May 8th 2015,
This is a visit that changed my whole perspective upon persistence, hope and the Palestinians in the 1948 occupied territories.
Have you ever heard of a village in Al Jallil “Galilee” region called Iqret or Iqreth? Well let me tell you a little bit more on Iqret. Iqret is a one of the villages that was occupied by Israel along with many more in 1948. It was a Christian village, at the very northern part of Palestine, close to Akka “Acre” border of Lebanon, and all the villagers were forced to leave out like most Palestinians experienced during the occupation by Israel. Most of whom left to Lebanon and other villages in Palestine. In 1951, the villagers of Iqret went to the Israeli supreme court to plead their return back to their village. They won the case. But of-course, the Israeli military government was not happy about it and found a new way to prevent the villagers from returning. On Christmas day in 1951, the IDF “Israeli Defense Forces” entered the village and blew up one house after the other. The worst part is, the Israeli forces have asked the villagers of Iqret who were scattered around, sleeping over neighboring villages, to attend the act of terror and destroying of their village from a far away hill that overlooked Iqret as a christmas gift for them.
Believe it or not there is a beautiful side to the story, the side that made me look at life differently, now of course the Israelis as usual, built settlements around Iqret. Today, if you visit Iqret you will find the only building standing “a catholic church”. You will also find 5 heroic guys who have decided 4 years ago to take their belongings and reside in Iqret. In a place where there is nothing other than a church and a view that over looks both Palestine and Lebanon. Those men have left their jobs to find work near by. They take turns to supervise the empty village to avoid Israeli army from sneaking in and taking all their belongings, which has previously happened. And what are their belongings? Their necessities. Bed sheets, clothing, food, heaters, they built their own showers and toilette. They plant their own trees and plants. This place is a must visit, and these Palestinian men who decided to just move there without anything, must be supported, and taken as an example and idols. They have inspired me, and moved me, and I believe that one day, with more people like them, Palestine will be free again.
Coincidentally, I received a message yesterday from a friend who informed me that Iqret was attacked yesterday by the IDF Israeli forces to collect all their belongings to help evacuate them back out. They ruined and removed their plants and trees, they broke their accessories, kitchen plates and glasses, they took away mattresses and chairs from both their rooms and church. Feel free to visit their facebook page to show them support, read more on this, visit them or join them and support their rights and the rights of all the Palestinian to return.
In my album below, you will find photos not only of Iqret, but of our visit to Al-Basa, which today in hebrew is known as Betzet. And this is yet another village that has witnessed the evil doing of Israeli forces. Villagers were killed inside churches and on the streets to help evacuate all the villagers back in 1948. Look up Operation Ben-Ami. The village was also completely destroyed with only few buildings left to see today. A church, a mosque and the mokhtars house.
We then ended our life changing trip in Az-Zeeb, which is by the sea and is very poetic. Unfortunately, we did not have the time to tour around inside, but this village today is known as Sa’ar and Gasher HaZiv. The only standing buildings again are a Mosque that has been restored for tourism, and the Mukhtars house, turned into a museum.
And this is how you get to see Israel from the Palestinians. Hope you all visit and you all find people who can tell you the real stories behind all the ruins and remains. It will change your whole perspective upon life. Thanks to my friends ” Adam & Tarek” whom helped me around. You can check out Tarek Bakri’s Facebook page for more on the history behind Palestine/Israel.
Also visit Haifa, Jaffa, Nablus, Jerusalem.
في قرية بفلسطين باسم إقرث. وهي القرية بس إتعرفت عليها وعلى قصتها غيرتلي كل حياتي. هي وحدة من القرى اللي طبعاً تهجرت زي الباقي، موقعها على حدود لبنان شمال فلسطين في ضواحي الجليل، هجّروا أهلها بسنة ١٩٤٨. بس اللي بميزها هو إنو أهل القرية أخدوا القضية للمحكمة الإسرائيلية بسنة ١٩٥١ و ربحوا أهل القرية القضية للعودة الى بيوتهم في إقرث، لكن الحكومة العسكرية الإسرائيلية ما عجبها، فراحت أخدت قرار بيوم عيد الميلاد المجيد سنة ١٩٥١ إنهم يفوتوا و يفجروا بيوت إقرث واحد ورا الثاني. و كانوا باعتين لأهالي القرية إنهم يحضروا التدمير من التلة اللي بتطل عليها، هدية عيد الميلاد.
شباب إقرث اليوم مثال أعلى لكل شخص فلسطيني. فيهم أكم من شاب و شابة أخذوا القرار إنهم يرجعوا على أرض إقرث عام ٢٠١٢. اللي بس ضل فيها كنيسة على أرضها. و زي ما بيقولوا: “نكبة ولا مش نكبة، قرار تقسيم ولا مش قرار تقسيم، مع موافقة إسرائيل أو بدونها… إحنا رجعنا” و فعلاً هم رجعوا “مجموعة من الشبيبة، أبناء وبنات قرية إقرث المهجرة، إتخذنا قرار… قرارنا عودتنا، قرارنا حياتنا، وتحقيقها وتطبيقها- أرضاً وواقع. وبالفعل، أبناء وبنات قرية إقرث متواجدين على أرض الأجداد إبتداءً من 5.8.2012 وحتى هذه اللحظة يحرسون، يصونون، يرممون، يزرعون، ويعيشون على أرض إقرث كي يهيئوا عودة كاملة بكافة تراب الوطن، لتصبح إقرث أول قرية فلسطينة تحقق قرار العوده إن شاء من شاء وإن أبى من أبى”
وللصدفة وأنا عم بكتب هالمقال، وصلني الخبر التالي: “موظفو دائرة أراضي إسرائيل برفقة قوة من الشرطة صباح اليوم الإثنين في قرية إقرث المهجرة، قامت القوات بتخريب واقتلاع الأشجار وتحطيم الأواني المنزلية ومصادرة بعض الممتلكات مثل الكراسي والفرشات ومقاعد الكنيسة”. هدول شباب مناضلين، فلسطنية بعلمونا الإصرار وبنموا الحب و الإنتماء لفلسطين. كان نفسي أترك حياتي وأنضم إلهم، وإن شاء الله أقدر أساهم بنصف اللي عم يعملوا. تواصلوا معهم عبر الفيسبوك، شجعوهم، وساهموا معهم أو بس زوروهم. حب فلسطين حب غير عادي.
أما باقي صوري، فهي تكملة رحلتي إلى قريةالبصة، اللي كمان قصتها بتجرح القلب، لإنها لا تصدق. وأهلها كلهم مهجرين. و العصابات الصهيونية الإسرائيلية قامت بقتل أهل البلد في الكنيسة و الشوارع العامة عام ١٩٤٨. اليوم يوجد كنيسة، مسجد و بيت المختار كآثار.
أما آخر محطة كانت في قرية الزيب المهجرة أيضاً. فجمالها على البحر، لكن جرحها في المسجد المرمم ليكون معلم سياحي محتل. أما بيت المختار فهو متحف. للأسف، ما استطعنا إنو نشوفها مزبوط، لكن إن شاء الله رح أرجع و كلنا رح نرجع لأراضينا، الأراضي الفلسطينية العربية.
شكرا لاصدقاءي الي عرفوني على هل مناطق من فلسطين “آدم و طارق” و فيكم تزوروا صفحت طارق عبر الفيسبوك لتتعرفوا اكثر عن المعالم الجميلة لفلسطين.
زوروا ايضا حيفا، يافا، نابلس، القدس.
“صامدون هنا .. قرب هذا الدمار العظيم”
– محمود درويش
This is one of the most original dishes. It can be typical and it can be the most exquisite dish on your table.
Maqlouba or Makloubeh in Arabic means literally Upside Down. And this dish is made in steps inside your cooking pan and then it is served upside down.
Now Maqloubeh is a dish famous to have been originated from Palestinian families, and some people refer to it as Maqlouba, and some as Maqloubeh. At home, we call it Maqloubeh. And we make it with eggplants, lamb meat, tomatoes and red pepper. Of course the rice is essential in this dish. But in other houses, families, and locations, Maqloubeh is sometimes made with chicken instead of the lamb, and some make it with cauliflower instead of the eggplant. And to some they mix the two, and to others, they add potatoes. And yeah, I wouldn’t be surprised to hear other different ingredients.
Last but not least, Palestinians love garnishing all their main dishes with roasted pine nuts and almonds. Maqlouba is always served with yogurt and salad on the side. You will love it. I promise.
Razan Masri 