Tag Archives: فلسطين

My last day in Haifa… آخر يوم الي في حيفا

Posted on by
2

May 12, 2015

My trip is about to end, I have a week left and I feel like I still haven’t seen anything. I decided to spend few more days in Haifa to really get my eyes enough of it. I must admit that Haifa is one of my very favorite cities in Palestine.

This side of the world feels like a dream. People refer to it differently now a days… Palestine, the occupied areas, the 1948 areas, Israel. Palestinians who live here are living the real occupation. It feels like living on a land that is literally raped. All the architecture and the houses are so Arabic, Oriental , Arabesque, it screams the Arabian culture, with Arabic calligraphy, and design that dates back to the 1800’s, yet you see Israeli flags decorated around the entrance, and Europeans coming out of the door. Europeans and Americans who refer to themselves as Jewish Israelis and when they see the Palestinians, they are only known as the Arabs.

I find it hilarious how inside the occupied areas you are either a Jew or an Arab. When all the Jews are from all over the world, and all the Arabs are Palestinian. I also find it hilarious how the Jews go by their religion for being Jewish, and the Arabs can be of any religion except Jewish. For all Jewish Arabs are no longer Arabs but are only refereed to as Jews. And what is wrong with being a Jewish Arab? or A Palestinian Jew? Too much of a privilege to the Jews or to the Arabs?

Since when is freedom jailed. Freedom to express who you truly are? Since when are all the Palestinians only Arabs? Since when is being Jewish a nationality? I last checked it was a religion. Since when have the Palestinians lost their identity and freedom to express that they are Palestinians? It is like telling a little boy, “don’t tell them your real name, or they will find out what we did to you, and then we will have to kick you out of your home again like we have kicked your parents”.

And how much do you know about the Palestinians? They are Arabs from the Middle East living in a land that has been chopped up into many little scattered Israeli settlements. Practicing any religion, with the churches and the mosques lined one next to the other, even the synagogue were once lined next to them before their own people decided to isolate them and conquer. The Palestinians, both Christian popes and Muslim sheikhs walk side by side as they go to pray. The Palestinians, who make hummus for breakfast and mjadara for lunch and shakshuka for dinner. They listen to the sound of Arabian oud, and they smoke shesha during their free time. They are known to have great farmers, love everything organic and self-made, from olive trees, to cactus, fig and roses. Small carriages of ka’ek and zaatar, turkish coffee and tea with mint and lots of sugar. They love to play chess and bargees, welcoming every stranger and guest as they pass them by, friendly is within their nature. Warmth and security is what they like to transmit from their energy. And this is all just a glimpse of the Palestinians.

But today, what have the Israelis done to our Palestine? And what are they continuing to do? And how long will the world allow them to? When will it end?

Visiting Haifa
I am Palestinian

My visit to unfamiliar parts and life of the occupied territories of Palestine “Northern Israel” | زيارتي إلى مناطق الشمال من فلسطين المحتلة وتعرفي على ما نجهله عن فلسطينية ١٩٤٨

Posted on by
2

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

Morning Diary: Visiting Hebron | اليوم الثالث عشر: زيارتي إلى الخليل

Posted on by
1

May 4th 2015,

Politics: Do you really want to know what is going on in Palestine? Then head to Hebron. As soon as you can, go, visit, and see with your own eyes. A city that screams constraint. It is located in the West Bank supposedly under the umbrella of the State of Palestine which no one recognizes yet, and is surrounded and is under complete supervision by the Israeli army. Yes, this city is supposed to be free from the Israelis, but every corner I walked in, every street I visited, there he was, an armed Israeli man standing closing one area or another, and if there was no Israeli armed person then just look above your head and there it is, a moving video camera that covers the whole city.

Imagine. Imagine yourself living under complete control of a state that denies your recognition even. Hebron is aching. Hebron is locked up and is wrapped in iron wires. The old streets of Hebron is filled with elderly men who wake up every morning to go to work. Most of them have a very upset frown look that is hard to break. They are living in their own little supervised jail. Every move they make is watched, every word they say is heard, and every breath they take is counted.

Israeli Jewish families are settling there. They burn houses, and literally kick people out of their homes, to live there in between all the Palestinians. And you can not say a word. If you speak, complain, or try to go back to your house, you are taken to jail. It is horrific.

Culture: Besides the Politics, Hebron is a gem. It is filled with culture. You find hope in between all the agony. You find a way to bring the frowns into a little bit of laughter. You see the Palestinian flag everywhere, along with few Israeli flags here and there. Like a flag fight. This piece is mine and this piece is yours. Ridiculous. You will find everything that has to do with the Arabian culture and Art, from the food, to embroidery, wardrobe, carpet, coffee shops, pottery, turkish delight, ceramics, glass art, Islamic art and much more.

People are very friendly, you feel protected, even though you feel watched everywhere you go, but you still feel protected by the people who are living every day as it comes. They live today, they have no expectations or even a thrill to know about what tomorrow will bring. The thrill is gone, because the chances are what is coming is another tragic story of a new house being occupied, or a new street being closed, or a new Palestinian child being killed.

Yes. If only, we can free Hebron from the Israeli army. If only we can free Palestine from the Israeli army. What a wonderful world it will be. To each his own life, his own freedom, and his drive to live for tomorrow.

Visit: When you head to Hebron, visit the Ibrahim Mosque or what is also known as the Cave of the Patriarchs. It is split into two. The Muslims can enter the Muslim side, and the Jewish can enter the Jewish side. It is a mosque for God’s sake, a mosque which is a temple made for Muslims to go and pray in. But because some of the Prophets were buried under the mosque, and some of the prophets were Jewish, the Israel State thinks they have the right to split it in half and deny entry to any Muslim into the Jewish side of the mosque. The Muslims cherish all prophets, Muslims or non. To the Muslims, Jewish prophets are as holly as any other prophet. And I have no idea why the Jews feel the need to occupy any area that has a Jew buried in. Do they know how many Muslims & Christians are buried all throughout Palestine, both occupied areas by Israel or the West Bank. Or is this not so important?

Also ask about the glass company in Hebron, where they make glass and pottery and decorate them to sell all across Palestine. A beautiful experience to go watch and learn and maybe try to make your own. You can also ask for a customized one made just for you.

I tried to be positive as much as I can in this post, but it is just very hard not to share what the eyes see and what the heart feels. And in such situations, words are never enough. It is hard to find the right words to express. So since I am sharing this post during the Holly month of Ramadan, then let us dedicate some of our prayers today and everyday to the people living in Hebron, to the people living in Palestine, to all the people around the world who are still living under occupation, racism, and are limited from freedom. Let us pray that the good in this world outcomes the bad, that the good is much stronger than the evil, for the good to grow in big numbers and help free this world from the power of selfishness.

زيارتي إلى الخليل كانت من أصعب الرحلات في فلسطين. فالخليل تحت الاحتلال مع إنها تعتبر تحت حمية السلطة الفلسطنية. وللأسف في زيارتي شفت الاحتلال في الخليل واضح بكل مكان. ففي كل زقاق و كل شارع يوجد جندي عسكري إسرائيلي يمنعك من الدخول إلى مناطق أو شوارع معينة. وإذا ما في جندي، ففي كاميرا تصوير فوق راسك بتذكرك بالاحتلال.

وهادا إشي مؤسف لإنو الخليل بتجنن، جمالها رائع وأصوله عربية فبتلاقي التراث العربي واضح فيها. البلد القديمة جميلة جداً. الناس اللي من الخليل قلبهم صافي ومتعاونين. اليأس و الغضب واضح على وجوههم، بس اذا بتحاول تمزح معهم بتفاعلوا معك وبعبروا عن سعادتهم. الحياة فعلاً صعبة بالخليل، و الناس معنوياتها تعبانة و همه بحاجة لوجودنا ودعمنا واهتمامنا.

زيارة الخليل ما بتكمل من غير زيارة المسجد الإبراهيمي، اللي اليوم مقسوم إلى قسمين، قسم لليهود و قسم للمسلمين. العنصرية ضد الإسلام واضحة جداً، فأول سؤال بيسأله الجندي “إنت مسلم؟” قبل أي شي و في أي مكان بتلتقي فيهم. و بس تجاوب إنك مسلم بمنعوك تمر أو تفوت المناطق اللي مسكرينها عن المسلمين لأنو عايشين فيها يهود فطبعاً هم تحت الحماية المسلحة. إذا كنت مسيحي، فتاني سؤال بكون “من وين؟” و إذا كنت عربي فبتصير زيك زي المسلم.

غريبة الحياة مرات لما الواحد بمر بمواقف ما عمره فكر إنها ممكن تصير. و الأغرب من هيك، إنك تتخيل الناس اللي عايشة هيك، تحت الذل و الاحتلال و العنصرية. و اللي كتير مؤلم، هو إنك تعرف صلتك في للشخص اللي بمر بالمعاناة، إن كان قريب إلك أو من نفس الديانة أو الدولة أو الجنسية أو المجتمع. أو إذا كنت إنت شخص إنساني، فبكل إنسان بتلاقي صلة الإنسانية اللي بتربطه فيك. فليش خلفيته أو ديانته بتفرق معك؟

بس تيجوا عالخليل لازم تمرقوا على مصنع الزجاج، و الفخار. فالخليل معروفة بشهرتها بالفن والشغل اليدوي اللي فيها. و ممكن تشكلوا فخار او زجاج خاص فيكم. زيارة الخليل مؤلمة لكن جمالها بخليك تحس بمدى الألم اللي فلسطين بتمر فيه.

أنا حاولت ما أكون كتير سلبية، بس صعب ما أكتب اللي شفتو واللي شعرت في. إحنا هلأ بأيام فضيلة من أيام رمضان المبارك فخلينا نتذكر أهل الخليل في صلاتنا، وأهل فلسطين، و نتذكر كل الناس اللي لسه لليوم بعانوا من العنصرية و عدم الحرية في أي مكان بالعالم. و ندعي انو الله يقوي الناس اللي بدهم الخير، وتزيد أعداد أهل الخير عن الناس اللي بدها الشر، ونطلب إنو الله يساعدنا و يساعد الناس إنها تميز بين الغلط و الصح والخير والشر.

Visiting Hebron


Morning Diary: Visiting Jerusalem, the Old city & Al Aqsa | اليوم الثاني عشر: زيارتي في القدس، البلد القديمة و الاقصى

Posted on by
5

May 3rd 2015,

On a beautiful morning, I decided to take myself to Jerusalem. To spend my whole day inside Jerusalem, and precisely inside the old city of Jerusalem. Being in Jerusalem, nowadays feel like a dream to most Arabs. Since most of them are denied entry. A place that was built for all human kind. With many visible Arabian architecture and essence. With Islamic, Christian and Judaism monuments. This land is historic and symbolic to people from all over the world.

Politics: The Arabian architecture is everywhere. In both the West and the East of Jerusalem. The Arabs foot prints are everywhere. The Arabs have lived in Jerusalem since forever. To each Arab, there is a thread of belonging and curiosity to what “Al Quds” Jerusalem is all about.

So why is it so restricted to visit Jerusalem today? Today, it is still under the control and occupation of the Jewish State of Israel. Worst of all, the restrictions are mostly on the Arabs, and on mostly, the Palestinians. The Palestinians, who are the natives of the Holly Land.

If you are in the West Bank, and to those who don’t know so much about the West Bank; it is a small zone inside of Palestine, or what is known as Israel. This small part is surrounded by an ugly wall of barrier. Worst than what used to be the Berlin Wall. It separates the land of Palestine from what is under control of the State of Israel, and the other part “West Bank & Gaza” that is supposedly not.

Back to the point, that if you are in the West Bank, and wish to visit Jerusalem, that is literally 15 minutes away by car, then you need permission. Of course from the state of Israel. And the chances are for you to wait days, for denial. Arabs who are around Palestine, and are half an hour away by car, for example from Jordan, then you also have no right or freedom to enter Jerusalem. You also need a permission. Chances are, you wait for weeks to receive denial of access. As for Gaza which is probably around an hour and a half away by car, thinking about visiting Jerusalem is prohibited, imagine visiting!!!

I was in Ramallah, and I decided to go to Jerusalem. I have a VISA that allows me access. I was lucky not to receive a deny of entry. But since I came into Jerusalem from the West Bank, I had to go through the Wall of Barrier and I had to go through a very ugly racist humiliating Kalania checkpoint. With Israeli armed boys and girls the age of 18 years old treating everyone coming down from the bus including both elderly and children with complete disrespect and discrimination. As if everyone coming from the West Bank is an animal and not human. “The ugly truth”

My experience: Getting to the story of my trip, I ran with all the thirst I have in me for myself, for my family and my friends to the old city of Jerusalem “Al Balad al Qadima”. Walked towards the walled area, the Jerusalem Gate. I walked inside the famous “Bab al Amod” Damascus gate, as I felt my smile glow inside and outside my body. I was in zen. I couldn’t stop my senses from drifting to space as I was listening to the Arabs, to the Adan, to the people yelling out what they are selling in their tiny shops, looking at the Ka’ek, colorful garments and sweets, smelling the fresh falafel being fried, the hummus on the tables, the men in red tarboush, the turkish coffee as you walk by, walking the old rustic streets and arched doors, and then your eyes are hit by a very ironic view of armed Israeli young soldiers walk in between what all looked like a very old Arabian film, and some Israeli flags on top of an old Palestinian man who is chanting in Arabic his love for Palestine, and then you wake up from your zen and remember that freedom has been taken away from you. I feel so dramatic, but it is emotional once you are there.

As I was back to my senses, I realized the “Duhur Adan” the call for prayers was on from the Al Aqsa mosque. Al Aqsa mosque is one of the most holly mosques for Muslims. And since it is in an occupied area, it is like a dream reaching it. So I literally hurried up to walk between the old tiny streets of the old city of Jerusalem heading towards Al Aqsa mosque. I arrived to dream land. I started thinking of how my parents would feel and what my mother would be saying if she was right there beside me. I thought about all my friends who are still dreaming of making it once to pray in Al Aqsa mosque, I couldn’t help but cry from both inner happiness, and inner guilt. I felt guilty for being able to make it without them.

I entered the Mosque and prayed, meditated, and sent prayers to free this beautiful land from the cruelty of the zionists, and i prayed for my loved ones who are dreaming to come here to have a chance in this lifetime. I then walked out and walked between the old monuments there, and walked the gate from the inside, walking each door gate, and I headed towards the Golden Dome Mosque which keeps attracting the corner of your eyes as you walk around it. If you notice the architecture on these mosques you will notice the resemblance of the same architecture you will see on all the houses all around occupied Palestine “Israel” and this is how you know that it belonged to the Arabs.

I then went to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher which takes your breath away before entering. Just looking at it’s ancient walls, and ancient door. You feel some sort of serene energy just enter your soul. It is so rustic and beautiful. You can smell it’s ancient history and you can feel the unmemorable amount of people who stepped foot into it. It was too dark and too packed for me to take so many photos, but being inside makes you feel you have entered a space between life and death. A space where all your senses are shut and only your third eye is open. Silence will come upon you from the load of wonder.

I then ended my trip by meeting my friend who took me to walk the gate from above to see the whole city of Jerusalem. I can not express the happiness I felt. I felt open hearted, I felt like a bird with wings to fly, I felt like I was freed from something I didn’t know I was hold hostage in, and I felt the drive to free millions of others who feel just the same.

I was then invited for dinner, for a Palestinian dish made by a Palestinian, Maqoubeh. Delicious.

اليوم أخدت القرار إني أروح أقضي يوم كامل في القدس. و بالأخص، البلد القديمة.

 أول ما وصلت، ركضت باتجاه البلد القديمة. كان عندي عطش أشوفها مرة ثانية، وشعرت إني بدي أشوفها عن حالي و عن أهلي وأصدقائي اللي مش قادرين يزوروها. وصلت البلد القديمة، و دخلت من باب العمود، وأنا عم بمشي، إجاني شعور فرح لا يوصف، حسيتو طالع من روحي. بطلت حاسة بوجود جسمي على الأرض، حسيت حالي دخلت حلم بين صوت العرب و الأذان و اللي بنادي للبيع من محله الصغير، عشت بخيال بين شكل الكعك و ألوان السكريات، ريحة الفلافل الطازا و الحمص اللي عالطاولات، الختايرة اللي لابسين طرابيش حمرا و ريحة القهوة اللي بتتوزع بكل مكان، شعور المشي على الأرض اللي حجارها عتيقة و البواب و المداخل اللي من أقواس منحوت بزواياها تراث وتاريخ هالأرض المقدسة. و فجأة، بشوف جنود إسرائيلية بيمشوا بنص اللي كنت مفكرته حلم، و بشوف علم إسرائيل فوق زلمة ختيار بغني عن حبه و عشقه لأراضي فلسطين. و هيك بصحى و بتذكر إني مش بحلم أو فيلم عربي وبرجع للواقع البشع بإنو حريتي و حرية أهلي مسروقة.

بس رجعت لحواسي، رجعت أسمع تكملة الأذان، آذان الظهر، فاستعجلت للوصول إلى الأقصى.  بس وصلت و شفت الأقصى و قبة الصخرة من بعيد إتذكرت أهلي وأصدقائي اللي نفسهم بهالزيارة، بلشت أتخيل أهلي معي وأسمع شو ممكن إمي تكون بتقلي، فما قدرت أمسك دموعي و صرت أبكي. بكى فرح و شكر لوصولي و بكى من شعور الذنب إني من غير حبايبي.

فتت المسجد الأقصى و بلشت أصلي و أدعي ليتحقق اليوم اللي بتحرر فلسطين من بشاعة الصهاينة، و دعيت إنو كل اللي بنفسه يزور الأقصى تيجي الفرصة ويقدر يعيش هاللحظات اللي أنا عشتها. كملت بعدين حوالين جدار المسجد و روحت على قبة الصخرة اللي بتشد عينك كل ما كنت حواليها.

روحت بعدها على كنيسة القيامة، اللي من أول ما توصل بتحس بتاريخها من حجارها العتيقة و بوابها التاريخية. الشعور لا يوصف، فالتاريخ اللي فيها بيقضي عليك بشعور الروحانية و الهدوء الداخلي. حسيت حالي بعالم تاني وأنا في داخل الكنيسة، زي كأني لا عايشة و لا ميتة. كل الحواس بتسكر و السكوت و السكون بسير بداخلك.

خلصت رحلتي بلقاء صديق، أخدني فوق السور تبع البلد القديمة. مشينا عالسور و قعدنا نتفرج على كل القدس. كان الشعور روعة، حسيت حالي أسعد إنسانة، و حسيت حالي بقدر أطير من شعور الحرية، حسيت و كأنو في شي بداخلي كان مسكر علي و انطلق وحسيت بدي  أساعد الناس لتحس بهي الحرية اللي حسيت فيها.

كان يوم فلسطيني رائع حتى عشاي كان مقلوبة فلسطنية من إيدين و بيت فلسطيني.

On being Governed
Visting Jerusalem
Visiting Jerusalem

Morning Diary: Ethnically Cleansed Villages of Jerusalem and why I believe the state of Israel is a terrorist State | اليوم الحادي عشر: في قرى القدس المهجرة و المدمرة

Posted on by
2

May 1st 2015,

I spent a beautiful week in the Central and North side of occupied Palestine. And then decided to head back to Jerusalem and the West Bank areas for the following week. Here I am now with a friend who knows way too much about ethnic cleansed villages, destroyed villages and occupied houses. And I feel the urge of sharing with you just a little something of what most Palestinians had to go through in 1948; for the sake of the immigrants of Israel and the establishment of the state of Israel. What you will read below might be very disturbing, but it is the honest fact of what has happened in the lands of Palestine or to what most of you today like to call it Israel.

Our first stop was in an ethnically cleansed and destroyed village of Zakaria that was part of the Hebron Subdistrict, which today is known as Moshav Zekharia. Moshav Zekharia was established in 1950 by immigrants from Kurdistan to Israel. The village of Zakaria was able to sustain itself from evacuation until the year 1950, when Ben-Gurion, Sharett and Weitz decided to force its villagers to evacuate, having most of them end up in what are still refugee camps today. While visiting the destroyed village of Zakaria, we were able to find the Zakaria mosque and a school building that takes you back to 415 C.E. in between modern houses that were built around and over all the destroyed houses of the evacuated Palestinians.

As we were driving around, thoughts of the people who live in these houses kept coming through our minds. Do these people know what they have been part of? Do these people know that the kids of the owners of this land are now starving in one of the refugee camps? Jailed in the refugee camp? Have no right to even visit their lands? Do these people ask about those refugees at all? Do they question their rights of return? Do they care at all or sleep at night? Do they believe that life will just go on?

Our next stop was in Suba of Jerusalem. Another village that was depopulated and destroyed in 1948. Suba has many ruins remains, and as you walk inside the destroyed village and in between its ruins you can not avoid feeling of heat & sadness that just grows inside your body. You will find ruins of the Belmont Castle, that dates back to the 1986. Suba was attacked several times by the Haganah and then conquered by the Palmach. And like all the villages, many Palestinians were killed and the rest were forced out of the village and later all the houses were destroyed. Today you will find a Tzova Kibutz that was established right after the evacuation and destroying of Suba Village. If you notice the names of the villages have minor changes from Arabic to Hebrew. And all established Kibutz or Moshav was established right next to or over the Palestinian ruins.

Our third and last stop happened to be in one of the most wonderful occupied villages of Jerusalem “Ein Karem”. Again this village was also depopulated in July of the 1948. And what is so special yet heart aching about Ein Karem, is that it is one of the very few villages that survived with its houses. Of course they are houses of Palestinians who were killed or forced out and today, all the houses are lived by immigrants of the state of Israel. Many houses have Arabic calligraphy, quotes from the Quran engraved into its walls, yet an Israeli flag and name is printed on its door. It is said that John the Baptist was born in Ein Karem, which many beautiful churches are found in the village. A village with multiple churches, Arabian architected houses, arabic scripture engraved, yet only lived by Jewish Israelis. And they never think about it, and they still sleep at night. So how do you feel about all this? And this is just 1% of the story.

**You will see many cactus trees as you enter most of the settlements and Moshav’s in occupied Palestine “Israel” which indicates that this used to be a Palestinians village. Palestinians are known to have planted and surrounded each of their villages with cactus trees. And it is very hard to get rid of those cactus trees, so they stay for evidence.

To learn more about Destroyed villages in Palestine visit Tarek Bakri.

من وين بدي أبلش! قعدت أسبوع بأجمل مناطق فلسطين المحتلة في المثلث و الشمال. و بعدين أخدت قرار للذهاب إلى مناطق القدس و الضفة. أخدني صديق بيعرف كثير عن القرى المهجرة وأصحاب البيوت اللي أخدوها اليهود وقت الاحتلال.

فبلشنا أول زيارة في قرية زكريا، اللي بتقع في محافظة الخليل. و التي قاومت الاحتلال بمساعدة الجيوش العربية خلال سنة ١٩٤٨. و للأسف الصهاينة نجحوا باحتلال القرية في عام ١٩٥٠. و قاموا بقتل و تهجير أهل القرية و هدموا بيوتها، و ما ضل إلا آثار أكم من بيت ساكن فيها يهود، و مسجد زكريا اللي ما حدا بزوره ولا بقام فيه الأذان. وكمان مدرسة لسه معالمها واضحة. للأسف هالقريك الحلوة اليوم صارت مستوطنة إسرائيلية باسم موشاف زكاريا.

القرية التانية الي زرناها اسمها صوبا. اللي بتكون من ضواحي القدس. و اللي اليوم اذا بتزوروها بتلاقوا آثار كثيرة لسه موجودة. القرية تهجرت و دمرت بـ ١٩٤٨. و اليوم في مستوطنة باسم تزوفا بدل صوبا.  و همه معروفين بسعيهم لتغير الأسامي العربية بأسامي عبرية شبيهة.

و آخر قرية زرناها كانت من أجمل القرى اللي بشوفها “عين كارم” و اللي بتتميز بوجود بيوتها الأصلية اللي ما تدمرت. البيوت موجودة بس مشتاقة لأهلها اللي تهجروا وسكنها اليهود. معالم البيوت عربية وحيطانها محفورة بآيات قرآنية وأقوال عربية بتعكس عروبتها، وكنائس كتيرة بتدل على أصل قرية عين كارم و مع هيك سكانها اليوم كلهم يهود و علم إسرائيل برفرف عبيوتها الحزينة.

خلصنا هاليوم في القدس الجميلة و يا ريت بتمنى كل العرب اللي بقدروا يزورا فلسطين يروحوا حتى و لو هي تحت الاحتلال. خلي اليهود يشوفونا و يتعرفوا علينا و يعرفوا إصرارنا لحق العودة و حق أهلينا الي تعذبوا و تهجروا وتشتتوا بالعالم عشان تقام دولة عنصرية لليهود.

للمعرفة عن المزيد عن القرى المهجرا زورا صفحت طارق البكري

Destroyed Villages

Morning Diary: All about Haifa & It’s architecture.. And what about the freedom of Palestinians? | اليوم العاشر: في حيفا و جمال بيوتها … وين راحت حرية الفلسطينية؟

Posted on by
1

April 30, and a little bit of May 1st 2015

I spent the whole day in Haifa. Between the streets of Haifa, the houses of Haifa.

I couldn’t resist walking around with my camera. The architecture speak to me. The Arabesque design incorporated with Ottomans and Islamic Art is just beyond incredible. Walking into the Bahai Gardens and looking at the maze they have created in it makes me wonder for what reason did they pick to build the temple in Haifa?

Walking up the Carmel mountain to see the Mediterranean sea from anywhere at all is just breath-taking. Finding treasures in Haifa is so special. You see lots of details on the streets, and shops that come out of nowhere that speak Art and Culture.

I just spent so much time wandering around trying to imagine how it used to be back before the occupation. When all the houses were lived by their original owners, who built them up and decided on their exterior design. There is so much words coming out of each house, screaming out arabic names, and arabic culture. Those houses look sad, and feel sad as they are splashed with Israeli flags, as if to scream back to the houses, “Keep silent, by force”.

The street art of Haifa speaks its anguish. Artists spray their frustration on the walls. Craving peace for all the people living over the land. They had enough of discrimination and constraint. Limitation to freedom of speech from one side, and complete freedom of speech and attacks on the other. These are things most of the world have no idea about, but it is true. Israel is all about discrimination. Jews have all the right to attack, Israelis both Arabs and Jews, have more rights than Palestinians who refused the Israeli occupation. Not that the Palestinians who are under the occupation accepted the Israeli laws, but the land with its people was all attacked by force. Palestinians with Israeli nationalities, are also discriminated and haves much more less rights and say from the Jewish Israelis.

People who are 5 minutes away from one another, have no right to see each other unless they get permission from the state of Israel. Who in the world accepts that. A piece of the land is turned into an open air jail with people deprived from the freedom of living at all. Gaza. Give it a search, a little beyond what the Israelis have to say about them. Let us hear both sides, let us hear outsiders. Let us stop following the media for once, let us stop falling into the holes that were only plotted by the superior. Let us try and listen to the underdogs, let us try to be wiser, and more earth connected.

History books have changed, chapters and chapters of Palestinian proof of existence have been burned or thrown away. March like a robot, obey the state and gaze to the ground with very little voice or no voice at all. And the people march. Not knowing where they came from or where they are going. But waking up when it is too late to realize that without true and honest past, to who you truly are, where you come from, what your blood and genes crave and lean towards, you will never be happy, never live in peace with yourself.

Give the freedom to the people, to the souls that were born freely, to float upon space, to dance in life, to love one another before looking at their identification. Who are you, is what you bring with you, is what you choose to say, and how you decide to act. Let the world live in harmony, because it only laughs harmonically. Like the trees that surround the houses, like the houses, and how they ache with time. The aches are stains of culture and history, leaving them to change color like the trees change color. This is life’s nature, the change of color. The change of generations. Don’t change their colors by force, don’t cut their leaves by force, don’t take away the rain and the sun. Let them be free, let them grow to be what they were born to grow up to. “For a free Palestine”.

 قد ما حيفا حلوة حسيت إنو يوم واحد مش كافي فحبيت أقضي يوم تاني فيها.

كنت بس بدي أمشي على أراضيها، مع كاميرتي لأشوفها بعدستي وعيوني وأتفرج على كل صغيرة و كبيرة من بيوتها وأشجارها. العمارة والبيوت بحيفا ما بنشبع منها. فيها الفن الإسلامي و العثماني، والأرابيسك وإبداعات مرسومة على بيوت حيفا. روحت لفة على حدائق البهائيين، و تأملت بشغلهم و تألقهم و فكرت كتير ليش اختاروا حيفا ليبنوا فيها معابدهم؟

المشي بين جبال الكرمل و الطله على البحر المتوسط اشي بياخد العقل. بين شوارعها و بيوتها مليان آثار و مجوهرات صعب ما يلفتو نظرك. بيحكولك عن الفن و الثقافة الموجودة.

كنت أمشي و أصفن، أفكر بالبيوت و أهاليها. وينهم هلأ؟ و مين موجود فيها؟ و شو بيخطر على بالهم؟ كيف بتكون الحياة اذا أهلها الفلسطينية لسه فيها؟ كيف بدو يكون ذوقهم جوا البيت إذا البيوت من بره لحالها جمالها بجنن؟ البيوت بتحكي معك و بتبكيلك من الأعلام الاسرائيلية اللي مرشوشة عليها.

الفن اللي بشوارع حيفا بحكي معاناتها. الفنانين برسموا مآسيهم على حيطانها. الناس عطشانة سلام و آمان على أراضيها. مشتاقين لآهليها اللي في الشتات و اكتفت من الحياة اللي كلها عنصرية و أنانية. تعبت من الحقوق المفرقة بين اليهودي و العربي. تعبت من سكوتها و حرمانها من التعبير. نفسها تحكي و تبكي و الناس تسمعها. هي شغلات ما حدا بعرف فيها. أو خليني أحكي الأكترية ما بتعرف. اليهود بيقدروا يحكوا و يبكوا و يهجموا و يسبوا، بس العربي مش مسموح إلو. الإسرائيلية عندهم حرية التحرك بكل فلسطين الداخل و الضفة، بس أهل الضفة ممنوع، إلا بموافقة من إسرائيل. و حتى الفلسطينية المتجنسين إسرائيلي، فهدول لساتهم فلسطينية بس مجبور عليهم العنوان الإسرائيلي، و حريتهم محدودة مقارنة باليهود.

في ناس بعاد عن بعض ٥ دقائق، و مع هيك، ما فيهم يشوفوا بعض من غير موافقة من الحكومة الاسرائيلية. و في ناس بالسجن. لا بيقدروا يروحوا و لا ييجوا، و لا مسموحلهم زيارة من أهل البلاد كمان. مين بسمع فيها أو بيرضاها؟ غزة! اقرؤوا عنها! بس مش من طرف اليهود، حاولوا اعرفوا عنهم و كيف عايشين. بكفي جهل و همل. بكفي نعيش تحت الاحتلال الصهيوني. خلينا انبلش نقرأ و نفكر شوي. خلينا نحكي مع الأقلية و اللي مأكول حقهم، خلينا نكون من الأرض و نقرب الشعوب بالتواصل إنساني.

التاريخ اليوم اتغير، و اللي بكتبوا التاريخ بغيروا في. الأثر الفلسطيني يا حرقوا يا كبوا، الناس عايشة زي الآليات بس بتطيع أوامر الدولة و بتمشي على خاطرها و قراراتها. لا بيعرفوا من وين أصلهم ولا فصلهم. ولا من وين أهاليهم و شو هي عاداتهم. ضايعين أكتر من العرب، ممنوع يبحثوا عن تقاليد أجدادهم. زي الرجل الآلي… بس بيمشي ورا هالسياسة الوسخة. و في منهم بصحوا، متأخرين على حياتهم، ضايعين و مش فاهمين، بس بدهم يتواصلوا مع حالهم. يبحثوا عن تاريخهم، لانو من غير تاريخه الواحد بضل شاعر بالضياع.

أعطي الناس الحرية. خلي الناس تتراوح مع مشاعرها زي ما إجت و كيف ما إجت. خلي الناس تعيش و تشوف شو إلها و شو عليها. خلي الروح طلقة و حرة، زي ما خلقت حرة، خلي الإنسان حر. خلي يدور على اللي لإلو وخلي يلاقي اللي مخلوق عشانه. خلي الناس تلاقي بعض من غير عناوين قبل ما يتعرفوا، يحبو بعض على شان حبوا أرواح بعضهم مش هوياتهم. عشان مين إنت بتكون وكيف بتحكي و شو بتسوي. مش من وين لجأت و شو ديانتك.  هيك خلي الحياة زي الطبيعة ما حدا يقص وراقها متعمد ولا يغير ألوانها. لا يحرمها من الشمس و لا من المطر. خليها تغير ألوانها لحالها زي ما الله خلقها، خليها تبين عيوبها و جمالها من غير ما أي حدا يدايقها أو يغير فيها.  هيك الدنيا أحلى بحريتها بس وين حرية فلسطين؟

On human speech and critic

Morning Diary: Visiting the most beautiful: Haifa and a Palestinian artist and architect in neighboring village | اليوم التاسع: زيارتي الى اجمل مدينة في العالم “حيفا” و زيارت بيت الفنان الفلسطيني احمد كنعان في قرية طمرة

Posted on by
1

April 29, 2015 Yes, it has been almost one month, since I was able to sit and upload my photos, and work on a new blog post of my unforgettable trip to Palestine, while it is still under the occupation of Israel. Yes, I believe one day, the occupation will be over, and people will live in peace, Palestinians will get their right of return, and the land stops being mistreated with racism and discrimination. I hope I live to witness the change of love. A short trip to Haifa, and the photos below is just a sneak peek of what Haifa is all about, I will be uploading more on Haifa in my upcoming posts, Haifa can not be well described, because as much as you try to describe its beauty, you fail to achieve it. Yes, this is how much Haifa is beautiful, and what is more beautiful, is how much the people of Haifa love Haifa. Arabs, Muslims, Christians, and Jews, both whom consider themselves Palestinian or Israelis, are all obsessively in love with Haifa. The only main problem about Haifa, is that it has lost it’s very original real citizens or what are also known for “El Haifawieh”. The city is no longer lived by its native citizens, but instead is lived by immigrants from across the world and people from all over the rest of occupied Palestine. Which is pretty sad, because without the real citizens, you lose value of the real culture and rituals. So a call out from Haifa: “Ya Haifawieh, Wenkom?” “To the true people of Haifa, Where are you?” What I have also admired the most about Haifa, is entering the city. A splash of magical emotions just storm right into you. You feel you have suddenly arrived somewhere very very special. A place where you do not need to speak any longer, but instead you only want to listen. I then decided to go visit a friend in a village right next to Haifa, Tamra. I was very lucky, to accept this invitation and meet one of the most admiring family ever. I unfortunately was not fortunate enough to meet with the Artist who is the father of 4 talented kids. But I think I was lucky enough to meet them, meet his mother who is also their grandmother, and be nourished by his art and work. As soon as I got to his home, I remembered Barcelona, Parc Guell, Gaudi, and I was right, Ahmad Kanaan, the artist, is very much inspired by Gaudi, and his work is just as inspiring.

حيفا، حيفا، حيفا، يا حيفا،

الناس لما تغزلت فيكي، و نشدت، و كتبت أشعار، ف هاد أقل شي ممكن ينعمل عشانك. قد ما أوصف أو أي حدا يوصف جمال حيفا، فهو وأنا مقصرين بالتعبير عن جمالك.

الكل بحب حيفا و من أجمل اللي في حيفا لما تسمع سكانها بيحكوا عنها. الكل ساكن فيها و بعشقها، عربي، أجنبي، مسلم، مسيحي، يهودي، بهائي، درزي، فلسطيني، إسرائيلي، الكل بحب فيكي يا حيفا.

الشي الوحيد المحزن بحيفا غير إنها لسه تحت الاحتلال الصهيوني الإسرائيلي، بس إنو حيفا بطل من سكانها اي حيفاوية. سكانها مش أهلها. مزبوط كلهم بدهم يكونوا أهلها، بس همه مش الأصل، اللي ماخد عاداتها و طقوسها. و سكانها بيسألوا عن أهلها. و بنادوا “وينكم يا حيفاوية؟”

في شي غريب و عجيب في حيفا. مدخل حيفا عنجد بيعطيني شعور ما في بلد تانية بتعطيني ياه…. إشي بخليني أقول، انتي غير يا حيفا. و بس بدي أسمع و ما أحكي. إن شاء الله الكل يطلعلوا نصيب يشوف حيفا.

اما غير حيفا، ف أنا كنت محظوظة انعزم ع بيت الفنان الفلسطيني “أحمد كنعان” في قرية عربية مجاورة. للأسف ما صحلي إني أتعرف عل فنان، بس حظي كان حلو إني التقيت بأولاده اللي ماخدين من مواهب أبوهم بالفن، وكمان تشرفت بالتعرف على إمو وسمعت قصصها اللي إن شاء الله بقلكم ياها. وأكلت من أصابع زينب اللي بشهوا كتير من إيدين الجدة، يا ريت لسه عندي منهم. هاد غير إنو البيت إشي تحفة، مشغول بدقة و فن من أوله لأخره حلو كتير بطير العقل.

Ask about me. إسأل عني

Posted on by
1

Your morning is my morning only if you ask about me or express a loving expression. Here we are in the lands of Palestine being mistreated by occupiers who claim that this is their land. We have no power, no army, & without an established leadership. We don’t mind them living with us but they mind us living in the lands of our ancestors. They came yesterday, we were always here.

Ask about me. Even if you are so very far away from me… You give me positive energy, you remind me of hope, love and unity. Ask about me… If you are a Palestinian inside Palestine, in the occupied territories or in the semi occupied “known as the West Bank” surrounded by settlers from all angles… Ask about me if you’re in Jordan, Lebanon or Syria … ask about me if your anywhere far around the World … If you are a Palestinian or not… Just ask about me… We are the people of the land but today we have no land & we are being discriminated, living a tough life.

Am a oldman, about 90 years old living in Hebron & I am being mistreated for being a Palestinian Arab, am not welcomed to walk by our Mediterranean sea, RedSea or DeadSea, nor am I allowed to go pray in AlAqsa nor in the Holly Sepulcher that is just right about half an hour drive from here to Jerusalem – so I ask you to please just ask about me. The Palestinian old man or woman who have witnessed the life before the 1948, when the Jews were migrating & we were more than welcoming, when the Jews fought the British & we had no idea that all they wanted to do was to create a Jewish State of Israel in the lands of Palestine; were we all used to live together in peace, practicing all kinds of Religion.

Ask about me who witnessed half or more of our population get evacuated from the massacres & the terror they have brought to our lives & they kicked out the people in Yafa & Haifa without a choice of surviving the one-sided war they brought into us. Ask about me, who held on to the land & is now suffering unjustly. Racism is all over we are being treated like savages, and you will never know until you ask about me.

For a Free Palestine a Self Portrait taken in Hebron.

إسأل عني اليوم الصبح او بكرة. إسأل عن الزلمة او المرآه الي لساتهم على وجه الاراضي الفلسطنية المحتلة. عم بعملونا بأسوة و حرمان و نحنا لساتنا متمسكين بأراضينا. الي هيه ارضي و ارضك من غير قيادة او جيش لتحميها و ما في حادا عارف كيف يحريرها. إسأل عني الي عشيت مع كل الاجناس و الديانات و كنا عايشين، انا ما كان عندي مشكلة بوجود اليهود بس هومة كان عندهم مشكلة بوجودنا الي هوه وجود اجداد اجدادي و هومة ما صرلهم يومين هون و بسموها اراضيهم و مانعين عنا الحرية في اراضينا.

إسأل عني، وين ما كنت. بأراضي فليسطين المحتلة او شبه محتله، ما يتاسما في الشامل، المثلث او الضفة بس إسأل عني. ازا كنت بل أردن، ب لبنان، او سوريا، إسأل عني. ازا كنت فلسطيني او لأ اي مكان بل عالم حاتا، فإسأل عني. حسسني بوجودك، بأني بخطر على بالك، بس إسأل عني. رجعلي شعور الأمل، الحب و الوطنية. نحنا أهل هل أرض بس عايشن بلا أرض و العنصرية علينا على أرضنا نحنا و ما حادا داري بمشاعرنا و معاناتنا.

انا زلمة ختيار بيجي عمري شي ٩٠سنة، من الخليل و بتعزب لأني فلسطيني و عربي. لا بأدر ازور بحرنا المتوسط ولا الأحمر، و لا البحر الميت ولا بأدر اروح اصلي بل أقصى ولا بكنيسة القبامة الي ما بيجو ابو نص ساعا سواقة من الخليل للقدس.

إسأل عني… انا الختيار او هل ختيارة الي عشنا قبل ١٩٤٨ و شفنا اليهود و هما بهاجروا عبلادنا، و الله انو استقبلناهم و اهلنا فيهم و رحبنا، ما كان عنا ادنا فكرة انو رح يهاجموا البريطان و يهاجموا اهل هل بلد الفلسطنية، من مجازر، لا تفجيرات، طرادوا اهل يافا و حيفا من بيوتهم بل غصب. لو قرارهم كان يتمسكوا لو حاتا بل موت، طارادوهم خصبن عنهم. و اليوم ازا بتسأل اليهود ف بقلولك همه هربوا هريبة، بس هيني انا بل خليل و حياتي جحيم. العنصرية كتيرة و الحياة ابدن مش سهلة و انت ما عمرك رح تفهم او تعرف الا ازا بتلحأني ابل ما اموت و بتسأل عني.

لأرض بلا شعب، و شعب بلا أرض… لفلسطين حرة، صورت ختيار في الخليل.

Morning Diary: Visiting Safad “Tzfat” & how it broke my heart |اليوم الثامن: زيارتي المؤلمه في صفد و القرة المهجرة المجاورة

Posted on by
Reply

April 28, 2015

Safad…. I can not find the right words to describe how saddened she made me feel. Sad is underestimated. I did not even think, this would be the way Safad will leave her impression on me. She was like the darkest cloud, shutting down all the lights of the sun from shinning. Safad is what they liked to name today as Tzfat. And Tzfat is a bleeding heart. It is what I decided to call as the Bleeding city, or Ghost town.

There are no Arabs left there. Nothing, Zero. Filled with Jews, and the very extreme ones. Racism is everywhere. It is so racist. There is no respect for any human being other than a Jewish one. The houses are all authentic and Arabian but with no Arabs in any of them. It is tremendously heart breaking.

A mosque is turned into an Art Gallery, A church into a home for a Jewish family. The hardest part is looking at these beautiful Arabian houses, and seeing all these extreme settlers walking in and out from them, not knowing how it feels to be in the place of an Arab Palestinian. It is like they have no idea, no sense of responsibility or humanity. It is like they truly believe these houses were made for them, problem is it does not look good, feel good or even fit. The equation is just wrong. It makes no sense.

Before heading to Safad, I went to the beach in Haifa for an hour, you can never get enough of it and this is where the photos of the beach came from. And then right after breaking my heart in Safad, we went to a destroyed village known as “Kafr Bir”im”. A beautiful place that is only about 3km away from Lebanon, and is located between mountains of the most beautiful greenery. You will feel like you are in a place you have only wished to be in before.

Yes this is just a glimpse of a story, and it was a little bit of too much information for me in one day. A village that was attacked in 1948, people were threatened to leave or killed and many were killed. The people had to flee, but kept returning and every time they return, they are attacked out again. They decided to go to court in 1951 and demand their right back, as they won the case, and were granted the rights of return to their village in 1952, the air force of the Israeli Army IDF, decided to go and bomb all their houses through air. Today, you will find left overs, and you will find the people from the Kfar Birim village visiting the village everyday and camping, holding on to demand their right of return back.

رحلتي الى صفد كانت كتير متعبة و بتأطع الالب. انا كنت متحمسة كتير لا اشوف شو هي صفد، و كانوا يقولولي انو رح تجرحني بس ما فهمت ل روحت. انا كنت بصدمة. صفد بطل فيها عرب، ولا واحد. كول البيوت عربية بوضوح، لاكن سكانها كولهم يهود، و لما احكي يهود مش ازدي بلعنصرية لاكن بل صهينية او الفكر الصهيوني. الناس متعصبة كتير، و مش مرحبين بأهل البلد الحقيقية الهمة العرب الفلسطنية، لاكن رافضين القبول بل واقع التاريخي، فردت فعلهم غنصرية شديدة.

في مسجد محزن كتير، لأنو البينو لا معرض فني، في قلب المسجد معلقين تماثيل و لوحات فانية بكل انواعها، كنت عم بفكر فل المعنا تبع وجود اسساس الاحترام، الي المفروض، كل الاديان بتنشدلها. صفد فيها متعصبين يهود بأرقام هألة، لاكن كيف ديانتهم ما بتتعارض مع الاحترام للاماكن الروحانية، زي المساجد و الكنأس.

انا قبل ما نروح لصفد و لحسن حزي، روحت عل بحر بي حيفا، و فعلا كنت بحاجه الها. و بعد صفد، روحنا على قرية مهجرة في الشمال ٣كم بعد عن حدود لبنان، قرية اسمها “كفر برعم” و هي من اجمل ما شوفت في فلسطين. لاكن كمان بتحزن. لانو، القرية مهجرة و مندمرة، مع آثار بتثبت وجودهت.  و الناس متمسكين بروجوع الها. و القرية جنة عل ارض بس مسروقة، بين جبال و وديان و آثار بيوتها. و الاخص، تمسك اهلها بأرضها، زيارتهم اليومية من ١٩٤٨ لليوم و الشبباب الي بتقوم بخيم و التزمها للوصول الى العودة.

Architecture in Haifa
Visiting Safad

Morning Diary: Visiting Yafa “Jaffa, Yafo” | اليوم السادس و السابع في عروس فلسطين, يافا

Posted on by
1

April 26,27 2015

Wow, I am blessed to be here. I think everyone around the world deserves to visit this beautiful occupied land of Palestine. I feel we need to work together to give the freedom to all the Palestinians who have no rights to see their land.

This is Yafa to the Arabs, Yafo to the Jews, and Jaffa to the rest of the world. It is sad that the Jews decided to eliminate themselves from the Arabs and the rest of the world. Jewish is the definition of a religion, and not a nation, but they have formed it into a nation. Arabs are the people from the Middle East area, Palestine “Known to some as Israel” is in the heart of the Middle East, Europeans are the people from Europe, Africans are from Africa, Asian are from Asia, so what is the deal with Israel?

Spending a day in Yafa was not enough, I had to go again the very next day. This city is filled with wonders, filled with beautiful things to do and see. I finally got to meet Yafa. I finally got to see her soul, in Arabic they call her “عروست فلسطين – Arouset Filisteen” which stands for the Bride of Palestine. She really is. Her streets, her beach, her sea, her houses, her trees, her nature, they all speak to you. And when you connect with Yafa you can hear her laughter and her cries.

I started my first day in the Ajami area or what is also known as “Old Yafa”. This is where all the Palestinians in Yafa were surrounded in during the Israeli force attacks in 1948. Many people fled out of fear and out of force, the people who remained were dragged out of their houses and locked inside Old Yafa with no freedom to leave the neighborhood without permission from the Israeli forces. It is true, look it up and do your research. All the houses around old Yafa were confiscated and announced empty and abandoned. But who would abandon a beautiful bride on her wedding day? Yafa is supposed to be the bride everyday. But since 1948, Yafa has been jailed. She has been jailed and can no longer celebrate with the people who want to celebrate with her. Yafa is restricted today, she is not free to enjoy her wedding days anymore. The people who left their homes by force are never welcome back, the people who were locked inside old Yafa have no rights to return to their homes. Yafa has been raped and abused by the Israeli army.

Besides the ugly truth and politics, Old Yafa carries a flear market. A flea market filled with Jews and Arabs both selling antiques, gifts and food. It is so much fun to go around there and walk its streets. You can walk a triangle and inside the triangle. Head towards Yefet, Yehuda Meragoza, Yehuda Hayamit, Oley Zion. They don’t sound so Arab, they are still under the occupation. Must try Hummus at Abu Hassan, go for a walk by the port, tab by the beach, coffee at Basma’s coffee shop, and dinner by the flea market that turns into a dinning street.

روحت على يافا، و ما شبعت منها بيوم، فرجعت روحت بعد بيوم. ما احلا يافا، مش عادي شو حيلوة يافا. عروست فلسطين عل اكيد. كل شي بيافا حيلو، من البحر، للشوارع، للمباني، الطبيعا… كل شي بيافا غير.

انا بلشيت رحلتي في يافا بمنطقت العجمي، هاي المنطقة القديمة و الي معروفة ب اسم يافا القديمة. تاريخها بيحكي عن سنة النكبة و الاحتلال الصهيوني الي بعد ما تهجر جزء كبير من المدينة، حاصروا الجيش الصهيوني  العرب الي ضلوا في يافا بمنطقت العجمي. و افلوا عليهم. و صار الي بدوا يطلع من المنطقة يطلب تصريح. هل تصاريح الي من اول يوم احتلال و همه بيشتغلو فينا.  المشكلة منطقت ياقا صغيرة، و عل اكيد في ١٩٤٨ كانت اصغر. و العجمي، عبارا عن اكمن شارع، فل حصار كان خانق. و بوقت الحصار، اخدوا اليهود البيوت الي حولين المنطقة. و طلعت قرار انو البيوت اتهجرت و انتركت فاضية، . و لما فتحوا و اعطوا الحرية للفلسطنية الي بل عجمي، راحوا صحاب البيوت الي حولين العجمي غبيوتها، و كانت بيوتها مسكونة بيهود، و لليوم ما رجعت البيوت لحادا. فرح تلقو انو كل العجمي للعرب.

غير هيك، احلا شي المشي بين الشوارع القديمة، دراسة المعمار و التاريخ في يافا. بنصح بل حمص عند ابو حسن، و القهوة عند بسمة و المشي عن المنارة، و شويت تشميس و سباحا. و ما رح تشبعوا من يافا.

On Faith
Visiting Yafa