Is your mother one of those soldiers?
When my daughter said that I speak Hebrew, a girl in summer camp pantomimed firing a gun and asked, “Is your mother one of them?” “Ima! There are kids up…
Winning a Literary Prize, Reclaiming the Hebrew Language
The Israeli Minister of Culture gave me a Hebrew literature prize. I’m grateful. And trying to reclaim Hebrew from those who use it to oppress. Hebrew is not the private…
Intimate Acquaintance with Terrorism
In addition to the six Palestinian NGOs, Israeli officials branded my neighbor, my life partner and an ice cream company as terrorists. No evidence needed. Job Interview In 2017, a…
Coming Out of the Closet, Far from the Closet
After a year and a half of anonymity, it feels good and also a bit scary to emerge from the protection of a pen name. I began publishing this blog…
Leaving Palestine
We waited for hours, the children and I on one side of the checkpoint, Osama on the other, hoping to make it to the airport. Cleaning the refrigerator “I knew…
Buying Hanukkah Candles in Ramallah
“I am a Jew married to a Palestinian,” I told the supermarket man, with a smile that I hoped was courteous, pluralistic and also conversation-ending. I picked up Forat and…
Trying to Leave the West Bank
I wrote another letter asking for the travel permit, because it was my turn to make a move in this sadistic game of occupation bureaucracy. Waiting “When are you traveling?”…
A Visit From Gaza, Also Known As the Other Side of the Moon
Opportunities for relatives to visit from Gaza are the rarest of pleasures – even if they’re often shrouded in sorrow. My kids met their aunt. In 2012, the Israeli restrictions…
For Palestinian Kids, the Occupation Childhood Becomes a Pandemic Childhood, Too
Kids from east Jerusalem take on their parents’ fears of losing their residency rights. The stress of the corona virus pandemic doesn’t make things easier. Three-year old Adam was screaming.…
‘It Sounds Like the Palestinian Authorities Are Managing the Pandemic Better Than Israel’
The Israeli lockdown curtailed plans to visit a cousin for the Jewish new year – a relief given the government’s failure to contain the coronavirus The area code “02” appeared…