This Week in Palestine: Uniquely Palestinian..."... find your own edge, and your own way of being Palestinian, one that isn’t bound by a certain reality but celebrated with the most random and small details and loves."

October 2015, Issue 210

Uniquely Palestinian

Cover Photo: Elegant Palestinian embroidery.

Photo courtesy of: Purple Threads.

Editor Message

By: Tala Abu Rahmeh

What is uniquely Palestinian? Olive oil? Struggle? Stones? A map hung on every wall of historical importance and rights being constantly re-debated?

Perhaps that’s part of being Palestinian, but it can’t be all of it. We are all so uniquely different and special and terrible in our own little ways, and that is what makes us the most beautiful.

In this lovely new issue, we have so many stories about what makes a Palestinian Palestinian. We present to you “Embroidery as a Source of Palestinian Identity,” by Hanan Karaman Munayyer; “Jerusalem’s Palestinian Identity and Intangible Heritage,” by the ever-brilliant Ali Qleibo; “One border, Two Worlds” by Fida Jiryis, about the worlds on either side of an Israeli checkpoint; two lovely and difficult articles by Mariam Barghouti and Hasheema Afaneh; Al-Shajara al-Mubaraka by Nada Atrash and Sami Backleh; and many other pieces that bring to life the beauty and ordinariness of being Palestinian.

Our personality of the month is Albert Aghazarian, and our artist of the month is Osama Said, both special and inspiring, and a delight to read about

We hope that in these articles you find your own edge, and your own way of being Palestinian, one that isn’t bound by a certain reality but celebrated with the most random and small details and loves.

May you always be free, and may you always be you.

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 http://thisweekinpalestine.com/embroidery-as-a-source-of-palestinian-identity/

Embroidery as a Source of Palestinian Identity

By: Hanan Karaman Munayyer

 "...International museum exhibits of traditional Palestinian costumes are some of the best ambassadors to the world, communicating a wealth of positive cultural information to audiences whose only knowledge of Palestine is usually of war images and violence. More of such beautiful cultural images of Palestine are needed to counteract the negativity faced by Palestinians every day."

[AS ALWAYS PLEASE GO TO THE LINK TO READ GOOD ARTICLES IN FULL: HELP SHAPE ALGORITHMS (and conversations) THAT EMPOWER DECENCY, DIGNITY, JUSTICE & PEACE... and hopefully Palestine (& America)]

My letter to the NYTimes RE Mahmoud Abbas Gives Up on Peace

"Gandhi proved that non-violence – the principle and the practice – can change history,” Mr. Ban noted. “His mass campaigns of non-violent civil disobedience helped pave the way for the independence of India, and have inspired countless movements for change across the world.”UN NEWS 10-2-2015 UN Photo: “Non-Violence,” a sculpture by Karl Fredrik Reutersward, sits permanently outside UN Headquarters in New York

 RE Mahmoud Abbas Gives Up on Peace
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/02/opinion/mahmoud-abbas-gives-up-on-peace.html
Dear Editor,

"But the failure of everyone — Palestinians, Israelis and Americans — to build on the promise of Oslo is a tragedy for all. "  Very very true.

However it is not the details of Oslo or any other road map or plan that is being abandoned, it is the basic premise that state building, diplomacy and negotiations to shape a just and lasting peace for both Israel and Palestine that is being forsaken and rejected.

We are all to blame, everyone of us worldwide weighing in full of passion and rage or indifference. We have all failed- Palestinians, Israelis, Americans; poets and reporters, preachers and politicians, cartoonists and mathematicians, businesses and charities and aide and activists and everyone else. All flawed.

Now what. I say move on forward, knowing that we are all flawed. Move forward calmly and carefully for peace in peace with peace for both Israel and Palestine... for everyone's sake.  A fully secular two state solution based on full respect for universal human rights and the rule of fair and just laws is reasonable and right.

Sincerely,
Anne Selden Annab

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