Issue No. 154, February 2011 Palestinian Children ... Reality and Aspirations Children of Palestine, UNITE!...... 4 We are in the midst of a deepening crisis. I am not referring to the political situation The Situation of Children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory...... 6 – which is, in fact, deepening and which does not show any sign of a breakthrough The Ritual of Reading…...... 14 – nor am I talking about the economic situation – which remains quite precarious, Childhood, Parenting, and Poetry...... 18 locally and globally. I am referring to the water situation: the lack of rainfall this winter Present and Future: The Urgency of Children’s Rights in Palestine...... 24 (we are already halfway through it). Precipitation so far has been barely a third of Disabled Children Face a Hard Life...... 28 what this country normally gets, which is not much to begin with. I’m Palestinian and I’m Going to School Today - Madrasati Palestine...... 32 The cost of water to private citizens has increased significantly in the last year, TEDx: Celebrating Thought...... 36 and it is expected to go up by another 18 percent soon. In addition, the tax levied Children’s Space...... 40 on those who consume water beyond their allotted quota may be re-introduced, in Call of the Wild…...... 44 the hope of severely curtailing water consumption. The first to suffer will be private Oasis in the Sand...... 46 gardens and public parks, whose irrigation will become exorbitantly high. This is all Moving towards the Sexual and Reproductive Rights of Children and Adolescents....52 too sad, given the already dry landscape around us. One cannot help but wonder at Nablus Circus School...... 56 the paradoxical situation in the world when one sees the floods and torrential rains Escape from Gaza...... 60 that other countries are experiencing. In the Limelight...... 64 This issue is dedicated to Palestinian children, who make up an important chunk Reviews...... 70 Events...... 72 of the population. A solid nation starts with the education and care lavished on its Listings...... 74-92 children. It is therefore important that we put in place institutions that care for their Maps...... 93-97 education and well-being. Besides good schools, cultural institutions, libraries, The Last Word...... 98 museums, sports complexes, and parks (preferably not dry ones!) are a must. We Picturesque Palestine ...... 99 also need to care for the less privileged among us, those who suffer from physical or mental handicaps. Given the proper attention and care, they may get along with the rest of us and even excel. I invite you to read the many articles that focus on education, children’s rights, sexual abuse, and caring for disabled children, among many others. Children are our future, so it is important that we take good care of them to secure our legacy and make sure it lives on. Telefax: + 970/2-2-2951262 Tony A. Khoury e-mail: [email protected] Editor-in-chief www.thisweekinpalestine.com

Printed by Studio Alpha, Al-Ram, Jerusalem Binding by Al-Asdika’, Al-Ram, Jerusalem Forthcoming Issues: Maps: courtesy of PalMap - GSE Distributed by • Palestine: A Land of World Heritage Sites - March 2011

Theme: Palestinian Children • Inspirational Stories of Palestine - April 2011 Cover: On location with a young photographer from Al-Amari Refugee Camp. Photo by Khaled Jarrar. • Al Quds: A Living History - May 2011

Advisory Board

Lana Abu Hijleh Jane Masri Country Director – CHF International, Palestine Director of Communications - Zoom Advertising Razan Kaloti Rev. Mitri Raheb The views presented in the articles do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher. Marketing and Communications Manager – British Council President - Diyar Consortium Maps herein have been prepared solely for the convenience of the reader; the designations and presentation of material do not imply any expression of opinion of This Week in Palestine, its publisher, editor, or its Issa Kassissieh advisory board as to the legal status of any country, territory, city, or area, or the authorities thereof, or as to the delimitation of boundaries or national affiliation. Office of the President

2 3 services, programmes, advocacy, and child and as a youth. If only half those Children of Palestine, UNITE! support for children should have proper visions had been actualised … would your By Cairo Arafat representation of children on their life be better now? As adults, we should be boards or be required to establish a prepared to invite children to the table, to As we move forward in our quest voice in determining their future? representative body of children who could listen to them, and to share our decision- provide input and monitor the execution making powers with them. But I am also to end occupation and establish the The government, with support from the State of Palestine, we have begun to of their services. It should be mandatory a realist and realise that most people do international community, has at various for all municipalities and village councils not like to share authority and power. That ask ourselves what kind of country we times supported a “child parliament” or want for our people. We hear words like to include child representatives within is why the children of Palestine need to “child-friendly municipalities” as venues their decision-making processes. The take action now to demand their right to democratic, secular, religious, sovereign, where children’s voices could be heard representative, egalitarian, participatory, government should take immediate action be heard, represented, and empowered and shared with those in power. Most to re-establish a child parliament. This to take decisions that pertain to them. So, non-militaristic, presidential, pluralistic, of these initiatives fizzled out once the autonomous, equal, rights-based, and is no small task. We are not requesting Children of Palestine, UNITE! You have funds dried up. This is an indictment of a bogus or sham child parliament. This a right to be heard. majority-ruled. But these calls come from our society. We have invested hundreds only one part of society – the adults. parliament would have to be fairly elected of millions of dollars in ensuring that our and meet on a regular basis; it would report Cairo Arafat works at the Government Actually however, we are a very young children receive good health care (and society in which children comprise over to the president, prime minister, cabinet, Media Center and has numerous years it is happening) and education (that is and Palestinian Legislative Council (when of experience in establishing national half the population, and less than 4 happening, too), yet we do not allocate programmes to safeguard the well- percent are over the age of 60 years. they meet again) and submit a platform funds or enforce policies that allow of actions and recommendations for being of Palestinian children. She has Unfortunately, we have yet to listen to children to meet, discuss, and provide worked as the director of the National what the majority of the Palestinian upholding children’s rights, report on Plan of Action for Palestinian Children information on how they can be key violations against children, and monitor population perceives to be the ideal state players in making our society and future as well as with UNICEF, Save the of Palestine. The time has come to listen the situation of children in the oPt and, Children UK, and the Ministry of a better place for children. A state that eventually, the State of Palestine. to what our children want, need, deserve, provides social services without giving Planning. Her work has focused on children’s rights and and have a right to. We should heed what people a voice in determining what kinds Please do not underestimate the we have become so good at claiming, creativity, commitment, insight, energy, children’s psychosocial of services they want or responsibility well-being. “They (the children) are half of today and in monitoring the services being given allegiance, and devotion that our children all of tomorrow.” is actually supporting a welfare society have for their families, communities, There are over 1.9 million Palestinian approach. We must begin to respect and country. Take time today children who reside within the West Bank, the rights and responsibilities of children to think back to the dreams including East Jerusalem and Gaza. and allow them to exercise their rights. you had as a These children have grown up under This prepares them as citizens of the occupation. They have never known a State of Palestine and allows them to day of true freedom within the occupied take responsibility for shaping society Palestinian territory (oPt). They have in ways that address their current needs lived through invasions, demolitions, and rights. curfews, closures, blockades, arrests, This can and should happen now. and all the other nefarious practices All schools should be required to hold of occupation that have never failed to annual student council elections. The differentiate between Palestinian adults elected members’ names should be and children. They are martyrs, amputees, announced in local newspapers and detainees, disabled persons, refugees, the council members should be held internally displaced persons, poor people, accountable to their campaign promises labourers, sexually and economically by their fellow students. Student council exploited persons, and victims of many members would have a role in informing other forms of violence and abuse. They the principal and the Ministry of Education may be young, but they are experienced and Higher Education of their views persons who fully comprehend the of what is happening in school and evilness of occupation and injustice. More what measures should be taken to importantly, they have shared the yoke of improve schooling (formal and informal) occupation and resistance with us adults. to make school a better place for children. Shouldn’t these young veterans have a

Similarly, all organisations that provide Photo by: Niveen Manarios. 4 5 The Situation of Children in the Occupied Palestinian Territory An Overview By Jean Gough Although there has been some progress achievement, and continued movement percent are in 335 UNRWA schools, semester of 2010, almost 67 percent and towards achieving children’s rights in the restrictions. and 8.1 percent are in 347 private only 43 percent of fourth grade students iv occupied Palestinian territory (oPt), 1.9 Throughout the oPt in 2009, almost schools across the oPt. While literacy attending governmental schools passed million children continue to suffer from 22 percent of Palestinians were living rates among 15- to 24-year-old males their Arabic and mathematics exams the impact of occupation, the failure of below the poverty line (15.5 percent and females slightly increased from respectively, whereas in Gaza, during the the peace process, and intra-Palestinian in the West Bank and 33.2 percent in 98.7 percent in 2001 to 99.1 percent in same semester, only 59 percent and 47 v division. Challenges to life, security, Gaza). The number of families living in 2007 and are still among the highest percent of fourth grade students passed and human dignity continue to be daily deep poverty stood at 12 percent (7.5 rates in the Arab world, the primary their Arabic and mathematics exams vii realities for children as they face threats percent in the West Bank and 20 percent school net-enrolment ratio dropped from respectively. of death, injury, poverty, displacement, in Gaza), subjecting 430,000 children 91.7 percent in 2001 to 83.9 percent During the 2009/2010 scholastic detention, and psychological distress. to vulnerabilities of poverty.ii In East in 2007, and the primary school net- year in the West Bank (including East Jerusalem, the poverty rate increased attendance ratio for girls was 92 percent Jerusalem), 22 percent of children were While the number of child deaths vi iii in comparison with 91 percent for boys. dropped drastically in 2010, from over from 59 percent in 2008 to 71.2 in 2009. not enrolled in secondary education. Of 300 children killed in 2009 down to 11 There are 1,128,348 students enrolled Learning achievements show signs the 25,544 children who were not enrolled children killed in 2010,i children continue in grades 1 through 12; 68.5 percent are of deterioration for students across the in secondary education, 75 percent were to face threats of poverty, low learning in 1,965 governmental schools, 23.5 oPt. In the West Bank during the second males and 25 percent were females; and

Photo by: UNICEF-oPt/Izhiman. 6 7 across oPt 1.34 percent of students dropped out of school. however, there are an estimated 113 in school construction, UNICEF learned The school dropout rate was highest among secondary- communities living mainly in Area C of that some schools do not have any toilet school-aged students. In the oPt, while almost one percent of the West Bank, with a total population of facilities, some schools share toilets with basic-education students dropped out of school (0.55 percent 312,827 who are not connected to water other schools, and females teachers in females and 1.24 males) in 2009/2010, the rate increased networks and still depend largely on some schools are obliged to use the three-fold for secondary-school-aged students. In 2009/2010, traditional water sources such as springs, boy’s toilet. 3.65 percent of secondary-school-aged students dropped out of rainwater, and water tankering, which are The blockade on Gaza and the viii xix school (3.11 percent – female, 4.33 percent – male). Reasons not always safe sources. Difficulties in movement restrictions in the West for not being enrolled in the education system or for dropping out obtaining permits from the Israeli Civil Bank continue to threaten the livelihood of school include early marriage, poor scholastic achievement, and/ Administration have contributed to less of children and their caregivers. or joining the labour force. availability of drinking water for families. Despite the easing of restrictions on In East Jerusalem, students are at risk of not attending school due In some areas, each person consumes entry of goods and supplies into Gaza, to the lack of more than 1,000 classrooms, and in Israeli-controlled as little as 20 litres per day, which is fundamental measures should be taken Area C of the West Bank, students face many obstacles, including below the World Health Organization’s to ensure Gaza’s long-term recovery, restricted access to their schools, long walking distances, and (WHO) recommendations of 100 litres in line with United Nations Security substandard classrooms due to a restrictive permit regime.ix per person per day. Council Resolution 1860. Important and Since 2005, Gaza’s water supply has achievable steps that can help begin The overall child health indicators show slow progress. become intermittent and continues to the process of recovery include the While the infant mortality rate (IMR) and under-five deteriorate due to both the political resumption of exports, the free movement mortality rate (U5MR) have improved since the early situation and the blockade which results of people into and out of Gaza, and the 1990s, they slowed down after the current uprising in in the curtailment of power, fuel, and return of the Palestinian Authority to the 2000. The IMR stands at 25.3 deaths per 1,000 live spare parts. Only five to ten percent crossings. Access to agricultural land births,x and the U5MR stands at 27 deaths per 1,000 of Gaza’s aquifer is considered fit for along the Gazan border and to fishing live births,xi with 70 percent of all infant deaths due to human consumption, with 83 percent areas which are currently off-limits xii of the population relying on water from are important elements for economic prematurity, congenital malformation, and pneumonia. xx The overall immunisation rate is above 95 percent and private vendors. An estimated 45 recovery, as well as the revival of the is among the highest rates in the Middle East and North percent of the water supply across the construction industry. oPt is unaccounted for due to poor Two years after Operation Cast Lead, infrastructure that results in leakages 82 percent of the damage to Gaza and illegal connections. Almost two- schools has still not been repaired, Photo by: UNICEF-oPt/Izhiman. thirds of households in the oPt are not compounding the already stressed connected to a sewage network, and 70 education system, where the vast to 80 percent of domestic wastewater is majority of schools have been teaching discharged into the environment partially Africa region. Since 1988, the Ministry of Health has had zero reported polio cases, on a double-shift system. Gaza’s health or totally untreated. In Gaza, up to 50 and the proportion of one-year-old children immunised against measles reached as care system is also suffering and is million litres of raw or partially treated high as 96.8 percent.xiii unable to provide adequate services to wastewater are discharged into the sea meet the needs of the population. As Due to increased poverty rates, however, food security continues to be a challenge. each day due to fuel shortages and a result, patients must seek treatment In 2009 food insecurity affected 61 percent of households in Gaza,xiv with 76.8 percent deteriorating infrastructure. outside of Gaza for a wide range of of children aged 9–12 months who were anaemic, compared with 68.2 percent in 2006. According to the Palestinian Central medical assistance. Between January xv In the West Bank, 46 percent of 85,290 refugee families are either food insecure or Bureau of Statistics (PCBS) survey and November 2010, 3,546 out of 3,851 vulnerable to food insecurity. The rate of vulnerability to food insecurity among refugees of 2008, nearly 27 percent of schools applications for children who sought to is twice its equivalent among the general population – 22 percent compared to 11 (383 schools) in the West Bank and 30 obtain medical assistance outside of percent.xvi Food insecurity among herding communities in Area C is three times the percent of schools (113 schools) in Gaza Gaza were approved; 294 applications average food insecurity rate in the West Bank, standing at 79 percent in comparison do not meet the national standards of were delayed and 11 applications were with 25 percent.xvii water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities denied. Four children, all under the age Although the overall acute under-nutrition rates and chronic under-nutrition rates for in schools. This has impacted 172,000 of three years died while waiting for the children under five years of age remain low in the oPt, pockets of vulnerability continue students in the West Bank, 50 percent appropriate permits to travel outside of to exist. Among herding communities in Area C of the West Bank, 5.9 percent of children of whom are girls, and 79,000 students Gaza in 2010.xxi under five years of age are wasted or severely underweight for their height; 15.3 percent in Gaza, almost 50 percent of whom are In the West Bank, the more than are underweight for their age and 28.5 percent are stunted or short for their age.xviii girls. During the preliminary survey for 500 obstacles to movement, including The vast majority of the Palestinian people have access to safe drinking water; water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) the “Barrier,” checkpoints, and other 8 9 obstacles, hinder children’s access to employed children were classified as information technology, which is a Jean Gough is the Special Representative basic services. Documentation from unpaid family members (93.6 percent positive developmental issue. According of UNICEF in the occupied Palestinian 2010 indicates an increasing number females, 63.9 percent males), compared to PCBS, 95 percent of children aged territory. For over 15 years, she has been of incidents in which students were with 28.1 percent who were employed as between 10 and 17 used computers a promoter and an advocate of children’s hampered from accessing their schools paid and working for others (2.7 percent in 2009, up from 70.7 percent in 2006. rights worldwide. and learning was disrupted, or where the females and 32.4 percent males). Homes continue to be the primary place safety of students was compromised. Data also show that 50.3 percent of where children use computers (62.1 Moreover, in 2010, there were 24 employed children were working in the percent), followed by schools (24.2 i Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism, “On Grave documented attacks on schools by agriculture sector, and 24.1 percent percent). Violations Against Children in Armed Conflict in Israel/ settlers, Israeli forces, and unknown oPt.,” 2010. were employed in trade, restaurants, In 2009, more than 63 percent of young ii Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics (PCBS), armed Palestinian groups, which resulted and hotels. people across the oPt aged 15–29 owned “Palestinian Household Expenditure and Consumption in damage to schools or other types of Survey (PECS),” 2009. In Gaza, children are placing their lives a mobile phone (67 percent in the West interruptions in education or which placed iii National Insurance Institute of Israel. at risk in order to support their families by Bank and 57 percent in Gaza), up from the children’s safety at risk.xxii iv Ministry of Education and Higher Education, 2010 engaging in dangerous labour, including 34.9 percent in 2004. However, there is v PCBS, “Millennium Development Goals, Statistical With the increased shrinking space the collection of gravel and scrap metal difference in gender access to mobile Report,” 2009. across the West Bank, children continue phones. Males had greater access to vi UNICEF, “State of the World’s Children (SOWC) in abandoned settlements and industrial Report,” 2010. Data covers 2003–2008. to face threats of displacement as a zones near the border area. In 2010, 26 mobile phones (72.7 percent), while only vii Ministry of Education and Higher Education, 2010. result of house demolition, eviction and/or children between the ages of 13 and 17 53.3 percent of females had access to viii Ministry of Education and Higher Education, Statistics stop-work orders. In 2010, more than 425 were shot and injured by Israeli forces mobile phones. Department, 2010. Palestinian structures were demolished xxv ix UNICEF and Ministry of Education and Higher while collecting gravel. UNICEF continues to work with Education, Fact Sheet, 2010. in Area C and East Jerusalem, including Children in detention are of particular a wide range of partners, including x PCBS. “Family Health Survey,” 2006. 133 residential structures, leaving at concern. As of November 2010, there the Palestinian Authority, NGOs, UN xi UNICEF, SOWC, 2010. least 594 people, including 299 children xii World Health Organization, “Addressing the Health were 228 Palestinian children held in agencies, universities and research homeless. More than 2,500 others were Situation in the oPt,” June 2006. Israeli detention, including one boy who organisations, donors, and the media xiii PCBS, “MDG Statistical Report,” 2009. affected in other ways, including loss of remains in administrative detention after to mitigate the impact on children of xiv FAO, “Farming without Land, Fishing Without Water,” livelihood due to the demolitions. Forced May 2010. having been detained without charges the occupation and intra-Palestinian displacement is a reality that continues xv Ministry of Health. for over ten months. During 2010, divisions, and to prevent further to affect the lives and well-being of xvi OCHA, Humanitarian Monitor, July 2010. there were 90 documented cases of deterioration in their well-being. xvii UNICEF, UNRWA, and WFP, “Food Security and hundreds of families every year.xxiii ill treatment and torture of Palestinian In the oPt, UNICEF works to improve Nutrition Survey of Herding Communities in Area ‘C’,” More than 714 demolition, eviction, or children in Israeli detention and one case the quality of early childhood care and April 2010. stop-work orders were issued or renewed xviii Ibid. under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian development services and primary xix UNICEF-Palestinian Hydrology Group (PHG) WASH against residential and non-residential Preventative Security Forces. Twenty- education; to advance access to and Monitoring Programme, 2009. structures in the West Bank, Area C, four children were below the age of quality of health and nutrition services; to xx UNICEF-PHG WASH Household Survey, Gaza 2009. and East Jerusalem, affecting a total of fifteen years, including two ten-year-olds upgrade water and sanitation services for xxi WHO, 2010. xxii Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism on Grave 2,975 people, including 1,180 children. and one seven-year-old. In more than the most vulnerable children and families; Violations Against Children and Armed Conflict in Israel/ Seventeen percent of the orders were seventy-five cases the excessive or to build a protective environment for oPt. 2010. demolition orders, 68 percent were extended use of hand-ties and blindfolds children; and to provide adolescents with xxiii Ibid. stop-work orders, and 14 percent were were reported, sixty-two children reported opportunities for constructive participation xxiv Ibid. eviction orders.xxiv xxv Ibid. being beaten; thirty-five children reported towards nation building. xxvi Ibid. Due to increased poverty rates and position abuse and sixteen children movement restrictions, children are were kept in solitary confinement. In forced to join the labour market, many three cases, children reported the use Photo by: UNICEF-oPt/El Baba. carrying out hazardous jobs. The results of electric shocks on their bodies, and of PCBS labour force survey data (second four children reported being threatened quarter 2010) show that the percentage with electric shocks in the course of of employed children, whether paid or their interrogation, which resulted in unpaid, amounted to 4.6 percent of the confessions under duress.xxvi total number of children (7.2 percent in Despite the many challenges children the West Bank and 0.6 percent in Gaza). face, there is a growing trend among Statistics also show that 68.2 percent of children and young people to access

10 11

viewers of all ages. What would happen if children in Palestine grow up without even The Ritual of Reading the oral tradition were to be reintroduced being introduced to the world of reading. By Paola Handal-Michael and reading were to be added to it? What Furthermore, the few public libraries that would happen to the education of our exist are poorly stocked with children’s It’s about 7 in the evening and things are making up stories and telling them to their children and their development? reading materials. These libraries focus starting to slow down around the house. children. As I was growing up, my cousins only on lending books and do not seem to Both kids have finished homework and are and I were mesmerised by our grandmother The role played by the community have any activities that would encourage freshly bathed, and I am buzzing around as she made up her stories and took us It is obvious that the education of the child children to read. Invariably, the problem is picking up a few things and cleaning up on all kinds of fantastic journeys to her is vital for the existence of any progressive left to the school teachers to solve. after dinner. Soon, all activity will cease homeland of Palestine. This beautiful oral society, as it is the child who will grow into One of the reasons that teachers should and I will melt onto the couch for the tradition has changed drastically with the adulthood for society’s very survival and be eager to foster a love for reading among blissful time of reading to my kids. Lara introduction of televisions and computers continuity. After many years as a teacher, their students is that in modern society has her Hug-A-Book at-home reading into Palestinian households. Nowadays, I feel strongly that it should be the concern literacy and knowledge are essential. In programme and Alex has his mandatory family members sit in circles around these of everybody to contribute constructively being able to read well, children have 20-minute reading a night. Each child has electrical devices that have taken the to the development of each child. In more of a chance to develop a life-long a request but regardless of what books we place of the grandmothers and aunts. The Palestine, however, some children grow habit of reading. For this reason, more read this evening, it will be a time when human interaction and inter-generational up in homes with little or no experience attention should be paid to reading. we are all on the same page. This ritual relationships which communicated the in reading because of the widespread Reading should be embedded into all will hopefully create the roots for a lifelong wisdom of the past and fused it with the stresses of occupation, poverty, and levels of the school curriculum. At both love of reading. reality of the present and the hope for the the inability of some parents to acquire the pre-primary and primary school levels A love of reading is beneficial to everyone, future have been replaced with passive reading materials for their children. Many specific reading periods ranging from regardless of culture. Being of Palestinian origin and growing up in two cultures simultaneously has helped me acquire not only this quality but also a love for the oral tradition. Reading, as well as listening to stories, has enriched my life, and I am working on making sure that my children experience this as well. Unfortunately, not many Palestinian children are exposed nowadays to either experience. Why? Is it that TV and computer screens are replacing the fascinating world of pages? Is it that books are too expensive? Is it that the school curriculum is so rigid that it doesn’t incorporate reading for pleasure? Is it a lack of bookstores or libraries? Is it that there are so few children’s books written in an Arabic language that children can understand? Or is the occupation a possible reason for the weakening of the education system?

Oral tradition Palestinians are storytellers, and Palestinian culture is very much an oral culture. My love of literature and reading stems from the fact that not only were my parents avid readers, but my maternal grandmother was an excellent storyteller like many Palestinian grandmothers, aunts, and even mothers who had the habit of Photo by Ayman Moqbel. 14 15 fifteen to thirty minutes should be slotted on the timetable. Reading/comprehension could be a stand-alone subject, and children should be taught not only to learn to read but also to read to learn for self-enhancement, experience-sharing, and recreation. One must also note that Arabic, classical Arabic that is, is not the spoken language, and reading to children in the classical language may pose a problem. The parent or teacher may have to explain Reading at home a lot of words and constructions. This Ah, the ritual of reading! So important, makes it a chore and not a fun activity. The so relaxing, so simple. Yet many parents other problem a parent or any adult reading and Palestinians in general have neither to children may have is the lack of original the money nor the budget to buy books. literature written specifically for children. Reading is solely a school activity for most As I was looking for books in Arabic for parents. It cannot be separated from the my kids, I saw that most were translations curriculum and thus cannot be experienced of stories from other languages and rarely as a fun activity. touched upon Palestinian culture. In In addition, parents today are very busy Palestine there are not a lot of bookstores as they struggle to provide for their families that have a variety of children’s literature in during these tough economic times and a form of Arabic that is close to the spoken within this oppressive political situation. language and that can be inviting for If families were able to spare the time to children. My former colleague told me that read with their children and put aside a what keeps her from fulfilling her dream of budget for books, society as a whole would writing children’s books is the “expected” reap the many benefits: fostering a love attack on her by the purists who would for literature; improving language, speech accuse her of slaughtering the Arabic development, vocabulary, grammar, and language. Accordingly, and unfortunately, I sentence structure. Even before they can find myself and many others like me buying understand the spoken or printed word, only English books for our children to read. children are able to experience the rhythm The vast majority of reading material in and melody of the language. school libraries is foreign and sometimes unsuitable for the needs of society. For far Conclusion too long there has been a dearth of locally published reading books in schools. The habit of reading nourishes curiosity, creativity, and imagination. Most importantly, Finally, most schools in Palestine lack kids and parents can use reading time as qualified staff to run reading programmes bonding time. It’s an excellent opportunity for because of the non-availability of funds one-on-one communication, and it gives kids to pay for books and professional the attention they crave. Reading may begin development. Palestinians cannot with simple ABC books and grow into wild compare themselves to the populations of sagas of heroes and fairy tales. It’s never developed nations such as Canada or the too soon or too late to begin a family reading United States when it comes to resources routine, and the benefits will last a lifetime. or teaching strategies since the issue surpasses the availability of material. This Paola Handal-Michael, originally from reality should not force Palestinians into a Bethlehem, worked as an educator for state of apathy where they abandon efforts nine years in Palestine and is currently to improve their society. living in Toronto, Canada.

16 There was a time when meadow, grove, and stream, visionary splendour. This “purity” The earth, and every common sight, diminishes and loses its bluntness To me did seem as time goes by. The initial vision Apparell’d in celestial light, becomes jaded, corrupt, and loses The glory and the freshness of a dream. its lustre. The ability to discourse It is not now as it hath been of yore;— with oneself and nature dissolves Turn wheresoe’er I may, into an apathetic world-weary By night or day, view through the supremacy of The things which I have seen I now can see no more. logic, realism, and pragmatism. “Intimations on Immortality,” William Wordsworth The loss of vision, “the glory and the dream,” is a natural aspect of “maturing” into responsible Childhood, Parenting, and Poetry adulthood. The social roles adults The Scars of Love step into as parents, providers, By Dr. Ali Qleibo friends, and spouses weigh them Dr. Ali Qleibo and daughter Aida. down and alienate them from the First love is a grandiose beginning Parenting is a means to explore initial vision. Yet everyone retains The song “Ya Habyby qul li akhret jarhi that heralds the end of childhood; a memory, which is inextricably a limited ability, albeit variable, to eh…” (Oh my beloved, tell me what will be raging fire whose flame never dies. connected to the understanding of experience the sublime through the end of my wound) is a thematic variation Henceforth it lies in hiding, out of place our human condition, the restructuring art, literature, and music. Parents of the classic Arabic love discourse that and out of time, sacrosanct in its refuge of identity, and ultimately the creation reconnect to their own childhood characterised mid-twentieth-century Arabic in the recesses of our memory. We of meaning. Through our children we visionary ideals through their cultural expression. The exquisite welding plan our lives according to a vision reconnect with life, for our children children. of word to music in the love songs and the that we had in our childhood, and we bask in the existential splendour of In looking after one’s children, outstanding recitals by the reigning divas of find that life alters our plans. As adults, pure being. in nurturing them, one may trace the period gave these recitals instant classic with hindsight, we come to realise that I had always harboured the desire to the transformation experienced stature. These masterpieces, written by our dream was our fate. It is just that walk along the wild beach that stretches in one’s own maturing process. renowned poets, form the rich heritage in providence had other ideas as to how from the Carmel to Atlit and cry to the The psycho-sexual emotional which new generations continue to find an we would get there. Destiny plans a sound of the cascading waves that metamorphosis from a young child embodiment for their sweeping emotions; different route and turns the dream thrash forcefully against the lonely to a well-adjusted adult involves the the first love. The invariant thematic around as if it were a riddle and fulfils coast. One fine day I drove up to Haifa parent in a redrafting of his/her own revolves on the tribulations of love, its brief our dream in the most unexpected way. with Aida, my daughter who was barely definition and meaning of personal joy and its everlasting wounds. Childhood is a mixture of happiness, 12 years old at the time, to stay for a few identity. In sharing our children’s The metaphors of “first love” swept the wonder, angst, and resilience. It is a days at my favourite monastery with the discovery of the novels, poems, Arabic consciousness in the mid-fifties time of playing, learning, socialising, Rosary Sisters. I took her along for the music, and songs that have shaped following the great classic directed by exploring, and worrying; it is a time of walk. It was a Monday. The beach was our identity, we rediscover our Husam El Din Mustapha, Al Wisadah al learning about responsibilities without empty and forlorn. We walked, stood, visionary ideals and transcend our Khaaliah (The Empty Pillow). The scenario being encumbered by adult duties. pondered into the horizon and watched hurt and grief. Parenting, therefore, is based on the novel by Ihsan Abed el Childhood is a time of innocence, an the November clouds drift in the sky... becomes a means to explore Quddus and describes an unhinging stormy memory and identity through art, exquisite time of beauty and growth, “Why don’t you cry?” Aida asked. I love story in which the young lovers part literature, and music. a time when one can see the world had told her of my longing to cry on ways, are forced to marry other partners, through untainted eyes. It is also the beach whose desolation mirrored Every now and then Aida acquires and learn to settle down to a conventional a transitional period in human life my sense of grief. a new list of favourite songs that life that is rational and sane. But the trauma that widens individual awareness of she plays constantly during our of the first love remains an open wound that Not a single tear dropped! pain and of suffering. The childhood long rides in the countryside haunts their lives with a deep longing for glory of nature and life dissolves as The child’s vitality allows for an and our daily morning rides to an unattainable ideal. These Arabic films the adolescent child matures into unrestrained immersion in life. A school. We had just listened for parallel American genre movies, among adulthood. The visionary dream is lost. child is gifted with a heightened the thousandth time to Aida’s which Splendor in the Grass stands out. sense of marvel at life’s beauty and Disappointments, hurt, and frustrated newly discovered song by Najat In conjunction with British romantic a spontaneous vision of the sublime. expectations alienate the child from his El Saghira, which has joined her poetry and novels and Russian and French The delight and awe, the élan vital, visionary state with a corollary sense repertoire of favourite love songs literature, the consciousness of middle- endows his/her first experiences with of grief over lost innocence. that give words to her first love. class, urban Arab adolescents of the 1940s

18 19 was steeped in a deep languorous (al jarh) of love became the dominant “wound” (el jarh) to include concepts O weh! Das schneid’t so tief longing for the encounter with the themes. Poets and musicians, steeped such as el-azab (suffering), herman, O woe! It cuts so deeply unknown lover (el habib el majhul), in Western music and literature, vied the inability to consummate the desire In jede Freud’ und jede Lust. which – in the fifties – became the with each other and “custom-tailored” for the loved one, kabt (repression)… first love (el hob el awwal) to become both lyrics and music for each diva These words provided the thematic for Into every joy and delight. the great love (el hob el kebeer) in describing the various moments of love, the Arabic novels, films, poems, and Though the musical idiom and poetic subsequent decades. These themes its woes and its joys. This was the belle songs of the period. The thesis proffered metaphors are culturally determined are epitomised respectively with Layla époque of Arabic music. the human condition as that of grief, el- and, as such, may vary cross-culturally, Murad’s song, “Ana ‘Albi Dalyly” (My The masterful recitals of the great azab. Suffering is human destiny. The both German lieder and Arabic bel Heart Is My Guide). See link on the divas have bequeathed to us a rich individual with the propensity to love, canto tarab evoke structurally deep Web version. legacy of songs which has come to as vulnerable to hurt and suffering, human pathos in the listener. In With the death of the great musicians, constitute the main body of Arabic found its ultimate expression in the both European and Arabic culture poets, and most of the divas, the classical music. The first audience great song of Abdel Halim Hafez, the metaphoric wound denotes the demise of the Arab bourgeoisies, consisted of the adults of my parents’ “Maw’ud bel azab” (Destined to be condition of thwarted love. and following the massive brain drain generation. Eighty years later these Hurt), composed by two geniuses, the My daughter Aida, now fourteen sustained by the Arab world, the golden songs remain a richly diversified poet Abdel Rahman Abanudi and the years old – the age at which I had age of Arabic culture dissolved into repertoire that our adolescent children musician Baligh Hamdi. The individual immersed myself in reading Gibran mediocrity. The age of geniuses has rediscover and identify with. Through is seen as unhinged by love, driven Khalil Gibran and Herman Hesse passed away. our children, through Aida, I relive the by his heart beyond reason into the – finds the epitome of her vague In choice of words, attitude, and tone music and poetry that long ago gave abyss of desperate melancholy with longings and her first love in the very along with symbols and images, the lyrical words and melodious tunes to art, music, and imagination as the sole same songs that were composed in masterpieces of Um Kulthum, Abdel my own adolescent angst and shaped means of self-redemption. The theme the middle of the twentieth century for Wahab, Abdel Halim Hafez, Najat El my identity and vision of life. has its precursor in the music and lyrics the generation of her grandmother and Saghira, Fayzeh Ahmad, Wardah, Adolescent angst finds its expression of Mohammad Abdel Wahab and Farid that had shaped my vision of love and and Fairuz gave voice to the emotions through metonymic displacement in el Atrash. life. It is with great joy that I re-evaluate of millions of Arabic speakers. The the all-inclusive concept of love. The Arabic romantic sensibility is highly my own individual history through the “ecstasy” and metaphoric “wound” metaphors range from the key word indebted to nineteenth-century rediscovery of these noble emotions by romanticism running the gamut from my adolescent child. Najat El Saghira’s Keats and Baudelaire through Goethe’s song combines both lyrics and music Werther and Mahler’s lieder (classical by the poet El Habruk Ismael and the European songs), especially “The musician Mohammad el Muji in an Songs of the Wayfarer.” Western exquisite recital, http://forum.egypt. influence did not stop at the level com/arforum/media/6339.mp3. of integrating European musical Ya Habyby tell me what is the end of instruments (such as the piano, violin, my wound. or guitar into the Arabic orchestra,) but My heart has been wounded for a was also inspired by the European long time poetic discourse and metaphors of A wound that will not heal… love. Beyond the cultural aesthetic difference between a German lieder I consoled myself that in two or three and the Arabic tarab, bel canto songs, days I would forget. the metaphor of love as a deep wound Forget the sweetest days next to him. is constant. Mahler’s lieder entitled My whole life has passed … and yet “Ich hab’ein glühend Messer” (I Have a Gleaming Knife) is representative of I live time living in his love… the genre. The song reaches higher pitches when she discourses with her heart. Ich hab’ein glühend Messer, You are the one who fell in love I have a red-hot knife, And I am the one to suffer Ein Messer in meiner Brust, You are the one who edges me to love A knife in my breast, The Glow and the Dream. And I am the one who cries

20 21 And yet you tell me you still harbour wishes Oh poor heart, stop your self- deception The years have passed And lo many years will follow Going daily to sleep in torment And waking up with longing… For the way we were A long time ago Ya Habyby… What do I do! As the melody faded away I sighed involuntarily. “How strange! Though I feel every word of the song,” I told Aida, “I cannot recall any face to connect my feelings with.” “This is what happens with artists dad, they love, and once it is over they move on. They quickly forget.” She added, “Of course you had loved Photo by Emile Ashrawi. mom…” I looked at her: a child stepping into Thanks to the human heart by which “I loved your mom but not with this tunes to one’s inner music, once one adulthood. we live, is in discourse with one’s heart, once love. I had a long life before her.” “You are very lucky! You are young Thanks to its tenderness, its joys, one risks being vulnerable and opens “Let’s be realistic. Such deep love and beautiful. You will fall in love over and fears, one’s heart to love and hurt, once exists only in songs and in romantic one embraces the fragile child deep and over again. Life lies ahead of you To me the meanest flower that blows movies.” After a moment of silence, with all its magic and promise.” within: then and only then can one she added, “These songs are very well- can give live a full life. crafted and transport one into their own Our children delight and torment Thoughts that do often lie too deep us, they enthral and suffocate, they All our life – the joys and level of reality. No one could experience for tears. misfortunes, the great expectations this range of emotions, and yet the song inspire and frustrate, they liberate and stifle, they represent our greatest joy Though thwarted and frustrated and disappointments, the love and conjures the feeling as though it were grief – finds redemption in the music and can become the source of our by life, through the altruistic love of our very own!” within our soul. All else is metaphor. greatest pain; we suffer and love them, our children, our discourse with our “Love exists. I still remember crying and as time goes by they take over to deepest emotions, with our heart, for nights on end desperately waiting transform us into joyful spectators of resumes. In the greatest love of all Dr. Ali Qleibo is an anthropologist, author, and artist. A specialist in the social history for the daylight to break tormented the new life in the making; a mirror one is able to transcend one’s sense of of Jerusalem and Palestinian peasant by the doubt whether my love was image that echoes our memories of battered alienation and grief to reach culture, he is the author of Before the ever reciprocated or whether I was a life as it once was for us, with all its out beyond one’s longing to the purity plaything of my lover. I have been hurt of the initial sublime vision. Mountains Disappear, Jerusalem in mystery, splendour, sense of marvel, the Heart, and the recently published and I have grieved for a long time.” Life is a grandiose melody and magic. In our unconditional love Surviving the Wall, an ethnographic that sweeps each of us with its Aida drifted away with her thoughts we rediscover the open scars of all chronicle of contemporary Palestinians trying to imagine her middle-aged our love tucked away in the folds orchestration, timbre, rhythm, and and their roots in ancient Semitic father as a young man in love. of our memories. Literature, music, tempo (be it adagio, largo, andante, civilisations. His filmic documentary “Do you remember the day we went and poetry mediate and condition vivace, presto, or back a tempo). about French cultural identity, Le Regard to the beach in Haifa?” The realisation our recapture of the past as we Life’s crescendos and decrescendos, de L’Autre was shown at the Jerusalem came to me in a flash. “You are the experience the present. In “Intimations its twists and turns, its solos and International Film Festival. Dr. Qleibo balsam that has healed my wound. Your on Immortality,” William Wordsworth tuttis parallel every move we make lectures at Al-Quds University. He can be love returned my happiness to me.” succinctly concludes, and every step we take. Once one reached at [email protected].

22 23 prisons and children in conflict with the conflict with the law and to their families; Present and Future: Palestinian law, advocate for their rights, producing advocacy materials about The Urgency of Children’s Rights in Palestine and seek accountability from primary discriminatory Israeli governmental and duty-bearers); and to empower (through military policies; and strengthening the By Rifat Odeh Kassis capacity-building initiatives and work with programmatic capacities of child-focused Our children are our future. of discrimination. In our work and our others, e.g., networking, coordination, community-based organisations working advocacy, we prioritise the child’s best and cooperation with other governmental alongside us in the Palestinian context. This is a common idea, easily borrowed and non-governmental bodies). for slogans and sayings; an idea with interests above all, and emphasise And what does this context contain? which, I suspect, most people in the world children’s own right to participation: we DCI-PS’s legal and advocacy work In other words, what is the reality would agree. encourage and act upon the belief that seeks – among many other goals – to experienced by Palestinian children, improve the protective environment and what are the primary obstacles to But our children are our present, children themselves are fully capable of articulating their needs, of participating in for children within the jurisdiction of the true fulfilment of their rights? too. The problems they encounter, the the Palestinian Authority (this includes challenges they face, reveal a diagnosis the social processes that honour those The detention policies of the Israeli needs, and thus of acting as true agents assisting in developing a Palestinian state. Among the most egregious aspects of the problems and challenges afflicting juvenile justice system in accordance with society itself. of social change. of Israel’s detention policy overall is international standards); monitoring and its treatment of child prisoners. While Sixty-three years into Israeli occupation, Our work at DCI-PS is structured documenting the conditions of children in according to our three central roles: to military regulations active in the occupied the state of Palestinians’ human rights detention within both the PA and Israeli Palestinian territories (oPt) technically document (we have a monitoring and is grave, and the state of Palestinian systems; representing Palestinian minors define a child of 16 as an adult (and while observing role); to defend (we provide children’s rights is graver still. In a in Israeli military courts; providing legal this in itself defies the UN Convention legal representation for children in Israeli situation dominated by military control, and psychological support to children in on the Rights of the Child, which defines violence, intimidation, fragmentation, and the violation of basic rights to free movement, education, health services, and so forth, all Palestinians have seen their liberties constantly violated and denied – and children, growing up in this atmosphere with all the toxins it contains, are the most severely affected. Defence for Children International – Palestine Section (DCI-PS) seeks to provide resources, support, empowerment, and hope to Palestinian children and their families in the midst of this environment. DCI-PS is the Palestinian chapter of the international DCI movement, which works to protect and promote children’s rights through 45 national sections across the globe. Founded in 1991 and staffed by a dedicated team of employees and volunteers, our main office is located in Ramallah, though we work throughout the West Bank, including East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Our vision is a Palestinian community that is fit for all children: a community that is free and independent; a community in which justice, equality, and respect for human dignity prevail; and a community in which children can enjoy and exercise their human rights without any kind Schoolchildren in Hebron. Photo by Mahmoud Ja’bari.

24 25 an adult as 18 years old), in practice, juvenile justice system: the mechanisms children as young as 12 are tried in that exist for dealing with children in military courts, with 14-year-olds often conflict with the law are outdated, and its being tried as adults. Children are protection methods and resources do not routinely grouped with adults in detention, meet international standards. and neither Israel nor the PA has juvenile I could go on. The problems are courts. Starting from the Second Intifada, seemingly endless; the violations are Israel began to utilise administrative appalling; our present reality is, clearly, detention against children; since that a troubled one. time, too, the arrest and detention of Yet working with DCI-PS – with my children has become more rampant and impassioned colleagues, with other systemic, with around 350 to 430 child organisations determined to make a prisoners held each month. difference, with children themselves As of December 2010, there were 213 and their remarkable strength – reminds children in detention; 30 were between me every day that we must not resign 12 and 15 years old; one child was held ourselves to this reality. Indeed, we under administrative detention (which Children from Jenin. Photo by Yousef Abu Jaas. must change it. And we can, little by means being arrested and detained little, child by child, family by family, with neither charge nor trial, justified by interrogated in the absence of their entrenched social stigmas that prevent lawyer by lawyer, law by law … in administrative order instead of judicial parents. families from openly addressing such collecting affidavits from children and decree). The most common charge for ensuring that their voices be heard; in Settler violence. During the period problems. Even when addressed, many children in detention is stone-throwing. representing children in court who would from March 2008 to July 2010, DCI-PS cases of domestic abuse are mediated As of October 2010, Jerusalem police not otherwise have been defended; in documented 222 settler attacks against informally and never reach official are implementing a policy of increased/ advocating internationally for the rights Palestinians, causing 364 injuries – 93 of institutions or trained professionals. extended house arrest for children of children in, for example, Gaza, a them suffered by children. Half of these Lack of effective protection. Within charged with throwing stones, as well as place so painfully inaccessible to most attacks occurred in or around the city of the PA, the legislative framework high fines for their families, in an attempt of us in person and so easily neglected Hebron. In investigations/analyses of that regulates child protection at the to “discourage” this activity. by the world; in collaborating with both 38 such attacks against children, it was domestic level is both outdated and Violence and abuse during detention. governmental bodies and other NGOs found that settlers opened fire in 13 of poorly enforced. Although the PA In addition to regularly suffering similar to gradually effect changes in the very the cases (killing 3 children, injuring 10); adopted the Palestinian Child Law in abuses as adult prisoners – beatings, institutions – and mentalities – that exist in 8 cases, soldiers participated, ignored 2004, an important first step toward humiliation, being painfully shackled, etc. with respect to children’s rights; it is clear the events, or punished the victims rather the condemnation of violence against – child prisoners are subjected to many that we are all, both children and adults, the attackers. children, the scope of this legislation is tactics designed to exploit their young growing and changing. Targeted shootings. Each day in the limited in terms of the protection it actually age and intimidate them into confessions. There is a great deal of work to be done north of Gaza, close to the border fence provides. For example, it does not These illegally obtained confessions are before we can confidently say that we that separates it from Israel, scores of stipulate precise penalties for violations often used as evidence in the military have “a Palestinian community that is fit boys and men search for building gravel of the law, nor does it adequately allocate court system, leading to the convictions of for all children.” In the meantime, when and other materials that could be used responsibilities among primary duty- about 700 Palestinian children each year. we remember that our children are both for construction – another consequence bearers. In Silwan, a flashpoint neighbourhood in our present and our future, we can work of the blockade and its accompanying The Ministry of Social Affairs is the main East Jerusalem (22 homes are under together in sharing our experiences, shortage of work and resources. During body responsible for overseeing the oPt’s threat of demolition by the Jerusalem energies, and abilities to strengthen both. municipality, and the neighbourhood the period between 26 March and 23 child protection mechanism, but it doesn’t I invite you to visit the DCI-PS website, contains particularly virulent settlement December, DCI-PS documented 23 have a sufficient number of protection www.dci-pal.org, to learn more about activity), 76 percent of children arrested cases of children who had been shot by centres or officers under its supervision our work – and about the children we report that they were subjected to some Israeli soldiers while collecting gravel to fully accommodate the number of are working for. form of physical violence during arrest, between 50 and 800 meters from the children who require protection; likewise, transfer, or interrogation. Their reports border fence. collaboration with other governmental and non-governmental bodies (e.g., Rifat Odeh Kassis is president of Defence include accounts of slapping, punching, Domestic abuse. Many cases of for Children International Executive kicking, beating with a rifle, and having physical and psychological violence, to strengthen inter-ministerial child protection policy) leaves much to be Council – Geneva, and general director their hands painfully restrained for including sexual abuse, go unreported of Defence for Children International – hours at a time. Children are routinely within the oPt – often due to deeply desired. The oPt also lacks an adequate Palestine Section.

26 27 workers aim to raise awareness about and young people in the village have Disabled Children Face a Hard Life people with disabilities. And it does make sexually abused a disabled child. Most By Sofie Hviid a difference, Ghada Naser explains. Local stories are never told, because there is a community institutions and individuals taboo on talking about sexual abuse. The Ahmad* was 13 years old before anyone black nails, and her unwashed hair was become more supportive of the work with teachers do not know how to approach the knew that he had autism. Most of his life one big tangle. the disabled and more aware of their rights families. Sexual abuse is not something and needs. Recently Star Mountain was you can talk to the family about because had been spent in a small room at the top Even though the cases of Aisha and of the house, isolated from the rest of the financially unable to continue to provide it is considered an honour issue. Most Ahmad are some of the more severe the children with a daily meal, so they families would rather risk that the abuse family. His parents would tie his hands examples, the general situation for people behind his back to prevent him from hurting approached the community. Through the of their child continue than risk that the with intellectual disabilities is very difficult. community’s response, they have now abuse become common knowledge. It is a himself. The only furniture in his small Many people in Palestine do not even room was a thin mattress where he would secured the means to provide this meal. cultural problem, and the disabled cannot know what special education is. When you They receive donations from an egg farm expect to get help from the politicians on lie and stare at the wall all day. His brothers talk about children with special needs most and sisters would barely have any contact and factories that provide food every week. this issue since it is not yet fully perceived people think about children with physical This is considered to be a direct result of as an urgent priority to work on, Ghada with him, and he would spend almost all handicaps. Nobody talks about intellectual his time on his own. disabilities and there is no awareness Ahmad’s story is, sadly enough, not about what these children need. Children unique. His parents face the same with intellectual disabilities are invisible problems as many other parents with which makes working with them and their intellectually disabled children. Most parents very difficult. people in Palestine have no knowledge or Many parents do not cooperate with the awareness about people with intellectual school as much as they could. Children disabilities and what a child with autism need training at home too, but in most needs. Ghada Naser, the director of cases this does not happen even though Star Mountain Rehabilitation Center it would be a significant help towards for intellectually disabled children in children’s development. A disabled child Ramallah, explains how they face many takes up a lot of time and many families challenges, as with the case of Ahmad. do not feel that they have this extra time. In “It is much more difficult for people with Palestine it is normal to have big families, intellectual disabilities than for those with and the mother has many responsibilities; physical disabilities. Many people regard making food for the family, cleaning the people with intellectual disabilities as house, and taking care of many children mad. We have found several children take up a lot of her time. Palestinian with intellectual disabilities who were families face many difficulties, and every kept hidden by their families. Parents are day can often be a struggle because of ashamed, they fear being stigmatised, and poverty and unemployment. Therefore the some even think that a disabled child is a mother might think that she has the right The students spend time outside every day where they can play with the children from the other classes. punishment from God.” to sacrifice her disabled child to serve the the awareness-raising work within the Nasser explains. A few years ago 20-year-old Aisha needs of her other children even though community. “The issue was raised on a national was found in a stairwell under the house this sounds harsh and cruel. The lack of awareness has other and far governmental level, and one of the where her parents had been hiding her This is one of the reasons that more tragic consequences for disabled suggestions to “protect” a girl with for her whole life. She was discovered community work is so important. Teachers children, as they are much more at disabilities was to remove her uterus by coincidence by the community visit the families and the members of risk of being abused by people around so that if the girl were abused, at least workers at Star Mountain. Along with the community and try to change their them. In most cases, abuse of children she would not become pregnant. If other organisations for the disabled they perception of people with intellectual with disabilities remains hidden and has this is the attitude towards abuse of contacted the media and got them to put disabilities. Rehabilitation centres cannot no consequences since people with the disabled, it will be very difficult to pressure on the family. In the end everyone absorb everyone; thus community work disabilities are often unable to express change anything. Therefore some kind knew about the abuse and the parents can be a valuable means to reach more themselves. And even if they are, others of system of cooperation should exist had no choice but to open the door and people and train the families how to work will not believe them. The teachers at Star among the government, the NGOs, and let their daughter out. Naturally Aisha with their children. Mountain know of many stories where local communities so that people with looked terrible. She was filthy, with long Through these activities, community shopkeepers, relatives of the disabled, disabilities can be protected and that

28 29 families can get the help that they need.” children who are accepted into one of children who are too old or too sick to the political parties. When there is some kind Star Mountain Rehabilitation Centre is the centres for disabled children are very stay at one of the private institutions. of relative peace and things are working well one of the few places where families can lucky, but even these institutions cannot Some children even die because on a political level, then the social issues will be come to get help. Yet due to lack of space guarantee financial sustainability. their parents keep them isolated and tackled,” she says. and resources, many people are turned It is a big problem that there are no do not take care of them. Ms. Majida Al-Masri who is the Minister of away even though there are very few national organisations to take care of People with disabilities are simply Social Affairs in the Palestinian Authority admits other possibilities for help. There are no the intellectually disabled. Among the not a part of the political agenda in that the disabled are the responsibility of the public support services. In the Ramallah programme participants at Star Mountain Palestine. Yet even though this is the government. She promises that there will be area there are five institutions for children is a 55-year-old woman, though she is case, Ghada Naser does not blame more focus on the needs of the disabled in the with intellectual disabilities, but they are much too old to be there. She has nowhere the Palestinian government for the near future. all run by private organisations. A place else to go, and the situation in her home is lack of services and support. “Now we are working with NGO’s and the like Star Mountain relies on financial help terrible. She is beaten by her family, and “We are under occupation and still private sector to create a national plan for people from various organisations around the the few hours she spends at Star Mountain somehow independent. Internally with disabilities in the West Bank and Gaza. We world as well as from the income that four days a week are better than nothing. we have problems among our have a national board and a budget from the they can generate themselves by selling The problem is that people with intellectual political parties, so it is obvious that government that will allow us to research the products made by the disabled people disabilities are not integrated into society, the disabled will not be the priority. problems of the disabled and to begin to activate and by having guests stay at their guest and there are no jobs for them. On a The politicians will deal with how the law of the disabled. This will be within our house. The fact that there are not enough national level there are very few centres or to negotiate for peace and how to strategy and will be implemented in 2011–2013,” resources, however, is a big problem. The boarding schools that will take care of the improve the relationships among says the Minister of Social Affairs. The girl who was found in the stairwell is today staying at a private institution in Hebron. Although she is doing better, there are hundreds of cases like her throughout the country. In a refugee camp close to Ramallah two sisters who are intellectually disabled are being kept isolated and hidden away in their rooms. Even though people know about them, the family refuses to cooperate. And therefore no organisations can help them. One of them used to be a student at Star Mountain and she learned how to do many things by herself. Now all she does is pull out the hair from her head and eyebrows. No one knows what the future holds for these two girls.

Sofie Hviid is a Danish journalist who lived in Ramallah between August and December 2010. During that time she studied Arabic, pursued research for her thesis in journalism, and took classes at Birzeit University. Ms. Hviid worked as a volunteer in communications at Star Mountain. Article photos by Sofie Hviid.

Photo captions: 1 Ahmed uses the break to play ball with the other students. 2 Rania is in the class for children with autism at Star Mountain. 3 In the classes the teachers teach the children basic skills so that they can have as normal a life as possible. 4 Teaching the children basic skills.

*The names of the children in this article have been changed to protect their privacy. 30 31 every day – even if we don’t fit into the teachers, pupils, faith leaders, and I’m Palestinian and I’m Going to School Today class anymore. Now, we’re using the community volunteers in pursuit of one Madrasati Palestine library as an additional classroom. The common goal – renovating schools in school has too little space and the Israeli need. Hamza is 16 years old; he is in the student; they know I’m going to school. municipality refuses to give us permission The programme is modelled on final crucial years of his education. They are doing this on purpose. They to build another floor. Even so, I still Madrasati, an initiative started in Jordan He is a Palestinian. To simply get can’t stop me from going to my school; want to finish school here and become by Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah to school each day, he must cross it’s my right. Why shouldn’t I study in an engineer.” in 2008 to improve the quality of public several checkpoints, complete with their Jerusalem?” Despite the fact that education is a schools in the Kingdom. intimidating paraphernalia of conflict: The ordeal does not end here. Hamza’s highly valued asset in the Palestinian In an address during the launch of x-ray machines, soldiers with guns, school, Al Aqsa Shar’iyeh Secondary territories, its quality is declining. Dropout Madrasati Palestine in April 2010, Queen concrete bollards, barbed wire, police School for Boys, is located inside rates are increasing at an alarming rate: Rania outlined Her vision, discussed the dogs, and verbal, even physical, abuse. the Old City at the Haram al Sharif. more than 50 percent of Palestinian boys educational challenges in Jerusalem, Hamza begins his day at 5:00 a.m. Because of that, he must pass through who start school in Jerusalem never and set out the reasons for bringing Her and reaches the Qalandia checkpoint another checkpoint. He describes it as finish. Today, there are around 110,000 initiative to Palestine. Palestinian children out of primary school. at around 6:00 a.m. There he waits “humiliating and very offensive.” Queen Rania said: “We launch Ten years ago, this figure was just 4,000.

A boy going to school in Hebron. Photo by Mahmoud Ja’bari. Separation Wall at Abu Dis, Al-Quds. Photo by George Azar. patiently, like all Palestinians, for his turn “I was arrested when I was 10 years Madrasati (“my school” in Arabic) Madrasati Palestine from Jordan [today] to pass into Jerusalem. Waking up early old. It was a very cruel and unforgettable Palestine is a groundbreaking because Jordan has an historical role does not mean arriving at school early – experience. I will never forget how they programme to improve the quality of in preserving Jerusalem’s Arab identity sometimes the trip takes more than two took me to the police station in the Old education in disadvantaged public and protecting its holy shrines.” The hours, making him late for school. City and interrogated me, accusing me schools in East Jerusalem. At the heart of initiative combats the deteriorating “Sometimes we’re stuck,” he says, “and of throwing stones at the Israeli soldiers. Madrasati is a simple concept: it is about state of education in East Jerusalem by what hurts more is that we’re checked not I don’t even know if they had the right to sharing responsibility for our children’s renovating twenty of its disadvantaged once but twice. I can’t handle it when they do this to me.” Hamza adds, “This always education. Madrasati brings together the schools, under the auspices of the ask me to open my bag after scanning comes back to me. I think of it and it gives Ministry of Education, non-governmental Jordanian Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic it electronically. They know that I’m a me the determination to go to my school organisations, local businesses, parents, Affairs.

32 33 Left: Omar Ibn Abdel Azeez Girls School before and after rennovation. Bottom: Al-Ommah Secondary School before and after rennovation.

Using the same approach as Madrasati Jordan, Madrasati Palestine began renovating some of the public school infrastructure in East Jerusalem during the summer of 2010. The next phase – introducing educational programmes to enhance students’ academic and aesthetic knowledge – will begin in February 2011. There are two main components of Madrasati. School rehabilitation: Madrasati renovates the physical infrastructure of existing public schools to ensure that children can learn in safe, pleasant, and productive environments. Educational programmes: Madrasati partners with NGOs and other experts to identify how to embellish the school curriculum in the best possible way. This might include: teacher training, communications/technology support, health awareness initiatives, and entrepreneurship programmes. If you would like to learn more, please visit www.madrasati.org.

Article and photos courtesy of Madrasati Palestine.

34 TEDx: Celebrating Thought

“Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.” Pablo Picasso Perhaps the problem is unsolvable. Most of us, at some point, find our individual personalities, values, and dreams taking second place to putting food on the table. Yet it is too often accepted that our passions belong in a different box from the ones marked “career” or “adult responsibility.” The Picasso quote is taken from an inspiring lecture by Sir Ken Robinson, a British scholar and author, delivered at a 2006 conference in California, USA. In his speech Robinson accused the education system, and society at large, of “strip- mining” people for skills, commodifying their value in the same terms as we appropriate the world’s natural assets. He compared this approach to reverse evolution, stunting our potential in practically every field. This is not an original thought. Wage slaves across the world must doubt the value of their labour and suspect they are capable of something more. What is original is the concept of ideas for their own sake. Robinson was speaking at a TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) forum, an organisation renowned for challenging assumptions and recruiting the planet’s finest minds to give them voice. Created in 1984, with the intention of giving fresh insights on urgent or overlooked topics, TED talks have TedxRamallah-PalFest, Rgb. explored everything from black holes to the psychology of murderers. Their list of vetting process. In this way talks have have become accustomed to the cycle or elitism. At an event that could be filled former speakers is so illustrious that names been brought to Jakarta and Dubai in of top-down training, campaigning, and up five times over, we are recruiting those such as Bill Clinton and Stephen Hawking recent years. On 16 April, TEDx lands in complaining. who will contribute. barely stand out. Ramallah. This conference does not pretend to To any who feel that thoughts are worth In recent years the organisation has Palestinians have every right to be be a silver bullet. It makes no promises, little more than the air they briefly occupy, been criticised for apparent elitism, based jaded on hearing of a new international rather it makes demands. Attendance is consider that the brand TED is globally on ticket prices of $5000+ and the mere initiative in town, full of advice, ready to free, but attendees must contribute to the recognised and has influence proportional presence of so many weighty intellectuals solve everybody’s problems. How many exchange of ideas. The forum stands or to the prestige of its speakers. The niche is in the same room. Out of these concerns NGOs, aid groups, and cross-border falls on participation, on a willingness to be mainstream, a fact proven over and over by came TEDx, an offshoot that licences campaigns have really delivered on their involved actively, not passively. To address the enthusiasm of corporate sponsors. We local organisers around the world to stage stated intentions, justified their budgets, issues in a fresh, uninhibited way, free of are holding conversations with sponsors, their own events, pending a thorough or made any impact on quality of life? We political agendas. There is no exclusivity worried about the size of their logos, on 36 37 TedxRamallah, Youssef. how to impact the audience, not by logo, edge closer to fulfilment of our human but by their work in society, by inviting potential. them to brainstorm on how to tackle the Such a goal may seem dreamlike or community’s toughest questions. This intangible. If so it proves how dominated conference is an opportunity for us to we have allowed ourselves to become by influence major decision makers; how alien agendas. Nobody can take away much influence will be determined by the our freedom to think and question except quality of the event. By the quality of ideas. ourselves. This is not a foreign invasion. It is by Yet thought is nothing without dedication Palestinians, for Palestinians. Our workers to accompany it. “To respect is to prepare” are volunteers who believe in the value of is a mantra shared by many TED speakers; giving our population a voice that it is too one of whom famously spent six months often denied. It is our priority to find original preparing for her 18-minute speech. Our answers and questions in the major issues speakers in Ramallah will all share that that concern us; to harness our skills and respect for an institution which has come assets to shape the future. to represent the pinnacle of enlightened Yet we appeal to you more as humans debate. than Palestinians. As the Dalai Lama We have no doubt that the audience on preaches, it is the changes within that 16 April will leave with fresh ideas, fresh shape the outside world. Our attitude, how perspectives, and a renewed enthusiasm we think and feel, translates into actions for vital, overlooked issues. A mentality that that spread infinite ripples to whomever questions can be a powerful step towards and whatever we come into contact with. the ability to improve oneself and, by We must nurture hope, imagination, and extension, our society. Our ideas are the countless other qualities just to understand most valuable commodities we possess. what should change before we can take We must never grow out of having them. concrete steps toward it. We must give our minds a chance to influence our behaviour. Article provided courtesy of TEDx Not for any narrow political goal, but to Ramallah. 38 the children’s attention to their own and not merely as something in the Children’s Space inventiveness, to celebrate it and to future that is definitive and grand. What create an awareness and confidence in is interesting is that while the children Palestinian refugee camps challenge within reach. With a bleak professional the value of their contributions and ideas. started off with the same dream (“I want our thinking about space as a result of its future, in the case of the Lebanon to be a teacher,” “I want to travel”), the scarcity and the layered social practices refugees, and an urban setting that is a Dream unfolding of the dream revealed an that result from this reality. Since 2003, constant reminder of the temporariness Dream in the context of refuge is array of personal interpretations about we have been working with children from of their belonging to that place, a focus a reflection of what is possible: an the origin of the dream, enabling them Palestinian refugee camps, namely Burj on what is possible and within reach approved profession; what is desired: a to open up to diverse possibilities as to el Barajneh in Lebanon and Talbiyeh becomes paramount. return to Palestine; and what cannot be how to carry that dream forward. Camp in Jordan, two camps that differ Through workshops carried out with achieved: travel. The adult’s practical in their urban layout, density, and social The dreams reflect realities about the children 7 to 12 years old, we have mindset about what is possible for the norms as well as in the conditions borne children and their context: dreaming explored creative educational and children’s future defines the limit of the out of the context of the country in which of what is possible and dreaming of research methodologies that aim to children’s imagination and creates a they are located. What they do share is a being elsewhere. With 72 professions develop propositional and spatial hierarchy with respect to where it can lack of space – public space, in general, that they are not allowed to practice solutions to social issues specific to wander. (in Lebanon at the time the workshop and children’s space, in particular. their context and culture and in response The dream process aims to explore took place), children are faced with While the urban realities are to the power dynamics of the rights to the content of what is possible, to bring harsh realities at an early age, and so

Play Space, showing one of the children’s installations, Burj el Barajneh, Lebanon. overpowering, there is nevertheless space of various community groups. it closer to the present and achieve their spectrum of dream gets narrowed an opportunity to develop propositional This is achieved through facilitating parts of it in small steps. Through down to the best of the existing pot. The thinking about space that is inspired from dialogue for collecting, documenting, questions, mapping, drawing, and other teacher dream, where teaching is one existing social practices and from the and understanding the continuously creative tools, explored in a series of of the more sought-after professions children’s uninhibited creativity in its use. changing everyday practices within the workshops, the children unravel their made available through UNRWA The premise of our work has been camps, in the context of an evolving dreams to create “ingredients.” These schools, becomes a common trend. “thinking creatively in small scale and social and physical structure. The new fragments, named ingredients, While this is the overarching drive for within existing resources,” bringing the workshops, using creative tools initiate endless ideas that make them that dream, teaching revealed other attention of the children to the present, (mapping, photography, drawing, writing, see their dreams as an ongoing stories, such as Wajeeha’s wish to and focusing on what is possible and building, etc.), have aimed to bring process that takes place all the time, replace her Arabic teacher’s loud,

40 41 harsh tones with whispers and musical notes, power of what is hidden in a or Jamal’s wish to animate the learning process teacher’s bag, and he used through an exciting performance beyond water, spilling into the bag and learning by heart and repetition. rendering it transparent, as a The longing to travel, especially to the West, means to reveal that content. and, for more ideological reasons, to Palestine, Through the unfolding of reflects a detachment from the current place. their dreams, the children This absent sense of ownership or belonging on engaged with and touched the part of these children perhaps reflects their on rich political and social parents’ aspirations and their refusal to accept issues that reflect the absence their status as permanent. of the “public” in space and During the second workshop, the dream institutions such as theatres was brought closer to the context by bringing and museums. While doing so, children to explore the camp in relation to their it was obvious that there was ingredients. Mohammad, another teacher, another layer to explore that addressed a crucial topic in a place where water could open up to possibilities is scarce, through identifying the various points of overcoming that lack without Panel showing the creative process from the story of the child’s game to the site-specific design proposal, The Edge of Play project, of damaged and leaking infrastructure. He being hampered by the non- Talbiyeh Camp. then collected that excess water in bottles and existence of space. and washing lines) so as to create basis for understanding the children’s reused it to create a temporary water playground temporary playing fields, at various use of space. Play and drawing field. His initial dream of being a times of the day, turning a roof with The lack of space and the layering teacher was driven by his fascination with the While the dream process stretched washing lines and freshly of social practices in the camps open captures a remote thought washed clothes into a paper-plane up the discourse on public space and and brings it into the social airfield, a water pipe into a climbing define children’s play areas in a way and physical context of the pole, a staircase residual space into a that proposes alternatives where a present, during the course hiding pocket. The playfield becomes new “social-playground” emerges: of the dream project, it also physically fragmented around the a multi-use space which is shared opened up questions about the camp while strongly tied to the camp’s between generations, creating dialogue use and role of public spaces social landscape (men, women, the between them and reflecting the power in the camps, especially in elderly, children, youth). This has led dynamics in relation to hierarchies in relation to the absence of to the development of a game directory the claim of space. In the case of the playing and learning childhood as a research tool to reveal both the above-mentioned work, the children’s spaces such as playgrounds inventive use of architecture and space, intuitive and creative practices start or museums. The process of and the sharing of resources.* playing a central role in the urban- exploring play with children, Through the process of documenting space design strategies, towards their through the Play Space their games, the children become acknowledgement and integration. workshops, led to developing conscious of the elements that physical propositions for two their game is made up of (objects, Article and photos courtesy of Febrik. camps, Nahr el Bared Camp, architectural elements, people) in Lebanon, and Talbiyeh Camp, a way that allows them to formalise Febrik is a Lebanon-based art and design Jordan, directly resulting from it. They also become aware of the non-profit organisation that includes the children’s creative input. distinction between an invented game, practicing architects, designers, and The latter was implemented an inherited game, and a modified artists who are active in the Middle East in the summer of 2010 as game, revealing what is passed on and the United Kingdom. Febrik’s main part of UNRWA’s pilot camp from generation to generation and area of concern lies in the dynamics and improvement project. what is improvised and adapted on practices of public spaces in relation to With the absence of formal the basis of what is available to them social and urban change. Website (under play spaces, the children in their urban context. It also builds a construction): www.febrik.org. find ways to appropriate space and re-interpret the use of architectural elements * The Game Directory is a tool that works with children to reveal the relationships and rights to space of various groups (men, women, the elderly, children) through the study and documentation of their play practices within shared spaces, in the (such as windows, roofs, absence of designated play fields. 42 43 The four-year-old Russian, Ivan Mishukov, learned how to hunt and kill live prey after living Call of the Wild with a pack of wild dogs for two years. He would shred birds in seconds if they came too By Kieron Monks close. Police knew about him long before he was captured, but Ivan’s bond with the dogs was so great that they would defend him as fiercely as their own offspring. The happiest day of your life. No, not the one where you got to walk out through the school Both were eventually captured and, to an extent, re-humanised. Mishukov went on to gates knowing that you would never have to go back. Not the first day of your dream job, attend school and Ssebunya not only learned to talk but became a talented singer in a your marriage, or when you found several banknotes in some forgotten pocket. British choir. Both have been presented as testament to our species’ survival skills. Placed A recent survey showed that most people’s happiest day was the day on which their in bleak environments that should have killed them, instinct prevailed. first child was born. It’s not an experience I can relate to, but it’s easy to imagine the joy But human instinct? In many adoption cases, traits of the other species never disappear. and wonder which would accompany the arrival of your embodied DNA after the endless, For children who have learned to live in the wild, civilisation can be an impossible step. The torturous months of his or her gestation. Ukrainian Oxana Malaya was discovered at the age of eight having lived most of her life in Tears are a typical reaction. The “privilege” of holding the baby is apparently priceless. the company of dogs, and now reflects she may have been happier to have been left with Most of all you would just want that moment to last, them. A heartbreaking documentary explored her that ecstatic pause between pre-birth panic and many failed attempts to form relations with people, post-birth insomnia. even boyfriends, but it seems that she had gone too far to return. Now 27, Oxana lives in a hospital for So it seems difficult to understand why, in the the mentally ill and is still more comfortable around grip of these overwhelming emotions, some new dogs than people. parents choose to just give the baby a quick rinse and then leave it somewhere under a tree. Okay, It is revealing that the term “feral” has been so the practise of “exposure,” that is, forcing a popularised in the media to describe troubled child to fend for itself in the wild to prove its worth, children where it serves a political agenda. When is less common in this era, but maybe the Greek Damilola Taylor, 11, was murdered in London in and Roman empires knew what they were doing. 2000 by kids his own age, the right-wing press were aflame with editorials denouncing his killers After all, if one believes the legends, abandoned as animals. Conclusions were leapt to; their orphans (subsequently adopted by wolves) built the parents were also animals, their environment great city of Rome, while the baby Moses was sent – inner city council estates – was a breeding drifting alone down the Nile before he received the ground for animals. Fleet Street’s standard policy Ten Commandments. of hammering the poor en masse rather than Cases of “feral children” are not limited to examining the roots of social problems reached a mythology or the distant past. There are dozens high watermark of acceptability. of documented examples over the past decade The Jerusalem Post regularly describes as “feral” of children vanishing into the wilderness only to the Palestinian youths who participate in protests return, hairy and horrible, to shame their parents. against the Wall and occupation. The analysis is Most fascinating are the cases of “adoption,” where easily digested by a casual reader. Why are these an abandoned child finds salvation in a herd of kids on the streets wearing kaffiyehs? They’re wild animals. animals. At the most impressionable time in a human’s Perhaps the voices that preach morality from ivory life cycle, infants can be remade in the image of towers find it too much to accept that dissidents or the beasts they roam with. Panting, barking feral Romulus and Remus: The twin fathers of ancient opponents could be of the same species. But if we children on four legs have become a vexing issue Rome, nurtured by a loving she-wolf. define humanity as being acceptable in a civilised for anthropologists, behaviourists, and anyone else Western mainstream, it must apply to Christian the lion, the big cat famously bought from with an interest in defining what exactly makes us human. Famed molecular biologist Dr. Harrods, tamed and taught manners by Australian conservationists in 1969. Dean Hamer led a popular school of thought arguing that human traits, such as compassion and faith, are “hard-wired into our genes.” The following cases suggest that we are more In John Milton’s epic Paradise Lost, when Satan is cast out by God, he remarks, “The mind a result of conditioning. is its own place and can make a heaven of hell or a hell of heaven.” It is a phrase that recurs in modern behavioural therapy, in essence claiming that we can remake ourselves based John Ssebunya, raised by a colony of African green monkeys in Uganda, spent three on adapting our mentality to an environment. A millionaire or a long-term prisoner equally years in the jungle having been abandoned at the age of two. When finally discovered he share a conviction that their reality is normal and take it for granted. It is testament to the displayed characteristics identical to those of the colony, communicating only through their flexibility of our minds, but also worrying, that we truly can get used to anything. mannerisms and eating a diet of nuts and berries. Young John had developed freakish tree-climbing abilities and ran faster than any children of his own age. Kieron Monks is a reporter and content editor for This Week in Palestine.

44 45 Oasis in the Sand

The deserts around Bethlehem make few concessions to human needs. Fierce heat and hostile terrain made life a struggle for Bedouin inhabitants even before the land became “Area C,” subjected to the restrictions and dangers of Israeli military control. Before the settlements closed in and became their nightmare neighbours. The Wadi Abu Hindi community have grown accustomed to the persecution and routine demolitions of their property. They have been victims of mass displacement, having originally lived in the Negev Desert before the Nakba of 1948. Three schools have been destroyed here as new permanent structures are forbidden. Studying inside cargo containers had become normal, with children baking in 50 degree heat inside metal walls. That changed in October, thanks to the innovative use of a material best known for being the staple diet of pandas. Vento Di Terra (“an offshore wind”), an Italian NGO, and Arco, an alliance of architects, have combined to create a custom-built bamboo school.

The outdoor activities consist in “gymnastic” exercises, ordinate with a military sense of order.

The same designers had previously knowledge in their homes and become of the school,” she laughs, the classical made waves in constructing a school out familiar with new materials.” mode of transport for children who travel of tires in the Jordan Valley in 2009. This There are ambitious plans to bring many miles each day to attend the school. time bamboo was chosen as it does not further relief through technological An education still feels like a privilege First day at school for 38000 children living in Area C. trap the heat which became insufferable innovation. Vento Di Terra is now more than a right here. in previous schools. in a process of lobbying the Italian This unusual school serves another In a nod to Bedouin traditions, all other Consulate to support the implementation purpose, arguably even more vital than materials came from the desert itself. of solar panels in schools, including at a its day-to-day functioning: the publicity The floor is wood, classes are separated kindergarten in Gaza. it provides for a community suffering with blocks of sand, and extra insulation Yet the cutting-edge designs are not levels of persecution that recall the native is provided by earth and straw. For 130 intended to come at the expense of Americans driven out of the United States students and 14 teachers, the school has past traditions. Waheidi claims that and the aborigines in Australia. Each day been a gift that keeps giving. the construction and future plans are there are more demolitions, arrests, and “It helps people to understand the use culturally sensitive and compatible with abuses of Area C Bedouins. of recycled material,” local co-ordinator Bedouin values. The letter has become code for impunity

Bedouin schoolgirls at play. Inam Waheidi told us. “They can use this “There is a donkey garage at the back that allows the Israeli military to seize

46 47 Bedouin children going to school. huge chunks of land for unmarked training The goodwill earned from the Italian and zones that leave deadly explosives in French consulates should guarantee their the midst of local communities; for mass involvement in future projects. For now, it dumping of dangerous chemical waste; is enough for local children to simply enjoy for the denial of basic human rights to the education that is taken for granted in centuries-old communities on the basis most countries. They can also make the of their location. unique claim of studying in perhaps the In December, the United Nations Relief only academic institution that could also and Works Agency (UNRWA) declared be made into a soup. Bedouins to be an “endangered” ethnic group. “Our school puts Area C in the Story courtesy of Andrea and Magda, light,” says Waheidi. “The international a French-Italian photojournalist couple working in Palestine as freelancers community can see that our children have since summer 2009. From a university no rights, no facilities, no education. It is background of law and history, their an emergency now.” work has a social and human focus. For Certainly the project has given Wadi more information, visit http://www.andrea- Abu Hindi, and the broad crisis that magda.com/. envelops the Bedouins, new prominence. Photo by Andrea & Magda Photographers. 48

Moving towards the Sexual and Reproductive Rights of Children and Adolescents By Feletcia Adeeb/Saleh The media and public opinion surveys reveal that boys and men are often perceived as perpetrators of violence and blamed for irresponsible sexual relations. A baseline study that focused on the sexual and reproductive health rights of children and adolescents was carried out in the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt) by Save the Children Sweden during 2010. It showed that children perceived the sexual perpetrator to be a male stranger, whereas the mothers perceived that the males inside the family were the sexual perpetrators. Parents tell their children all the time not to talk to strangers, but child protective strategy is never discussed either inside the family or in schools, not to mention the lack of available and accessible services in the case

of child abuse. Photo by Samar Bader. The way children are taught to Palestinian children suffer from a behave is deeply rooted in child- currently lack programmes in indicator. Shockingly, more than half dual burden: they are not only victims rearing practices. From the day they sexual education for children and of the parents could not identify three of conflict and occupation-related are born children usually imitate the adolescents, and so it is usually up physical changes during puberty, violence, but they are also suffering behaviour of their family members. to the parents to talk to their children and, surprisingly, their knowledge from non conflict-related violent Boys, who observe fathers and other about sex and to respond to their regarding the concerns and worries behaviour, including sexual abuse. men in their surroundings being questions. Very often, parents either faced by adolescents during puberty Child sexual abuse has been violent towards women, believe that shy away from answering questions was much lower than their knowledge scarcely addressed in Palestine this is a normal male behaviour. It is or give their children inadequate, about physical changes. despite the emergence of much crucial, therefore, to implement an sometimes harmful information. Another important indicator was that evidence from children themselves. early lifecycle approach in order to The baseline survey showed that the the majority of Palestinian children All children’s rights organisations attempt to change this reality. It is majority of the children, 77 percent, involved in the baseline survey, should concentrate not only on the obviously true that not all boys adopt identify their mothers as the primary about 84 percent, identified three or consequences of this hidden and these gender-based behaviours, and source of information and help in more forms of sexual abuse, with no rarely discussed phenomenon but many boys and men even take action matters of sexual and reproductive remarkable differences between girls also on protecting children from to address discrimination and violence health. More girls chose their mothers, and boys. However, only 10 percent all forms of violence, abuse, and against girls and women. while more boys chose their fathers of children identified three or more exploitation. Unfortunately, schools in Palestine and friends, which is a very important protection strategies against violence.

52 53 Interestingly, more girls identified protection strategies than boys. In conclusion, it is important to emphasise three significant issues. First: it is vital to empower girls and women to end gender discrimination and violence against children and adolescents including sexual abuse. However, the importance of involving boys and men in order to create sustainable change has become more obvious so that children in Palestine can be protected from violence and abuse. Second: providing school-age children with sexual education, including information about protective strategies, is as vital as providing caregivers, including teachers and parents, with the necessary information and skills that will enable them to answer children’s questions during adolescence and puberty. Finally, it is most crucial to give attention to the preventive aspect since the pain from sexual abuse can heal with time, but the psychological effect can continue throughout adulthood. It is important to

provide the necessary services but not to blame the victims. It is equally important to protect, as professionally as possible, the lives and well-being of children who have survived sexual abuse. This should be a personal concern for all of us, one that is centred on the best interests of Palestinian children.

Dr. Feletcia Adeeb/Saleh, a physician, holds a master’s degree in public health. She currently works at Save the Children Sweden as a child protection Photo by Saad Halawani. manager. 54 vein that I will recount the stories of two Nablus Circus School students of Assirk Assaghir: The Nablus By Lisa Masri Circus School. Khalid and Alaa, now in their last year of When you hear the word “circus” you Assirk Assaghir (the small circus) is high school, began training with the circus probably think of clowns, elephants, much different. Since beginning in when they were 11 years old. Both live in lions, strange people, and a big tent. 1999, when clown noses were made the middle of Askar Refugee Camp (with a When you hear the word “Palestine” out of rubber balls, the team at Assirk population of 15,900 registered refugees you probably think of rolling hills of olive Assaghir has focused more on children and an unemployment rate of 28 percent); trees, old stone buildings crumbling and brightening their lives than on being they are from families of more than eight away, checkpoints, and the occupation professional circus artists who wow the members each, who live in small houses army. crowd. After years of performing for in a cramped neighbourhood. The street kids in the most disadvantaged areas of in front of their houses is about one meter So when you put these two together Nablus, namely the refugee camps and wide and the neighbourhood is so crowded, – Palestinian Circus – you get a chaotic the old city, the group turned towards it’s impossible to drive a car inside the picture of animals eating olives and teaching circus to children as a way to camp. With no place to run and play, these soldiers wearing red noses and bright- give them relief from the daily realities boys, along with their cousins, friends, and coloured wigs, all in a large tent at a of war and poverty. Circus is also a way neighbours, came to the circus, which was checkpoint. to build self-confidence, encourage first located in a small centre in the camp. Although this picture provides a good teamwork, and generally improve the Although the centre donated a small space basis for its next show, the reality at mental health of the children. It is in this (8 m by 4 m), the students managed to learn to juggle, play diabolo, ride unicycles, walk on stilts, and do trapeze and acrobatics. Khalid and Alaa, especially, took advantage of the space and training time, however basic, to gain skills and experience. They saw the circus as an opportunity to do something different with their lives. Six years later, thanks to contributions from Clowns Without Borders - Sweden and Une Toile Contre Un Mur - France, Assirk Assaghir was able to move into its own more spacious centre in downtown Nablus. Khalid and Alaa have stayed committed to the circus and are now able to train younger groups in all circus skills. They both believe that being a part of the circus has had a positive effect on their lives. When asked to imagine where he would be if he weren’t part of the school, Khalid answered: “I wouldn’t know what to do. If I don’t come to the circus for a while, I miss it a lot. I can release all my pent-up energy there. If the circus weren’t part of my life, I would feel mixed up and confused about what I want to do.” Although daring acts, professional artists, and flashy costumes can wow a crowd and amaze an audience, the trainers at Assirk Assaghir are completely convinced that Students learned to walk on stilts in a circus summer camp in 2005 run in coordination with a German circus group. They performed dabkeh the path the organisation has taken – that dance on the stilts in their show. of focusing on children and education – is

56 57 Students participated in a two-week circus summer camp in 2005 and performed for their community at the end of the camp. the right one. “Teaching children to to show Palestinian children that there juggle, seeing their eyes light up when is more to live for than there is to die for. they succeed, and watching their self- For more information about the confidence grow as they show their activities of Assirk Assaghir, go to www. new skill to their friends and family gives assirkassaghir.ps or visit us in Nablus you a feeling that is unforgettable,” says at Cinema Rivoli Complex, Ghernata the Assirk Assaghir director, Mahmoud Street; tel.: (09) 233-0877. Masri. Assirk Assaghir addresses the Lisa Masri is an American who has psychological effects of the occupation been living in Nablus since 2009. As a by giving children and youth a positive, volunteer trainer at the Nablus Circus self-esteem-building activity. Circus School, she runs trainings for the teen training gives them social and physical girls group and leads aerobics classes skills to build a better future. Our goal is for women.

The Assirk Assaghir team before a show for children in Nablus in 2005.

58 Escape from Gaza By Ahmed Masoud and Justin Butcher

I see her, through a shadowy tunnel, London behind wasn’t easy either as lying on a dirty bed, scarcely breathing, my wife and I were halfway through the a flicker of light around her. Through the pregnancy with our first child. darkness, I hear men crying, weeping – Escape from Gaza is a BBC Radio 4 the voices of my father and my brothers dramatisation of this perilous journey, – and beyond them, the rumble of distant which was written by myself and Justin explosions, and the hum of drones. I Butcher – an award-winning British writer, reach towards her, cocooned in shadow, actor, and director. After my return to but a sudden fear checks me, as if a pit Britain, I met up with Justin again and has opened before my feet. told him about how I got into Gaza and “And childhood grows within me day became trapped there, and how I finally after day …” managed to get out. The normal journey Four months after Operation Cast Lead for any Palestinian trying to get in and on Gaza, I made a long journey to visit my out of Palestine is not exactly the British family in Gaza. It had been seven years notion of a holiday or business trip. We since I last saw them: children had grown decided to highlight this journey more up, sisters married, mum in critical care in than any other political factor. We wanted hospital suffering from cancer. She didn’t audiences over here to understand the restriction of movement on Palestinians have basic medicine supplies, not even Ahmed Masoud’s family in Gaza. colostomy bags. which can deny them their basic human right of going home. I made a decision to do whatever it call from my brother Mohammed telling almost equals the word hell in the minds would take to get back to Gaza. Whatever With Justin Butcher’s drama experience me that mum went into the operation of the British public given that nothing it would take, while the Rafah border was and his passion for writing about human theatre early and that she was going has changed since then and the situation still sealed. My only option was to take the issues in an extraordinary witty style, through a six-hour operation. It was at continues to deteriorate. However, most Free Gaza boat sailing from Cyprus, but we started recording an account of the that moment that I decided that I should people in Britain, regardless which side even that had its own challenges. Leaving whole journey. It started with a phone go back despite everything. The risk, they are on, have not fully understood the of course, was that I might be trapped, difficult situation that Gazans are going imprisoned, or killed on the way and my through, and a 45-minute radio play would son would have to be born fatherless. The not be anywhere near sufficient to explain journey was the rebirth of a new person the complexity of the situation. This, inside me, an odyssey of hope for those as well as the challenge of convincing who needed it, most of all my family and the BBC to broadcast something about the people of Gaza. Palestine – a subject that they are always Two years earlier, Justin and I teamed careful to delve deeply into – made it up to put together a theatrical response to extremely challenging to write in a way the Israeli Operation Cast Lead on Gaza, that would reach the hearts and minds of which left over 1,400 people killed and all British listeners. thousands more injured. The result was By writing this story, we hope that a multi-media play entitled Go to Gaza, people will be able to see the situation in Drink the Sea. The play was performed Gaza a little bit more humanly than they by a Palestinian and British cast and normally do; that regardless of which side aimed to show the disastrous situation they are on and whether they understand during the war which turned Gaza to the political background or not, it is the hell yet again. The story line focused on ordinary people who are suffering. People ordinary people trying to live their lives in have a right to a home to go to whenever the orchestra of war. they want, whether it is in Gaza, London, Gaza fishermen. Photo by Sharif Sarhan. Two years later, the word Gaza still or the end of the universe. Nothing should

60 61 prevent someone from visiting his sick mother. Airing such a personal story on one of the biggest media channels in the world is like inviting strangers to a private dinner party. It is not easy to expose all these emotions and feelings with leaving my wife behind and the anxiety and despair in seeing the family. However, the journey is just one of a million others still untold and waiting for the right listening ears. We would like to think that our work will record this injustice and maybe contribute to changing it at some point in the near future. We don’t want to be preachy, nor wish to convert the converted. We simply want to tell stories, and Palestinians have lots of them. Ahmed Masoud is a Palestinian writer, director, and academic who moved to London in 2002 to finish his postgraduate studies in English literature. He has published a number of articles and has also written and directed a number of sell-out shows, including Go to Gaza, Drink the Sea (in collaboration with Justin Butcher) and Between the Fleeting Words. In 2005, Ahmed formed the critically acclaimed dance-theatre group, AlZaytouna, which is now the biggest Palestinian theatre group in Europe. Playwright Justin Butcher scored his first big hit with the internationally renowned solo play Scaramouche Jones, which premièred at the the 2001 Dublin Theatre Festival. In the run to the invasion of Iraq in 2003, Justin’s hit anti-war satire, The Madness of George Dubya, achieved global media coverage. In response to the Israeli attack on Gaza in December 2008 – January 2009, Justin joined forces with Ahmed Masoud to write, direct, and produce Go to Gaza, Drink the Sea. Escape from Gaza, co-written with Ahmed, is Justin’s fifth play for Radio 4.

Sunset in Gaza. Photo by Sharif Sarhan.

62 Personalities of the Month Nizar Matar, 16: Sport Nizar feels that the gift of sporting excellence must be married to great discipline. At 15 he became Siwar Al-Saheb,11: Science one of the youngest-ever members of Beit Jala’s The spirit of discovery burns bright in Siwar, 11, Orthodox Club basketball team, and four years a girl whose principal fascination is with science. earlier he won the first of two national swimming Enrolled at the prestigious Jerusalem Talented championships. He names Kobe Bryant, the great Students Incubator (JTSI), Siwar specialises in basketball champion, as his sporting hero, but was genetics, believing it the most valuable source of unimpressed by scandals from Bryant’s personal life, knowledge. “I want to learn what no one knows,” including arrest on an assault charge. she told us; “how humans get their characteristics.” “Sports players should have more responsibility, Siwar thinks it is “too much” for scientists to use because people look up to them,” Nizar says. “They genetic technology for the purposes of cloning, but should never be involved with any crime.” He feels she supports stem cell research that could contribute that sport provides “the main source of happiness for Palestinian youth,” assuming they to fighting serious diseases such as cancer. absorb its positive lessons, including awareness of health issues and the transferable Also a talented musician and songwriter, Siwar qualities of teamwork. He says that basketball carries a positive social message: “It is a has her heart set on a career in science. “I think a scientist is the highest it is possible peaceful sport,” he asserts, citing this reason for its rapidly increasing popularity in Palestine. to go,” she told us, but as a contingency, she would also be willing to become a doctor. Nizar fills the playmaker role for his team, averaging 24 points a game, having broken From the age of five Siwar has become accustomed to placing “first in her class,” a his record with 34 this year against De La Salle Club. “I always dream to be better, and my position she still holds today, even in the ultra-competitive environment of the JTSI. Aref father (who is a coach) is my inspiration,” he says. Nizar is fiercely ambitious, now seeking Husseini, director of Al-Nayzak Centre for Education and Scientific Innovation described her a move to a French club where he can combine academic studies with development of as “a huge mass of critical thinking with high innovative skills in science and technology.” his game. After that, he would like to play in Jordan or China, which he feels are the two A Nobel Prize waiting to happen. best Asian leagues.

Marcel Barghouthi, 14: Folk Dancing “I realised how much he loved dabke when I Laurand Haji, 15: Defying Disability asked for a glass of water and he was dancing as Paralysis is among the most debilitating afflictions he brought it to me.” Proud father Faraj identified and is cruellest when it strikes those whose energy talent in Marcel early. He was nine when he began and zest for life would otherwise keep them in a with the Watan School and only 11 when he permanent state of activity. Laurand has been confined joined the prestigious Baraem El-Funoun Dance to a chair for all of her fifteen years due to a hole in her Troupe, so young that none of the troupe’s shoes back, which her carers feared would result in isolation. fit him. He was on stage for his first show within two months. The troupe’s director has thanked Happily, the combined efforts of the Farah Centre’s Faraj many times for blessing Baraem with such CBR (Community Based Rehabilitation) programme a gifted dancer. and Laurand’s vitality and optimism have allowed her Marcel was born to perform. “I enjoy dancing in to integrate socially and academically. After years of front of people. I was only nervous the first time,” he says. He also plays football but gruelling physical therapy and technical assistance, believes that dancing is more creative; he’s so smitten with it that he dreams of one day it became possible for her to study in a normal school becoming a choreographer. “It’s beautiful at Baraem, we work hard, but we are a family with her peers, something her parents had not dared to hope for. together.” He has an appreciation of dabke’s traditions, claiming his happiest moments Currently in ninth grade, she achieves high academic honours and is continuously involved come from dancing the Sha’rawiyya dance as “it speaks of Palestine and life here.” in a range of extra-curricular activities and summer camps. She fights every day to defy Marcel’s father has seen his son be transformed thanks to the influence of his art. “It the tragedy of her condition, determined to change people’s perceptions of her and other has given him passion and helped him to listen and to think logically. He reads novels handicapped children. now and has become more mature.” The troupe has broadened Marcel’s horizons; in “I did not create my body. I am asking why people look at me this way; I am a child with recent years he has toured Qatar and Denmark, and, unusually for a young boy from the my mind, I am thinking. I will make myself a leader for myself and for each of us who is village of Kobar, he has become accustomed to female company. Despite the sudden considered unable to be a human being. I will be productive for myself and my country. I glamour, Marcel remains down-to-earth, claiming that “school is more important than will fight a thousand times a day to change the vision of people who look at people like me dance” and that his heroes are the dancer Sharaf Dar Zaid and his father. with inferiority.” 64 65 His other ambitions also include children. also include children. His other ambitions own children are unsurprisingly Amous’s own making, from conception to bookshelf, bookshelf, to conception from making, own having admits he which with writing, including the to stranger no is he Yet experience. little of series a produced already having genre, in a Jerusalem characters on based comics as the theatre He describes theatre. children’s one of his key formative influences and one that allowed him to travel to such far-flung and Britain. Italy, Norway, as Sweden, locales Gallery Al-Mahatta love to see Amous would work, exhibitions of youth host regular the pressures acknowledges although he aspiring artists face in this financial climate. budget of the government Less than 1 percent believes that the goes toward culture, but he best to support authorities are “doing their are helped by the Ministry of Culture art. We They share our goals to on many projects. to art want we but modernise, Palestine help very important for be more of a priority; it is to convince young development.” He tries to forge a career people that it is possible and passion. in art “if you have the courage to be an artist People thought I was crazy after studying math.” their the art bug, although touched with creative talents have led them in a different her is already a whiz on direction. Jude, 11, cello, while Zain, 9, is inseparable from his violin. It doesn’t bother their proud father that his children have taken a fresh path. He has learned to appreciate variety. 67 Amous’s number one ambition today is number one ambition today is Amous’s Yet he sees a worrying trend in the next he sees Yet Last year Amous hosted a two-week Amous hosted a two-week Last year to create a children’s book entirely of his of his book entirely a children’s to create generation of illustrators. “I advise the youth to keep drawing, to learn the original forms before trying to experiment with graphics and in I see the weakness advanced technology. losing artists are coming out today; we works they need to develop a natural as illustrators, They need to study the feeling for drawing. schools and the various the history, theory, forms before they dive into computers and their talents are lost.” workshop to teach poster design in advance exhibition, partnered by the of the “Tolerance” Ramallah Centre for Human Rights Studies a “great The workshop elicited (RCHRS). were able reaction from the young artists. We to give them experience and exposure, the tools to enter illustration. It helped support the institute and promote the idea of tolerance.” Amous’s The workshop was a continuation of work with youth. He had previously led a series of projects to create murals with Bank. all over the West groups children’s years before, the brainchild of seven artists years before, the brainchild of love, intended volunteering for a labour youth with their passion. to infect the city’s largest Since then it has become Palestine’s art space, hosting regular exhibitions and workshops. Amous discovered that the disciplines were that the disciplines Amous discovered His first professional works came in the The client list includes UNICEF, His Amous credits the influence of children It is partly for this reason that he has come Amous became chief of directors In 2009, moment, as a lack of funding prevented him him of funding prevented as a lack moment, from he visa. Instead the required obtaining and instead University, enrolled at Bethlehem and himself studying math of art, he found physics. subject matter that his new complementary, that “understanding of space” gave him an proved valuable for his artwork. “The teachers and then I would would talk about equations told us. draw them on a board,” he books, children’s for illustrations of form a reputation for which allowed him to build diploma 1991 a Following creativity. and flair design, convened in illustration and graphic Design, Turbo at by his long-term employers that took in workinghe embarked on a career most prestigious some of the region’s for groups. media institutions and international for a large Amous most enjoys “working audience, which makes me more motivated, professional, and creative.” Ministry of Health, and the Bank, the World he has and Theatre, National Palestinian learnt from all of their subjects, including health issues and finance. His affinity with children has the deepest roots. He tells us change for catalyst the were children that from his early militaristic art. “When you work for children you realise that you can’t have teach yourself to dream You this subject. can build a new You again, to learn again. style of work.” with the development of his personal style. you realise they see with children, “Working are closer to nature, They more details. everything is new to them. I try to look through look at illustration eyes. When they a child’s they see more than an adult does.” to most enjoy working with watercolour paints. “The transparency and the simplicity make it than harder it’s though even favourite, my The value is the using oils or other materials. details that watercolour allows.” Art - Al-Mahatta Gallery for Contemporary at The gallery had opened just three Ramallah. 66 Photo by Gabrielle Bonneville.

“The appreciation and support of others “The appreciation and support of others From the tender age of six he was sketching Variety has always been the key for for has always been the key Variety

Artist of the Month Mohammed Amous Mohammed in the United States. It proved a bittersweet proved It States. United in the prestigious art course at New Jersey College offered the opportunity to participate in a to participate in a the opportunity offered so much so that after graduating he was he was graduating so much so that after and skill developed through his school years, encouraged me,” he recalls, and his passion mid 1970s. characters as was artistic custom during the custom artistic characters as was before moving on to depict resistance before moving on to depict resistance Palestinian artists such as Ismail Shamout, regularly, regularly, first imitating theworks of great experimentation. informed a career that has developed through The journey through various projects has The journey through various projects has activism groups to the United Nations. activism groups to the United Nations. campaigns. His client list jumps from youth from Sesame Street to mental health from Sesame Street to mental health illustration. His subject material has ranged design combined with a love of classical design combined with a love of classical Mohammed Amous. Cutting-edge graphic Amous. Cutting-edge graphic Mohammed Gaza Mom, El-Haddad shares many The Goldstone Report: The Legacy of The Legacy The Goldstone Report: The book is available for purchase online About the Author Laila El-Haddad is a contributing author El-Haddad was not only covering was not only covering El-Haddad writing running theme in El-Haddad’s A In intimate details of her life as a parent. intimateparent. lifeasa detailsher of children growing up watch her young We throughout the text. She also tells us about her life as a journalist and a media activist, including her involvement new in the many initiatives that emerged Palestinian-rights attack on Gaza. late-2008 after Israel’s at Amazon. to the Landmark Investigation of the Gaza Conflict (Nation Books, January 2011). She is currently working on a book about the culinary history and traditions of the Gaza Strip called The Gaza Kitchen. From 2003–2006, El-Haddad was Gaza Al-Jazeera English correspondent for the to the regular contributor website and a BBC and the Guardian Unlimited. led to something very different from what from different something very led to for… they had hoped and situation as a journalist Gaza’s it and She was also living correspondent. to her the ongoing events tried to explain U.S.- children. Her husband, own young is also Daoud, Yassine trained physician the (Israeli- a Palestinian but one without reside in or even administered) right to left Gaza enter Gaza. In 2006, El-Haddad United States, but to be with Daoud in the behind. In the her beloved parents stayed angst of a person book she recounts the homeland when stranded outside her Israeli assault at it came under intense though – 2008–2009 year the of turn the amplify and publish to able also was she they as parents of her the experiences cowered in central Gaza City under bombardment. harsh, 22-day Israel’s is the personalisation of the situation of Gazans and Palestinians, a topic to which she brings her characteristic wry humour and introspective humanity daily about her life and those of other Gazans. Article courtesy of www.justworldbooks. com. 68 Gaza Mom: Palestine, Politics, Gaza Mom: Palestine, Politics,

Book of the Month With pages, $24.95 Just World Books, November 2010, 444 Books, Just World In Between By Laila El-Haddad Parenting, and EverythingParenting, Gaza Mom Politics, Palestine, much-bally-hooed withdrawal of 2005 had soared, Gaza’s people found that Israel’s people found that Israel’s soared, Gaza’s the casualties and privations they suffered the casualties and privations they suffered to Gaza’s elected Hamas leadership. As elected Hamas leadership. to Gaza’s U.S.-backed) military and the forces loyal escalated between Israel’s very lethal (and Israel’s escalated between siege around the Strip. Tensions then then Tensions siege around the Strip. way they had voted by throwing a tough punish Gaza’s 1.5 million people for the punish Gaza’s the Bush administration, moved in to moved in to administration, the Bush as the Israeli government, backed by as the Israeli government, backed by monitors; but then, she watched aghast judged “free and fair” by all international January 2006 Palestinian elections— from the Gaza Strip. She covered the the covered She Strip. Gaza the from as the Israelis prepared their withdrawal their prepared Israelis the as Gaza City in 2005, watching hopefully Gaza City in 2005, watching hopefully 2004 through July 2010. She was in in was July 2010. She 2004 through the best of her writings from December is El-Haddad’s self-curated choice of self-curated choice of is El-Haddad’s and living it—very intensely. This book book This intensely. it—very living and who is both covering the story of Gaza Gaza of story the covering is both who and world of a busy Palestinian journalist Laila El-Haddad takes us into the life Laila El-Haddad takes us into the life , Parenting, and Everything In Between Website of the Month Film of the Month http://www.dci-pal.org/english/home.cfm Valley of the Wolves-Palestine Review date: 15 January 2011 Israeli policies through her This issue of This Week in Palestine is updates on the status of Palestinian journey into Palestine. The high- about Palestinian children who have very children’s rights. The Events section profile movie critic Mehmet Acar few opportunities to tell the world about lists both local and international has accused the producers of their plight. For this reason, we selected activities related to the protection exploiting Turkey’s popularity in the website of an organisation that of children’s rights, and Articles is a the Arab world for financial gain. aims to defend the rights of Palestinian collection of news items related mainly “It’s sacrificing cinema to politics,” children and raise awareness about their to the situation of Palestinian children. he wrote. suffering. Children Behind Bars contains Launching in the same month as Defence for Children International – briefings that outline issues affecting the real Mavi Marmara’s emotional Palestine Section (DCI-Palestine) was Palestinian children who are being return to port in Istanbul, marked established in 1992 as a national section held in Israeli prisons and detention by a candle-lit vigil for the dead of the international non-governmental centres. Links leads to an assorted and fresh calls for prosecutions, child rights organisation and movement, list of websites on children rights In Zübeyr Şaşmaz’s no-holds-barred VOTW could not arrive at a more Defence for Children International (DCI). and human rights in general, media action thriller, justice for the Gaza sensitive time. The Israeli Consulate in The website of DCI-Palestine is available outlets, and other useful resources. flotilla massacre does not come from Turkey has declined to comment for the in English and Arabic – a selection that DCI-Palestine takes a few interns UN resolutions or “easing measures.” time being, but Abraham Foxman of the must be made from the entrance page: each year, and all relevant information It comes from the Turkish James Bond Anti-Defamation League has used the http://www.dci-pal.org/. The English and an application form are accessible leading an elite hit squad on a covert release to charge Turkey with “engaging version seems to be updated more from the Internships menu. To get in mission into Israel to kill the commander in anti-Semitism through mass media.” touch with DCI-Palestine, use the frequently than the Arabic version. responsible, and half the IDF in the Politics aside, the film is pure Contact Us menu which lists office process. The site uses a traditional three-column entertainment. Its high production values addresses and personnel contacts. layout under a header that contains The content alone would have courted are in evidence throughout, from the the site logo and slogan on the left, a Under the menu, there are a few controversy, but as part of Turkish spectacular shootouts to the faithful panoramic background of children’s highlighted graphic items: GAZA under cinema’s biggest franchise – with a re-creation of a Tulkarem village on pictures to the right, and a horizontal bar attack, Freedom Now, child rights record-breaking budget of a reported location in Turkey, right down to the that houses the current date and a search monitor, e-Bulletin, and Mailing List. $20 million and featuring megastar Necati graffiti and Yasser Arafat posters on box underneath. The main content area of the home Şaşmaz’s – the release of Valley of the every wall. While screenwriter Bahadir Wolves (VOTW) this month is guaranteed The main menu is at the top of the left page lists the latest releases and Ozdener claims that the film is “calling to infuriate Israeli PR chiefs. column and starts, as usual, with Home to statements (bulletins and appeals at out to people’s conscience” over the enable visitors to return to the main page. review time), while the right column The film is the third in a popular series, plight of Palestinians, the setting is just starts with a graphic link Donate itself based on a hit television show. This the canvas on which the lavish action Next is About DCI which explains Now, which explains how to send edition had always been intended to sequences play out. its history and affiliation as well as the contributions. This is followed by a focus on Palestine, but midway through governance, scope, and philosophy of With the worldwide release of the film statistical update on the total number scripting, events on the Mavi Marmara its work. on January 28, the studio Pana Film of fatalities and imprisonments among prompted a rewrite. Now the film opens anticipates a box office smash and is Most of the remaining menu items relate children, and concludes with the latest with a graphic depiction of the Israeli unlikely to be disappointed based on to DCI activities. DCI/PS in the media lists items in each section. assault, followed by the hero’s journey unprecedented advance bookings. Critics news clippings about the organisation The DCI-Palestine website serves a through Israel and the West Bank in will be less kind and Israeli hysteria is a and its activities either as links or in good cause and a dear constituency. search of bloody justice. Turkish security given, but VOTW should be given credit full text; Publications opens with a list An upgrade of site structure and forces are believed to have offered on-set for keeping the flotilla massacre in the of research reports and documentation interface, additional interactivity, and advice to give the story more realism. public consciousness while providing but also has two other links: Annual more frequent updates are expected. When nothing is exploding or being glorious entertainment at the same time. Reports and Posters (at the top of the shot, VOTW makes a point of detailing For Palestinian audiences, the sight of main content area). Statements is a list of the suffering of Palestinians, particularly the “world’s most moral army” being information briefs and press statements Abed A. Khooli is an IT and knowledge in Gaza. The moral centre is a Jewish utterly and repeatedly pulverised will on issues that affect Palestinian children; management specialist. He can be heroine who discovers the evils of prove hard to resist. Reports are educational materials and reached at [email protected].

70 Sunday 13 18:00 “Rachel: an American Conscience,” by Yahya Barakat, within the framework of Gaza on Palestinian Association for Cultural Exchange air, French German Cultural Center (PACE), tel. 02-240 6711 Note: Please make sure to contact the venue to check whether the programme is still running. Monday 14 TOURS 18:00 “Rachel” by Simone Bitton within the Saturday 19 framework of Gaza on air, French German Sunday 27 10:00 Colonization of Jerusalem (The Annexation Al Hoash, tel.627 3501; French Cultural Centre, Cultural Center 9:00 PACE Tour to Jericho, A tour to the City of Wall & Settlements), meeting point: Ambassador Tuesday 15 Jericho, Pace Office tel. 628 2451; Palestinian National Theatre, tel. Hotel, Centre for Jerusalem Studies 628 0957; Center for Jerusalem Studies, tel. 18:00 “Rafah, chronicles of a city in Gaza Saturday 26 628 7517 Strip” by Marchetti and Monchodet within the 10:00 Manuscripts Institute & Schools in Al Aqsa framework of Gaza on air, French German ART Mosque, meeting point: Centre for Jerusalem French Cultural Center, tel. 286 7883 Thursday 3 Cultural Center Studies, Centre for Jerusalem Studies Wednesday 16 ART 19:00 Repercussions of Blue art exhibition featuring selection artworks from the Yvette and 18:00 “Of Flesh and Blood” by Azza Shaaban, Sunday 6 within the framework of Gaza on air, French Mazen Qupty collection participant artists: Bashar French German Cultural Centre, tel.298 1922; 15:00 Photography exhibition by Chimène German Cultural Center Hroub, Hani Zroub, Khalil Rayyan, Sophie Halabi, Spanish-Palestinian Cultural Center (CHP), Denneulin, French Cultural Center Ossama Said, Asem Abu Shaqra, Abed Abidi, tel. 295 0893 Thursday 17 Inass Yassin, Ossama Said, Sophie Halabi, ART 18:00 “VOLANDO VOY” “Flying,” Spanish- Sunday 20 Ibrahim Noubani, Samir Salameh and Mohammad Tuesday 1 Palestinian Cultural Center (CHP) 15:00 Inauguration of a photography exibition Abu Sal, Palestinain Art Court- al Hoash 18:00 Exhibition by the French artist Tardi “Bloody Saturday 20 by Edward Salem and Lora Gordon, French Monday 28 Days”, from Tardi books “Putain de guerre,” 18:00 “To my father” by Abdel Salam Shehadeh, Cultural Center Art exhibition, photos by S. Schneider and S. French German Cultural Center within the framework of Gaza on air, French FILMS Sarhan (through Wednesday 16 March daily, Thursday 17 German Cultural Center Monday 21 Monday to Thursday and Saturday 10:00 to 17:00 Louz Akhdar, the youth literature forum, Sunday 21 18:00, closed Friday), French Cultural Centre organised by JEEL Publishing/ Filistin Ashabab in 18:00 “The little hands” by Abdel Salam 18:00 Opening of the “Jacques Tati Festival” with Chateaubriand cooperation with Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center, Shehadeh within the framework of Gaza on air, the french movie “Jour de fête” (English subtitles) CHILDREN’S ACTIVITIES Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center French German Cultural Center from Jacques Tati, French Cultural Center Tuesday 22 Wednesday 2 Wednesday 23 Tuesday 22 19:00 The Little Steps of Happiness Mime Show 18:00 Photo exhibition by Kai Wiedenhöfer “The 18:00 “Gaza, another kind of tears” by Abdel by Philippe Bizot, Palestinian National Theatre Book of Destruction. Gaza, one year after the Salam Shehadeh within the framework of Gaza 18:00 “Jacques Tati Festival,” projection of the FILMS 2009 war,” by Kai Wiedenhöfer, French-German on air, French German Cultural Center French movie “Les vacances de Monsieur Hulot” (English subtitles), French Cultural Center Monday 21 Cultural Center Wednesday 23 19:00 Jour de fête (Holiday), French dialogs, FILMS 18:00 Arafat my brother within the framework Wednesday 23 of Gaza on air, French German Cultural Center (English subtitles), French Cultural Centre Wednesday 2 18:00 “My Uncle,” Jacques Tati Festival (English Chateaubriand 18:00 Séminaire Jean Robert Viallet The second Thursday 24 subtitles), French Cultural Center Tuesday 22 documentary of the series “Work sentenced 18:00 “Gaza London” by Dima Hamdan and “Gaza souvenirs” by Sam Albaric within the Thursday 24 19:00 Les Vacances de M. Hulot (The Holidays to death”, Albert Londres Prize 2010, French framework of Gaza on air, French German of Mr. Hulot), French dialogs (English subtitles), German Cultural Center 18:00 “Traffic” (English subtitles), PRCS (Tell Cultural Center French Cultural Centre Chateaubriand Thursday 3 El Hawa) Sunday 27 Wednesday 23 18:00 Children of the Stones a movie about 18:00 “Claire knee” (in French with English 19:00 Mon oncle (My Uncle) French dialogs, the second Intifada from Robert Krieg (German subtitles), French German Cultural Center (English subtitles), French Cultural Centre with English subtitles), French-German Cultural Cinema Jenin, tel. 250 2642, Palestinian Chateaubriand Center Monday 28 Association for Cultural Exchange (PACE), tel. Thursday 24 sunday 6 18:00 Docommentaires: “Women beyond 02-240 6711 18:00 “Gaza-strophe” by Samir Abdallah and borders” by Jean Chamoun (Arabic with English 19:00 Trafic (Traffic) French dialogs (English subtitles), French German Cultural Center ART subtitles), French Cultural Centre Chateaubriand Mourad Kheredine,Within the framework of Gaza TOURS on air, French German Cultural Center Thursday 24 Monday 7 Saturday 5 Palestinian Association for Cultural Exchange 18:30 “Diaries” Youth in Jerusalem, Cinema Jenin 18:00 “Impunity” by Edward Salem within the (PACE), tel. 02-240 6711 10:00 European Consulates in the Old City, framework of Gaza on air, French German FILMS meeting point: Centre for Jerusalem Studies, TOURS Cultural Center Thursday 24 Centre for Jerusalem Studies Tuesday 8 Sunday 20 17:00 “One Day in the West Bank”, screening of Sunday 6 18:00 “Gaza on air” by Samir Abdallah within 9:00 A tour to the City of Nablus, Pace Office 17:15 The Old City Tunnels, meeting point: 10 Palestinian short movies produced in 2010, in the framework of Gaza on air, French German presence of the film-makers (Arabic with English Centre for Jerusalem Studies, Centre for Cultural Center Jerusalem Studies Palestinian Association for Cultural Exchange subtitles), Cinema Jenin Wednesday (PACE), tel. 02-240 6711 Saturday 12 18:00 “Aïsheen” by Nicolas Wadimoff within TOURS 10:00 Jericho, meeting point: Ambassador Hotel, TOURS the framework of Gaza on air, French German Sunday 6 Sunday 13 Centre for Jerusalem Studies Cultural Center 9:00 A tour to the City of Hebron, Pace Office 9:00 A tour to Sebestia & Jenin City, Pace Office 72 73 Palestinian Group for the Revival of Popular Heritage Telefax: 274 7945 Cinema Jenin Tel: 250 2642 Theatre Day Productions Relief International - Schools Online [email protected], www.cinemajenin.org Tel: 585 4513, Fax: 583 4233 Bethlehem Community Based-Learning & [email protected], www.theatreday.org Hakoura Center Al-Jawal Theatre Group Action Center Telefax: 628 0655 Telfax: 250 4773 Turkish Cultural Centre Tel: 277 7863 [email protected], www.hakoura-jenin.ps Tel: 591 0530/1, Fax: 532 3310 Alruwah Theatre Sabreen Association for Artistic Tel: 626 2626, [email protected] [email protected], www.kudusbk.com The Freedom Theatre/Jenin Refugee Camp Development Tel: 250 3345, [email protected] Al-Ma’mal Foundation for Contemporary Art Yabous Productions Tel: 275 0091, Fax: 275 0092 Tel: 628 3457, Fax: 627 2312 Tel: 626 1045; Fax: 626 1372 [email protected], www.sabreen.org [email protected] [email protected], www.yabous.org www.almamalfoundation.org Tent of Nations Tel: 274 3071, Fax: 276 7446 British Council- Al Najah University Al-Urmawi Centre for Mashreq Music [email protected], www.tentofnations.org Telefax: 237 5950 Tel: 234 2005, Fax: 234 2004 [email protected] [email protected], www.urmawi.org Al-Harah Theatre The Edward Said National Conservatory of www.britishcoumcil.org/ps Telefax: 276 7758, [email protected] [email protected], www.alharah.org Music Cultural Centre for Child Development Ashtar for Theatre Productions & Training Telefax: 274 8726 Telefax: 582 7218 [email protected], www.birzeit.edu/music Tel: 238 6290, Fax: 239 7518 [email protected], www.ashtar-theatre.org Alliance Française de Bethléem [email protected], www.nutaleb.cjb.net Telefax: 275 0777, [email protected] The Higher Institute of Music British Council Cultural Heritage Enrichment Center Anat Palestinian Folk & Craft Center Telefax: 275 2492 Tel: 626 7111, Fax: 628 3021 [email protected] Tel. 237 2863, Fax. 237 8275, [email protected] [email protected] Telefax: 277 2024, [email protected] www.thehigherinstituteofmusic.ps French Cultural Centre www.britishcouncil.org/ps Arab Educational Institute (AEI)-Open Turathuna - Centre for Palestinian Heritage Tel: 238 5914, Fax: 238 7593 Center for Jerusalem Studies/Al-Quds University Windows [email protected] Tel: 628 7517 Tel: 274 4030, www.aeicenter.org (B.Uni.) [email protected], www.jerusalem-studies.alquds.edu Tel: 274 1241, Fax: 274 4440 Nablus The Culture Artas Folklore Center [email protected], www.bethlehem.edu Tel: 233 2084, Fax: 234 5325 Community Action Centre (CAC) Tel: 276 0533, Mobile: 0599 938 0887 [email protected], www.nablusculture.ps Tel: 627 3352, Fax: 627 4547 [email protected] www.cac.alquds.edu Badil Centre Educational Bookshop Tel: 277 7086 Al Sanabl Centre for Studies and Heritage Tel: 627 5858, Fax: 628 0814 Tel: 256 0280, [email protected] A. M. Qattan Foundation [email protected], www.educationalbookshop.com Beit Jala Community Based-Learning www.sanabl.org, www.sanabl.ps Tel: 296 0544, Fax: 298 4886 [email protected], www.qattanfoundation.org El-Hakawati Theatre Company & Action Center Association d’Echanges Culturels Hebron- Tel: 277 7863 Tel: 583 8836, Mobile: 0545 835 268 France (AECHF) Al-Kamandjâti Association [email protected], www.el-hakawati.org Bethlehem Academy of Music/ Bethlehem Telefax: 222 4811 Tel: 297 3101 [email protected], wwww.hebron-france.org [email protected], www.alkamandjati.com French Cultural Centre Music Society Tel: 628 2451 / 626 2236, Fax: 628 4324 Tel: 277 7141, Fax: 277 7142 Beit Et Tifl Compound Al Kasaba Theatre and Cinematheque [email protected] Telefax: 229 1559, [email protected] Tel: 296 5292/3, Fax: 296 5294 Bethlehem Peace Center [email protected], www.alkasaba.org Gallery Anadiel Tel: 276 6677, Fax: 276 4670 British Council- Palestine Polytechnic University Tel: 628 2811, Fax: 626 4403 [email protected], www.peacenter.org Telefax: 229 3717, [email protected] Al-Mada Music Therapy Center www.britsishcouncil.org.ps Tel: 241 3196, Fax: 241 3197 Issaf Nashashibi Center for Culture & Cardinal House [email protected], www.al-mada.ps Literature Telefax: 276 4778 Children Happiness Center [email protected], www.cardinalhouse.org Al-Rahhalah Theatre Telefax: 581 8232, [email protected] Telefax: 229 9545, [email protected] Telefax: 298 8091, [email protected] Jerusalem Centre for Arabic Music Catholic Action Cultural Center Dura Cultural Martyrs Center Tel: 274 3277, Fax 274 2939 Amideast Tel: 627 4774, Fax: 656 2469, [email protected] Tel: 228 3663, [email protected], www.duramun.org [email protected], www.ca-b.org Tel: 240 8023, Fax: 240 8017 Palestinian Art Court - Al Hoash Palestinian Child Arts Center (PCAC) [email protected], www.amideast.org Centre for Cultural Heritage Preservation Tel: 222 4813, Fax: 222 0855 Telefax: 627 3501 Tel: 276 6244, Fax: 276 6241 ArtSchool Palestine [email protected], www.alhoashgallary.org [email protected], www.pcac.net [email protected] Tel: 295 9837 Palestinian National Theatre www.bethlehem2000.org/cchp Yes Theater [email protected], www.artschoolpalestine.com Tel: 628 0957, Fax: 627 6293, [email protected] Telefax: 229 1559, Inad Centre for Theatre & Arts www.yestheatre.org, [email protected] Ashtar for Theatre Production Public Affairs Office Telefax: 276 6263, www.inadtheatre.org Tel: 298 0037, Fax: 296 0326 The International Palestinian Youth League [email protected], www.ashtar-theatre.org Tel: 628 2456, Fax: 628 2454 International Centre of Bethlehem-Dar (IPYL) www.uscongen-jerusalem.org Annadwa Baladna Cultural Center Tel:222 9131, Fax: 229 0652 Telfax: 295 8435 Sabreen Association for Artistic Tel: 277 0047, Fax: 277 0048 [email protected], www.ipyl.org Development [email protected], www.diyar.ps BirZeit Ethnographic and Art Museum Tel: 532 1393, Fax: 532 1394 ITIP Center “Italian Tourist Information Tel. 298 2976, www.virtualgallery.birzeit.edu [email protected], www.sabreen.org Point” Jericho Community Centre British Council Sanabel Culture & Arts Theatre Telefax: 276 0411, [email protected] Tel: 296 3293-6, Fax: 296 3297 Telefax: 232 5007 Tel: 671 4338, Fax: 673 0993 Palestinian Heritage Center [email protected] [email protected] www.britishcouncil.org/ps Telefax: 274 2381, 274 2642 Jericho Culture & Art Center The Edward Said National [email protected] Telefax: 232 1047 Carmel Cultural Foundation www.phc.ps Conservatory of Music Municipality Theatre Tel: 298 7375, Fax: 298 7374 Tel: 627 1711, Fax: 627 1710 Palestinian Group for the Revival of Popular Tel: 232 2417, Fax: 232 2604 [email protected], www.birzeit.edu/music El-Funoun Dance Troupe Heritage Tel: 240 2853, Fax: 240 2851 Telefax: 274 7945 [email protected], www.el-funoun.org 74 75 Sareyyet Ramallah - First Ramallah Group (FRG) Tamer Institute for Community Education Tel: 295 2690 - 295 2706, Fax: 298 0583 Tel: 298 6121/ 2, Fax: 298 8160 [email protected], www.sareyyet.ps [email protected], www.tamerinst.org Franco-German Cultural Centre Ramallah The Danish House in Palestine (DHIP) Tel: 298 1922 / 7727, Fax: 298 1923 TeleFax: 298 8457, [email protected], www.dhip.ps [email protected], www.ccf-goethe-ramallah.org The Edward Said National Conservatory of Greek Cultural Centre - “Macedonia” Music Telefax: 298 1736/ 298 0546, [email protected] Tel: 295 9070, Fax: 295 9071 In’ash Al-Usra Society- Center for Heritage [email protected], www.birzeit.edu/music & Folklore Studies The Palestinian Circus School Tel: 240 1123 / 240 2876, Telefax: 240 1544 Tel: 0545 - 671 911, 0599 - 926 107 [email protected], www.inash.org www.palcircus.ps, info@ palcircus.ps Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center The Palestinian Network of Art Centres Tel: 298 7374, Fax: 296 6820 Tel: 298 0036, 296 4348/9, Fax: 296 0326 [email protected], www.sakakini.org [email protected] Manar Cultural Center The Spanish Cultural Center Tel: 295 7937, Fax: 298 7598 Tel. 295 0893, [email protected] Mazra’a Qibliyeh Heritage and Tourism Young Artist Forum Centre Telefax: 296 7654, [email protected] Telefax: 281 5825, [email protected] www.geocities.com/mazraaheritage/ Palestinian Association Al-Qattan Centre for the Child for Contemporary Art PACA Tel: 283 9929, Fax: 283 9949 Tel: 296 7601, fax: 295 1849 [email protected] www.qattanfoundation.org/qcc [email protected], www.pal-paca.org Palestinian Association for Cultural Arts & Crafts Village Telefax: 284 6405 Exchange (PACE) [email protected], www.gazavillage.org Tel: 240 7611, Telfax: 240 7610 [email protected], www.pace.ps Ashtar for Culture & Arts Telefax: 283 3565, [email protected] Popular Art Center Tel: 240 3891, Fax: 240 2851 Fawanees Theatre Group Telefax: 288 4403 [email protected], www.popularartcentre.org Ramallah Cultural Palace Culture & Light Centre Telefax: 286 5896, [email protected] Tel: 298 4704 / 295 2105, Fax: 295 2107 [email protected] French Cultural Centre www.ramallahculturalpalace.org Tel: 286 7883, Fax: 282 8811 [email protected] RIWAQ: Centre for Architectural Conservation Gaza Theatre Tel: 282 4860, Fax: 282 4870 Tel: 240 6887, Fax: 240 6986 [email protected], www.riwaq.org Global Production and Distribution Sandouq Elajab Theatre Telefax: 288 4399, [email protected] Tel: 296 5638, 295 3206, [email protected] Dialogpunkt Deutsch Gaza (Goethe-Insitut) Shashat Tel: 282 0203, Fax: 282 1602 Tel: 297 3336, Fax: 297 3338 Holst Cultural Centre [email protected], www.shashat.org Tel: 281 0476, Fax: 280 8896, [email protected] Sharek Youth Forum Theatre Day Productions Tel: 296 7741, Fax: 296 7742 Telefax: 283 6766, [email protected] [email protected], www.sharek.ps Windows from Gaza For Contemporary Art Mob. 0599 781 227 - 0599 415 045, [email protected]

76 National Hotel (54 rooms; bf; cr; res; cf) Casanova Palace Hotel (25 rooms; bf; res) Tel: 627 8880, Fax: 627 7007 Tel: 274 2798, Fax: 274 1562 www.nationalhotel-jerusalem.com El-Beit Guest House (beit sahour) (15 rooms) New Imperial Hotel (45 rooms) TeleFax: 277 5857, [email protected], www.elbeit.org Tel: 627 2000, Fax: 627 1530 Holy Land Hotel (105 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res) Everest Hotel (19 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 627 2888, Fax: 628 0265 New Metropole Hotel (25 rooms; mr; res) Tel: 274 2604, Fax: 274 1278 Addar Hotel (30 suites; bf; mr; res) [email protected], www.holylandhotel.com Tel: 628 3846, Fax: 627 7485 Tel: 626 3111, Fax: 626 0791, www.addar-hotel.com Grand Hotel (107 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res) Jerusalem Hotel (14 rooms; bf; mr; res; live music) New Regent Hotel (24 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 274 1602 - 274 1440, Fax: 274 1604 Alcazar Hotel (38 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 628 3282, Fax: 628 3282 Tel: 628 4540, Fax: 626 4023, [email protected] [email protected] Tel: 628 1111; Fax: 628 7360 [email protected], www.jrshotel.com [email protected], www.jrscazar.com New Swedish Hostel Golden Park Resort & Hotel (Beit Sahour) Jerusalem Claridge Hotel (30 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 627 7855, Fax: 626 4124, [email protected] (54 rooms; res, bar, pool) Ambassador Hotel (122 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res) Tel: 656 4393, Fax: 656 4394 www.geocities.com/swedishhostel Tel: 277 4414 Tel: 541 2222, Fax: 582 8202 [email protected], www.jerusalemclaridge.com [email protected] Notre Dame Guesthouse (142 rooms, Su, bf, mr, House of Hope Guesthouse www.jerusalemambassador.com Jerusalem Meridian Hotel cr, res, ter, cf, pf) Tel: 274 2325, Fax: 274 0928 (74 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 627 9111, Fax: 627 1995 [email protected] American Colony Hotel(84 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res) Tel: 628 5212, Fax: 628 5214 [email protected], www.notredamecenter.org Tel: 627 9777, Fax: 627 9779 www.jerusalem-meridian.com House of Peace Hostel [email protected], www.americancolony.com Petra Hostel and Hotel Tel: 276 4739 Jerusalem Panorama Hotel Tel: 628 6618 http://www.houseofpeace.hostel.com/ Austrian Hospice (74 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 626 5800, Fax: 627 1472 Tel: 628 4887, Fax: 627 3699 Pilgrims Inn Hotel (16 rooms; bf; mr; res) Inter-Continental Hotel (Jacir Palace) [email protected] [email protected] Tel: 627 2416, [email protected] (250 rooms; su; bf; cf; mr; res) www.austrianhospice.com www.jerusalempanoramahotel.com Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6770 Ritz Hotel Jerusalem (104 rooms, bf, mr) Azzahra Hotel (15 rooms, res) Hashimi Hotel Tel: 626 9900, Fax: 626 9910 Lutheran Guesthouse “Abu Gubran” Tel: 628 2447, Fax: 628 3960 Tel: 628 4410, Fax: 628 4667, [email protected] [email protected] Tel: 277 0047 [email protected], www.azzahrahotel.com www.jerusalemritz.com Knights Palace Guesthouse (50 rooms) Murad Tourist Resort Capitol Hotel (54 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 628 2537, Fax: 628 2401, [email protected] Rivoli Hotel Tel: 2759880, Fax:2759881, www.murad.ps Tel: 628 2561/2, Fax: 626 4352 Tel: 628 4871, Fax: 627 4879 Legacy Hotel Nativity BELLS Hotel (65 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res) Christmas Hotel Tel: 627 0800, Fax: 627 7739 Savoy Hotel (17 rooms) Tel: 274 8880, Fax: 274 8870 Tel: 628 2588, Fax: 626 4417 [email protected], www.jerusalemlegacy.com Tel: 628 3366, Fax: 628 8040 [email protected], www.nativitybellshotel.ps [email protected], www.christmas-hotel.com Metropol Hotel Seven Arches Hotel (197 rooms; bf; mr; res) Nativity Hotel (89 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res) Commodore Hotel (45 rooms; cf; mr; res) Tel: 628 2507, Fax: 628 5134 Tel: 626 7777, Fax: 627 1319, [email protected] Tel: 277 0650, Fax: 274 4083 Tel: 627 1414, Fax: 628 4701 [email protected], www.nativity-hotel.com Mount of Olives Hotel (61 rooms; bf; mr; res) St. Andrew’s Scottish Guesthouse Gloria Hotel (94 rooms; mr; res) Paradise Hotel (166 rooms;cf;bf;mr;res;su;pf) Tel: 628 4877, Fax: 626 4427 “The Scottie” (17 rooms + 1 hostel) Tel: 628 2431, Fax: 628 2401, [email protected] Tel: 274 4542/3 - 274 4544, [email protected] [email protected], www.mtolives.com Tel: 673 2401; Fax: 673 1711 Golden Walls Hotel (112 rooms) Mount Scopus Hotel (65 rooms; bf; mr; res) [email protected], www.scothotels.co.il St. Antonio Hotel (36 rooms; mr; cf;res;pf) Tel: 627 2416, Fax: 626 4658 Tel: 582 8891, Fax: 582 8825, [email protected] St. George Hotel (144 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res) Tel: 276 6221, Fax: 276 6220 [email protected], www.goldenwalls.com Tel: 627 7232 - 627 7323, Fax: 628 2575 Santa Maria Hotel (83 rooms; mr; res) [email protected], www.hotelstgeorge-jer.com Tel: 276 7374/5/6, Fax: 276 7377, [email protected] St. George’s Pilgrim Guest House Shepherd Hotel (25 rooms; bf; res) Tel: 274 0656, Fax: 274 4888 Tel: 628 3302, Fax: 628 2253, [email protected] [email protected], www.shepherdhotel.com Strand Hotel (88 rooms; mr; res) St. Nicholas Hotel (25 rooms; res; mr) Tel: 628 0279, Fax: 628 4826 Tel: 274 3040/1/2, Fax: 274 3043 Victoria Hotel (50 rooms; bf; res) Saint Vincent Guest House (36 rooms) Tel: 627 4466, Fax: 627 4171 Tel: 276 0967/8, Fax: 276 0970 [email protected], www.saintvincentguesthouse.net Talita Kumi Guest House (22 rooms; res; mr; cf) Alexander Hotel (42 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 274 1247, Fax: 274 1847 Tel: 277 0780, Fax: 277 0782 Zaituna Tourist Village Al-Salam Hotel (26 rooms; 6f; mr; cf; res) Tel: 275 0655 Tel: 276 4083/4, Fax: 277 0551, [email protected] Beit Al-Baraka Youth Hostel (19 rooms) Tel: 222 9288, Fax: 222 9288 Al- Zaytouna Guest House (7 rooms; bf; res; mr) Beit Ibrahim Guesthouse Telefax: 274 2016 Deir Hijleh Monastery Tel: 274 2613, Fax: 274 4250 Tel: 994 3038, 0505 348 892 [email protected] www.abrahams-herberge.com Hisham Palace Hotel Tel: 232 2414, Fax: 232 3109 Bethlehem Hotel (209 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res) Tel: 277 0702, Fax: 277 0706, [email protected] Inter-Continental Jericho (181 rooms; su; bf; cf; mr; res; ter; tb) Bethlehem Inn (36 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 231 1200, Fax: 231 1222 Tel: 274 2424, Fax: 274 2423 Jericho Resort Village Bethlehem Star Hotel (72 rooms; cf; bf; res) (60 rooms; 46 studios; bf; cf; mr; res) Tel: 274 3249 - 277 0285, Fax: 274 1494 Tel: 232 1255, Fax: 232 2189 [email protected] [email protected], www.jerichoresorts.com Casanova Hospice (60 rooms; mr; res) Jerusalem Hotel (22 rooms) Tel: 274 3981, Fax: 274 3540 Tel: 232 2444, Fax: 992 3109 78 79 Telepherique & Sultan Tourist Center Manarah Hotel (55 rooms) Tel: 295 2122, Telefax: 295 3274 Tel: 232 1590, Fax: 232 1598 [email protected], www.manarahhotel.com.ps [email protected] Merryland Hotel (25 rooms) Tel: 298 7176, Telefax: 298 7074 Rocky Hotel (22 rooms; cf; res; ter) Hebron Hotel Tel: 296 4470, Telefax: 296 1871 Tel: 225 4240 / 222 9385, Fax: 222 6760 (12 rooms) [email protected] Pension Miami Telefax: 295 6808 Ramallah Hotel (22 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 295 3544, Fax: 295 5029 Al-Qaser Hotel (48 rooms; 7 regular suites, 1 royal suite; bf; cf; mr; res) Retno Hotel (33 rooms & su; res; mr; gm; sp) Tel: 2341 444, Fax: 2341 944 Telefax: 295 0022, [email protected] [email protected], www.alqaserhotel.com www.retnohotel.com Al-Yasmeen Hotel & Souq Royal Court Suite Hotel (34 suites; res; mr; ter; (30 rooms; cf; mr; res) cf; pf; i) Tel: 233 3555 Fax: 233 3666 Tel: 296 4040, Fax: 296 4047 [email protected], www.alyasmeen.com Star Mountain Guesthouse (10 rooms; wifi; pf) Asia Hotel (28 rooms, res) Tel: 296 2705, Telefax: 296 2715 Telefax: 238 6220 [email protected] Chrystal Motel (12 rooms) Telefax: 233 3281 International Friends Guesthouse (Hostel) Adam Hotel (76 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res) (mr; res; ter; cf; pf) Telefax: 282 3521/19 Telfax: 238 1064 Al-Deira (11 suites; cf; mr; res; ter) [email protected] Tel: 283 8100/200/300, Fax: 283 8400 www.guesthouse.ps [email protected] Al-Quds In­ter­na­tional Hotel (44 rooms; 2 suites; bf; mr; res) Telefax: 282 5181 - 282 6223 - 286 3481 - 282 2269 Al-A’in Hotel (24 rooms and suites; mr; cf) Tel: 240 5925 - 240 4353 Fax: 240 4332 Al-Waha Hotel Tel: 287 0880, Fax: 287 0889 [email protected] Aladdin Hotel Beach Hotel (25 rooms; bf; mr; res) Telefax: 282 5492 - 284 8433 Tel: 240 7689, 240 7921, Fax: 240 7687 [email protected] Cliff Hotel (24 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 282 3450, Fax: 282 0742 Al-Bireh Tourist Hotel (50 rooms; cf; res) Telefax: 240 0803 Commodore Gaza Hotel (120 rooms;su; bf) Tel: 283 4400, Fax: 282 2623 Al-Hajal Hotel (22 rooms; bf) [email protected] Telefax: 298 7858 Gaza International Hotel Al Hambra Palace (Hotel Suites and Resort) Tel: 295 6226 - 295 0031, Fax: 295 0032 (30 rooms; bf; cf; res; sp) www.alhambra-palace-hotel.com Tel: 283 0001/2/3/4, Fax: 283 0005 [email protected] Grand Palace Hotel Al-Murouj Pension (Jifna village) (8 rooms; res) (20 rooms; cr; mr; cf; res; internet) Tel: 284 9498/6468, Fax: 284 9497 Telefax: 281 0881 [email protected] Al-Wihdah Hotel Hotel Sea Breeze Telefax: 298 0412 Tel: 283 0277 - 284 2654, Fax: 282 4231 Ankars Suites and Hotel (30 suites) Marna House (17 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 295 2602, Fax: 295 2603 Tel: 282 2624, Fax: 282 3322 [email protected] Mövenpick Hotel Ramallah (171 rooms and Su; Best Eastern Hotel (91 rooms; cf; res) Tel: 296 0450, Fax: 295 8452, [email protected] bf; mr; cr; res;ter; cf; gm; pf; sp) Tel: 298 5888, Fax: 298 533 Caesar Hotel (46 rooms & su, 2 mr, cr, res, cf) [email protected] Tel: 296 4228, Fax: 296 4229 [email protected] City Inn Palace Hotel (47 rooms; bf; cf; res) www.moevenpick-ramallah.com Tel: 240 8080, Fax: 240 8091 Palestine Hotel (54 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res) [email protected], www.cityinnpalace.com Tel: 282 3355, Fax: 286 0056 Grand Park Hotel & Resorts (84 rooms; 12 grand suites; bf; cf; mr; res; sp; pf) Tel: 298 6194, Fax: 295 6950, [email protected] Cinema Jenin Guesthouse (7 rooms; 2 su) Gemzo Suites Tel: 250 2455 (90 executive suites; cs; mr; pf; gm; res) [email protected], www.cinemajenin.org Tel: 240 9729, Fax: 240 9532 Haddad Hotel & Resort [email protected], www.gemzosuites.net Tel: 241 7010/1/2, Fax: 241 7013 [email protected] www.haddadtourismvillage.com

Key: su = suites, bf = business facilities; mr = meeting rooms, cr = conference facilities; res = restaurant, ter = terrace bar; tb = turkish bath, cf = coffee shop; gm = gym; pf = parking facilities, sp = swimming pool

80 Tel: 627 4626 Tel: 628 2588, 626 4418 Four Seasons Restaurants Versavee Bistro (Bar and Café) Al-Diwan (Ambassador Hotel) and Coffee Shop Oriental and Western Food Middle Eastern, French, and Italian Barbecues and Shawerma Tel: 627 6160 Cuisine Tel: 628 6061, Fax: 628 6097 Tel: 541 2213, Fax: 582 8202 Goodies Alhambra Palace Jerusalem Fast Food Abu Eli Restaurant Restaurant & coffee shop Tel: 585 3223 Middle Eastern and Barbecues Conferences workshops and social Tel. 274 1897 Kan Zaman (Jerusalem Hotel) activates, Theatre and Cinema Abu Shanab Restaurant Tel: 626 3535, Fax: 6263737 Mediterranean Cuisine [email protected] Tel: 627 1356 Barbecues Tel: 274 2985 Al-Shuleh Grill Lotus and Olive Garden Shawerma and Barbecues (Jerusalem Meridian Hotel) Afteem Restaurant Tel: 627 3768 Middle Eastern and Continental Oriental Cuisine Cuisine Tel: 274 7940 Amigo Emil Tel: 628 5212 Middle Eastern, American, Indian, Al-Areeshah Palace (Jacir and Italian Cuisine Nafoura Palace – InterContinental Tel: 628 8090, Fax: 626 1457 Middle Eastern Menu Bethlehem) Tel: 626 0034 Middle Eastern and Barbecues Antonio’s (Ambassador Hotel) Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6154 Middle Eastern, French, and Italian Nakashian Gallery Café Cuisine Tel: 627 8077 Al-Hakura Restaurant Middle Eastern and Fast Food Tel: 541 2213 La Rotisserie (Notre Dame Arabesque, Poolside, and Hotel) Tel: 277 3335 Patio Restaurants (American Gourmet Restaurant, European Al- Khaymeh (Jacir Palace – Colony Hotel) and Mediterranean Menu InterContinental Bethlehem) Western and Middle Eastern Menu Tel: 627 9114, Fax: 627 1995 Middle Eastern and Barbecues Tel: 627 9777, Fax: 627 9779 Dina Café Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6154 Armenian Tavern Coffee and Pastry Akkawi Café Armenian and Middle Eastern Food Tel: 626 3344 Western Menu Tel: 627 3854 Papa Andreas Tel: 274 8447 Askidinya Barbecues Al Makan Bar (Jacir Palace – Italian and French Cuisine Tel: 628 4433, Fax: 627 5224 InterContinental Bethlehem) Tel: 532 4590 Pasha’s Snack Bar Az-Zahra Oriental Food Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6770 Oriental food and Pizza Tel: 582 5162, 532 8342 Balloons Tel: 628 2447 Patisserie Suisse Coffee Shop and Pizza Borderline Restaurant Café Fast Food and Breakfast Tel: 275 0221, Fax: 277 7115 Italian and Oriental Menu Tel: 628 4377 Beit Sahour Citadel Tel: 532 8342 Petra Restaurant Mediterranean Cuisine Cafَé Europe Oriental Cuisine Tel: 277 7771 Drinks and Fast Food Tel: 627 7799 Bonjour Restaurant and Café Tel: 628 4313 Pizza House Coffee Shop and Continental Cardo Restaurant Pizza and Oriental Pastry Cuisine Continental Cuisine Tel: 627 3970, 628 8135 Tel: 274 0406 Tel: 627 0827 RIO Grill and Subs Dar al-Balad Chinese Restaurant Italian and French Cuisine Continental Cuisine Chinese Cuisine Tel: 583 5460 Tel: 274 9073 Tel: 626 3465, Fax: 626 3471 Rossini’s Restaurant Bar Grotto Restaurant Coffee Bean Café French and Italian Cuisine Barbecues and Taboon Sandwiches and Sushi Tel: 628 2964 Tel: 274 8844, Fax: 274 8889 Tel: 627 0820 Shababeek Restaurant Golden Roof Educational Bookshop Mediterranean Menu Continental Cuisine Books and Coffee Tel: 532 2626, Fax: 532 2636 Tel: 274 3224 Books and Coffee Shalizar Restaurant Il’iliyeh Restaurant Tel: 627 5858 Middle Eastern, Mexican, and Continental Cuisine Italian Cuisine Tel: 277 0047 El Dorada Coffee Shop and Tel: 582 9061 Internet Café La Terrasse The Gate Café Chocolates, Coffee, and Internet Middle Eastern and Continental Tel: 626 0993 Fresh Juices, Coffee, and Tea Cuisine Tel: 627 4282 Tel: 275 3678 Flavours Grill The Patio (Christmas Hotel) Layal Lounge International Cuisine with Mediterranean Flavour Oriental and European Menu Snack Bar

82 Tel: 275 0655 Fawanees Roma Café Tal El-Qamar Roof Ziryab Mariachi (Grand Hotel) Pastries and Fast Food Italian Light Food Middle Eastern and Western Menu Barbecues, Italian, and Oriental Seafood and Mexican Cuisine Al Falaha Tel: 298 7046 Tel: 296 4228 Tel: 298 7905/ 6 Cuisine Tel: 274 1440, 274 1602/3 Msakhan and Taboun Zaki Taki Rukab’s Ice Cream The Vine Restaurant Tel: 295 9093 Tel: 290 5124 Fax: 274 1604 Sandwiches Ice Cream and Soft Drinks Continental Cuisine Palmeras Gastropub Allegro Italian Restaurant Tel: 296 3643 Tel: 295 3467 Tel: 295 7727 Al-Andalus Continental Cuisine Mövenpick Hotel Ramallah K5M - Caterers Saba Sandwiches THE Q GARDEN Italian fine cuisine Middle Eastern and Western Telefax: 275 6622 Cake and Sweets Falafel and Sandwiches Roof-top garden - Tel: 298 5888 Cuisine Riwaq Courtyard (Jacir Palace Tel: 295 6813 Tel: 296 0116 International Cusine Tel: 282 1272, 283 3769 Al- Riwaq All-day-dining – InterContinental Bethlehem) Khuzama Restaurant Samer Tel: 295 7727 Al-Deira Coffee Shop and Sandwiches restaurant Oriental Cuisine Middle Eastern Food Tomasso’s Continental Cuisine Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6754 Mövenpick Hotel Ramallah Tel: 298 8289 Tel: 240 5338 - 240 3088 Pizza and Fast Food Tel: 283 8100/200/300 International, Swiss and Oriental Tel: 240 9991/ 2 Al-Marsa Roots Lounge (Beit Sahour) cuisine La Vista Café and Restaurant Sangria’s Tel: 0598 333 665 Oriental and Western Cuisine Tropicana Seafood and Desserts Tel: 298 5888 French, Italian, and Mexican Tel: 286 3599 Tel: 296 3271 Cuisine Mexican Cuisine, Oriental Menu, The Tent Restaurant Awjan Al-Molouke (Shepherds’ Valley Village) Cann Espresso Tel: 295 6808 and Zarb Seafood, Breakfast, and Pizza, Tel: 297 5661 Shawerma and Barbecues Barbecues Coffee Shop, Lebanese and Italian Arabic and Italian Cuisine Shukeireh Restaurant Tel: 286 8397 Tel: 277 3875, Fax: 277 3876 Cuisine Tel: 297 2125 Middle Eastern and Western UpTown (Ankars Suites and Al-Salam St. George Restaurant Tel: 297 1776 Mac Simon Cuisine Hotel) Seafood Tel: 297 5233 Oriental Cuisine and Barbecues Andre’s Restaurant Pizza and Fast Food Continental Cuisine Tel: 282 2705, Telefax: 283 3188 Tel: 274 3780, Fax: 274 1833 French and Italian Cuisine Tel: 297 2088 Sinatra Cafe and Cheese Tel: 295 2602 Al-Sammak Tachi Chinese Tel: 296 6477/8 Mr. Donuts Café Cake Vatche’s Garden Restaurant Seafood Tel: 286 4385 Chinese Cuisine Angelo’s Donuts and Coffee Shop Italian and American Cuisine European Style Tel: 274 4382 Western Menu and Pizza Tel: 240 7196 Tel: 297 1028 Tel: 296 5966, 296 5988 Al-Sammak Ghornata Seafood Taboo – Restaurant and Bar Tel: 295 6408, 298 1455 Mr. Fish Sky Bar (Ankars Suites and Zam’n Premium Coffee Hotel) Tel: 284 0107 Oriental and Continental Cuisine Azure Restaurant and Coffee Seafood Coffee Shop Style Continental Cuisine Avenue Restaurant and Café Tel: 274 0711, Fax: 274 1862 Shop Tel: 295 9555 Tel: 295 0600 Tel: 295 2602 Shop The Square Restaurant and Continental Cuisine Mr. Pizza Zam’n Premium Coffee Sparkles Bar Middle Eastern and Western Menu Coffee Shop Telefax: 295 7850 Pizza and Fast Food Masyoun Tel: 288 2100 / 288 3100 Cigar bar Mediterranean Cuisine Baladna Ice Cream Tel: 240 3016, 240 8182 Coffee Shop Style Mövenpick Hotel Ramallah La Mirage Tel: 274 9844 Ice Cream and Soft Drinks Muntaza Restaurant and Tel: 298 1033 Continental Cuisine and Seafood Telefax: 295 6721 Tel: 298 5888 Zarour Bar BQ Tel: 286 5128 Zaitouneh (Jacir Palace – Garden Stones InterContinental Bethlehem) Birth Café Barbecues and Sandwiches Barbecues and Oriental Cuisine Roots - The Club Continental Cuisine Continental Cuisine Barbecues and Fast Food Tel: 295 6835 Tel: 295 6767, 296 4480 Oriental Cuisine Tel: 297 6614 Tel: 296 6038 Fax: 296 4357 Tel: 288 8666, 282 3999, Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6154 Na3Na3 Café Tabash (Jifna Village) 282 3777 Caesar’s (Grand Park Hotel) Italian and Oriental Cuisine Zeit ou Zaater Barbecues Saleh Atya Al Shawa Continental Cuisine Tel: 296 4606 Pastries and Snacks Al-Nafoura Restaurant Tel: 298 6194 Tel: 281 0932 Tel: 295 4455 Restaurant - Al-Jala (Jericho Resort Village) Newz Bar Barbecues Café De La Paix Lounge and “Le Gourmet” pastries’ Tel: 282 5062 Arabic Cuisine and Barbecues French Cuisine Tel: 232 1255, Fax: 232 2189 corner Tel: 298 0880 Mövenpick Hotel Ramallah Al-Rawda Chinese House Restaurant Tel: 298 5888 Barbecues Chinese Cuisine Telefax: 232 2555 Osama’s Pizza Tel: 296 4081 Pizza and Fast Food Green Valley Park Crispy Tel: 295 3270 Oriental Cuisine and Barbecues Fried Chicken and Hamburgers Orjuwan Lounge Tel: 232 2349 Tel: 295 6661 Palestinian-Italian Fusion Jabal Quruntul Darna Tel: 297 6870 Continental Cuisine (Open Buffet) Continental Cuisine Pesto Café and Restaurant Tel: 232 2614, Fax: 232 2659 Tel: 295 0590/1 Italian Cuisine Seven Trees Diwan Art Coffee Shop Tel: 297 0705, 297 0706 Continental Cuisine Continental Cuisine Pizza Inn Tel: 232 2781 Tel: 296 6483 Pizza and Fast Food Do Re Mi Café (Royal Court) Tel: 298 1181/2/3 Continental Cuisine Salim Afandi Tel: 296 4040 Philadelphia Restaurant Middle Eastern Menu Barbecues and Oriental Cuisine Elite Coffee House Tel: 237 1332 Tel: 295 1999 Italian and Arabic Cuisine Zeit Ou Zaater (Al-Yasmeen Tel: 296 5169 Plaza Jdoudna Restaurant Hotel) and Park European Coffee Shop Continental Cuisine and Pastries Middle Eastern Menu Coffee and Sweets Tel: 238 3164, Fax: 233 3666 Tel: 295 6020, Fax: 296 4693 Tel: 2951 7031, 296 6505 Express Pizza Pronto Resto-Café Italian Cuisine American Pizza Tel: 298 7312 Tel: 296 6566

84 85 East Jerusalem (02) 4M Travel Agency, Tel: 627 1414, Fax: 628 4701, [email protected], www.4m- travel.com • Abdo Tourist & Travel, Tel: 628 1865, Fax: 627 2973, [email protected] • Aeolus Tours, East Jerusalem (02) Armenian Museum, Old City, Tel: 628 2331, Fax: 626 4861, Opening hours: Tel: 0505 635 5496, Fax: 656 5823, [email protected] • Albina Tours Ltd., Tel: 628 3397, Fax: 628 1215, Mon.- Sat. from 9:00 - 16:30 • Dar At Tifl Museum (Dar At Tifl Association), Near the Orient House, [email protected]; [email protected], www.albinatours.com • Alliance Travel Solutions, Tel: 581 Tel: 628 3251, Fax: 627 3477 • Islamic Museum (The Islamic Waqf Asso­ciation), Old City, Tel: 628 3313, 7102, Fax: 581 7103, [email protected], www.alliancetravel-jrs.com • Arab Tourist Agency (ATA), Fax: 628 5561, opening hours for tourists: daily from 7:30 - 13:30 • Math Museum, Science Museum, Abu Tel: 627 7442, Fax: 628 4366,[email protected] • Atic Tours & Travel Ltd., Tel: 628 6159, Fax: 626 4023, Jihad Museum for the Palestinian Prisoners Studies - Al-Quds University, Tel: 279 9753 - 279 0606, [email protected], www.atictour.com • Awad & Co. Tourist Agency, Tel: 628 4021, Fax: 628 7990, admin@ [email protected], opening hours Saturday - Wednesday 8:30 - 15:00 • Qalandia Camp Women’s Handicraft awad.tours.com, www.awad-tours.com • Aweidah Bros. Co., Tel: 628 2365, Fax: 628 2366, aweidah@netvision. Coop., Telefax: 656 9385, Fax: 585 6966, [email protected] net.il, www.aweidahtours.com • Ayoub Caravan Tours, Tel: 628 4361, Fax: 628 5804 [email protected] • B. Peace Tours & Travel, Tel: 626 1876, Fax: 626 2065, [email protected] • Bible Land Tours, Ramallah & Al-Bireh (02) Museum of Palestinian Popular Heritage - In’ash el Usra, In’ash el Tel: 627 1169, Fax: 627 2218, [email protected] • Blessed Land Tours, Tel: 628 6592, Fax: 628 5812, blt@ Usra society, Al-Bireh, Tel: 240 2876, Fax: 240 1544, Opening hours: daily from 8:00 - 15:00 except Fridays • blessedlandtours.com, www.blessedlandtours.com • Carawan Tours and Travel, Tel: 628 1244, Fax: 628 1406, Ramallah Museum, Al-Harajeh St., Across from Arab Bank, Old Town, Ramallah, Telefax: 295 9561, [email protected], www.carawan-tours.com • Daher Travel, Tel: 628 3235, Fax: 627 1574, [email protected], open daily from 8:00 - 15:00 except friday and Saturday • The Birzeit University Ethnographic and Art www.dahertravel.com • Dajani Palestine Tours, Tel: 626 4768, Fax: 627 6927, [email protected] • Dakkak Museum Tel: 298 2976, [email protected], Opening hours: daily from 10:00 - 15:00 except for Fridays and Sundays Tours Agency, Tel: 628 2525, Fax: 628 2526, [email protected] • Egythai Int. Tours and Travel, Tel: 628 1184, Fax: 628 4701, [email protected] • Gates of Jerusalem Travel Agency, Tel: 234 4365, Fax: Bethlehem (02) Al-Balad Museum for Olive Oil Production, Tel: 274 1581, Opening hours: 8:00-14:30 234 3835, [email protected] • George Garabedian Co., Tel: 628 3398, Fax: 628 7896, [email protected] • Monday through Saturday • Baituna al Talhami Museum, (Folklore Museum) Arab Women’s Union, GEMM Travel, Tel: 628 2535/6, [email protected] • Good News Tours Ltd., Tel: 0774180091/2, Fax: Tel: 274 2589, Fax: 274 2431, Opening hours: daily from 8:00 - 13:00/ 14:00 - 17:00 except for Sundays and 0774180093, [email protected] • Golden Dome Company for Hajj& Umra Services, Tel: 628 0770, Thursdays afternoon • Bethlehem Peace Center Museum, Tel: 276 6677, Fax: 274 1057, [email protected], Fax: 628 5912 • Guiding Star Ltd., Tel: 627 3150, Fax: 627 3147, [email protected], www.guidingstarltd. www.peacenter.org, Opening hours: daily from 10:00-18:00 except Sundays from 10:00 - 16:00 • com • Holy Jerusalem Tours & Travel, Tel: 540 1668; Fax: 540 0963, [email protected], www. Natural History Museum, Telefax:02-276 5574, [email protected], www.eecp.org • The International holyjerusalemtours.com • Holy Land Tours, Tel: 532 3232, Fax: 532 3292, [email protected] • J. Sylvia Nativity Museum, Tel: 276 6585, Fax: 274 2421 • Palestinian Ethnographic Museum, Tours, Tel: 628 1146, Fax: 628 8277, [email protected] • Jata Travel Ltd., Tel: 627 5001, Fax: 627 5003, Tel: 276 7467, Fax: 276 0533, [email protected], Opening hours: daily from 9:00 - 17:00 • Palestinian Heritage [email protected] • Jiro Tours, Tel: 627 3766, Fax: 628 1020, [email protected], www.jirotours.com • Center, Telefax: 274 2381, [email protected], www.palestinianheritagecenter.com Jordan Travel Agency, Tel: 628 4052, Fax: 628 7621 • Jerusalem Orient Tourist Travel, Tel : 628 8722, Fax: 627 4589, [email protected] • JT & T, Tel: 628 9418, 628 9422, Fax: 628 9298, [email protected], www.jttours. Tel: 285 8444, [email protected], www. almathaf.ps Gaza (08) Al Mathaf, com • KIM’s Tourist & Travel Agency, Tel: 627 9725, Fax: 627 4626, [email protected], www.kimstours.com • Lawrence Tours & Travel, Tel: 628 4867, Fax: 627 1285, [email protected] • Lions Gate Travel & Tours, Tel: 627 7829, Fax: 627 7830, Mobile: 0523 855 312, [email protected], [email protected] • Lourdes Tourist & Travel Agency, Tel: 627 5332, Telefax: 627 5336, [email protected] • Middle East Car Rental, Tel: 626 2777, Fax: 626 2203 • Mt. of Olives Tours Ltd., Tel: 627 1122, Fax: 628 5551 [email protected], www.olivetours.com • Nawas Tourist Agency Ltd., Tel: 628 2491, Fax: 628 5755 • Nazarene Tours and Travel, Tel: 627 4636, Fax: 627 7526 • Near East Tourist Agency (NET), Tel: 532 8706, Fax: 532 8701, [email protected], www.netours.com • O.S. Hotel Services, Tel: 628 9260, Fax: 626 4979, [email protected] • Overseas Travel Bureau, Tel: 628 7090, Fax: 628 4442, otb@ netvision.net.il • Royal Orient Tours & Travel, Tel: 626 4181/2, Fax: 626 4186, [email protected] • Safieh Tours & Travel Agency, Tel: 626 4447, Fax: 628 4430, [email protected] • Samara Tourist & Travel Agency, Tel: 627 6133. Fax: 627 1956, [email protected] • Season Travel ltd., Tel: 627 7552, Fax: 627 7564, [email protected], www.season-travel.com • Shepherds Tours & Travel, Tel: 6284121- 6287859, Fax: 6280251, [email protected], www.shepherdstours.com • Shweiki Tours Ltd., Tel: 673 6711, Fax: 673 6966 • Sindbad Travel Tourist Agency, Tel: 627 2165, Fax: 627 2169, [email protected], www.Sindbad-Travel.com • Siniora Star Tours, Tel: 628 6373, Fax: 628 9078, East Jerusalem (02) Car Rental • Car & Drive, Tel: 656 5562/3 • Dallah Al-Barakah, Tel: 656 4150 • [email protected] • Terra Sancta Tourist Co, Tel: 628 4733, Fax: 626 4472 • The Pioneer Links Travel Good Luck, Tel: 627 7033, Fax: 627 7688 • Green Peace Rent A Car Ltd., Telefax: 585 9756 • Jerusalem & Tourism Bureau, Tel: 626 1963, Fax: 628 4714, www.pioneer-links.com • Tony Tours Ltd., Tel: 244 2050, Car Rental & Leasing ltd., Tel: 582 2179, Fax: 582 2173 • Orabi, Tel: 585 3101 • Petra, Tel: 582 0716,Taxis Fax: 244 2052, [email protected] • United Travel Ltd., Tel: 583 3614, Fax: 583 6190, [email protected], Abdo,Tel: 585 8202 (Beit Hanina), Tel: 628 3281 (Damascus Gate) • Al-Eman Taxi & Lemo Service, Tel: www.unitedtravelltd.com • Universal Tourist Agency, Tel: 628 4383, Fax: 626 4448, [email protected], www. 583 4599 - 583 5877 •Al-Rashid, Tel: 628 2220 • Al-Aqsa, Tel: 627 3003 • Beit Hanina, Tel: 585 5777 • Holy universal-jer.com • William Tours & Travel Agency, Tel: 623 1617, Fax: 624 1126, [email protected] • Land, Tel: 585 5555 • Imperial, Tel: 628 2504 • Jaber - Petra, Tel: 583 7275 - 583 7276 • Khaled Al-Tahan, Yanis Tours & Travel, Telefax: 627 5862, [email protected] • Zatarah Tourist & Travel Agency, Tel: Tel: 585 5777 • Mount of Olives, Tel: 627 2777 • Panorama, Tel: 628 1116 • Tourist Trans­por­tation Abdo 627 2725, Fax: 628 9873, [email protected] Tourist, Tel: 628 1866 • Jerusalem of Gold, Tel: 673 7025/6 • Kawasmi Tourist Travel Ltd., Tel: 628 4769, Bethlehem (02) Angels Tours and Travel, Tel: 277 5813, Fax: 277 5814, [email protected], www. Fax: 628 4710 • Mount of Olives, Tel: 627 1122 • Mahfouz Tourist Travel, Tel: 628 2212, Fax: 628 4015 angelstours.com.ps • Arab Agency Travel & Tourism, Tel: 274 1872, Fax: 274 2431, tourism@aca-palestine. Bethlehem (02) Car Rental Murad, Tel: 274 7092 • Nativity Rent a Car, Tel: 274 3532, Fax: 274 7053 Taxis com, www.aca-palestine.com • Crown Tours & Travel Co. Ltd., Tel: 274 0911, Fax: 274 0910, info@crown- Asha’b, Tel: 274 2309 • Beit Jala, Tel: 274 2629 • Al Fararjeh Taxi - 24 Hours, Tel: 275 2416 tours.com, www.crown-tours.com • Four Seasons Co. Tourism & Travel, Tel: 277 4401, Fax: 277 4402, [email protected] • Friendship Travel & Tourism, Tel: 277 7967, Fax: 277 7987, [email protected] Hebron (02) Car Rental Holy Land, Tel: 222 0811 • Taxis Al-Asdiqa’, Tel: 222 9436 • Al-Itihad, Tel: 222 8750 • Gloria Tours & Travel, Tel: 274 0835, Fax: 274 3021, [email protected] • Golden Gate Tours & Travel, Tel: 276 6044, Fax: 276 6045, [email protected] • Kukali Travel & Tours, Tel: 277 3047, Fax: 277 2034, Jericho (02) Taxis Petra, Tel: 232 2525 [email protected] • Laila Tours & Travel, Tel: 277 7997, Fax: 277 7996, [email protected], www.Lailatours.com • Lama Tours International, Tel: 274 3717, Fax: 274 3747, [email protected] • Millennium Transportation, Nablus (09) Car Rental Orabi, Tel: 238 3383 • Taxis Al-Ittimad, Tel: 237 1439 • Al-Madina, Tel: 237 3501 TeleFax: 676 7727, 050-242 270 • Mousallam Int’l Tours, Tel: 277 0054, Fax: 277 0054, [email protected] • Nativity Travel, Tel: 274 2966, Fax: 274 4546 • Sansur Travel Agency, Tel: 274 4473, Telefax: 274 4459 Ramallah & Al-Bireh (02) Car Rental Good Luck, Tel: 234 2160 • Orabi, Tel: 240 3521 • Petra, • Sky Lark Tours and Travel, Tel: 274 2886, Fax: 276 4962, [email protected] • Terra Santa Tourist Tel: 295 2602 • TWINS, Tel: 296 4688 • Taxis Al-Bireh, Tel: 240 2956 • Al-Masyoun Taxi, Tel: 295 2230 • Co., Tel: 277 0249 Fax: 277 0250 • Voice of Faith Tours, Tel: 275 70 50 Fax: 275 70 51, [email protected], Al-Salam, Tel: 295 5805 • Al-Wafa, Tel: 295 5444 • Al-Itihad, Tel: 295 5887 • Hinnawi Taxi, Tel: 295 6302 www.gmtravel.co.il • Omaya, Tel: 295 6120 • SAHARA Rent a Car Co., Tel: 297 5317/8 • Shamma’ Taxi Co., Tel: 296 0957 Beit Jala (02) Guiding Star Ltd., Tel: 276 5970, Fax: 276 5971, [email protected] Gaza Strip (08) Car Rental Al-Ahli, Tel: 282 8534 • Al-Farouq, Tel: 284 2755 • Imad, Tel: 286 4000 • Luzun, Tel: 282 2628 • Taxis Al-Nasser, Tel: 286 1844, 286 7845 • Al-Wafa, Tel: 284 9144 - 282 4465 • Beit Sahour (02) Alternative Tourism Group, Tel: 277 2151, Fax: 277 2211, [email protected], www.atg.ps • Azhar, Tel: 286 8858 • Midan Filastin, Tel: 286 5242 Brothers Travel & Tours, Tel: 277 5188, Fax: 277 5189, [email protected], www.brostours.com • Magi

86 87 Tours, Telefax: 277 5798, [email protected]

Hebron (02) AL-Afaq for Travel & Umrah, Telefax: 221 1332, [email protected] • Al Amir Tours, Telefax: 221 2065, [email protected] • Alkiram Tourism, Tel: 225 6501/2, Fax: 225 6504, Consulates [email protected] • Al-Haya Travel & Tourism, Tel: 229 3108, Fax: 229 7496 • Al-Salam Travel and Tours Co., Tel: 221 5574, Fax: 223 3747 • Arab Nisr Travel & Tourism, Tel: 221 5970/1, Fax: 229 2730/1, East Jerusalem (02) Apostolic Delegation, Tel: 628 2298, Fax: 628 1880 • Belgium, Tel: 582 8263, [email protected] • Sabeen Travel Tourism, Telefax: 229 4775, [email protected] Fax: 581 4063, [email protected] • European Community - Delegation to the OPT, Tel: 541 5888, Fax: 541 5848 • France, Tel: 591 4000, Fax: 582 0032 • Great Britain, Tel: 541 4100, Fax: 532 2368, britain. Ramallah (02) Al-Asmar Travel Agency, Telefax: 295 4140, 296 5775, [email protected] • Al Awdah [email protected], www.britishconsulate.org • Greece, Tel: 582 8316, Fax: 532 5392 • Italy, Tel: 561 8966, Tourism & Travel, Tel: 295 2597, Fax: 295 2989 • All Middle East Pilgrimage and Tourism Coordination Fax: 561 9190 • Spain, Tel: 582 8006, Fax: 582 8065 • Swedish Consulate General, Tel: 646 5860, Fax: Office, Tel: 289 8123, Fax: 289 9174, [email protected], www.ameptco.com • Amani Tours, Telefax: 298 7013, 646 5861 • Turkey, Tel: 591 0555-7, Fax: 582 0214, [email protected], www.kudus.bk.mfa.gov.tr • [email protected] • Anwar Travel Agency, Tel: 295 6388, 295 1706, [email protected] • Arab Office for United States of America, Tel: 622 7230, Fax: 625 9270 Travel & Tourism, Tel: 295 6640, Fax: 295 1331 • Arseema for Travel & Tourism, Tel: 297 5571, Fax: 297 5572, [email protected] • Atlas Tours & Travel, Tel: 295 2180, Fax: 298 6395, www.atlasavia.com • Darwish Representative Offices to the PNA Travel Agency, Tel: 295 6221, Fax: 295 7940 • Golden Globe Tours, Tel: 296 5111, Fax: 296 5110, gg-tours@ palnet.com • Issis & Co., Tel: 295 6250, Fax: 295 4305 • Jordan River Tourist & Travel Agency, Tel: 298 Ramallah & Al-Bireh (02) Argentina Representative Office to the PA, Tel: 241 2848/9, Fax: 241 0523, Fax: 298 0524 • Kashou’ Travel Agency, Tel: 295 5229, Fax: 295 3107, [email protected] • 2850, [email protected] • Australia, Tel: 242 5301, Fax: 240 8290, [email protected], ausaid@palnet. Mrebe Tours & Travel, Tel: 295 4671, Fax: 295 4672, [email protected] • Paltour Travel and Tourism, com • Austria, Tel: 240 1477, Fax: 240 0479 • Brazil, Tel: 241 3753, Fax: 241 3756, admin-office@rep-brazil. Tel: 229 63662, Fax: 296 1373, [email protected] • The Pioneer Links Travel & Tourism Bureau, Tel: 240 org • Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Tel: 240 58 60/1, Fax: 2405862, representacionenpalestina@yahoo. 7859, Fax: 240 7860, [email protected] • Travel House For Travel & Tourism, Tel: 295 7225, Fax: com, [email protected] • Canada, Tel: 297 8430, Fax: 297 8446, [email protected] 296 2634, www.travelhouse.ps • Rahhal Tours & Travel, Tel: 242 3256, Fax: 242 9962, [email protected], • Chile, Tel: 296 0850, Fax: 298 4768, [email protected] • Cyprus, Tel: 240 6959, Fax: 240 4897 • Czech www.rahhalyours.ps • Raha Tours and Travel, Tel: 296 1780, Fax: 296 1782, www.rahatt.com, www.rahatravel. Republic, Tel: 296 5595, Fax: 296 5596 • Denmark, Tel: 240 2330, Fax: 240 0331 • Egypt, Tel: 297 7774, Fax: com • Ramallah Travel Agency, Tel: 295 3692, Fax: 295 5029, [email protected], www.kaoud.org • Reem 297 7772 • Finland, Tel: 240 0340, Fax: 240 0343 • Germany, Tel: 298 4788, Fax: 298 4786, gerrprof@palnet. Travel Agency, Tel: 295 3871, Fax: 295 3871 • Royal Tours, Tel: 296 6350/1, Fax: 296 6635 • Sabeen Travel com • Hungary, Tel: 240 7676, Fax: 240 7678, [email protected] • India, Tel: 290 3033, Fax: 290 3035, roi_ Tourism, Telefax: 240 5931, [email protected] • Salah Tours, Tel: 295 9931, Fax: 298 7206 • Shbat & [email protected] • Ireland, Tel: 240 6811/2/3, Fax: 240 6816, [email protected] • Japan, Tel: 241 3120, Fax: Abdul Nur, Tel: 295 6267, Fax: 295 7246 • Skyway Tourist Agency, Telefax: 296 5090 241 3123 • Jordan, Tel: 297 4625, Fax: 297 4624 • Mexico, Tel: 297 5592, Fax: 297 5594, ofimex-ramala@palnet. com • Norway, Tel: 234 5050, Fax: 234 5079, [email protected] • Poland, Tel: 297 1318, Fax: 297 1319 • Portugal, Jenin (04) Asia Travel Tourism, Telefax: 243 5157, www.asia-tourism.net • Al Sadeq Travel & Tourism, Tel: 240 7291/3, Fax: 240 7294 • Republic of Korea, Tel: 240 2846/7, Fax: 240 2848 • Russian Federation, Tel: 243 8055, Fax: 243 8057, email: [email protected] Tel: 240 0970, Fax: 240 0971 • South Africa, Tel: 298 7355, Fax: 298 7356, [email protected], www.sarep.org • Sri Lanka, Telefax: 290 4271 • Switzerland, Tel: 240 8360, [email protected] • The Netherlands, Nablus (09) Dream Travel & Tourism, Tel: 233 5056, Fax: 237 2069 • Firas Tours, Tel: 234 4565, Fax: 234 Tel: 240 6639, Fax: 240 9638 • The People’s Republic of China, Tel: 295 1222, Fax: 295 1221, chinaoffice@ 7781 • Top Tour, Tel: 238 9159, Fax: 238 1425, [email protected] • Yaish International Tours, palnet.com Telefax: 238 1410, 238 1437, [email protected] Gaza Strip (08) Egypt, Tel: 282 4290, Fax: 282 0718 • Germany, Tel: 282 5584, Fax: 284 4855 • Jordan, Tulkarem (09) Faj Tours, Tel: 2672 486, Fax: 2686 070, [email protected] Tel: 282 5134, Fax: 282 5124 • Morocco, Tel: 282 4264, Fax: 282 4104 • Norway, Tel: 282 4615, Fax: 282 1902 • Qatar, Tel: 282 5922, Fax: 282 5932 • South Africa, Tel: 284 1313, Fax: 284 1333 • Tunisia, Tel: 282 5018, Gaza Strip (08) Al-Muntazah Travel Agency, Tel: 282 7919 Fax: 282 4923 • Halabi Tours and Travel Fax: 282 5028 Co., Tel: 282 3704, Fax: 286 6075, [email protected], www.halabitours.ps • Maxim Tours, Tel: 282 4415, Fax: 286 7596 • National Tourist Office, Tel: 286 0616, Fax: 286 0682, [email protected] • Time Travel United Nations and International Organisations Ltd., Tel: 283 6775, Fax: 283 6855, [email protected] FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Jerusalem (02), TeleFax: 532 2757, 532 1950, [email protected], www.fao.org • IBRD - International Bank for Reconstruction and Devel­ ­opment (World Bank), West Bank (02), Tel: 236 6500 Fax: 236 6543, Gaza (08) Tel: 282 4746 Fax: 282 4296, firstletterofsurname. [email protected] • IMF, - International Monetary Fund, www.imf.org, Gaza (08), Tel: 282 5913; Fax: 282 5923, West Bank (02), Tel: 236 6530; Fax: 236 6543 • ILO - International Labor Organization, Jerusalem (02), Tel: 626 0212, 628 0933, Fax: 627 6746, [email protected], Ramallah (02), Tel: 290 0022, Fax: 290 0023, Nablus (09), Tel: 237 5692 - 233 8371, Fax: 233 8370 • OHCHR - Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, Gaza (08), Tel: 282 7021, Fax: 282 7321, [email protected], West Bank Office, Telefax: 02-296 Air France and KLM, Tel: 02-628 2535/6 (Jerusalem)­ , Tel: 08-286 0616 (Gaza) • Air Sinai – Varig, Tel: 5534 • UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, Ramallah (02), 02-627 2725 (Jerusalem), Tel: 08-282 1530 (Gaza) • bmi – Nazarene Aviation, Tel: 02-626 0896/898, Fax: 02- Tel: 295 9740, Fax: 295 9741, [email protected] • UNFPA - United Nations Population Fund, Jerusalem 626 0958 (Jerusalem) • British Airways, Tel: 02-628 8654, Fax: 02-628 3602 (Jerusalem) • Cyprus Airways, (02), Tel: 581 7292, Fax: 581 7382, [email protected], www.unfpa.ps • UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Tel: 02-240 4894 (Al-Bireh) • Delta Airlines, Tel: 02-296 7250, Telefax: 02-298 6395 (Ramallah) • Egypt Air, Fund, Jerusalem (02), Tel: 583 0013,4 Fax: 583 0806, Gaza (08), Tel: 286 2400, Fax: 286 2800, Jerusalem@ Tel: 02-298 6950/49 (Ramallah), Tel: 08-282 1530 (Gaza) • Emirates Airlines, Tel: 02-296 1780 (Ramallah) • unicef.org • UNIFEM - United Nations Development Fund for Women, Telefax: 628 0450, Tel: 628 0661 • Gulf Air, Tel: 09-238 6312 (Nablus), Tel: 02-295 3912/3 (Ramallah) • Iberia, Tel: 02-628 3235/7238 (Jerusalem) UN OCHA - United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs,Tel: 582 9962/02 - 582 5853, • Lufthansa, Tel: 09-238 2065 (Nablus) • Malev-Hungarian Airlines, Tel: 02-295 2180 (Ramallah) • Middle Fax: 582 5841, [email protected], www.ochaopt.org • UNRWA - United Nations Relief and Works Agency, East Car Rental, Tel: 02-295 2602, Fax: 295 2603 • PAL AVIATION, Tel. 02-296 7250 Telefax: 02-298 6395 Gaza (08), Tel: 677 7333, Fax: 677 7555, [email protected], West Bank (02), Tel: 589 0401, Fax: 532 2714, (Ramallah) • Palestine Airlines, Tel: 08-282 2800 (Gaza), Tel: 08-282 9526/7 (Gaza) • Qatar Airways, Tel: [email protected] • UNSCO - Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East 02-240 4895 (Al-Bireh), Tel: 08-284 2303 (Gaza), Royal Jordanian Airways, Tel: 02-240 5060 (Ramallah), Peace Process, Tel: 08-284 3555/02-568 7276, Fax: 08-282 0966/02-568 7288, [email protected], www. Tel: 08-282 5403/13 (Gaza) • SN Brussels Airlines, Tel: 02-295 2180 (Ramallah), SAS Scandinavian unsco.org • UNTSO - United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, Jerusalem (02), Tel: 568 7222 - 568 Airlines, Tel: 02-628 3235/7238 (Jerusalem) • South African Airways, Tel: 02-628 6257 (Jerusalem) • Swiss 7444, Fax: 568 7400, [email protected] • WFP - World Food Programme, Gaza (08), Tel: 282 International Airlines, Tel: 02-295 2180 (Ramallah) • Tunis Air, Tel: 02-298 7013 (Ramallah), Tel: 08-286 7463, Fax: 282 7921, Jerusalem (02), Tel: 540 1340, Fax: 540 1227, [email protected] • WHO - World 0616 (Gaza) • Turkish Airlines, Tel: 02-277 0130 (Bethlehem) Health Organization, Jerusalem (02), Tel: 540 0595, Fax: 581 0193, [email protected], Gaza (08), Tel: 282 Airport Information Gaza International Airport, Tel: 08-213 4289 • Ben Gurion Airport, Tel: 03-972 3344 2033, Fax: 284 5409, [email protected] • World Bank, Tel: 236 6500, Fax: 236 6543

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP) 4 Al-Ya’qubi Street, Jerusalem, Tel: 02 6268200, Fax: 02 6268222 E-mail: [email protected] / URL: http://www.papp.undp.org

88 89 Ramallah (02) Al Rafah Microfinance Bank, Tel: 297 8710, Fax: 297 8880 • Arab Bank, (Al-Balad) Tel: 298 6480, Fax: 298 6488 • Arab Bank, (Al-Bireh), Tel: 295 9581, Fax: 295 9588 • Arab Bank, (Al-Manara) Tel: 295 4821, Fax: 295 4824 • Arab Bank (Masyoun Branch), Tel: 297 8100 • Arab Land Bank, Tel: 295 8421 • Bank of Palestine, Tel: 298 5921, Fax: 298 5920 • Bank of Palestine, (Al-Irsal) Tel: 296 6860, Fax: 296 East Jerusalem (02) Hospitals Augusta Victoria, Tel: 627 9911 • Dajani Maternity, Tel: 583 3906 6864 • Arab Palestinian Investment Bank, Tel: 298 7126, Fax: 298 7125 • Beit Al-Mal Holdings, Tel: 298 • Hadassah (Ein Kerem), Tel: 677 7111 • Hadassah (Mt. Scopus), Tel: 584 4111 • Maqassed, Tel: 627 0222 6916, Fax: 298 6916 • HSBC Bank Middle East, Tel: 298 7802, Fax: 298 7804 • Cairo-Amman Bank, Tel: • Red Crescent Maternity, Tel: 628 6694 • St. John’s Opthalmic, Tel: 582 8325 • St. Joseph, Tel: 591 298 3500, Fax: 295 5437 • The Center for Private Enterprise Development, Tel: 298 6786, Fax: 298 6787 1911 • Clinics and Centers Arab Health Center, Tel: 628 8726 • CHS Clinics, Tel: 628 0602/0499 • Ibn • Commercial Bank of Palestine, Tel: 295 4141, Fax: 295 4145 • Cooperative Development Unit, Tel: Sina Medical Center, Tel: 540 0083/9, 532 2536 • Jerusalem First Aid Clinic, Tel: 626 4055 • Medical 290 0029, Fax: 290 0029 • Deutsche Ausgleichsbank (DTA), Tel: 298 4462, Fax: 295 2610 • The Housing Relief Womens, Health Clinic, Tel: 583 3510 • Palestinian Counseling Center, Tel: 656 2272, 656 Bank, Tel: 298 6270, Fax: 298 6276 • International Islamic Arab Bank, Tel: 240 7060, Fax: 240 7065 • Jordan 2627 • Peace Medical Center, Tel: 532 7111, 532 4259 • Red Crescent Society, Tel: 586 056 • Spafford Bank, Tel: 295 8686, Fax: 2958684 • Jordan-Gulf Bank, Tel: 298 7680, Fax: 298 7682 • Jordan-Kuwait Children’s Clinic, Tel: 628 4875 • The Austrian Arab Commu­nity Clinic (AACC), Tel: 627 3246 • The Bank, Tel: 240 6725, Fax: 240 6728 • Jordan National Bank, Tel: 295 9343, Fax: 295 9341 • Palestine Jerusalem Princess Basma Center for Disabled Children, Tel: 628 3058 International Bank (PIB), Tel: 298 3300, Fax: 298 3333 • Palestine Investment Bank, Tel: 298 7880, Fax: Bethlehem (02) Hospitals Al-Dibis Maternity, Tel: 274 4242 • Al-Hussein Government, Tel: 274 298 7881 • Palestine Islamic Bank, Tel: 295 0247, Fax: 295 7146 • Union Bank, Tel: 298 6412, Fax: 295 6416 1161 • Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation, Tel: 274 4049-51, Fax: 274 4053 • Caritas Baby, Tel: Gaza Strip (08) Arab Bank, Tel: 08-286 6288, Fax: 282 0704 • Arab Bank (Al-Rimal), Tel: 282 4729, Fax: 275 8500, Fax: 275 8501 • Mental Health, Tel: 274 1155 • Shepherd’s Field Hospital, Tel: 277 5092 • St. 282 4719 • Arab Bank, (Khan Younis) Tel: 205 4775, Fax: 205 4745 • Arab Bank (Karny), Tel: 280 0020, Fax: Mary’s Maternity, Tel: 274 2443 • The Holy Family, Tel: 274 1151, Fax: 274 1154 Clinics and Centers 280 0028 • Arab Land Bank, Tel: 282 2046, Fax: 282 1099 • Bank of Palestine Ltd., Tel: 282 3272, Fax: Beit Sahour Medical Center, Tel: 277 4443 • Bethlehem Dental Center, Tel: 274 3303 286 5667 • Beit Al-Mal Holdings, Tel: 282 0722, Fax: 282 5786 • Cairo-Amman Bank, Tel: 282 4950, Fax: Hebron (02) Hos­pi­tals Amira Alia, Tel: 222 8126 • Al-Ahli, Tel: 222 0212 • Al-Meezan, Tel: 225 7400/1 282 4830 • Commercial Bank of Palestine, Tel: 282 5806, Fax: 282 5816 • The Housing Bank, Tel: 282 • Al-Za’tari, Tel: 222 9035 • Mohammed Ali, Tel: 225 3883/4 • Shaheera, Tel: 222 6982 • St. John’s 6322, Fax: 286 1143 • Jordan Bank, Tel: 282 0707, Fax: 282 4341 • Palestine Development Fund, Tel: Opthalmic, Tel: 223 6047 • The Red Crescent, Tel: 222 8333 • Yattah Governmental Hospital, Tel: 282 4286, Fax: 282 4286 • Palestine International Bank (PIB), Tel: 284 4333, Fax: 284 4303 • Palestine 227 1017, 227 1019 Clinics and Centers Red Crescent Society, Tel: 222 7450 • UPMRC, Tel: 222 6663 Investment Bank, Tel: 282 2105, Fax: 282 2107

Jericho (02) Hospitals Jericho Government, Tel: 232 1967/8/9 Clinics and Centers UPMRC, Tel: Nablus (09) Arab Bank, Tel: 238 2340, Fax: 238 2351 • Arab Bank (Askar), Tel: 231 1694, Fax: 234 2076 232 2148 • Arab Land Bank, Tel: 238 3651, Fax: 238 3650 • Bank of Palestine Ltd., Tel: 238 2030, Fax: 238 2923 • Bank of Palestine (Al-Misbah), Tel: 231 1460, Fax: 231 1922 • Cairo-Amman Bank, Tel: 238 1301, Fax: 238 Nablus (09) Hospitals Al-Aqsa Hospital and Medical Center, Tel: 294 7666 • Al-Ittihad, Tel: 237 1590 • Commercial Bank of Palestine, Tel: 238 5160, Fax: 238 5169 • The Housing Bank, Tel: 238 6060, 1491 • Al-Watani, Tel: 238 0039 • Al-Zakat Hospital (TolKarem), Tel: 268 0680 • Aqraba Maternity Fax: 238 6066 • Jordan Bank, Tel: 238 1120, Fax: 238 1126 • Jordan-Gulf Bank, Tel: 238 2191, Fax: 238 Home, Tel: 259 8550 • Rafidia, Tel: 239 0390 • Salfit Emergency Governmental Hospital, Tel: 251 5111 1953 • Jordan-Kuwait Bank, Tel: 237 7223, Fax: 237 7181 • Jordan-National Bank, Tel: 238 2280, Fax: • Specialized Arab Hospital, Tel: 239 0390 • St. Luke’s, Tel: 238 3818 • UNRWA Qalqilia Hospital 238 2283 • Palestine Investment Bank, Tel: 238 5051, Fax: 238 5057 • Palestine International Bank, (Qalqiliya), Tel: 294 0008 Clinics and Centers Al-Amal Center, Tel: 238 3778 • Arab Medical Center, Tel: 239 7780, Fax: 239 7788 Tel: 237 1515 • Hagar (Handicapped Equipment Center), Tel: 239 8687 • Red Crescent Society, Tel: 238 2153 • UPMRC, Tel: 283 7178

Ramallah & Al-Bireh (02) Hospitals Arabcare Hospital, Tel: 298 6420 • AL-Karmel Maternity Home, Tel: 247 1026 • Al-Mustaqbal Hospital, Tel: 240 4562 • AL-Nather Maternity Hospital, Tel: 295 5295 • Ash-Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Tel: 298 8088 • Birziet Maternity Home, City Fire Ambulance Police Tel: 281 0616 • Care Specialized Dental Center, Tel: 297 5090 • Khaled Surgical Hospital, Tel: Jerusalem* 02-6282222 101 100 295 5640 • Ramallah Government Hospitals, Tel: 298 2216/7 • Red Crescent Hospital, Tel: 240 CHS (Old City Jerusalem) 101 / 050-319120 6260 Clinics and Centers Arab Medical Center, Tel: 295 4334 • Arabcare Medical Center, Tel: 298 6420 • Emergency & Trauma Center, Tel: 298 8088 • Harb Heart Center, Tel: 296 0336 Bethlehem 02-274 1123 101 / 02-274 4222 02-274 8231 • Modern Dental Center, Tel: 298 0630 • National Center for Blood Diseases “Hippocrates” Gaza 08-2863633 101 / 08-2863633 08-2863400 Thalessemia and Hemophilia Center, Tel: 296 5082, Fax: 296 5081 • Patients’ Friends Society Hebron 102/22 28121-2-3 101 100 K. Abu Raya Re­ha­bili­tation Centre, Tel: 295 7060/1 • Palestinian Hemophilia Association-PHA, Jericho 02-232 2658 101 / 02-232 1170 02-232 2521 Telefax: 297 5588 • Peace Medical Center, Tel: 295 9276 • Red Crescent Society, Tel: 240 6260 • UPMRC, Tel: 298 4423, 296 0686 Jenin 04-250 1225 101 / 04-250 2601 04-250 1035 Nablus 09-238 3444 101 / 09-238 0399 09-238 3518 Gaza Strip (08) Hospitals Al-Ahli Al-Arabi, Tel: 286 3014 • Dar Al-Salam, Tel: 285 4240 • Nasser, Tel: Ramallah 02-295 6102 101 / 02-240 0666 02-295 6571 205 1244 • Shifa, Tel: 286 2765 Clinics and Centers Arab Medical Center, Tel: 286 2163 • Beit Hanoun Clinic, Tel: 285 8065 • Dar Al-Shifa, Tel: 286 5520 • Hagar (Handicapped Equipment Center), Tel: 284 Child helpline Palestine (121)free line 2636 • St. John’s Opthalmic, Tel: 284 8445 • UPMRC, Tel: 282 7837 Tulkarem 09-267 2106 101 / 09-267 2140 09-267 2161 Qalqilia 09-294 0440 101 / 09-294 0440 09-294 22730

Telephone Services Paltel Tourism and An­tiq­uities Wake up calls 175 Bezeq Police Wake up calls 1475 Free fax service 167 Bethlehem 02-277 0750/1 East Jerusalem (02) Arab Bank (Al-Ezzarieh), Tel: 279 6671, Fax: 279 6677 • Arab Bank (Al-Ram), Tel: Talking Clock Follow me 234 8710, Fax: 234 8717 • Center for Development Consultancy (CDC), Tel: 583 3183, Fax: 583 3185 • Time around the world 1455 (forwarding calls) 72* Gaza 08-282 9017 Commer­cial Bank of Palestine, Tel: 279 9886, Fax: 279 9258 Vocal Information 1975 Phone book 144 Jericho 02-232 4011 Pager Service 1705 Maintenance 166 Nablus 09-385 244 Bethlehem (02) Arab Bank, Tel: 277 0080, Fax: 277 0088 • Arab Land Bank, Tel: 274 0861 • Cairo- Repeat call *41 Information 199 Amman Bank, Tel: 274 4971, Fax: 274 4974 • Jordan National Bank, Tel: 277 0351, Fax: 277 0354 • Bank Internet maintenance 167 Border Crossings of Palestine Ltd., Tel: 276 5515/6, Fax: 276 5517 • Palestine Investment Bank, Tel: 277 0888, Fax: 277 0889 Last call *42 Call waiting *70 Calls from Overseas Allenby Bridge 02-994 2302 Hebron (02) Al-Ahli Bank, Tel: 222 4801/2/3/4 • Arab Bank, Tel: 222 6410, Fax: 222 6418 • Bank of Call forwarding *71 Arava Border 08-630 0555 Dial access code, international Palestine Ltd., Tel: 225 0001/2/3 • Cairo-Amman Bank, (Wadi Al-Tuffah) Tel: 222 5353/4/5 • Cairo-Amman General information 199 Eretz Crossing 08-674 1672 Bank, (Al-Balad) Tel: 222 9803/4 • Cairo-Amman Bank, (The Islamic Branch) Tel: 222 7877 • Islamic country code (972) or (970), Services 164 Rafah Border 08-673 4205 Arab Bank, Tel: 2254156/7 • Islamic Bank, Tel: 222 6768 • Jordan Bank, Tel: 222 4351/2/3/4 • Palestine Corporate services 166 area code (without the zero), Investment Bank, Tel: 225 2701/2/3/4 • The Housing Bank, Tel: 225 0055 Sheikh Hussien 04-609 3410 desired number 90 91 As Palestine continues its struggle for independence, it has already begun to acquire sovereign cyberspace recognition. A difficult three-year international debate resulted in the “Occupied Palestinian Territory” being officially assigned the two-letter suffix, “.ps,” in the ISO 3166-1 list for the representation of names of countries or territories. The successful struggle to attain country code 970 led the way for the Internet Corporation for Associated Names and Numbers (ICANN), the international corporation that manages the country code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) system on the Internet, on 22 March 2000, to assign Palestine its unique country identifier, “.ps,” in line with other sovereign nations such as .fr for France and .ca for Canada. Arts and Culture: Ashtar Theater www.ashtar-theatre.org, Al Kasaba Theatre and Cinematheque www.alkasaba.org, Al-Ma’mal Foundation for Contemporary Art www.almamalfoundation.org, Al Mathaf www.almathaf.ps, ArtSchool Palestine www.artschoolpalestine.com, Baha Boukhari www.baha-cartoon. net, Educational Bookshop www.educationalbookshop.com, Family Net www.palestine-family.net, Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center (Ramallah) www.sakakini.org, Paltel Virtual Gallery (Birzeit University) www. virtualgallery.birzeit.edu, Rim Banna www.rimbanna.com, RIWAQ: Centre for Architectural Conservation www.riwaq.org, Sunbula (fair trade/crafts) www.sunbula.org, The International Center of Bethlehem (Dar Annadwa) www.annadwa.org, The Popular Arts Centre www.popularartcentre.org, Shammout. com www.shammout.com, Sumud www.sumud.net, Pales­ tinian­ Pottery www.pales­ tinianpottery.com­ , A.M. Qattan Foundation www.qattanfoundation.org, The Musical Intifada www.docjazz.com, El-funoun www. el-funoun.org, Sabreen Association for Artistic Development www.sabreen.org, The Virtual Gallery www.virtualgallery.birzeit.edu, Al Rowwad Theatre Centre www.alrowwad.virtualactivism.net Business and Economy: Arab Pal­es­tinian In­vestment Com­pany www.apic-pal.com, Hebron Store www.hebron-store.com, Jawwal www.jawwal.ps, Massar www.massar.com, The Palestinian Economic Council for De­vel­opment and Re­con­struction (PECDAR) www.pecdar.org, Pal­es­tinian Securities Ex­change, Ltd. www.p-s-e.com, Pal­es­tine Development and Investment­ Ltd. (PADICO) www.padico. com, Paltel Group. www.paltelgroup.ps, Tatweer Information Technology & Business Solutions www. progress.ps, Wataniya Palestine www.wataniya-palestine.com Directories, ISPs and Por­tals: Jaffa Net www.weino.com, Hadara www.hadara.ps, Al-Quds Network www.alqudsnet.com, Masader, the Palestinian NGO Portal www.masader.ps, Palseek www.palseek. com, Paleye www.paleye.com, Al Buraq www.alburaq.net, The Palestinian NGO Portal www.masader.ps Government: PLO Negotiations Affairs Department (NAD) www.nad-plo.org, PNA www.pna.gov.ps, Ministry of Higher Education­ www.mohe.gov.ps, Min­is­try of Indus­ ­try www.industry.gov.ps, Ministry of Education www.moe.gov.ps, Min­is­try of Health www.moh.gov.ps, Government Computer Center www. gcc.gov.ps, Orient House www.orienthouse.org Health and Mental Health: Augusta Victoria Hospital www.avh.org, Gaza Community Mental Health Programme www.gcmhp.net, Ministry of Health www.moh.gov.ps, Palestinian Counseling Center www.pcc-jer.org, Red Crescent Society www.palestinercs.org, Spafford Children’s Clinic www.spafford- jerusalem.org, UNFPA www.unfpa.ps, Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees www.upmrc.org, Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation www.basr.org, Palestine Medical Council www.pmc.ps Human Rights Organisations: Al Haq www.alhaq.org, Defence for Children International Palestine Section www.dci-pal.org, Human Rights and Good Governance Secretariat in the oPt www.humanrights. ps, LAW - The Pal­es­tinian Society for the Protection­ of Human Rights and the Environment www.lawsociety.org, The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights www.pchrgaza.org, BADIL www.badil.org, Women’s Affairs Technical Committee (WATC) www.pal-watc.org; www.pcc-jer.org Research and News: Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem www.arij.org, JMCC www.jmcc.org, PASSIA www.passia.org, MIFTAH www.miftah.org, AMIN www.amin.org, Al Quds www.alquds.com, Al Ayyam www.al-ayyam.com, WAFA www.wafa.pna.net, Al-Hayyat Al-Jadedah www.alhayat-j.com, Palestine Wildlife Society www.wildlife-pal.org, 93.6 RAM FM www.ramfm.net, Ramallah on line www.ramallahonline. com, Ramattan Studios www.ramattan.com, Palestine Family Net www.palestine-family.net, Palestine Mapping Centre www.palmap.org, The Palestine Monitor www.palestinemonitor.org, The Palestinian Center for Rapprochement between People www.imemc.org, OCHA- The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs www.ochaopt.org, Englishpal www.englishpal.ps, Ma’an News Agency www.maannews.net/en Tourism: Ministry of Tourism www.travelpalestine.ps, Arab Hotel Association www.palestinehotels. com, Holy land Incoming Tour Operators Association www.holylandoperators.com, Diyafa Hospitality Management Consultants Group www.diyafa.ps, visitpalestine www.visitpalestine.ps Travel Agencies: Al­ter­native Tourism Group www.patg.org, Atlas Aviation www.atlasavia.com, Awad Tourist Agency www.awad-tours.com, Aweidah Tours www.aweidah.com, Blessed Land Travel www. Map Source: PalMap - GSE blessedland.com, Crown Tours www.crown-tours.com, Daher Travel www.dahertravel.com, Guiding Star © Copyright to GSE and PalMap www.guidingstarltd.com, Halabi Tours and Travel Co. www.halabitours.ps, Jiro Tours www.jirotours.com, Mt. Map source, designer and publisher: of Olives Tours www.olivetours.com, Pioneer Links www.pioneer-links.com, Raha Tours www.rahatravel. GSE - Good Shepherd Engineering & Computing com, Ramallah Travel Agency www.kaoud.org, United Travel www.unitedtravelltd.com, Universal Tourist Agency www.universal-jer.com P.O.Box 524, 8 Jamal Abdel Nasser St., Bethlehem, West Bank, Palestine Universities: Birzeit University www.birzeit.edu, An-Najjah University www.najah.edu, Al-Quds Tel: +970 2 2744728 / Fax: +970 2 2751204 (Also +972) University www.alquds.edu, Al-Azhar University (Gaza) www.alazhar-gaza.edu, Arab American University www.aauj.edu, Bethlehem University www.bethlehem.edu, Hebron University www.hebron.edu, The [email protected] / www.gsecc.com / www.palmap.org Islamic University (Gaza) www.iugaza.edu, Palestine Polytechnic www.ppi.edu 92 93

The Last Word

Beware of Vegetables! Brush strokes on a canvas. An unemployed university-graduate-turned-street-vendor-of-vegetables who Photo by Khaled Jarrar. was trying to sustain his family was forcibly evicted from where he had stationed his cart – apparently for not having the proper documents. He was dragged to a local police station where he was humiliated and slapped by a policewoman. The guy couldn’t take the pressures of life and the humiliation and soon after torched himself. He eventually passed away without realising that his personal protest had sparked a national revolt in Tunisia, the consequences of which are known to everyone. Ironically, the daughter of another vegetable man and her family were one of the main reasons for this Tunisian Intifada. News has it that the greed of Laila Tarabulsi – wife of Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, expelled president of Tunisia – and her family and close clique was more than the Tunisian people could take. No doubt a lesson to all greedy leaders and their spouses! I would like to argue that the general condition of the Tunisian people prior to the revolt was not worse than that of the Palestinian people living in Gaza, in refugee camps, and in villages, towns, and even cities; yet they revolted. Israeli occupation is, without a doubt, the main reason for Palestinian woes. Irrespective of the reason, however, people under pressure will blow up sooner or later. Throughout history, oppression has caused revolt, and it is not likely that this will change in the future. Considering what Palestinians have endured since 1948, it is incredible how pacifist they have been. I would like to quote again one of Palestine’s top diplomats, Afif Safieh, who noted, “It is amazing how unreasonably reasonable Palestinians are.” Yet the continued Israeli measures of holding thousands of Palestinian prisoners, land-grabbing in Al-Quds and the West Bank as if it were the Wild West, increasing squatter activities in occupied Palestine, consciously Judaising Al-Quds and negating the rights of everyone else, among other measures, are collectively and undoubtedly creating fertile ground for an uprising which, if it were to occur, would be the last, for better or worse. The fear is that this burst of violence would not be contained within Palestine, but rather would have a snowball effect and draw in regional powers with deadly arsenals. Trying to avoid meltdown, Palestinians are waging smart, diplomatic, yet (again) peaceful warfare hoping that it will render a Palestinian state a fait accompli. A number of South American countries have already taken a commendable stand in recognising a Palestinian state, based on 4 June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds as its capital. After Russia’s reconfirmation of its 1988 recognition of a Palestinian state, a lot of other countries are expected to follow suit. The European Union has taken steps in the right direction, and Palestinians hope that this stance will develop into full recognition within months. Regarding the United States of America, well, the bias is clear and the insipid slogan “only through a negotiated settlement” is becoming nothing more than a voice in wilderness. Beware of vegetables! A spark could ignite any place, any time. From a Palestinian perspective, wisdom is needed for the leaders of their adversaries to make them realise that their actions are, in fact, going against the course of history and that a Palestinian state is only a matter of time; whether they like it or not.

Sani P. Meo Publisher