Democracy for Some, Apartheid for Others
The Israeli army closed the city of Jericho on one of the busiest tourist days of the year. We spent hours waiting outside the checkpoint. “Do you go to the…
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…
After two years of evasion, COVID caught up with our family
We turned our lives upside down trying to evade the coronavirus. It finally arrived in a weakened form, leaving us in maddening, beautiful isolation together. A sick day Osama…
When is it OK to teach children about inequality and oppression?
Children are aware of stratification by gender and ethnicity. They notice who works in preschools, who their parents’ bosses are, and who cleans public toilets. Rereading a book from my…
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…
‘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…
My Son Looks Beautiful in His Sister’s Dresses
How can we teach our children to resist what is wrong in society - while still protecting them? Boys in dresses and girls at demonstrations.Two and a half-year old Adam…