CARE PALESTINE, Ramallah

Children of Peace is funding a one-year project in the West Bank.

CARE will work with Israeli and Palestinian professionals to help combat growing domestic violence while living under the COVID-19 pandemic. Community members will get help with issues relating to mental health and parenting, including…

• Depression and anxiety among mothers, fathers, and children. How does it impact daily behaviour and communication?
• Why and how parents need to talk to their young children about the situation, and about adverse events in general?
• Ways of observing and assessing the parent-child relationship.
• The role of parents in the child’s socio-emotional development.
• COVID-19 and domestic violence.
• Maltreatment in day care – a sporadic phenomenon or a common hidden ghost?
• Eating/sleeping disorders.
• Stress management techniques.

The first of a regular book review series.

Paige Donoghue discusses one of the most powerful novels of recent times, described as a masterpiece by The Guardian – Apeirogon – by Colum McCann – a Friend and supporter of Children of Peace. (Bloomsbury, 2020)

“Portraying a narrative set in a fractured world, Colum McCann’s novel Apeirogon cleverly navigates the harsh realities of a long-lasting war. The novel, focusing on the conflict in the Middle East, brings to life a world which the reader can barely fathom. McCann based the novel on a true story of a friendship between a Palestinian and an Israeli, Rami, and Bassam, who are torn apart by grief yet reconciled through the loss of a daughter. From different ends of the war the fathers both ignite a friendship defying those who seek to separate them.

An Apeirogon is a geometric shape with an infinite number of countable sides symbolic of the conflicts in Israel and Palestine. The conflict is multi-dimensional with different opinions and political views. McCann makes this clear as he explores different perspectives on the same events and how opinion affects judgement. The main characters are torn as they are influenced by numerous people and events. Despite being set in the Middle East, McCann’s narrative is universal, using human emotions which connect us all, such as grief and suffering. The reader, whatever their political views or background, can relate to the characters and understand the restrictions and hardships war inflicts on a person.

The narrative felt disjointed at times, but this is understandable when deliberating the novel as a whole. The chapters and narrative can seem fractured, reminiscent of how torn apart society is. Although confusing, once the reader understands the main characters’ background the purpose becomes more apparent which, in turn, allows the reader to understand the reason behind their actions and the author’s narrative choice. As the novel progresses it becomes more emotional. The young children’s deaths are traumatic and descriptive, shocking the reader. One daughter was killed in a suicide bombing, whilst the other was shot with a rubber bullet emphasizing the reality during the war. McCann captures the inner disputes of people who are stuck in the middle of conflict. He humanizes the victims, showing that they are not just another number but a daughter, a sister, a mother.

The novel reminded me of the play Us/Them by Carly Wijs, reenacting what had happened during the Beslan school siege. Wijs wanted to show the horrifying events through the children’s perspective, attempting to educate children in the audience and allow them to understand what would have been deemed as an ‘impossible subject’. McCann’s novel is reminiscent of the play as he too tries to approach an ‘impossible subject’ of conflict and division in a way which is educating to the reader. The main characters Rami and Bassam strive to tell their stories, the story of their daughters’ murder. They create a mission to educate others and try to prevent these horrors from repeating.

The novel is crafted in a fresh and new dynamic as McCann incorporates short chapters with inserted images, both literal and metaphorical, to create deeper meanings. There is a lot of bird imagery, perhaps suggesting the need for freedom. The birds can pass over the borders and roadblocks which restrict the humans inside. Additionally, the pictures in the novel make the book unique. The picture of Rami’s daughter is the most impactful as what reads as a disconnected narrative suddenly puts a face to the sea of victims. Being based on a true story the daughters’ deaths are very much real, and this is emphasised by the photo.

Overall, the novel stands out amongst others with its unique writing style and ability to construe a difficult topic such as conflict. The novel humanizes those who could be potentially seen as an enemy and crafts a narrative the reader can connect with. The message of camaraderie when faced with grief is strong and demonstrates how those with different political views can work together for a more peaceful outcome.”

Paige Donoghue 2021

Anhar Al-Deek’s release on bail

The treatment of Palestinian detainees, in particular children, has long been a flashpoint of contention, with many raising concerns about both specific abuses and a disparity between the treatment of Israeli citizens and Palestinians.

25 year-old Palestinian woman Anhar Al-Deek was detained five months ago, accused of attempting to stab an Israeli settler. Allegedly, she broke into Sdeh Ephraim, an illegal Israeli farming settlement in the West Bank, where she attempted to attack one of the farm owners with a knife.

However, following a campaign by activists and human rights defenders, an Israeli court has now ruled that she should be released on bail as she was nine months pregnant.

Al-Deek will remain under house arrest in her family home near Ramallah.

Success – and controversy – for Israeli football team

On 4 September the Israeli team followed up its decisive 4-0 victory over the Faroe Islands with an impressive 5-2 win over Austria playing to home crowds in Haifa. Head Coach Willi Ruttensteiner was full of praise for his team’s performance:

“It was all the players. I am very proud of the team as they played above of their level and gave everything. People are beginning to see that this team as a unit. As for our World Cup chances, we should not dream but have patience as there are many games to be played but right now we are in good position.”

However the celebrations were marred by controversy. Arab-Israeli forward Munas Dabbur (pictured here) was booed by Israeli fans throughout the match even though he contributed to the victory by scoring a goal.

Although Israel – in common with many other countries – has problems with racism in football, Dabbur is currently a focus for particular hostility. Back in May, he posted an image of the Al Aqsa mosque accompanied by a verse from the Qur’an: ‘God will deal with the perpetuators of injustice’. It was felt this message was provocative and could fuel tensions, so Dabbur was temporarily suspended from the Israeli side.

Team mate Eran Zahavi came to Dabbur’s support after the match:

“It was unpleasant, but he expected it. We understood it would happen but I think we as a team and Munas in particular handled it incredibly… It is a conflicted country, we will never be able to fully understand each other.”

Eco-friendly café opens in Gaza

Despite all the challenges facing Gaza, it is home to numerous startups, including many with an environmentalist emphasis. ‘The Sea is Ours’ is located on the Gaza City beach, and it is hoped it will encourage the many visitors to this popular leisure space to rethink their habits.

The project is run by a group of 20 artists and activists who have built their café from recycled junk – wood, tires, plastic, and domestic appliances which would otherwise have gone to waste. The initiative was prompted by anxieties about pollution threatening the local environment, in particular the beach.

As well as being a café, ‘The Sea is Ours’ offers a space for various creative and educational activities, including workshops where children can learn how to make new items from waste materials.

You can read more.