I'm not a masochist, but I don’t have a problem with Yasser stroking my neck with a razor knife. Yasser has a barber shop in that area of Jerusalem, which is just behind the wall. This is on walking distance from my home; for me it’s easy to get there, and his price is far below what I would have paid elsewhere.
A series of auto-ethnographic tales on the encounter with Palestinians and Bedouins, around Jerusalem, depicting various social, cultural, economical and political aspects of life behind the wall.
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Showing posts with label French Hill. Show all posts
Showing posts with label French Hill. Show all posts
May 27, 2017
Yasser and his razor knife
Labels:
Anata,
army,
Bedouin,
cars,
coffee and tea,
family,
French Hill,
friendship,
hospitality,
human rights,
Jerusalem,
occupation,
oppression,
Palestinian,
police,
refugee camp,
Shuafat,
tension,
wall,
work
Location:
Shuafat Refugee Camp
January 13, 2017
Where is Ma'ale Eizariya?
Ma’ale Adumim is a city with a population of over 40.000 inhabitants. It is a commuter town for Jerusalem and the third-largest Israeli settlement in the West Bank.
Last week, the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee discussed annexing Ma’ale Adumim to the State of Israel (see also: Bennett vows to pursue Ma’ale Adumim annexation this month). Annexation of Ma’ale Adumim would strengthen the occupation of Palestinian lands. Moreover, plans to connect Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem create a barrier between the northern and southern parts of the West Bank, and complicate traveling and transport by Palestinians even more.
Last week, the Knesset’s Constitution, Law and Justice Committee discussed annexing Ma’ale Adumim to the State of Israel (see also: Bennett vows to pursue Ma’ale Adumim annexation this month). Annexation of Ma’ale Adumim would strengthen the occupation of Palestinian lands. Moreover, plans to connect Ma’ale Adumim to Jerusalem create a barrier between the northern and southern parts of the West Bank, and complicate traveling and transport by Palestinians even more.
Labels:
administrative detention,
Bedouin,
coffee and tea,
food,
French Hill,
friendship,
Jerusalem,
legal system,
Ma'ale Adumim,
occupation,
oppression,
Palestinian,
restaurant,
settlement,
transportation,
village,
wall
Location:
Al-Eizariya
October 02, 2016
Ali Baba and his four daughters
My good friend Ali studies for a Masters degree in English translation at the AlQuds University in Abu Dis, a suburb of Jerusalem. At the same time, he makes a living as a building contractor in Israel. He is a bright, ambitious and lovable guy. However, that’s not the whole story…
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| Ali is learning to believe in himself. June, 2016 |
Labels:
Al-Eizariya,
family,
food,
French Hill,
friendship,
human rights,
ill-treatment,
Jerusalem,
legal system,
occupation,
oppression,
Palestinian,
women,
work
Location:
Jerusalem, Israel
November 01, 2015
Balloons over Palestine
It's my birthday and I had planned to go out and have dinner with my friends, Yasser, Ali & Ahmad, in "our" restaurant in Hizma.

Planning meant that in the early afternoon Ahmad and I had checked with the restaurant that we'll have food and cake this same night. In the present political climate, the only Jewish friend I had dared telling my plan, made me promise to send her a message after returning home safely.

Planning meant that in the early afternoon Ahmad and I had checked with the restaurant that we'll have food and cake this same night. In the present political climate, the only Jewish friend I had dared telling my plan, made me promise to send her a message after returning home safely.
Labels:
Anata,
army,
cars,
food,
French Hill,
friendship,
Hizma,
hospitality,
oppression,
Palestinian,
refugee camp,
restaurant,
Shuafat,
transportation,
village
Location:
Hizma
October 16, 2015
Still Tense?
A friend and colleague asked why I used the phrase "still tense" when referring to the situation in Jerusalem, mentioning that she doesn't see an indication of improvement. Another friend told me that "tense" is an understatement, adding that the situation is "crazy".
They are both right. Although I have a couple of other posts ready to be published, I felt I cannot simply pass by the present political state without addressing it directly. This crazy state, though not called "war", certainly feels like war. Moreover, there is no real sign of improvement.
The occupation continues to take its heavy toll. I cannot put it strong enough: Though on the Palestinian side, aggression is essentially the consequence of oppression; on the Israeli/Jewish side, aggression is fueled by fear (and not by reason)!
They are both right. Although I have a couple of other posts ready to be published, I felt I cannot simply pass by the present political state without addressing it directly. This crazy state, though not called "war", certainly feels like war. Moreover, there is no real sign of improvement.
The occupation continues to take its heavy toll. I cannot put it strong enough: Though on the Palestinian side, aggression is essentially the consequence of oppression; on the Israeli/Jewish side, aggression is fueled by fear (and not by reason)!
Labels:
army,
French Hill,
garage,
Hizma,
Jerusalem,
oppression,
police,
restaurant,
tension,
transportation,
work
Location:
Jerusalem
October 09, 2015
Support by friends
This wasn't my week...
The situation in Israel/Palestinian Authority is terribly tense between Arabs and Jews, everywhere, but especially in and around Jerusalem. Stone throwing, riots, violent attacks, destroyed property, wounded people and occasional deaths occur on a daily base. The neighborhood I live in, French Hill, is in the North of Jerusalem, just near the separation wall. It is inhabited mostly by Jews, but also Muslims and Christians live there. French Hill is surrounded by three Arab neighborhoods, Issawiya, Shuafat & Beth Hanina. As a result, violence is for me on walking distance, and police and soldiers are all over, even in the air. It's awfully depressing.

The situation in Israel/Palestinian Authority is terribly tense between Arabs and Jews, everywhere, but especially in and around Jerusalem. Stone throwing, riots, violent attacks, destroyed property, wounded people and occasional deaths occur on a daily base. The neighborhood I live in, French Hill, is in the North of Jerusalem, just near the separation wall. It is inhabited mostly by Jews, but also Muslims and Christians live there. French Hill is surrounded by three Arab neighborhoods, Issawiya, Shuafat & Beth Hanina. As a result, violence is for me on walking distance, and police and soldiers are all over, even in the air. It's awfully depressing.

Labels:
Bedouin,
cars,
coffee and tea,
French Hill,
friendship,
garage,
Hizma,
Jerusalem,
oppression,
Palestinian,
personal conflict,
sulha,
support,
tension
Location:
French Hill
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