioneer among cooperative has provided a stable engagement, UAWC Palestinian rural women and an monthly income of NIS 900 for each inspiration for many younger woman.” requires that at women in her community. She is the least 30 percent In 2018, UAWC responded to the chairwoman of Beita Cooperative cooperative’s aspiration to expand of organizational Society for Food Processing, its field of production to include the interventions be initiated in 2011 by five women with production and packaging of dates. directed towards the objective of empowering local women by increasing the quality women. Raboud Women’s Forum. and quantity of their production and securing their own income. UAWC has accompanied them on their journey from the beginning, building UAWC realizes this injustice, and Since 2004, UAWC and hundreds their knowledge and capacities and its emphasis on women’s role in of Palestinian rural women have supporting them in response to their society considers the following joined the global effort of La Via priorities. facts: First, women represent Campesina (LVC)ix to protect the UAWC believes that increasing almost half of Palestinian society rights of peasants (both women production quality and quantity leads (49 percent). Second, more and men). Their joint struggle has to an increase in income and thus than one-tenth of Palestinian been crowned with the realization to economic empowerment. Nabila households are headed by of the United Nations Declaration on says that with help from UAWC, women.vii Third, they provide the Rights of Peasants (UNDROP) the cooperative managed not only most of the informal labor force in 2018. Giving great attention and to improve the quality of its soap in agricultural production, as consideration to women’s rights production but also to increase 2,731 women work for wages and under Article 4: No Discrimination the production from 100 pieces to more than 41,000 women work Against Women,x this declaration 3,000 pieces per week. “Before we permanently in agriculture without stresses the major role women play established the cooperative, the wages. And last but not least, in rural agricultural settings and women members depended entirely women carry out approximately calls for zero discrimination against on their parents or husbands. Today, 75 percent of the agricultural women, sound gender balance, and we are financially independent and animal production and plant the participation and involvement of able to change our lives and help our production labor in Palestine.viii women at all levels. families. The establishment of the

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Nabila says, “We wanted to employ Amina Abu Zneid is an extraordinary more women, especially the ones “In the establishment civil, political, and economic with no income, encourage others Palestinian figure. In a reality that is to work, and create a safe space for phase [of our dominated by patriarchal customs and ourselves to exchange knowledge cooperative], UAWC traditions that cage women, Amina and experience. UAWC encouraged worked on building our managed to spread her wings and us again and provided us with a capacities and skills break free. A mother of five children machine to package dates, allowing at the technical level and resident of Raboud village near us to expand our markets to the Hebron, Amina stood strong against regional level.” Soon enough, the and provided us with all challenges and the occupation- products of the Beita cooperative agricultural tools and related restrictions on access to land were distributed not only to local machinery. This has and water. Her first step towards Palestinians but also to regional contributed to gradually changing her life was to engage in markets. According to Nabila, “We advancing our position voluntary community activities and earned JD 5,000 from distributing in the community.” encourage community volunteerism. our products in Qatar. But our Through its local seed bank,xi UAWC Nabila Jacob true earning is not reflected in encouraged Amina to enhance her money but in having the honor to initiatives of planting and growing represent our homeland and share indigenous seeds by providing her our legacy.” take on our earned position and raise with local organic seeds and the After years of struggle and fighting our voices. The local council of Beta required technical training on how to for its rights, the cooperative has village began to consult us regarding plant, store, and reproduce seeds. earned its well-deserved position the priorities of our community, and With UAWC’s support, Amina has in the community. The patriarchal we became part of the planning and expanded her family’s cultivated community has begun to recognize implementation processes of the land from a 200-square-meter home the cooperative and its members local council’s strategic plan.” Today, garden to two dunams of farmland. as a decision-making group. Nabila 24 inspiring and pioneering women Today, Amina earns a monthly experience. They introduced us explains, “They started to respect us are leading change within their sum of NIS 800 from her seasonal to new seed varieties that had and our hard work, and we started to community. cultivations, an amount, she says, not been cultivated in our region, that allows her to feel independent and and the indigenous seeds they productive. have provided are better than Amina joined her efforts with other the genetically modified ones. The women of Beita Indigenous local seeds are even have become not only women members of Raboud Women’s Forum and helped encourage them to able to adapt to the climate change role models for many work collectively and learn from each and the weather of our village, and young women but also other. UAWC promoted this collective they consume less water.” representatives of their initiative and provided them with the Amina believes that women’s community. required knowledge, tools, production empowerment is significant for inputs, and coaching. This has led to Palestinian communities. Her calls the cultivation of around five dunams for social justice and her hard work and a seasonal income of NIS in advancing her knowledge and 7,000. On the technical level, UAWC skills have encouraged the local supported the women to expand their community to trust and respect

Beita Cooperative Society for agricultural skills, at the same time her; she has gained the confidence Food Processing, soap. allowing them to protect national and knowledge to dare to speak resources and local knowledge. Amina out and voice women’s opinions. appreciates that “UAWC helped us “My husband was once my voice, join our efforts and provided a space but now I have finally become my for discussion and the exchange of own spokesperson,” she asserts.

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iv “Private Financial Firms threaten to undermine self-financing initiatives of rural peasant women in South India,” September 26, 2017, La Via Campesina, available at https://viacampesina.org/en/ UAWC contributes to the establishment of 60 private-financial-firms-threaten-undermine-self-financing-initiatives-rural-peasant-women-south- india/; and “VII International Conference: Women’s Assembly Declaration,” July 25, 2017, available women’s cooperatives each year in the West Bank at https://viacampesina.org/en/vii-international-conference-womens-assembly-declaration/. and Gaza. This is done by creating jobs for women v “Why Empower Women?” Stop Hunger, available at http://www.stop-hunger.org/home/priorite- femmes/lautonomisation-des-femmes/pourquoi-autonomiser-les-femmes.html through providing input production to women- vi led cooperatives, supplying all necessary tools and https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=388161442302599&ref=watch_permalink. vii H.E. Dr. Awad, Highlights the Situation of the Palestinian Women on the Eve of the International technologies, such as packaging lines, storage and Women’s Day, March 8, 2020, Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, available at http://www.pcbs. food processing tools, provisions for home gardens, gov.ps/site/512/default.aspx?lang=en&ItemID=3679. viii https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=388161442302599&ref=watch_permalink. and technical advice and coaching. ix For more information, please visit the website of La Via Campesina, the International Peasants’ Movement, at https://viacampesina.org/en/. x Book of Illustrations, UNDROP, available at https://viacampesina.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/ UNDROP-Book-of-Illustrations-l-EN-l-Web.pdf. xi Agroecology Knowledge Hub, “Local Seed Bank in Palestine,” Food and Agriculture Organization of In 2019, Amina was qualified beneficiaries, there is definitely a lot the United Nations, available at http://www.fao.org/agroecology/detail/ar/c/882855/. xii Announcement of Women Without Borders Initiative [in Arabic] on UAWC’s Facebook page, to be part of UAWC’s Women more to tell! available at https://www.facebook.com/uawcpal/posts/3502413633145474/. Without Borders Initiative that aims to economically and politically Samah Jaber holds an MA in empower 25 pioneering rural gender and development studies xii Harvest, acrylic on canvas, 80 x 90 cm, by Irina Naji. women. Today in 2021, Amina is and has vast professional running for the Legislative Council experience in national and with well-developed diplomatic international advocacy, gender and negotiation skills, holding mainstreaming, policy analysis, in her heart and mind women’s program development, and empowerment as a core personal management. She has led and objective. She says, “We women continues to lead international, are usually excluded from political regional, and national initiatives, decision-making processes. defending the human rights But because we face a lot of of peasants in coordination marginalization from men, I decided with national and international to be the first woman to run for institutions, and she has Legislative Council membership so made notable contributions to that I could promote the economic research on the right to water, and political empowerment of land grabbing, the right to access women in my community and create land and natural resources, food a better reality for young women.” sovereignty, and national policies These two inspiring stories are just in the agricultural sector, in examples of hundreds of others that addition to authoring policy UAWC contributes to and creates. papers and fact sheets. Among its 9,000 annual women

i “Gender Inclusion,” UNESCO, available at http://www.unesco.org/new/en/social-and-human- sciences/themes/urban-development/migrants-inclusion-in-cities/good-practices/gender-inclusion/. ii “Gender Inclusion,” UNESCO. iii “What is agency and why does it matter for women’s empowerment?” Includovate, October 17, 2019, available at https://www.includovate.com/what-is-agency-women-empowerment/.

56 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 57 Women’s Empowerment Aid and Hope Program for Cancer Patients Care

id and Hope Program for Cancer Patients Care (AHP) is a Palestinian nongovernmental organization that was established in 2010 in the Gaza Strip. AHP was the first of its kind in Gaza to provide awareness raising and psychosocial support for breast cancer patients. During our 11 years of health and movement, economic The right to life is operation, we have managedA to reach over 120,000 women, approximately 70 empowerment, the Farha Goodwill sacred, and we believe percent of whom were unaware of ways to ensure early detection or screen Fund of Jordan’s King Hussein for breast cancer. Cancer Centre (KHCC), the Fadfa that our duty is to improve the quality of The idea behind establishing AHP emerged through the motto: “The rich are program for women survivors poor when it comes to cancer.” Cancer is expensive and places great burdens and women with cancer, the life for Gaza’s cancer on individuals, societies, and countries because it requires an appropriate Manufacturing Artificial Prostheses patients who live in infrastructure and specialized hospitals to deal with patients in a holistic project to address the isolation of miserable conditions manner. Moreover, cancer patients have the right to universal health care women who are hesitant to leave their houses after a mastectomy and and to strengthen within a system that ensures that all people have equal access to quality health social awareness of care where and when they need it, regardless of their race or ethnicity. thus excluded from participating in public life, and The Rose Club for all issues related to It is not easy to be sick with cancer, and it is even more difficult in the Gaza Cancer Survivors – the first such cancer. Strip that has been under siege for the past 14 years. More than two million club in Palestine and the Arab world. people live in this place – known all over the world for the high density of its population – without access to a single radiation therapy unit or PET-CT AHP has been in a partnership system. In addition, other diagnostic means and cancer-fighting medications with the KHCC since October 2016 are in meager supply and do not always meet the needs of those whose lives in implementing a breast cancer are at risk. awareness campaign. Other main advocacy campaigns to save of medication and the issuing of AHP aims to increase awareness of breast cancer in the Gaza community, the lives of women with cancer permits to travel for treatment, improve women’s access to early diagnostic facilities through clinical breast include a 2016 campaign in which resulting in Israeli media coverage examination, facilitate the referral of at-risk women to mammographic AHP launched the hashtag #why- in January 2017 that addressed screening services, and provide women with navigators who will engage in are-we-banned that made a huge Gaza’s humanitarian issues. This patient advocacy and increase and facilitate communication between patients, impact and was greatly supported was precipitated by our actions and health care providers, and family members. – yet the problem continues. AHP advocacy for women with cancer APH’s main programs and activities include the Social Protection Program also organized demonstrations in and their right to move and receive for Cancer Patients, the Breast Cancer Mentorship Program, advocacy and Gaza’s streets and a hunger strike treatment. lobbying for cancer-patient issues, the gendered promotion of the right to to demand an adequate supply

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necessity of taking gender into account both in understanding the impact of the humanitarian situation on Gazans and in providing aid that is responsive to the needs of all. For more information, please visit https://palestine.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/ publications/2021/02/the-imperative-of-mainstreaming-gender-in-humanitarian-action-in- UN Women collaborates with partners to deliver a more accurate picture of the palestine. gender dimensions of conflict and humanitarian crises and to ensure that the response is more effective for women and girls. In this edition of This Week in Palestine, UN Women is proud to share a selection of its recent publications with Two Years Later: The Gendered Impact of the Great March of Return in the the magazine’s readers to enhance their understanding of the impact of current Gaza Strip crises, including COVID-19, on Palestinian women. The “Great March of Return” (GMR) is a Palestinian grassroots movement that started in March 2018 to demand the lifting of the Israeli blockade on the Gaza Strip. Two years on, the repercussions of the GMR are still felt by large COVID-19: Gendered Impacts of the Pandemic in Palestine and segments of the society in Gaza. In this new report, UN Women examines the Implications for Policy and Programming GMR’s direct and indirect impacts on women and gender power relations in COVID-19 has worsened an already dire humanitarian and economic Gaza. The analysis shows that even when empowered, women and girls are situation in Palestine and weakened its already fragile and vulnerable population. more vulnerable to the adversity of consequences of the GMR because they But its impact has not been felt evenly across the population. To increase often lack protection and positive coping mechanisms. The report also provides understanding of the gender-specific impact of COVID-19 and ensure that the a set of recommendations for humanitarian actors, governmental institutions, needs and priorities of all Palestinians are fairly and effectively addressed in nongovernmental organizations, and international actors to effectively address the response and recovery plans, UN Women conducted a rapid gender analysis. lasting impacts of GMR on women. Based on preliminary data collection, surveys, and meetings that UN Women had For more information, please visit https://palestine.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/ with more than 30 women-led organizations and woman leaders in the West Bank publications/2020/12/the-gendered-impact-of-the-great-march-of-return-in-the-gaza-strip. and Gaza, the report shows how the pandemic disproportionately affects women, creating and exacerbating preexisting gender-specific risks and vulnerabilities and widening inequalities. To address this, the paper also provides a set of Gender Alert: Needs of Women, Girls, Boys, and Men in Humanitarian recommendations to guide the response to the pandemic and recovery from it. Action in Palestine For more information, please visit https://palestine.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/ Humanitarian situations are experienced in different ways by women, publications/2019/02/covid-19-gendered-impacts-of-the-pandemic-in-palestine-and- men, girls, and boys. Gendered needs are increasingly being mainstreamed in implications-for-policy-and-programming. humanitarian assistance planning, implementation, and monitoring. Integrating gender analysis into humanitarian programming bolsters human rights-based approaches and the ability to effectively help vulnerable populations. A gender The Imperative of Mainstreaming Gender in Humanitarian Action in analysis assesses relationships between women, girls, boys, and men, Palestine: Six Case Studies from Gaza reviewing their respective roles, access to resources, control of resources, and The Gaza Strip remains in a chronic humanitarian crisis due to an Israeli constraints. Women and girls are disproportionately impacted by gender norms blockade, successive rounds of conflict, and the ongoing internal Palestinian and preexisting inequalities. Gender along with other factors (such as age, sexual divide. Of the 2.1 million people living in Gaza, 1.5 million, or 71 percent, are orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, disability, education, employment, and estimated to be in need of humanitarian aid and 53 percent live below the poverty location) can intersect to further compound challenges in emergencies. This line. Women and girls are disproportionately impacted by the humanitarian Gender Alert was developed to inform the 2021 Humanitarian Needs Overview situation because of gender norms and preexisting inequalities. Gender can and Humanitarian Response Plan by providing a robust analysis of gender- intersect with other factors, such as age, sexual orientation, gender identity, specific vulnerabilities to support humanitarian actors in addressing the specific ethnicity, disability, education, and employment, to further compound challenges humanitarian needs of Palestinian women, men, girls, and boys. in emergencies. This makes integrating gender into all humanitarian actions an For more information, please visit https://palestine.unwomen.org/en/digital-library/ imperative to ensure that aid is provided effectively and fairly to women, men, publications/2020/10/gender-alert-needs-of-women-and-men-in-humanitarian-action-in- girls, and boys. Through six case studies from Gaza, this document illustrates the palestine.

60 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 61 Women’s Empowerment

challenging to women with small and the associated economic crisis businesses in light of the restrictions have increased the drudgery of The Odds Doubled imposed by COVID-19. The three- unpaid work for women as well month full lockdown and subsequent as the demand and need for both partial lockdowns, including frequent unpaid care work (as women are Women and Their Struggle closures of cities, have severely perceived by society to be the affected women-led MSMEs on “primary caregivers”) and paid work. during the Fight against COVID-19 many different levels, limiting According to the survey, 9 percent their ability to access markets. A of the women respondents reported study by UN Women conducted that the childcare burden is limiting in March 2020 has shown that 95 their abilities to continue operating percent of women-led MSMEs were their businesses.iv negatively affected by the pandemic: The pandemic has also increased the 27 percent have had to shut down overall burden on working women since the pandemic’s outbreak, and who serve as unpaid caregivers in 53 percent are considering laying off omen in Palestine fall victim to many forms of gender-based discrimination in social, political, and economic life. The challenging By Karmel Najjar and restrictive environment for women has introduced additional formal and informal barriers that limit their abilities to participate actively in the market economy. Limited mobility, reduced market-access opportunities, and scarcity of market information and resources, as well as the stereotypical social norms and traditions, hamper the potential contribution of women through business ownership and growth. Despite the fact that MSMEs (micro, small, and medium enterprises) constitute 96 percent of the Palestinian private sector, only a quarter are owned by women, and of the 65 percent of Palestinian women who have expressed an interest in establishing a business, only 15 percent have done so.i This boils down to a myriad of challenges that women face while establishing or sustaining a business, ranging from access to finance and access to markets to scarcity of market information and resources, as well as the legal and regulatory barriers that continue to restrict women’s participation in the economy and limit their business development. Furthermore, in terms of the workforce participation level, women are still underrepresented in the economy and workforce participation. The gap between males and females in the workforce participation rate in Palestine remains very large (according to the results of the Labor Force Survey 2019). Compared to the male participation rate, the female participation rate in the Photo courtesy of UNFPA. labor force was and still is very low: 18 percent (17 percent in the West Bank and 19 percent in the Gaza Strip). Among males, the rate was 70 percent (74 ii percent in the West Bank and 62 percent in the Gaza Strip). their workers. In addition, 42 percent the society, which constitutes work However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated impacts of women respondents reported that is over and above their regular of the crisis have exacerbated the challenges that already exist and put lower demand for their products, everyday job and another layer of increased financial strains particularly on groups that are already vulnerable, whereas 9 percent reported that burden in terms of homeschooling including women. In Palestine, women-led MSMEs across almost all sectors the movement restrictions imposed and childcare in light of school are on the receiving end of the crisis, bearing the lingering uncertainty and by the government limited their closures. Many women workers are facing dire economic consequences as a result of the unsold inventories ability to access raw materials.iii struggling with balancing different and a slowdown in trading activities. Market access has been particularly Moreover, the COVID-19 outbreak responsibilities while dealing with the 62 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 63 Women’s Empowerment

to higher levels of vulnerability and lower resilience of these groups because of their business size. This calls for several response efforts and interventions, which should be targeted by the government towards supporting women-led MSMEs to cope with the crisis and mitigate the risks of the closedown of women’s MSMEs. Sweets from To You from My Home Strengthening women economically campaign in response to the (الكم من بيتي) COVID-19 pandemic. The campaign aims to through integrating them into mitigate the risks of women’s businesses and markets, increasing their market help them market their stockpiled products readiness and their abilities to during the pandemic. compete in the markets, and therefore increasing their income challenging business environment is a viable and tested strategy for due to the pandemic. Hence, it is achieving women’s empowerment necessary for the government to and eliminating gender inequality, promote flexible work arrangements which can provide a platform for for female and male workers and greater confidence to promote, equal treatment of female and male support, and increase women’s workers – particularly those who economic participation during and have children – to ease the burden after the crisis. A responsive and of working women, especially meaningful recovery from the crisis after introducing homeschooling must ensure that both women and online learning due to school and men can return to economic closures. activities by participating equally in While the negative impacts of the market economy and civic life as COVID-19 will endure for years to employees, business owners, and come, women will continue to be active citizens in their communities. on the front line of the fight against the pandemic, simultaneously Karmel Najjar is the monitoring and being subjected to different forms evaluation and reporting officer at of discrimination and facing The Palestinian Businesswomen’s obstacles on multiple levels. Many Association–Asala, which is a livelihood opportunities that women leading women’s NGO that focuses – particularly small-business on women’s social and economic owners – rely on will be at risk due empowerment.

Artwork by Manal Deeb.

i Case Study: Bank of Palestine Strengthens Women-Owned Businesses and the Economy, International Finance Corporation (IFC), the World Bank Group, available at https://www.ifc.org/wps/ wcm/connect/15aac7bd-de60-44fb-884a-02eb30d11743/Bank_of_Palestine_English_Case_Study_ FINAL.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CVID=m6mdkGE. ii PCBS: On the Occasion of the International Population Day 11/07/2020 (October 12, 2020), retrieved from Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS): http://www.pcbs.gov.ps/post. aspx?lang=en&ItemID=3774. iii A flash survey: Impact of COVID-19 on Women-led MSME’s in Palestine, UN Women, March 2020. The results highlight only the responses of 301 women entrepreneurs from across Palestine. iv Ibid.

64 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 65 Women’s Empowerment Personality of the Month

In addition to her community work, Najat’s work as a member of the Najat was a member of the women’s town council of Al-Nuweima and department in the Palestine Trade Al-Dyouk has not been without Mayor Najat Ermely Union Federation, served in Fatah’s challenges, but she maintains organizing committee, was a that she has faced them head on. founding member of the Social After the council was dissolved A Journey of Struggle, Persistence, and Accountability Network in the Arab due to internal issues, a caretaker Success World, and served as a board committee was formed, and she member of the Tekiyeh Nusseibeh was one of the five people on Al-Mazniyeh that provides meals the committee. What’s more, the and food packages for the needy. residents, tribal representatives, Most recently, she served on the and official organizations, most of Coronavirus Emergency Committee. them men, agreed to appoint her as Since 2010, Najat has been working the head of the municipality. Najat with the Palestinian Initiative for maintains that her most significant the Promotion of Global Dialogue success was reaching this decision- and Democracy-MIFTAH, initially making position. “I was accepted establishing a coalition of Jericho by everyone and, more importantly, and Jordan Valley institutions for the the people of my town trusted that I implementation of UNSCR 1325, could change their circumstances,” an endeavor, she says, that is the she explains. “Since I took office a product of MIFTAH training sessions. few months ago, I have been doing These sessions also helped Najat my best to resolve the townspeople’s and her colleagues launch initiatives problems as soon as they occur and on women’s rights within the scope to improve their basic services.” ajat Mahmoud Ermely, a political and community activist, began of Resolution 1325. In 2013, she Her successes include collecting her journey of politics and community work in an environment filled was employed by MIFTAH as a citizens’ debts and securing a 50 with challenges. This, however, did not stop her from persevering field coordinator for Jericho and the percent deduction on water bills N as an activist in the Jordan Valley, the most marginalized area of the Jordan Valley, working on MIFTAH’s from the Palestinian Ministry of Local West Bank. elections support program, focusing Government. She has also employed on women’s political participation, people to work in sanitation services, Today, Najat, born in 1968 in the Ramallah-area village of Ni’lin, is the which had not previously been mayor of Al-Dyouk village, where she lives with her family of four sons, two and engaging in several other awareness-raising and economic- provided, and has pitched several daughters, and nine grandchildren. Her domestic duties, however, never potential projects to the municipality. stopped her from striving to better herself. She has participated in training empowerment programs for women. courses and local and international conferences to realize this goal. “I have never been convinced that my role in society is confined to being a mother or a housewife,” she says. “I have sought out many avenues to realize my goal of becoming a productive woman and activist.” In this spirit, Najat offered a room in her house to the newly formed local branch of the Rural Women Development Association for one year in 1995. In 1996, the association opened an office in the village, which allowed her to head the local Women’s Club for six years. But Najat’s ambition did not stop there; she dived straight into public life by running in the 2005 village council elections – and winning. Najat then established and headed an agricultural cooperative that serves village farmers; she set up a kindergarten, volunteering as its director, and founded a women’s charitable association that serves the villages of Al-Dyouk and Al-Nuweima, aiming to create alternative employment opportunities for women who would otherwise only have the option of working in Israeli settlements. 66 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 67 Women’s Empowerment Book of the Month

Through the themes of suicide and political statement, it is the story of liberation, the story of a woman, a a woman’s need to assert herself in The Honey village, and a people is told. nontraditional ways… a little gem.” “Elliptical and lyrical, this is less Booklist a novel than a glimpse into the “…the story is so tightly packed that minds of the five narrators: Ruhiya every word resonates and multiple herself; Yehya, her childhood love readings are required…a glinting and would-be terrorist; his father, little novel that emanates big ideas Farhan; Maya, a foreign journalist; about politics, pleasure, language, and Asrar, the little girl who was the religion and fulfillment, be it earthy only eyewitness to Ruhiya’s deed.” or otherwise.” The National Publishers Weekly Zeina B. Ghandour was born in “The rare novel about the Beirut, Lebanon, in 1966. She Israeli-Palestinian conflict that studied law at Kent University in acknowledges the complicated the United Kingdom, specializing in experiences and feelings on both Jewish and Islamic law. The Honey sides without making an overt is her first novel.

By Zeina B. Ghandour

Interlink Publishers, 2008, 128 pages, $12.95

uhiya, the muezzin’s daughter who lives in an oasis village in Palestine under Israeli occupation, is an intensely spiritual young girl. When her father lies ill on his deathbed and Yehya, her childhood R love and a recently converted fundamentalist, sets off on that same night on a suicide mission, Ruhiya breaks one of Islam’s highest taboos and recites the call to morning prayer herself. At the last moment, her song magically reaches Yehya in faraway Jerusalem, and instead of detonating the explosives that have been strapped to his body, he retreats and runs. The next day, Maya, a foreign journalist, is sent to the village to cover these two stories. Faced with a wall of silence, she seeks answers with the encouragement of Asrar, the only witness to Ruhiya’s transgression, the little girl who hears and sees everything yet is the keeper of all secrets. The honey in this novel is a ubiquitous magical substance that heals everything. It runs through the land like its lifeblood.

68 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 69 Women’s Empowerment Artist of the Month

Jenna earned her undergraduate degree studying with Professor Mimi Zweig at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. She continued her Jenna Barghouti graduate studies at Indiana with Professor Jorja Fleezanis before moving to Houston, Texas to join the Houston Symphony in 2015. Jenna served as concertmaster of the Indiana University Philharmonic, Chamber, and University orchestras. She was also an associate instructor at Indiana University’s Pre-College String Academy, teaching students of all ages. In her first year with the Houston Symphony, Jenna served as a community-embedded musician (CEM) in a newly founded program that aimed to better serve the musical needs of the diverse Houston community. As a CEM, Jenna split her time between performing on stage with the Houston Symphony and visiting schools, neighborhoods, community centers, early education centers, and health care settings, interacting with hundreds of students and patients. For the following three years, Jenna played in the symphony full time. After four years in Houston, native of Ramallah, Palestine, violinist Jenna Barghouti is a passionate Jenna auditioned for the musician and educator who has dedicated her life to advancing music Dallas Symphony and won a job in its many forms. She is currently a member of the first violin section in the first violin section. She moved to A in the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Dallas in the fall of 2019. Jenna picked up the violin for the very first time at the age of seven and began Upon moving to Dallas, Jenna established a private her studies at the Edward Said National Conservatory of Music (ESNCM) in studio and currently teaches many students from various Ramallah. She performed in various ensembles in Palestine and abroad and backgrounds and age groups. She is an avid educator and was concertmaster of the Palestine Youth Orchestra (PYO) for many years. Her has spent the last ten years expanding her understanding studies at the ESNCM propelled her to pursue a music degree abroad. of violin pedagogy. In 2019, she coached the first violin section of the Palestine Youth Orchestra. Jenna also formed a new string quartet with her Dallas Symphony colleagues and friends. The quartet has continued to rehearse and perform throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and has recorded several pieces that were featured in online events by the Dallas Symphony in the past year. The Dallas Symphony has managed to keep its doors open during the pandemic by taking extreme measures to ensure the safety of the musicians and the limited numbers of audience members. Jenna feels incredibly lucky to be a part of an organization that is going above and beyond to ensure that music can be played and enjoyed by the very diverse and vibrant Dallas community despite the ongoing pandemic. Jenna hopes to visit Palestine very soon and continue her mission to give back to her home country that nurtured her talent and led her to where she is today.

70 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 71 Women’s Empowerment Exhibition of the Month Tale of a Rebellious Body Through their multimedia artworks, these artists provoke the viewer into questioning the social powers with their negative impact on women, on the one hand, and the relationship of the stereotypical roles that are imposed on women and their relation to the prevailing social and cultural conditions that surround them, on the other. This reality is best summed up by French philosopher Simone de Beauvoir’s statement: “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” Untitled by Magid Abdullah. Charcoal and pencil on paper, 2020. These three young female artists have joined others through their Screenshot by Lubna Araj. Video art, 2018. By Nadja Shkirat, Lubna Araj, and Magid Abdullah art in the struggle for women’s Bab idDeir Art Gallery, Bethlehem rights. Through the exhibition Tale of a Rebellious Body, they Open Wednesday to Saturday from 10:00 to 17:00, from March 11 to 30 have seized the opportunity to place this issue in an interactive framework and context through their art, which allows them to experiment and instigate a s we commemorate International Women’s Day, we are starkly conversation and discussion aware that we must overcome numerous challenges to achieve with all that surrounds us. But women’s rights. Last year, among the many consequences of in the end, this exhibition does A the COVID-19 pandemic, incidents of violence against women not provide answers but rather a increased in Palestine. This situation coincided with the general platform for ongoing dialogue. public’s rejection of the proposed Family Protection Law that aims to eliminate discrimination against women. This rejection can be attributed safely to the Finally, we remain standing in patriarchal society in which we still live, even in the twenty-first century. front of the same, often-repeated questions that ask what an artist Discussions and questions about “women” have been ongoing for decades can achieve through his/her among artists worldwide and in Palestine. Palestinian young artists are no exhibition and artistic production different from their predecessors, and Nadja Shkirat, Lubna Araj, and Magid – What is required and what is Abdullah have continued the path of older-generation artists. Focusing on the expected of the audience? In fact, woman’s body, they question and criticize its relation to the social powers, there are no specific answers, challenge the stereotypical idea of a woman (the beauty of her skin and body) only ongoing discussions. as seen in advertisements and media, and express visually how our society exploits women’s bodies as sexual objects. Rula Dughman

Bon Appétit by Nadja Shkirat. Still life, analogue photography, 2019/2020. 72 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 73 TWiP Kitchen

I am sharing a recipe that takes only minutes to prepare and is based on that of Amal Merrie, the famed cook in my husband’s circle of Qallayat Bandoora friends whose dishes are cherished by all. She recommends using a generous amount of olive oil to enhance the dish’s flavor, prefers that the tomatoes not be overcooked, and fries the chili pepper and garlic in the first step. I use about 400 grams of tomatoes per person for a full breakfast. How much chili pepper you use depends on your taste and the sharpness of the pepper. We love garlic, but the amount we use also depends on our plans for the rest of the day…

Ingredients - Tomatoes - Olive oil - Green or red chili pepper, sliced By Bettina Ezbidi - Garlic (whole, sliced, or pressed)

Preparation Heat the olive oil in a pan. truly discovered this dish only last year, during the lockdown – after Add the sliced chili pepper and garlic, and having lived in Palestine for a quarter of a century. It is as simple as simmer for a couple of minutes. it is popular and has replaced crepes as my family’s favorite special I breakfast dish. You can find it also on lunch tables or prepared over an Add the thickly sliced tomatoes and cook open wood fire to crown a hike or celebrate a lazy day spent in nature, uncovered for a few minutes on high heat. sipping tea under an olive tree. Reduce the heat to medium and cook uncovered for ten or fifteen minutes. Qallayat bandoora (tomato pans) lends itself to many variations. My friend Carol fills a baking dish in the early morning, places it in the oven, and cooks it on very Add salt and spices to taste. low heat until lunchtime, when the tomatoes are fully cooked and deliciously caramelized. Whether we cook the tomatoes in the oven or on the stovetop, my If you’d like a heartier meal, add eggs and continue daughter insists that fresh green chili pepper and garlic should be added towards cooking until the white turns opaque and the yellow the end and cooked only slightly, whereas my son prefers to add cinnamon and has your favorite consistency (you can cover the fresh ginger; both of them like the tomatoes cooked rather well, which takes about pan). thirty minutes on medium heat. We tend to go somewhat easy on the amount of olive oil we use, but sometimes we top the tomatoes with eggs cooked sunny- side up, in which case the dish is called shakshouka. In all cases, the result is Serve with fresh bread (for dipping) and hot tea, delicious. Feel free to experiment and involve your children or grandchildren. enjoy!

74 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 75 Where to Go Marj Sanur

The closed basin of Marj Sanur has circular distance of 20 kilometers. no drainage outlet. During the rainy The maximum length of the Marj from season, when the plain turns into west to east is 7.5 kilometers, while a lake, farmers in other areas are its maximum width is 3.5 kilometers. pleased to have a rich season. But Another potential hiking trail starts not the farmers of the plain. Here, in Jarba, leading eastwards, and the water can stay much longer continues along the Marj’s northern than elsewhere – until May in some border until it reaches Sir, then moves parts of the plain – leading to large on to the lush and fertile valley of Kfair uncompensated losses and delays and later to Raba woods in the east. during the farming season. A cycling trail through the valley can Marj Sanur lies 16 kilometers south of be very enjoyable and managed with Jenin at an elevation of 350 meters. ease. Very rewarding during spring, The Marj is surrounded by eight it first crosses the Marj from west villages, starting with Sanur, which is to east, then continues across Kfair famous not only for its Marj but also plain until it reaches Zababdeh in By Bassam Almohor for Jarrar Castle, once home to one of the north, and finally leads to the the most powerful governors during eastern plains of Jenin. A trail of some Ottoman rule. The other seven villages 30 kilometers, it crosses several hen the total annual rainfall exceeds 600 mm, the fertile Marj Sanur are Maithaloon and Siris in the south, plains and their farms that belong to becomes a magnificent mud-colored seasonal lake that spreads Al-Judeida and Sir in the east, Misilya generous farmers. over 20 square kilometers (16,000 dunams). Marj Sanur yields rich in the north, and Jarba and Zawiya For more information and guidance, contact Wcrops all year long, as farmers cultivate vegetables, grains, and west of the plain. Bassam Almohor at almohor@gmail. tobacco in open fields, and tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, com, +972-59-753-4681, or Facebook @ Hiking, trekking, and cycling trails are and more in its plentiful greenhouses. Walking the fertile plain’s soft terra rosa toursmore. plentiful in this area. Masar Ibrahim relaxes the feet, while the peppermint aroma in the air gives rise to nostalgia and Trail crosses Sanur before it continues makes you crave a steaming cup of tea! (32.365479°N, 35.274466°E) southward, crossing first Mount Hureish – the area’s highest summit, named after the holy maqam of Hureish that crowns it at an elevation of 764 meters – and then Mount Bayzeed farther south. An easy trail across the plain starts from Sanur, leading to the west and circling the plain. It touches the surrounding villages, covering a 76 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 77 Ahlan Palestine Postcard

If you climb to the top of the mountain, which is considered a natural gem and By Malak Hasan and Bisan Al-HajHasan you can enjoy a panoramic view of the celebrated for its biodiversity and rich entire area, including parts of Wadi al- water sources. Zarqa to the north. We spent some time You will know that you are getting closer studying the shrine’s unique structure to Ein al-Zarqa (Al-Zarqa Spring) when Visit a Sufi Shrine and and imagining what it must have been you reach the open valley and walk to like for these saints – who in old folktales the right, following a narrow, unpaved are frequently described as friends of path between the farmlands. We met Explore Wadi al-Zarqa God – to live in complete isolation. many local farmers who greeted us and We then descended the mountain via the offered us fresh produce. Once you see same route and turned to the left, circling the tall Eucalyptus trees, you will know its base until we reached a flat, unpaved that you are almost at the trail’s endpoint, road that is bordered by phragmites and Ein al-Zarqa. other wild flora. In the distance, you can We were very excited when we reached see Deir Ammar Refugee Camp to your the spring, after having moved along left and the village of Jammala, which the narrow path that was shouldered by lies straight ahead. The path will lead you huge grey stone walls and some caves. to the right, away from the residential We found an old house and climbed its area, towards Wadi al-Tawahin where the stone stairs to the roof and enjoyed the trail becomes flat and easy, marked with view in the shade of an oak tree. numerous trail signs in green and white. This hike is considered easy to moderate You will pass many water springs, such and will take between two and four as Fatima Spring, also known as Ein al- hours. We recommend hiking this Balad, and green farmland that stretches trail anytime between September and as far as the eye can see. And we are early May, but to really enjoy its unique certain that you will enjoy exploring the environment, the spring season is cave in which Al-Tineh Spring is located; probably best. so make sure that your phone has enough storage to record the adventure and take photos of the majestic Roman Malak and Bisan are the founders trees and agricultural terraces along the of Ahlan Palestine, a travel blog that way. promotes tourism in Palestine. You At the three-kilometer mark, you will see can follow their adventures by visiting Al-Tahunah, a building that dates back their social media platforms @ to the Ottoman era. It is located on the AhlanPalestine. border of the Beitillu Nature Reserve,

ave you ever come across small, domed, white-painted buildings, *“Nabi Ghaith Trail,” Sufi Trails in Palestine, available at http://www.sufitrails.ps/etemplate.php?id=41. shadowed by old oak trees and situated on isolated hilltops, as can be found in many villages across Palestine? If you hike the picturesque Deir H Ammar–Beitillu trail, you are guaranteed to see one of these beautiful Sufi shrines, known as Al-Nabi Ghaith Shrine. This lush and exciting six-kilometer hike kicks off in Deir Ammar village, 18 kilometers northwest of Ramallah. The starting point is the local village council of Deir Ammar. Leaving the building behind you and to your left, walk for approximately one kilometer to reach the first stop at Al-Nabi Ghaith Shrine, located on a high forest mountain known as the Mount of Spirits. At 550 meters above sea level, the archeological site dates back to the Roman and Byzantine eras, whereas the shrine itself dates back to the Ottoman era.* It is easy to reach by following the village road signs. The shrine site is a renovated public park that is accessible by foot.

78 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 79 Women’s Empowerment Events

BETHLEHEM SYMPOSIA SPECIAL EVENTS Tuesday 2 Monday 15, 22, and 29 and Thursday 18 11:00 “One year of COVID-19 in Palestine, 17:00–19:00 Poster Design Workshop Series: Important Questions and Answers” (in Arabic) Reveries of Blue (in Arabic) explores the will be moderated by Haytham Hijazi, with iconography and visual elements that have been speakers Dr. Ishaq Sider, Palestinian minister of utilized to represent the coast in Palestinian Telecommunications and Information Technology; political posters over the years. It probes the coast Dr. Nasri Abu Jesh, Palestinian minister of Labor; as it relates to the fate of Palestine historically and Dr. Imad Al-Zir, president of Palestine Ahliya and the manifestations and representations University. Organized by the Training and Alumni of the coast’s presence and absence in the Unit at Palestine Ahliya University. Broadcast via lives of Palestinians. The knowledge gained by https://paluniv-edu-ps.zoom.us/j/92974406652. participants in the workshop will form their own poster designs at the conclusion of the series. RAMALLAH Organized by The Palestinian Museum with graphic designer Maya Chami. Broadcast via BOOK LAUNCHES https://www.palmuseum.org/posters-workshop- Wednesday 17 open-call-ar. 18:00–19:00 Jerusalem Lives in the Stories TOURS of the City and People [Hayawat Maqdisiya fi Seyar al-Madina wa an-Nas] is a special volume Sunday 21 and Tuesday 30 of essays that are selected from the journal 12:00–13:00 Guided Garden Tour with botanist Hawliyat al-Quds, edited by Dr. Salim Tamari, Dr. Jamil Harb explores the fragrant plants and and that serve as the catalog of the exhibition medicinal herbs that nestle among legumes and Jerusalem Lives. The book seeks to trace the grains, amidst fruit-bearing trees and wild ones, course of Jerusalem’s modern development all of which alternate in the way they manifest, through essays that highlight pivotal moments with some in bloom while others await their of Palestine’s history that transformed the lives season. To complement the tour experience, of Jerusalemites and the social fabric of the city. every participant will receive as a free gift a Organized in partnership between the Institute for comprehensive brochure and map (Arabic or Palestine Studies and The Palestinian Museum, English) that contain photographs and information the launching event will be in Arabic and facilitated on every plant in the museum gardens. The by Dr. Nahed Habiballah, with speakers Dr. Salim Palestinian Museum gardens. Tamari and Omar Al-Qattan. Broadcast via https:// zoom.us/j/91607123396. CHILDREN’S EVENTS Saturday 6, 13, 20, 27 17:00–18:00 Children’s Cinema presents films for children between the ages of 6 and 10. Organized by Ramallah Municipality and Children and Youth Public Library in partnership with FilmLab Palestine. Broadcast via a zoom link available on Children and Youth Public Library’s Facebook page. FILM SCREENINGS Monday 1 17:00–20:00 A screening of Out on the Street (in Arabic with English subtitles) will be followed by a discussion with the director Philip Rizk. Organized by Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center as part of its The Hare. Acrylic on canvas, 160 x 100 cm, 2019, by Laila Shawa. Social Welfare in the Cultural Sector program, curated by May Odeh. The event is organized in compliance with safety measures. For registration, please visit https://bit.ly/3uFJzwo. ThIS painting is focused on the Turkoman dress that is particular to a district of Gaza called Shuja’iyya. During the Crusades, many tribesmen of the Turkoman tribes were part of Saladin’s armies, and many of them settled in Gaza in the twelfth century. They brought with them their customs, their trade (which is carpet-weaving: kilims), and their traditional dress, which survived in Gaza until very recently. 80 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 81 82 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 83 Directory Palestine Road Map R awabi PALESTINE ACCOMMODATIONS R o a d M a p Lebanon Syria

Akko RESTAURANTS

Haifa iberia T 0 5 10 20 Kilometers Nazareth

Tell Ti’innik Beisan

Umm er-Rihan Jenin Bal’ama Tell Dothan ez-Zababdeh Tulkarm Mediterranean Sea Sabastiya Tubas Nablus Tell Balata Gerzim Qalqiliya Salfit Jaffa Abud

Birzeit et-Taiyba Jordan Ramallah/el-Bira Khirbet el-Mafjar Tell en-Nasba Tell es-Sultan el-Jib Jericho Jerusalem Isdud en-Nabi Musa

Beit Jala Mar Saba Bethlehem Beit Sahur

Halhul Beit Hanun Hebron Jabalia Haram el-Ibrahimi Gaza Dead Sea Deir el-Balah Khan Yunis

ATTRACTIONS Rafah Egypt

84 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 85 Jerusalem

86 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 87 Bethlehem

88 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 89 Ramallah

90 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 91 Hebron

92 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 93 Nablus

94 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 95 Jenin

96 THIS WEEK IN PALESTINE 97 The Last Word Multicultural Societies

By the time a person matures and is ready to face the world, close to two decades would have passed during which he or she is formed and shaped. One’s formation actually starts from the moment of birth, with name, gender, religion, culture, and social and economic status. Practically speaking, a person’s whole identity is placed into a context that will strongly shape his/her future outlook. Of course, the list also includes belief systems, convictions, and values. To name two experiences at opposite ends of a spectrum: A person born in rural Afghanistan during the past three decades would most probably believe that a woman’s place is strictly at home, with the main role of raising children. Mixing with other members of society or working in a public place would be unacceptable. On the other hand, a person born in Helsinki would most likely consider it normal for women to work outside the home. This person would also most probably believe that women and men are equal partners. Now, who is to say that either culture is wrong to believe what it believes? By what authority can anyone judge a certain culture? Devastating wars between countries and deadly civil wars break out as a result of cultural differences – certainly not only because of issues of women’s equality. A look around our part of the word, in particular, makes one wonder whether these cultural and other ideological differences are reconcilable at all. Perhaps extra effort by world political and religious leaders would succeed in bringing about an agreed- upon world order and in bridging differences, at least to the point of avoiding a military conflict. Could it be that the answer is as simple (or as naïve) as “Let each society be?” The problem with this solution, however, is the fact that we live in a global village and depend on each other. A lesson can be obtained from former prime minister Enver Hoxha who isolated Albania for four decades because of a policy that ended miserably and resulted in making his country the poorest, least developed country in Europe. Another problem with the “Let each society be” solution is human greed and lust which often results in one country usurping the natural resources of another, no matter how peaceful that other country is. As a child, I frequently heard a statement that shaped me. “How can a society function when half of it is crippled?” Ideology aside, it seems impossible today for an average nuclear family to survive on the salary of only one member of the family. As life’s economic challenges increase, there is a genuine need for more than one person to earn bread. But when we see some people choosing to abide by traditional cultural beliefs, as grating as that can be on our cultural sensibilities, respect is called for. The best scenario we can hope for is a tolerant, even welcoming multicultural society where social security for all is guaranteed. Long live Palestine!

Sani Meo Publisher

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