My letter to the NYtimes Lens Blog RE Tanya Habjouqa's photos Palestinian Pleasures & essay by James Estrin

Boys splashed in a plastic swimming pool under an olive tree in the West Bank village of Kufr Ni’ma. Though the water supply to Israeli settlers in the West Bank is abundant and uninterrupted, many Palestinian communities there suffer from chronic water shortages. 2013. Photo by Tanya Habjouqa

RE: Palestinian Pleasures By JAMES ESTRIN
http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/01/07/palestinian-pleasures/?_r=1&#/18/

Dear Editor,

Delighted to see the stereotype breaking photo essay of lovely lively real Palestinians caught relaxing in your lens blog! 

I saw the link on a friend's Facebook page yesterday and have been returning to the photo essay again and again since then to revisit every fascinating photo and every precious word, as the essay is honest but refreshingly subtle in gently pointing out " the absurdities of everyday life in the Israeli-controlled West Bank and the Hamas-controlled Gaza."

Thank you so much for publishing Palestinian Pleasures by James Estrin, featuring the unique photographs focused in on capturing Palestinian relaxation and humor by Tanya Habjouqa, a "Jordanian-born"..."raised in Texas"  (Jordanian-American) photographer ... " who lives in East Jerusalem with her husband, a Palestinian lawyer with Israeli citizenship, and their two children."

We certainly have come a long long way from "There is no such thing as a Palestinian." !!!!

If one wants to better understand the very real plight of the Palestinians, at this point in time there are now decades of countless published articles, photos, books, pamphlets, posters, poems, art, newsletters, email lists and international websites to name just a few places one can easily find Palestinian perspectives and voices and history. Hopefully all the hard work and good intentions and creativity of many people will culminate into an end to the Israel-Palestine conflict this year, with a just and lasting peace for everyone's sake. 

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

NOTES

The American Task Force on Palestine (ATFP) is a 501©(3) non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, DC. Established in 2003, its mission is to articulate and educate about the United States national interest in helping to create a Palestinian state living alongside Israel in peace, security and dignity. ATFP is committed to strengthening Palestinian-American relations at every level. The Task Force supports Palestinian institution-building, good governance, anti-corruption measures, economic development, and improved living standards.  http://www.americantaskforce.org/

ATFP holds that these same values are relevant to the broader Arab world, and that the question of Palestine is inextricably linked to regional realities and developments. ATFP provides an independent voice for Palestinian-Americans and their supporters and advances human rights and peace. It categorically and unequivocally condemns all violence against civilians, no matter the
cause and who the victims or perpetrators may be.

 

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My life: Tanya Habjouqa: "I know my daughter is a Palestinian born in a complicated, racist state. I will try to impart empathy, humanity and understanding to her. I am grateful to the surgeons and nurses, Israeli and Palestinian, who safely delivered her. It is, at end of day, a celebration of life." Read more: http://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/my-life-tanya-habjouqa#ixzz2poEVuzRA