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Tony A. KhouryEditor

Samira HassassianChief Program Officer, Bethlehem Peace Center

Samir HuleilehEconomist

Muzna ShihabiMinistry of Foreign Affairs

Sami Abdel-ShafiSenior Partner, Emerge Consulting Group, LLC.

Diana Buttu Advisor to the PA

Yousef DajaniChairman of the Board of Directors, Jerusalem

District Electricity Company

Advisory Board

In the Next Issue

Main Focus: Palestinian Youth• Palestinian Youth and Creativity By Mahmoud Abu Hashhash, A.M.Qattan Foundation• Working Together, not Apart By Sahar Othman, Sharek Youth Forum

As predicted by all doomsayers, our internal situation seems to be going from bad to worse. Incidents of infighting are increasing at an alarming rate. The various factions are falling into the quagmire that some on the outside had wished them to sink into. Furthermore, the near total embargo on the new administration is crippling all the government’s organs, rendering it ineffectual. Yet the people continue to be defiant – till now. Why should a democratically-elected government – an ideal long advocated by all – be made to succumb to pressure exerted by the international community which has decided that this was not such a good idea after all? The new cabinet should be given the time and the chance to prove itself. Many political observers are of the mind that Hamas will eventually soften its stance. Its stance, after all, is one of reclaiming the usurped rights of the people.

With most civil servants going unpaid for two months running, many people are going back to eating the traditional foods of the region, which are inexpensive, nutritious and plentiful. This issue, in

fact, is dedicated to food. Through the many interesting articles on the subject the reader may be surprised to learn of the diversity of the Palestinian cuisine despite the small size of the country. The Gaza Strip, in particular, has developed a kitchen all its own, with dishes and ingredients quite unlike those in the rest of the West Bank. The total isolation of Gaza has kept its food largely unknown to us.

Palestinian chefs are becoming a force to reckon with. The Personality of the Month sheds light on a chef who beat Moroccan chefs and others in an international couscous competition. Palestinian and Israeli cooks joined forces to establish Chefs for Peace, a forum for sharing recipes and, perhaps, finding a recipe for peace.

School will soon be over, to the delight of the students and the chagrin of the parents. Check out the many events taking place to keep the youngsters happily occupied.

Telefax: + 970/2-2-2951262e-mail: info@turbo-design.comwww.thisweekinpalestine.com

This publication is

The views of all the articles do not neccessarily reflect the views of the publisher

The Foods of Gaza .......................................................................................................4The story of a drop ......................................................................................................8Ka’ek wa Ma’moul: a dying art? ..................................................................................10Revisiting our table .....................................................................................................12Tamarind, Tomatoes and Dried Yoghurt .....................................................................14Dishes for Special Occasions .....................................................................................20The Safety of the Food Industry in Palestine ..............................................................22Taghrid ........................................................................................................................24Justice, Jericho, and Japan ........................................................................................26The Rich Flavours of Palestine ...................................................................................30A World Record for Palestinian Tabbouleh .................................................................32Palestinian Children’s Rights to Nutrition ...................................................................34Food Security .............................................................................................................36Yara Dowani: swimmer and karate player ..................................................................36 A Quick Journey into Palestinian Journalism ..............................................................38Breastfeeding in Complex Emergency Situations ......................................................42Visually Impaired Training Centres at Palestinian Universities ...................................44An exhibition of Palestinian industries ........................................................................45The Palestinian Shippers’ Council ..............................................................................46In the Limelight ...........................................................................................................52Events .........................................................................................................................54Reviews ......................................................................................................................66Listings ..................................................................................................................70-90Maps & where to Go ...................................................................................................91The Last Word ............................................................................................................98Beautiful Palestine .....................................................................................................99

Cover idea: Samira Hassassian, Setting: Darna Restaurant, Photo: Majdi Hadid, Layout: Taisir Masrieh Theme: Palestinian Food

Printed by Studio Alpha, Al-Ram, JerusalemPhotos: Palestine Image Bank / TURBO Design

Binding by Al-Asdika', Al-Ram, Jerusalem

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Let’s be honest: the last thing people associate with Gaza is its food. Most often, Gaza conjures up images of war and destruction-razed homes and fields, bombed out buildings, and masked gunmen. It also brings to mind a mélange of unflattering adjectives: along with Hebronites, Gazans are the butt of most popular jokes in Palestine. They are “brute” and “unsophisticated,” and what they lack in culture they make up for in strong-headedness. So it should come as no surprise that their food is often overlooked in most popular cookbooks about Palestinian food, let alone outside of Palestine.

Nevertheless, Gaza boasts a unique cuisine rivalled in its variety only by its versatility of ingredients, with a flavour to satisfy every palate. Many Gaza foods, of course, are common throughout Palestine and the Levant, or at least in certain Palestinian cities, such as Hebron. These include mahashi (stuffed vegetables), mezze and maqlooba – literally “upside-down,” a delicious rice dish cooked with sautéed

vegetables, spices, and lamb or chicken and flipped upside-down upon serving – and different varieties of tabeekh: vegetable and meat stews, such as fasooliya (green beans), bamya (okra) and bazayla (peas). Usually there are slight variations in flavour and spices, such as the addition of chopped basil to bamya and the customary side dish of whole green chillies.

As far as Palestinian food goes, Gaza’s is characterized by its generous use of spices and, of course, chillies. Other major flavours and ingredients include dill, chard, garlic, cumin, lentils, chickpeas, pomegranates, sour plums and tamarind. Many of the traditional dishes rely on clay-pot cooking, which preserves the flavour and texture of the vegetables and results in fork-tender meat.

Traditionally, most of the dishes, such as rummaniya, are seasonal and rely on ingredients indigenous to the area and its surrounding villages, pre-1948. Poverty has also played an important role in determining many of the area’s simple meatless dishes

and stews, such as saliq wa adas (chard and lentils) and bisara (skinless fava beans mashed with dried mulukhiya leaves, chilli, dill seed and garlic). One cannot discount the influence of the 1948 Nakba, which resulted in an influx of refugees from all over Palestine’s coast, tripling Gaza’s population overnight. Many of them were fellahin (peasants) who would rely on eating seasonally, based on what they grew, and who brought with them a variety of flavours and ingredients, especially those that were easy to carry and cook in the harsh conditions of the exile they were forced to live in, as many first-generation refugees testify.

Due to the Strip’s geographic isolation from the rest of Palestine as a result of decades of occupation and Israeli-imposed closures, many of its dishes have not been heard of outside of Gaza. In fact, perhaps the best test to determine if someone is truly Gazan, or at least well-acquainted with Gaza’ culture, is to ask if he/she knows what sumaggiya is! The popular dish, which is traditionally made on the Muslim Eid El-Fitr holiday but is popular amongst all of Gaza’s inhabitants and throughout the year, gets its name – and distinct colour – from the main ingredient: sumac. Sumac seeds, or ground sumac, are first soaked in water. The resulting infusion is mixed with tahina (sesame seed paste), water, and some flour which acts as a thickening agent. The mixture is then added to sautéed chopped chard – a key ingredient in many of Gaza’s dishes – chunks of slow-stewed beef, and chickpeas. It is spiced up with a mixture of crushed dill seeds, chillies, and garlic fried in olive oil, and then poured into bowls to cool. The final product is eaten with kmaj (pita bread), and distributed to friends, family and neighbours. Customarily, they return the bowl full, either with sumaggiya of their own or with nutmeg-infused date cookies, ka’ak bi ajwah.

Rummaniya – similar in name and texture but completely different in taste to sumaggiya – is a seasonal dish made towards the end of summer and beginning of fall, when pomegranates, from which the dish derives its name, are still slightly sour. The dish is vegetarian, made by stewing together the

unlikely combination of eggplants, sour pomegranate seeds or juice, tahina and brown lentils and flavoured with garlic, dill, and chillies.

Shortly after the rummaniya season draws to a close comes the fall bounty: squash of all varieties, ruby red pomegranates, carrots, and other root vegetables. In Gaza, this means mahshi jazar ahmar, stuffed red carrots, so-called for the beet red colour of the juices they emit when cooked. The carrots, which are stouter and shorter than the usual orange variety, are cored and stuffed with meat, rice and spices and cooked in a tamarind and tahina based stock. Early spring is the time for fugga’iya, a hearty stew made of chunks of lamb stewed over a low fire with chickpeas, chopped chard, onions, and rice, and flavoured with fried garlic and a touch of lemon.

Other basic non-meat dishes include lentil stew variations, such as pumpkin and red lentil flavoured with lemon and garlic; potatoes and lentils baked in a clay pot, fukharit adas; and saliq wa adas, a popular, slow-cooked stew made in the winter and early spring when chard is in season. It is flavoured with red pepper flakes, crushed

dill seed, garlic, and cumin. Many of these vegetarian dishes are consumed by Gaza’s Christian communities during Lent.

Of course one cannot have a discussion of Gaza’s cuisine without mentioning its most sought after delicacies: seafood. In recent years, due to Israeli restrictions on Palestinian fishing zones off Gaza’s coast, the industry has been in decline, and seafood prices have skyrocketed, a sad turn of events

The Foods of GazaBy Laila El-Haddad

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season in July during which women flock to local markets to buy their season’s worth of the precious fruit. As with sumaggiya, jars of the finished product are handed out to friends and family. Dried arasiya is also used to flavour many stews, such as maftool, the Gazan variety of Moroccan couscous. It is eaten with a soup that consists of tomatoes, chickpeas and onions and flavoured with dill seeds, crushed red pepper flakes and dried arasiya. Ari’ bi tahina, a pumpkin-beef stew cooked in a tahina lemon-garlic sauce is likewise flavoured with the plums.

The Gazan kitchen also includes the usual Palestinian-Levantine mezze, such as mtabbel (baba ghanouj), hummus, and fool. Other popular Gazan mezze include bandoora maqliya, tomato slices fried in olive oil with garlic and chopped basil. Along with Palestinian zaatar, Gaza is almost famous for dugga – not to be confused with the ever-popular dagga salad. It is made of chickpeas, wheat, caraway, sumac, dill and red pepper flakes, all of which are ground to a fine powder and mixed with sesame seeds and eaten with olive oil and kmaj.

And, finally, no article about Gaza’s treasure trove of food is complete without a

mention of dagga, the arguable king of the Gazan table and one of her most famous dishes. Dagga is a spicy salad traditionally made in a clay bowl with crushed tomatoes, raw garlic cloves, hot chilli peppers, chopped dill and olive oil and seasoned with a squeeze of lemon upon serving.

And with that, all that is left to say is: bil hana wil shifa!

Laila El-Haddad is a writer and freelance journalist based between Gaza and the United States. Her blog, Raising Yousuf: Diary of a Mother Under Occupation (www.a-mother-from-gaza.blogspot.com) is named after her two-year-old son. She can be reached at laila.elhaddad@gmail.com.

for an area where fish was once a staple of the local diet. Now the best way to sample Gaza’s seafood is at a beachside restaurant or – the more economical and savoury way – by getting invited to someone’s house!

Some famous seafood dishes include “zibdiyit gambari,” literally, shrimps in a clay pot. The shrimps are baked in a clay bowl in a stew of chopped tomatoes, chillies, garlic, green dill, sweet peppers, onions, and olive oil. It is garnished with pine nuts, almonds, or sesame seeds. Calamari, known here as habbar after the ink it releases, is plentiful, cheap, and absolutely delectable when in season. It is either fried and served with a lemon-chilli sauce, or stuffed much as mahashi would be, with a mixture of rice or bulgur, mild spices, and chopped green dill. Crabs, Gaza-style, are stuffed with a mixture of shatta – Gaza’s famous red hot chilli pepper dip – crushed garlic and cumin and then baked in the oven. Fish is either fried or grilled after being stuffed with cilantro, garlic, chillies and cumin, and marinated in a spice-rub of coriander, chilli, cumin, and chopped lemons. It is also a key ingredient in sayyadiya, rice cooked with caramelized onions, a generous amount of whole garlic cloves, large chunks of well-marinated fried fish, and spices such as turmeric, cinnamon, and cumin.

Rice is a key ingredient in most Middle Eastern dishes. In Gaza, it is traditionally reserved for festivals or occasions. Perhaps the most famous rice dish here is qidra, named after the large clay vessel and clay oven in which it is baked. The rice is cooked in the vessel with chunks of meat, often lamb, a generous amount of whole, unpeeled garlic cloves, chickpeas, cardamom pods, and a laundry list of spices including, but not limited, to turmeric, which gives it its distinct yellow colour, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and cumin. Qidra is usually made in large restaurant kitchens equipped with clay ovens, and ordered in large quantities for everything from weddings to funerals. Every restaurant and spice-store owner boasts his own “secret” qidra spice mixture recipe. After qidra comes fatteh gazzawiah, plain rice cooked in meat or chicken broth

and flavoured with a sprinkling of mild spices such as cinnamon. The rice is layered over thin, saj baked bread known as farasheeh, which is smothered in ghee for flavour, and topped with stuffed chicken or pieces of lamb. The fatteh is eaten with a green-chilli and lemon sauce.

When it comes to sweets, Gaza does not quite rival its Lebanese and Syrian neighbours nor, of course, Nablus with is mouth-watering knafa. Nuts are a scarce and pricey commodity in Gaza and often cashews, peanuts and almonds that are grown locally are substituted for the usual pine nuts and pistachios in biqlawa. Gaza’s answer to knafa nabulsiya is its own variety, called “knafa arabiya.” Though it does not resemble the former in the least bit, is it equally delicious and can only be found in local pastry shops. It is made of a

semolina and wheat mixture that resembles coarse crumbs, which are layered in a pan alternately with walnuts and pine nuts, flavoured with cinnamon and nutmeg and generously drenched in hot syrup after being baked to a deep, crunchy brown. Bsees is a luscious, spiral-shaped flaky pastry baked with ghee and sweetened with syrup. It is difficult to find, however, and fewer and fewer pastry shops now make it. Such recipes are usually preserved orally, handed down from confectioners to their children.

Finally, there is an array of jams that are popular in Gaza, depending on the season, ranging from strawberry and khushkhash (Seville orange) in winter to fig and grape in summer, but the most uniquely Gazan of them is arasiya, a sour plum jam. The small, cherry-sized plums have a short, two-week

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The story of a drop …By Hitham I. Kayali

planted with olive trees. Palestinians continue to plant around 10,000 new olive trees each year in the West Bank where most of the new plants are from the oi l-producing variety and 25% of their output ends up as olive oil.

The o l i ve t ree is known to have important social and economic impacts during its harvest season, with its ability to gather a large number of working hands, especially among women, when

Palestinian families including children, women, men, students and the elderly all gather in their olive groves to harvest their trees while bringing alive Palestinian traditions and folklore with cultural evenings and activities.

Olive oil is a basic component of the daily meals of Palestinians. Every morning most families gather around the traditional breakfast of zait and zaatar, olive oil and ground thyme that are mopped up with fresh kmaj bread. Olive oil is also a strategic Palestinian product of the national economy. It is of high standards in terms of taste, smell and colour. Olive production is the number one product in terms of overall agricultural production, taking up 25% of total agricultural production in the West Bank.

Olive wood is known to be the best kind of wood for creating simple sculptures and shapes, such as gifts and souvenirs which are appreciated by tourists and foreigners visiting the Holy Land. Its wood is also widely used as a main heat source in homes throughout the Palestinian territories.

Its fruits gloss under the warm sunshine of April, hiding beneath the evergreen leaves, its fragrant cream-coloured flowers and graceful appearance is a symbol of peace, prosperity, dignity and love. A symbol of life, tradition and legacy …a symbol of Palestine. With each of its sturdy stems and fresh green leaves that burst their way towards the bright blue sky, comes a story of life….a story of Palestine.

For thousands of years our ancestors have been passing on this sacred tree, the Palestinian olive tree, with all that i t symbolizes, to their chi ldren and grandchildren. Many stories were told under its shade, and perhaps one can indulge in its old greyish branching pattern to look for truths about life. Palestinians therefore grant special attention and admiration to their beloved olive tree, for it lives within their psyche and represents that sacred figure that was mentioned in all religious books, extolled by poets, and represented by artists in various ways throughout history.

All of this attention within its symbolic context pushed Palestinians to widely plant it. Palestinians plant this tree in all areas. It is planted from heights that reach up to 900m all the way down to the Jordan Valley at 250m below sea level. In the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, Palestinians have planted ten million trees over 898,262 dunums (around 225,000 acres). This area represents 54% of the total planted agricultural land and the trees constitute about 80% of the total rain-fed productive trees in Palestine. As for the Gaza Strip, about 22,452 dunums have been

The glory of this sacred Palestinian plant shines in the darkness of the Israeli occupation. And for many, it represents that beacon of hope for a better future. For many decades now, the Palestinian territories have been witnessing an acute conflict that has stripped them of their most basic life requirements. Especially since the outbreak of the second Intifada and the domination of violence, poverty and despair, Palestinians strive to hold on to what is left of their traditional economic, social, and cultural resources. The Israeli occupation has specifically targeted this plant due to its symbol of identity for Palestinians and its economic benefits. Since the second Intifada, more than half a million olive trees have been uprooted from Palestinian lands.

Palestinian resistance or “sumood” means Palestinians producing olive oil although the occupation limits their movement and forbids them from reaching their lands. “Sumood” is Palestinians producing olive oil although the racist Apartheid Wall prevents farmers from harvesting their olives and uproots trees anywhere near it. But in the end, Palestinians do produce olive oil and always will.

The Union of Agricultural Work Committees (UAWC), together with other non-profit agricultural organizations, has always supported farmers by providing them with the appropriate markets what would receive their crops. For some years now, the UAWC has been exporting Palestinian olive oil to various European and Asian countries, making it possible for people to directly support the Palestinian farmers’ struggle and persistence, just by enjoying that drop of fresh, pure Palestinian olive oil.

Hitham I. Kayali is the Public Relations Director of the Union of Agricultural Work Committees. He can be reached at UAWC@palnet.com. For more information visit www.uawc.net.

Article photos by Majdi Hadid

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Ka’ek wa ma’moul is the traditional sweet done at Easter time. It consists of two different-shaped cookies: the round circular cookie is supposed to represent the crown of thorn that Jesus wore on his head at the cross while the ma’moul, the dome-shaped cookie represents the sponge that was used to moisten Jesus’ parched lips.

While traditional Christian families maintain the making of ka’ek and ma’moul for the Easter holiday, the sweet’s religious connotation has largely become overlooked and ka’ek and ma’moul have become the sweet of choice at Moslem feasts as well.

I remember how when we were young it was a big event for us children to

join in the activity of this time-honoured yearly ritual of making those special cakes. We were even allowed to stay up late because the cakes were usually prepared in the evening and remained in their huge brass trays until the next morning, when they were sent to the local bakery to be baked in their brick oven which was big enough to accommodate the huge trays. The bakeries then acted as a communal oven; they baked everything and anything that was sent to them, besides bread, of course.

It was a social event also because all the family including aunts and cousins and also neighbours came to lend a hand. It was a time when the ladies of the family would catch up on fresh gossip: who’s getting married to whom; who is having an extra-marital affair,

the latest round of mother-in-law daughter-in-law fighting; a certain lady who claims her age is 45 but, according to the knowledgeable matrons, is well in her fifties! Another lady is sick with that whispered-only disease which was never mentioned out loud (cancer, of course). And so the evening was passed pleasantly and we, the children, were happy to be given the task of decorating the small cakes with the special tweezers that were made of brass and bought in the Old City of Jerusalem. These tweezers are another dying art. You do not find similar ones these days. What is available on the market now is made either of tin or stainless steel. The

tweezers form grooves on the cookies

so that the confectioner’s sugar that is dusted on them will stick.

I would say that making ka’ek and ma’moul at home is a dying art because it involves a lot of work and before-hand preparation. Most of the neighbourhood bakeries have also closed down so that baking is now done at home. Since regular household ovens are not powerful enough to bake the cakes in a short time (so they do not dry out) a rudimentary electrical baking tray has become the preferred means for obtaining results similar to the brick oven of yore.

However, we the 60+ generation still do the cakes at home and we still keep the tradition of going around every afternoon of the Holy Week, lugging the tools of our trade – the special tweezers that were handed to some of us from mother to daughter and the

mandatory apron. I suppose there will always be the commercially-made cookies that one can buy at some pastry shops or which could be ordered from other sources. They could be equally good but where can one find the camaraderie of working together, sharing jokes, exchanging light gossip and, as a sign of the times, the latest bad experiences one has had at a particular checkpoint, at the airport or at Allenby Bridge.

Now the next custom was going around, after Easter Sunday, to call on family and friends to wish them a happy Easter and to compare their cakes to ours. Needless to say whose is more delicious or daintier looking …

I once asked one of my daughters if she would like the recipe of these special cakes for posterity, and what will become of my collection of recipes and cookbooks once I am gone. She answered, “Mom, don’t worry, we’ll bury them with you.”

For those young people wishing to try their hand at making these cakes, here is the recipe, which yields around 70 cookies. The amount could be doubled or tripled as needed.

Place the semolina in a deep bowl. Grind the mehleb with the gum Arabica and add the mixture together with the sugar to the semolina, making sure to mix in well. Melt the clarified butter and pour over the mixture. Add the oil and mix well, making sure that the butter and oil are completely and uniformly incorporated. Add a few drops of orange blossom water if desired. Cover and leave overnight.

Ka’ek wa Ma’moul: a dying art?By Laura Khoury

Grind the walnuts to the consistency desired, add sugar and ground cinnamon to taste and a few drops of orange blossom water if desired. Set aside. Grind the dates in a meat grinder or work it with your hands to obtain a uniform paste. Mix with a little vegetable oil and some ground cinnamon. Roll out into ropes around 1 cm. thick and place on a tray. Cover well.

The following day add the yeast to the semolina mixture and, mixing with your hands, use enough water at room temperature to obtain a soft dough that you can work with.

Set aside for half an hour then knead again, using more water if necessary to have a smooth, workable dough. Shape the dough into small balls slightly larger than a walnut. To make the ka’ek: roll out each ball on a wooden board with your fingers into a rope then flatten. Place a piece of the date rope in the centre and wrap the dough around it. Roll again to smooth it out and shape into a circle. Pinch it lightly with the tweezers, taking care not to expose the filling inside and place on the baking tray. To make the ma’moul: make a hole in the ball of dough with your index finger. Fill it with the nut mixture

and seal well, forming a dome-shaped cookie. Pinch with the tweezers and arrange on the baking tray. Preheat oven to 500º F (around 260º C) and bake cookies for 8-10 minutes, until barely golden in colour. Take care not to over-bake them. Cool completely in the baking tray then store in an airtight container. Sprinkle with confectioner’s sugar before serving. Sahtein wa ‘afyeh.

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The last five years or so have been an exercise in frustration for eclectic cooks who prefer a varied menu on their table and love to experiment with ingredients, condiments and herbs. I admit to being such a one. Over the years, I have assembled a repertoire of dishes based on French, Italian, Scandinavian, Asian and Indian cuisines, which I have integrated to my daily menu more or less successfully, but certainly enjoyably – for what is the value of cookery if one cannot enjoy planning for it, shopping for it, preparing it and sharing it with loved ones? But when such treats became no longer possible, I put away my scrap book, my own personal archive of the “better days” and fossilised culinary pleasures in the chambers of my memory indefinitely.

I could not have been more wrong because this period of increasing penury has eventually helped me renew my relationship with the most basic foods, revisit old recipes and experiment with them in a variety of ways heretofore unthinkable.

The incremental closures of the last few years, intermittent embargoes and an increasingly depressed economy have been looming factors in changing many people>s lives, including their eating habits, and the isolation of Jerusalem has been dramatic for aficionados of cosmopolitan cooking who can no longer shop for these little extras that add a touch of exoticism on their table. I am quite aware that gourmet experiences are not a priority when so many are deprived of the basic necessities of life, and am by no means trying to belittle the much graver existential concerns that arise as a result of the degradation of the political and economic situation, and the moral issues that have surfaced as a result of the erection of this ignominious Segregation Wall, which is scarring our landscape at the four points of the horizon. I am just pointing out to yet another threatened aspect of our quotidian, our culinary habits, which cannot be eluded or underestimated. Small as it is in the larger scheme of our national survival, this aspect of our life reflects in fact another instance of the erosion of our culture and a regression

of the remarkable cosmopolitanism it has proudly cultivated over the centuries and which had distinguished it in the region. When all indications point towards the threatening growth of a monolithic, mono-vocal culture in our midst, then everything should be of concern, even our food practices.

And this is not just food for thought. The flourishing of society within a culture is reflected by the eating practices of the various groups within it and can be measured to some extent by the development of its food culture: its food production, distribution and consumption methods. Yet I perceive a serious lag between the development of other aspects of our culture and those related to food. Insofar as serious research is concerned, there is much to be done at many levels, but we have yet to start investigating our food culture in both its practical and symbolic aspects; we have to draw a corpus of its components and examine its data synchronically and diachronically; we have to determine its dynamics as a form of expression among the different social groups; we have to determine its specificity; and only then can start understanding modifications in related practices and the symbolism emerging thereby.

In her widely-read book on Middle Eastern

food practices, Claudia Roden, an icon of Middle Eastern cookery and a household name in gastronomic milieus, traces the familiar dishes of the modern kitchens of our region to three important periods. During the Sassanid Empire sumptuous living was the order of the day, especially during the peak period of the early seventh century when Antioch, Damascus, Jerusalem and Alexandria were conquered. After the arrival of the Arabs, who had very limited culinary traditions and followed strict rules of parsimony and restraint up until the coming of the Abbasid Caliphate – which established its capital Baghdad on Persian soil and where Persian culture and sophistication set the tone – the genius of creative cookery and the concept of haute cuisine were established and became integrated to Arab culture during the period between the eighth to the tenth centuries. The food of the Ottoman Empire was partly built on what had become by then a rich Arab cuisine and partly adopted from the new countries integrated within the Empire such as the Balkans. By the end of the Ottoman period, Middle Eastern food habits, already rich and varied, were further transformed with the arrival of many communities, such as the Greeks, French, Italians and British. All through this course, Palestinian cuisine was an expression of this diversity and manifold social and cultural make-up, and shouldered these tides through integration rather than rigid resistance.

Because food production, preparation and eating habits have to do with one of the most fundamental aspects of human expression, I see that the current state of affairs is most likely to have far-reaching consequences on the longer term. We pride ourselves over maintaining the cooking traditions of our mothers, grandmothers and mothers-in-law but have done nothing to investigate this heritage in a way that would help us understand its workings. The questions of “how” and “what” relevant to eating habits are taken for granted because they are considered a given: we are born and reared within models of food consumption that remain unchanged

except in cases of displacement to a different culture or due to deep social ruptures. Looking at our recent history, I can say that we have had our share of both many times over and it is therefore high time that we ask ourselves the right questions now that our “food social space,” as Jean Pierre Corbeau puts it, is undergoing drastic transformations. For the post-industrial world, these questions arise as a result of the course of the development of their societies and the breaking up of the traditional relationship between individuals and their food. In our case, where traditional models of food consumption are still practised, the issue is one of survival and continuity on the one hand, and of facing-up to evidences of the erosion of our way of life, on the other.

In the absence of traditional “pre-established” models of food consumption, a large part of the world is drowning under the fear, hardly exaggerated, of the globalization of food, widely termed as ‘mcdonaldisation,’ and as a result, there is a serious revisiting of traditional foods and a longing for the times when vegetables and fruits were seasonal, echoed by a nostalgic call for the eating habits of the days of yore. Whether we consider ourselves as part of the Mediterranean fold, and here reference to the ubiquitous and much praised

olive oil, bread and vine of the Mediterranean diet is de rigueur, or as inheritors of the badia and its retrained strict diet, or a mixture of both, we have to realise that we still maintain a traditional relationship with food and have much to gain by preserving it. All we need to do is turn our givens into proactive assets and develop a course of our own design.

In order to achieve that, however, sound thinking, sound planning and an unshakable resolution are essential ingredients.

Christiane Dabdoub Nasser is the author of Classic Palestinian Cookery, published in 2001 by Saqi Books, London. She can be reached at cnasser@bethlehem2000.org.

Revisiting our table…By Christiane Dabdoub Nasser

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degree of sourness, and ‘dasameh,’ a certain amount of grease. Palestinians express a great predilection for the sour taste. As such our stuffed vegetables and the vegetable/ meat stews are cooked in sauces with varying degrees of sourness. The sour taste and various distinctive flavours range from the use of pure lemon juice, yoghurt, unsweetened tamarind, tomato, sour pomegranate and, in early spring, grape juice. Stuffed carrots and cucumbers, for example, are cooked in sour tamarind sauce, zucchini (qusa); yaqteen and eggplant (bitinjan batiry) in tomato sauce. Yaqteen, a variety of squash, and qusa may also be cooked in yoghurt sauce.

The typical Friday dish, Ma’lube, commonly associated with Palestinians, however, is a casserole that consists of rice, mutton, and eggplant. It is not cooked in any sauce. But since no food is eaten nashef (dry) – even kebab and shish kebab barbecued meat, de rigueur, must be accompanied by yoghurt – a cucumber salad or a fresh vegetable salad with fresh lemon juice dressing must accompany ma’lube, but not the other dishes.

The love of Palestinians for the sour taste gets its clearest expression in the passion for fruits before they ripen fully. Fresh early April green almonds are a rage. While the blossom has not yet fallen from the tree, the tiny green fruit is picked and sold in the markets. The same feeling of excitement extends to green oranges, cherries and prunes.

The elements of hmudah and dasameh reach a perfect balance according to the Palestinian palate in the festive meal of mansaf, whose mutton is cooked in dried goats’ yoghurt. The degree of grease or fat in cooked foods in the Palestinian kitchen has different forms. Depending on the dish cooked, pure olive oil, sesame oil (sirej) clarified butter and the natural fat of the mutton (liyyeh) may alternately be used. Samneh baladieh is essential for a more wholesome taste for the rice. A spoonful in yakhni fasuliah, the stew of beans in tomato sauce, enhances the taste of the simplest of Palestinian dishes.

Olive oil is indispensable for dressing all the salads and appetizers. Musakhan is a special

peasant dish celebrating the hmudah and the dasameh, using chicken instead of mutton as its basic staple. Chicken is baked in a special oven, the taboon, whose main source of energy is camel and sheep dung. Instead of rice, the chicken is served on a circular loaf of whole wheat bread smothered with onions cooked slowly in olive oil. Chicken fat and the oil, in huge amounts, furnish the element of dasameh. The sour taste, on the other hand, is produced by the mixture of lemon juice (which is also considered indispensable in the customary purification of the chicken from its zanakhah, the intrinsic foul smell of poultry) and the extremely sour deep red spice, sumaq. Olive oil and sumaq with taboon bread doused in oil is a popular summer and autumn chicken dish. In this way the old oil is used up before the new oil season begins.

Sesame oil “sirej” is used in frying. A tablespoonful used in conjunction with the minced meat, rice and spices enhances the taste of the mahashi, adding the indispensable extra taste of dasameh. From sesame oil, tahineh is produced. The white thick viscous liquid is indispensable for hummos. Tahineh, a smooth puree of chickpeas, one clove of garlic, and a generous squeeze of lemon juice, blended together, make the typical Palestinian morning staple, hummos. Tahineh with sugar and pistachios makes the halaweh that children like as a sweet snack, very similar to peanut butter, but with a thick crumbly texture.

Six easy recipes from grandmotherIn winter we looked forward to Fridays at

grandmother’s. She would spend the winter in her country house in Jericho and all my uncles, aunts and their children would spend the weekend with her. The memories of the warm sun and the festive family reunions are evoked with the aromas and taste of the food she always had. Fridays and ma’lube are reminiscent of warm spring days in Jericho. “Dajaj bil sinniyeh,” chicken baked in the tray is associated with autumn. Lentil soup and winter fuse together in my mind. The “lahmeh a’ waraq” with the aroma of the singed grape leaves in summer will always bring me memories of my wonderful childhood.

Tamarind, Tomatoes and Dried YoghurtThe Aesthetics of the Palestinian Cuisine

By Ali Qleibo

Photo: Courtesy of Darna Restaurant

in-law becomes an apprentice and soon the keeper of her new family’s culinary repertoire. Palestinians may appear extremely finicky about what and where they eat but this attitude underlies an inarticulate, unwavering loyalty to the cook; first the mother then the wife. It is an act of love; home cooking cannot be reduced to a commercial transaction. In contrast to the rich Palestinian home cuisine, the Palestinian restaurants’ menu looks quite bleak: overcooked barbecued kebab, shish kebab and meat cutlets with the conventional salads on the side.

Everyday Palestinian food can be divided into two broad categories: stuffed vegetables (mahashi) or meat stews (yakhani). In the ‘mahashi,’ vegetables such as zucchini, gourds, cucumbers, carrots or eggplants are cored out and stuffed with rice and meat. In the ‘yakhanis,’ chunks of mutton are cooked with seasonal vegetables. In both the stews and stuffed dishes the sauce of tamarind, tomatoes, pomegranate or dry yoghurt imparts the final distinctive taste. The aesthetic structure informing the elements and grammar in terms of which acceptable combinations of meat, vegetable and marinade sauce are permissible rigidly defines the edible. The grammar governing the possible combinations is sacrosanct. Tampering with the recipes renders the food inedible (lagaweees). Stuffed carrots and cucumbers can be cooked in tamarind sauce. Eggplant cannot be cooked save

in tomato sauce. Mixing categories is aesthetically fatal. The result is considered disgusting and

inedible.Spices in the Palestinian

c u i s i n e a r e u s e d sparingly. The particular taste of Palestinian cooking is produced b y t h e p r o p e r combination of two major elements: ‘hmudah,’ a certain

The sweet aroma of garlic fried in butter with coriander (il-taglieh) always softened the hard, impenetrable stones and enlivened the empty cobbled back alleys of Jerusalem. The smell of the food being cooked conjured up memories of mother’s food. The Old City would become an immense labyrinth of kitchens, of homes of families, of mothers, fathers and children. Taking a walk in the Old City at lunchtime would always evoke the feeling of wellbeing and of home. The mysterious sense of inexhaustible joy triggered by the various aromas emanating from the kitchens of the Old City has never left me. The delicate garlic/coriander dressing that would be added to either the green bean (fasuliah), mallow (mulukhia) or okra (bamiah) stew always transforms Jerusalem into one big family kitchen in which I felt at home.

All Palestinians eat the same food and each Palestinian’s mother’s food is the best – at least until he is married. Then, of course, it is his wife’s food that becomes the best. The Palestinian sense of identity, of belonging, of home, of warmth, security and stability is inextricably tied up with food. Mothers and wives were entrusted with this task. Despite the apparent similarity of the basic recipes, variations are inevitable. Recipes passed from mothers to daughters. A new daughter-

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Ma’lube (upside-down)Winter and spring would not be the same

without ma’lube. An extremely delicious

casserole of mutton, eggplants and rice, ma’lube is very easy to prepare and has come to be synonymous with Palestinian family life.

Ingredients for six persons: two kilos of lamb cut into 300-gr gram shanks, one kilo of eggplant, three tomatoes, one green pepper, a kilo of basmati rice, cardamom, black pepper, saffron and salt to taste.

The meat is sautéed in butter or olive oil until browned on all sides. Before adding the water, cardamom and pepper are added. Afterwards water is added, to the measure of the meat, and left to cook, covered. Meanwhile, the eggplants are cut into round one-inch thick slices and separately fried in olive oil to brown on the outside. In a glass of water the saffron is left to dissolve. When the meat is ready, add the eggplants, the saffron liquid, salt, and enough water for the equivalent of two cups of water per each cup of rice, keeping in mind that the vegetables will secrete the equivalent of one cup of liquid. After it boils the rice is added. Over a low flame the casserole is left to cook slowly for forty minutes. When the rice is cooked the whole pot is turned upside down on a large serving tray. It is left for twenty minutes so that it takes shape. As children we were invariably asked to beat the bottom of the pot, now upside down on the tray, so that all the rice and vegetables fall down and do not stick to the bottom of the pot. At this moment a generous portion of pine nuts and almonds is toasted in butter.

When the pot is removed the rice should

make a nicely-shaped cake, with the slivered nuts sprinkled on top of the deep yellow rice. This dish makes a very festive dinner. Usually

“salatah arabieh” and yoghurt are served as side dishes.

Salatah Arabieh (Arab salad)In spring, fresh romaine lettuce fills

the market. When I was a child, before industrializing agricultural products, all vegetables had a strong aroma. One smelled the lettuce, the tomatoes and the cucumbers. These three ingredients, plus scallions and fresh lemons and olive oil, made the most wonderful salad. My

uncle Mohammad made the best salad. The lettuce would be cut in longitudinal strips and chopped into nice long strands; the tomatoes chopped into two-inch cubes. Finely chopped fresh parsley and mint gave it a particular zest. A pinch of salt, the juice of a whole fresh lemon and tablespoons of olive oil made it the most wonderful companion for the ma’lube.

Dajaj bi Sinnieh (baked chicken)An extremely easy dish to prepare, it was

often enjoyed by all of us with great relish. Chicken is cut into eight pieces, cleaned and marinated in olive oil and crushed garlic. Zucchini, potatoes and tomatoes and an onion are sliced. All ingredients are arranged in the tray, surrounding the chicken.

Set the oven to medium. Just before placing the tray in the oven add one glass of water in which salt to taste has been dissolved. Cook for ninety minutes. For the last ten minutes turn up the heat to brown the chicken, potatoes and tomatoes. Bon appétit.

Lahmeh a’ Waraq (meat in grape leaves)

This is a typical summer dish. Wrapped in a few layers of grape leaves, the taste of the ground beef is richly enhanced by the fresh green flavour of the inside layer of the grape leaves and that of the singed, crunchy external layer. The taste always evokes the memories of lazy summer days and the fresh breeze under the shadow of the pine trees in our mountains. Lahmeh a’ waraq reminds me of the old family reunions in the woods near Qubeibah and the moon-viewing evenings at the shores of the Dead Sea before the 1967 war.

Lahmeh a’ waraq is very easy to prepare. For six persons, have the butcher grind a kilo of lamb meat (it can be a mix of beef and mutton in equal amounts) and ask him to add a few gloves of garlic and some parsley. At home add a bit of salt and allspice. A spoonful of samneh, clarified goat butter, or regular butter is mixed with the meat together with a generous amount of pine nuts. Mix thoroughly the spices, pine nuts and butter. An optional spoonful of lemon juice may be added.

Roll the meat into small hamburger patties on a separate dish and set aside. Thoroughly wash two hundred fifty grams of large grape leaves. Butter a baking tray. Hold in the left hand a flat stretched grape leaf onto which you flatten the hamburger patty. Rotate the hamburger as you add layers of grape leaves. Four to five leaves should suffice for each patty.

After you have laid them on the tray you may add slices of tomatoes on top as decoration. Some people also add slices of almost cooked potatoes. Add half a glass of warm water and put the tray in a pre-heated oven. Allow to bake slowly over medium heat. The hamburgers should not be covered in water; rather, a small amount should be added to prevent the meat from drying. After the meat is cooked, turn up the temperature so as to roast or singe the tomatoes, potatoes and the outer layer of grape leaves. The last stage, that of burning to a crisp the vegetables and grape leaves, is extremely crucial. It imparts to the hamburgers its unique taste.

As youngsters we enjoyed the crunchy taste of the singed grape leaves. Now, only the first patty or two are eaten that way. As

Photo by Steve Sabella

Photo: Courtesy of Al Bardauni Restaurant

Photo by Vera Maria Fernandes

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we proceed to the third patty and as the bite of hunger subsides we begin to peel off all the leaf layers.

Lahmeh a’ waraq, as all other Arab meat dishes, is always accompanied by fresh yoghurt. Salatet Tahineh, a special salad for which father was famous, goes de rigueur with lahmeh a’ waraq.

Salatet Tahineh (salad with tahineh paste)

For six persons you need five cucumbers, three ripe but firm tomatoes, two garlic cloves, fresh parsley and mint, half a lemon and three tablespoons of tahineh sauce. Peel the cucumbers and tomatoes and chop them to a size no larger than one centimetre. Chop the mint and parsley. The garlic must be finely chopped. Mix all vegetables in a salad bowl.

In a separate mixing bowl (an old tea cup is ideal) pour the tahineh sauce and stir in the fresh lemon juice. Slowly the heavy sesame paste turns liquid. Since tahineh sauce is considered too heavy for digestion, Jerusalemites invariably add fresh yoghurt. Once the sauce has become smooth (watch out not to make it too thin) pour it over the vegetables in the salad bowl and mix it in. Remember that the cucumbers and finely chopped tomatoes will secrete their own juices which will further thin out the sauce. Since the flavour of the salad depends on the tahineh sauce, the degree of consistency and viscosity of the original dressing is crucial. Salt is optional.

Shorbet Adas (lentil soup)Four hundred grams of green or red lentils

are soaked overnight in water. One onion is sautéed in butter and four cups of water are added. The lentils are drained off, rinsed again and then added to the boiling water. A pinch of salt and coriander are added. Keep checking the covered pot and add water when necessary. Three cloves of peeled garlic may be added. When the lentils are cooked, turn off the heat. Puree the lentils in a blender. If the puree is too thick, add enough water to attain a soupy texture.

On cold winter evenings dry morsels of bread are added to each soup bowl, making

this a warm and tasty light meal.

Fast Food: Hummos, Falafel, Manaqish bil Za’tar

In every Arab city, on residential and commercial streets and around every corner one sees a big wok-shaped frying pan in

which round brown balls of falafel sizzle, sending off the most delicious aroma of chickpeas spiced with coriander. Chickpeas play a very important dietary function in the Arab cuisine and go into the making of all kinds of fast foods, ranging from the ubiquitous falafel to the more specialized, sophisticated hummos. Falafel is a sandwich: the falafel balls, tomato and cucumber salad, and pickles are put inside the pouch of the pita bread. All the ingredients are doused in tahineh sauce. Hummos, on the other hand, is eaten more formally, while sitting at a table.

The scene is familiar. Hummos is eaten by scooping it up with morsels of pita bread. The fresh bread is dunked into the paste and each morsel is washed down with a gulp of sweet mint tea. Mint and coriander are typical aromas of hummos restaurants.

Hummos is served in a variety of forms. “Musabahhah” refers to a special hummos dish in which the peas are not ground to

a paste but remain float ing , l i te ra l l y “ s w i m m i n g ” i n tahineh sauce and oil and decorated with sprigs of parsley. “Fattet hummos” is regu la r hummos to which shredded bread is added. In this case one need not scoop the hummos with bread; it is eaten with a spoon. As a child I remember fattet hummos as our Friday breakfast. (Hummos restaurants provide home delivery whereas falafel vendors do not deliver.) At home father would toast pine nuts in clarified butter and sprinkle them over the fatteh. The taste is scrumptious. Invariably falafel is served on the side. Hummos may be served with fried, finely chopped meat, and then it becomes a meal. The variations are infinite.

Za’tar and ZeitZa’tar is another Palestinian delicacy. It

is a spice mix made up mainly of wild local thyme. Winter evenings are unimaginable without za’tar and zeit (olive oil). Pita bread is toasted crisp red on either the fire brazier or the kerosene stove (despite our severe winters most Arab houses do not

have central heating). The bread is then dipped first in the oil and then in the za’tar. Fried goat cheese may accompany this delicacy. As with most fast food, mint tea is always the favourite accompanying drink

but it is slowly being substituted by Coca-Cola.

As a variation za’tar soaked in olive oil is used as the paste for another delicacy, “manaqeesh bi za’tar.” This paste is spread on top of flat bread dough then baked in the oven; a sort of Palestinian pizza. Za’tar may be substituted with eggs, then it is known as “manaqeesh beid,” or with finely chopped goat cheese to which parsley and oil have been added, hence known as “manaqeesh jibneh.” All these snacks are washed down with mint tea.

There are informally set times for coffee. At home we drink coffee first thing in the morning, after the siesta and when visitors come calling. When served to visitors it must come after the cold drinks, the fruits and the pastries. When coffee is served it is a sign for the guests that they may leave. Only after lunch, which is the main meal in Palestine, would coffee be served. Most people postpone the coffee until three thirty, following the afternoon prayers, when they would relax over a cup of Arabic coffee as they prepare for the evening. No one would call before four. Siesta for us is a sacred, private time that is rarely if ever violated.

Hummos and falafel, manaqeesh bi za’tar, jibneh or beid, the aromas and scenes mix and with them the unforgettable flavour of Palestinian cities is instantly conjured.

Artist, author and anthropologist, Dr. Ali Qleibo lectures at Al-Quds University. Among his books in English are, Before the Mountain Disappears, Jerusalem in the Heart, Another Autumn, and The Mystery of Japan. His art work is prized in private collections internationally and nationally. Qleibo is considered one of the leading oil painters in Palestine.

Photo by Steve Sabella

Photo by Steve Sabella

Photo by Steve Sabella

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In most parts of the world, food seems to be at the centre of any formal or social gathering. This article highlights the various Palestinian dishes that are served on specific occasions. Some of the occasions are secular, while others are related to religious feasts or traditions.

Since I was just blessed with a new grandchild, the first dish that would occur to me is mughli. It is a special pudding served when a new baby is born. The basic ingredients are ground rice, sugar and a mixture of spices, and it is garnished with almonds, pine nuts and walnuts. It is supposed to help the flow of the nursing mother’s milk, and at the same time it is served to the guests who come to visit on that occasion. Celebrating the baby’s first tooth, a special dessert, snounieh, is prepared from wheat, deriving its name from the Arabic word for tooth (“sin”). When

the baby is circumcised dry sweets such as Baklawa and Burma are served, and small packets of candy are prepared to give away.

Related to a religious season, katayef is a sweet served only during the month of Ramadan, the Muslim month of fasting. Katayef are similar to pancakes but are cooked on one side only, then filled with either unsalted white cheese or walnuts, baked and then dipped in syrup. To list all the kinds of dishes and desserts served during Ramadan, however, would require a whole article in itself. For Eid Al-Adha (the feast of sacrifice), lamb is the traditional dish, dating back to the time of Abraham. The Christian Orthodox community usually has either stuffed lamb or stuffed ribs for Easter. Stuffed kubbeh is another traditional dish during Easter, symbolizing the spear.

Zalabieh, known as zungul or awwammeh is a special sweet prepared for Epiphany. It consists of small, crunchy balls deep fried in oil then dipped in syrup. The batter is made of flour, yeast and water, very similar to that of another sweet called mushabbak which has a flat net shape (hence the name) and is prepared for Al-Mawled El-Nabawi (the prophet’s birthday). ‘Assabi’ Zeinab (macaroons) are also served during Epiphany.

Ka’ek wa Ma’moul are the traditional Easter cookies made from semolina and butter and filled with dates (for the ka’ek) and walnuts (for the ma’moul). Many people do the ka’ek year round, using flour instead of semolina. The cookies keep well and are very handy to serve with a cup of coffee. For the Muslim feasts, ka’ek and ma’moul have become the tradition as well.

For Ascension Day, the traditional muhalabieh is served for dessert. It is a white pudding made from milk that is thickened with starch and flavoured with rose water and gum Arabica.

Rice is a stable food in the Palestinian kitchen. Whether for a festive celebration where a large number of guests is involved or for a funeral, mansaf and qidreh, based on rice and meat, are the most common dishes. Rice and chicken are also an option for such

Dishes for Special OccasionsBy Samia Khoury

occasions. Mansaf is served with flat thin bread and cooked

yogurt on the side. The famous Nabulsi knafeh or another sweet known as buqaj or khdoud el-sit are usually served for dessert. Knafeh is also the traditional dessert for the New Year. Some families create the i r own tradition whereby they always start the new year with a dish that has a white

gravy or sauce, such as cooked yogurt.

When a fami ly is in mourning, bitter Arabic coffee is

served. Muslim families generally serve dates with the coffee, while Christians serve a special bun known as rahmeh. Rahmeh refers to the food eaten in memory of a dead person and as a gesture of blessing the deceased person’s soul. In the Greek Orthodox Church a special tray piled with cooked wheat and covered with sugar and silver candy is served after a memorial service.

Burbarah is another wheat dish prepared for the feast day of St. Barbara, the legendry saint. It is thought that because she was a prisoner she could only eat wheat. Another version of the legend is that she used to feed the poor with wheat. Hilbeh is a sweet prepared for the feast of the Virgin Mary in August. It is based on semolina mixed with hilbeh (fenugreek) seeds. For the feast of the Cross (Eid El-Saleeb) a dish of lentils, eggplant and pomegranate is prepared, and special cookies with anis seeds are served for the occasion. On Transfiguration and Annunciation days, as well as on Palm Sunday many Greek Orthodox families maintain fish as the traditional dish. Smat is a special lentil dish with pasta prepared when people make special vows.

While by no means comprehensive, the above gives an idea of the variety of dishes in the Palestinian kitchen and their social and cultural associations.

Photo by Andre Serna

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The Palestinian Food Industries Association (PFIA) is the first industrial union in Palestine, established in 1995. PFIA is a coordinating and representative organization for the domestic food industries. It has 124 voluntary members in the West Bank and Gaza. The association assists in promoting locally made products and in improving local production systems in compliance with international standards in general and food safety standards in particular. It aims to create a competitive food industry that fulfils national, social and health safety requirements.

PFIA’s mission is to develop the Palestinian food industries through developing members’ capabilities in the administrative and technical fields and developing t he i r t echn i ca l and productive capabilities. The association assists in developing fundraising methods and techniques and facilitates acquiring the needed funds. Through its advocacy programme PFIA represents the food industry and defends its interests locally and internationally. It also assists in expanding its members’ market share domestically and internationally.

Due to the importance of food safety, PFIA provides technical assistance to its members to assist them in complying with international standards in this regard. The association conducts numerous projects in food safety, the most important of which is the ISO 22000 food safety standards certification for four food-processing factories. Al-Haya Food Industries Co. (Siniora) became the second company in the world to go through such an audit on the new ISO 22000 standard.

Initiated and funded by ACDI/VOCA, the project, which started in March 2005 in anticipation of the official publication of the standard, aims at qualifying these four companies to comply with the requirements

of the ISO 22000. The project was structured in a way to train and build the capacities of these companies’ teams to develop a food safety management system based on ISO 22000 standards on their own. Developing this system should ensure high commitment, ownership and sustainability of the system.

Upon their achievement of certification, Palestine will top the list of countries with the highest number of ISO 22000 certificates. This is a real Palestinian success story. A major spin off of this unique project, in addition to certifying the four companies, is that a Palestinian food safety expert has been internationally approved as an ISO 22000 lead assessor. Engineer Ali Badarneh

is now recognized by Lloyds Register as one of the ISO 22000 lead assessors in the world.

ISO 22000 standards may apply to all types o f o r g a n i z a t i o n s within the food chain. These organizat ions r a n g e f r o m f e e d producers and primary producers through food manufacturers, transport

and storage operators and subcontractors to retail and food service outlets. Additionally, inter-related organizations such as producers of equipment, packaging materials, cleaning agents, additives and ingredients may also choose to adhere to the standards and gain certification. This new international standard is expected to harmonize with other existing ones such as HACCP, International Food Standards (IFS), British Retail Consortium (BRC) and European Good Agricultural Practices (EUREP-GAP) due to its comprehensive structure and wide scope of applicability in the food chain.

Eng. Fuad I. AkraExecutive Director

Palestinian Food Industries Association

The Safety of the Food Industry in Palestine

Golden Wheat Mills PLC (GMC) was established in 1995 as a publicly-traded holding company with a capital of JOD 7 million. Located in the village of Burham near Bir Zeit, it started to produce flour and semolina in 1999. Its capital was subsequently increased to JOD 10 million and in October 2005, following a meeting of its General Assembly and Board of Directors, it was decided to double the company 's capital JOD 20 million.

GMC is one of the biggest mills in the Middle East, characterized by its state-of-the-art production systems, which are fully computerised using the latest software, and its ability to produce 300 metric tons (MT) daily. With an annual production exceeding 50,000 MT, GMC is well known for its high quality products, its strong distribution channels, and its loyal agents and salesmen over all Palestine. The company applies the Palestinian standards for fortified flour and other related products.

Having to compete with 12 Israeli mills, the company succeeded in becoming the main supplier of flour and semolina for the World Food Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross and other international organizations, providing them with more than 10,000 MT per year.

Despite the deteriorating political situation and the harsh economic environment in the years 2004 and 2005, GMC managed to increase its sales and profits, thanks to the professionalism and hard work of its new administration, which concentrates on national production and a good team spirit and in the belief that the Palestinian consumer deserves the best quality.

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I went to see El-Funoun Palestinian P o p u l a r D a n c e Troupe perform at the Ramallah Cultural Palace on May 11th. Amid the relentless shrieking, whistling, mobile ring tones, full-blown conversations a n d l a u g h t e r I managed to watch the per fo rmance , sometimes hear it, and sometimes feel it. But in truth, I was somewhere else most of the t ime. I was with the physical and musical movements on the stage but somewhere else at the same time.

I was with Taghrid, a student imprisoned the week of the performance. Held at a checkpoint for hours and then released, and then picked up from her home at 3 am after a violent search, she was on the surface of my thoughts as the women, men, girls and boys on stage glided back and forth, legs, arms, fingers and necks; as the audience interrupted the rhythm of the dance with inopportune and unconcerned applause.

El-Funoun’s performance honoured two events. Ent i t led “Memory and Commemoration,” it aimed to mark 58 years for the Nakba and the troupe’s 27th birthday. For the opening, El-Funoun presented an award winning self-documenting film titled Emotional Rescue, presenting the common, the ordinary in Palestinian life: coffee drinking, smoking, ambulances, siege, prison torture and homelessness appeared in uncommon ways, satirically and metaphorically. Yet all I could think about was another satire, another metaphor. Before the opening of the film, a credit appeared: the Goethe-Institute. The film, initiated and produced by the Goethe-Institute, with the help of

European Commission (EC) funds, began with a black screen, the logo of the Goethe-Institute and a disclaimer: the content of the film is not representative of the Goethe-Institute (GI). In other words, the GI/EC does not claim identification with the content of the film. In other words, the GI/EC will not agree to identify itself with the message of the film. In other words, the GI/

EC separates itself from the message of the film.

One might wonder with pain, grief and disgust why the Goethe-Institute and European Commission foreword their projects with such a disclaimer, but one need not wonder. As in all marketing initiatives, cigarettes, alcohol, Vioxx, Prozac, Nitroglycerin and peanuts, the manufacturer must sell the product to make a profit. To sell the product and make a profit in this ever socially conscious global society, the manufacturer must appear to be socially conscious, ethical and even moral. And so, a credit appears with a disclaimer. The relief, aid or development organisation, care of global socio-political overtones shading global economic-political undertones, suggests to the international and needy local community self-reliance, self-sufficiency, self-development and eventually freedom through cooperative projects which aim to determine the type of self-reliance, self-sufficiency, self-development and, eventually, the type of freedom allotted to the local population by the international community. With this gift, from the donor to the receiver, comes a fee: silence – the inability of the receiver to refuse or even

contest the donor’s silence towards the cause for the condition of the recipient, and the confident, self-benefiting silence of the donor towards the source and cause of the recipient’s condition.

And so, we have Ramallah, a city of repulsive wealth, sustained, maintained and garnished by relief, aid and development organisations, all claiming to provide means of self-empowerment and sustenance to the Palestinian civil society. All silent. All colonising top real-estate from Sheikh Jarrah in Jerusalem to the Masyoon in Ramallah. All spending their hard-earned pay at Al-Kasaba’s box-office and the incomprehensible number of bars, restaurants and cafés in the land of GO and NGO heaven: Ramallah, West Bank,

TaghridBy Mary Geday

Palestinian Occupied Territories.In the meantime, the film is over and the

troupe performs “Siege,” “Dancing Pain,” “Mourning Shawls,” “In Cold Blood,” “Locks and Keys,” and “Tents.” In the meantime, I watch eight or nine men and women on the stage carrying gigantic keys, like the ones many who fled Yaffa in 1948 left with my father to keep for them until their return. In the meantime, the dancing comes to a close with “Key to Peace.” At 9:30 that night I left the Cultural Palace thinking about Taghrid. I will go to class the next day, and for the next weeks, and she will probably still be in the detention camp outside Bethlehem. She will probably have peed on herself over two dozen times and still have been left unclean. I think she is 19.

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On a side street in the oldest city on earth, just next door to its Jericho branch headquarters, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Palestine has established a food preparation, manufacturing, and baking facility of homemade-style, mostly traditional Arabic food items appropriately named Jericho Products. As we enter the small facility I see directly in front of me and towards the far end of the room half a dozen or so women in aprons and hairnets busily at work tending their ovens and putting together the ingredients of their usual assortment of delicious pastries. To the right and left on shelves and in refrigerators are the fruits of their efforts. Towards the middle of the room items already packaged and labelled are placed behind the counter, ready to be sent out to local supermarkets. The small Japanese group I am accompanying is enthused by the unfamiliar gastronomic delights that we, as Palestinians, are well accustomed to. One of the little old ladies in the group asks me about a bag of crushed green leaves. I tell her, “It’s imlukhiyeh, delicious with chicken or rabbit.”

N o w I k n o w t h a t t h e r e a r e n o misapprehensions here. Palestinian culinary arts led by Jericho Products aren’t going to be the latest fad sweeping Japan. But a little attention from friends near and far is never a bad thing. Actually, these particular YWCA products aren’t intended for the foreign market. In fact they are

meant to encourage the local populace to buy Palestinian and depend less on foreign and particularly Israeli products as well as provide an opportunity for women to earn some income to help provide for the home. This is all easier said than done, of course. Trying to do business under a brutal military occupation isn’t exactly an ideal business environment. Every Palestinian business has its own particular horror story and Jericho Products is no exception. Some of the YWCA’s problems stem from getting fresh ingredients to the storefront location before they rot at a checkpoint somewhere and then being able to send the finished product to

stores outside of Jericho when the buyer wants it. I guess you do what you can and the YWCA in Jericho, like so many other Palestinian associations and businesses, does just that. They have no choice.

I came to town that warm morning in May to show the YWCA of Japan’s delegation some of the YWCA of Palestine’s activities in Jericho, among them the Jericho Products’ facility. But as a Palestinian from a different city I needed a permit to enter Jericho. Unfortunately I do not have that particular document so I had to submit

to subterfuge at the roadblock at Jericho’s entrance just to enter the town. A life of long hours spent at checkpoints is a daily reality for Palestinians. The system of controls and restrictions affects even the most minor aspects of daily life. Our far eastern friends were finding this out the hard way. If you’re going to be stuck at a checkpoint anywhere

in Palestine, Jericho on a hot day wouldn’t be my first choice. As our car entered Jericho, we passed the fleetingly lucrative Oasis casino; nowadays its stands empty and in disrepair, reduced to only another example of how unpredictable the situation can be. The day passes without incident; only a month before our trip to Jericho a major Israeli incursion and siege took place in Jericho and several Palestinians wanted by Israel were snatched from a local prison.

At lunchtime we were treated to generous amounts of traditional baked goodies courtesy of the Jericho YWCA. We told the visiting delegation the names and ingredients of each item we ate and showed them how to eat zeit ou za’atar. Interestingly, the delegation mentioned the fact that when they were booking the flight to Palestine online, they encountered a travel advisory warning people not to go to the West Bank and the

Justice, Jericho, and JapanBy Daniel Diaz

Gaza Strip. And that’s a major problem, they said; how will you get people to come and be a witness to your culture and see what you have to offer and engage in business with you if they think they’ll be coming to some place where they are in danger? Truth be told, we cannot always guarantee it due to the Zionist entity’s practices. One of the things we can do is show them why so many people hold us in renown for our hospitality and friendliness and hope they can spread the word. Hopefully that could open the door for us a little, to show that we can achieve great things given the opportunity. Bravely, our overseas friends chose to ignore that travel warning and were fittingly rewarded with Kubbeh.

Daniel Diaz is a Palestinian/Chilean-Canadian national presently working as YWCA-Palestine’s Marketing Officer.

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Travelling through Palest ine, one is overwhelmed by its diversity in surrounds a n d fl a v o u r s . Palestine exists as a microcosm of the world, representative of all its wonders: f r o m t h e h u m i d shoreline of Gaza and the deserts of Jericho to the rocky terrain of the snow-caped Beit Jala and the flat plains of Jenin. Within each distinct area of Palestine evolved flavours unique to it. The following is a glimpse into the ancient worlds which set the scene for the rich flavours of today.

Gaza is among the most ancient and historic towns in the world. Napoleon Bonaparte described the city as the Kings’ Tunnel and the Gate between Africa and Asia for it lies between the desert in the south and the Mediterranean climate in the north. Its strategic location, coupled with its fertile land, set the scene for Gaza becoming a prosperous trading market of world products. Today, Gaza remains an important city in its own right. It is the largest city in Palestine and is home to much of the Palestinian National Authority’s administrative operations.

Gaza’s geographic location is likewise reflected in its cuisine. Walking along Gaza’s beaches, one is overwhelmed by the aroma of fresh seafood escaping from the numerous restaurants and public parks. Situated on the Mediterranean Sea makes Gaza the ideal place to eat fresh fish. The day’s menu comes directly from the sea and offers a selection of grilled, stewed or fried fish varieties.

Hebron is one of the most ancient cities in the Middle East and one of the oldest, continuously inhabited cities in the world. According to archaeological findings,

H e b r o n w a s a n ancient Canaanite royal city founded as early as the 35th century BC. Today, the old city of Hebron (characterized by its narrow and winding streets, flat-roofed stone houses and old bazaars) stands as a monument to its historic past.

Hebron’s scenic backdrop of rolling hills which stretch ou t eas tward to the desert provide stunning views of an ancient landscape of

grapevines, olive trees, and villages. The beauty of its countryside is a testament to the fertility and productivity of its soil. Hebron is a land rich in resources. Grapevines are the second major fruit crop in the West Bank, the majority of which are cultivated in the Hebron district. Hebron is dotted with a plethora of vineyards which produce the delicious grapes for which Hebron is renowned. The grapes produced in Hebron are converted into jams, raisins and molasses and their leaves are utilized in the making of a signature Palestinian dish: stuffed grape leaves.

Neighbouring Bethlehem, Beit Jala was founded as an old Canaanite city. Its name in Aramaic means “grass carpet.” This ancient name is quite applicable today, for Beit Jala lies nestled among the lush green surrounds of olive and apricot trees. Its land produces a wide variety of traditional Palestinian crop, from olive trees to grape vineyards, but the town of Beit Jala is most famous for its delicious apricots and apricot jam. Likewise renowned for its apricots is the small scenic village of Jifna, located near Birzeit. Previously known as Gophna of Josephus, Jifna was once a Roman-Byzantine regional capital. Today it is enjoyed for its serenity and

variety of fine outdoor restaurants. Each year during late spring, hundreds flock to Jifna’s Apricot Festival to enjoy the fruit’s brief but savoury season.

Dating back more than 10,000 years, Jericho is the oldest inhabited town in the world. Settlements have been excavated dating to the Early Bronze Age (9000 BC) . H is to r ica l l y known as the “City of Palms,” ancient Jericho witnessed the domestication of plants and animals a thousand years prior to Mesopotamia or Egypt. To this day, its moderate climate, fertile land and ability to produce fresh fruits and vegetables year round make Jericho a valuable agricultural area. Among its most famous agricultural products are dates, bananas and citrus fruits.

“The Uncrowned Queen of Palestine,” as Nablus is called by historians, was founded in 72 AD by the Roman Emperor Titus. It was named Neapolis, the “New City,” which later became Nablus. The city was erected upon a fertile valley nestled between two mountains. Today Nablus is a principal industrial and commercial centre and is among the largest cities in the West Bank. The lively Old City is lined with shops selling Palestinian sweets such as Knafeh, Baklawa and Burma. Nablus is most famous for making Knafeh, a Palestinian culinary specialty consisting of white goat cheese, pastry, and syrup served in hot square-cut slices.

Much of the Palestinian landscape is adorned with hand-built terraces and olive orchards which can be traced back to over six thousand years ago. Stone presses have been excavated in the region dating back to the Stone Age. The millennia-old tradition of olive harvesting has passed the rites down through the generations. Today, olive harvesting remains as celebrated an event

as ever in Palestine. Harvesting, which takes place in late October and early November, is a family affair and a major community event.

Entire towns can be seen toiling in the fields and the olive presses. Even school children are given a holiday to participate in this time-honoured activity.

Palestinian olives and ol ive oi l are renowned for their d i s t i n c t t a s t e s and flavours. The majority of irrigated olive orchards are found in the northern West Bank region, p a r t i c u l a r l y t h e Tulkarm dis t r ic t . Taste, colour and yield may differ from

valley to valley and even from one side of a mountain to the other (as a result of variations in sun and wind exposure). For instance, olive oil produced in the Tulkarm district is medium bodied and greenish in colour, while the Ramallah area produces an oil lighter in consistency and more yellow in colour.

Jenin, the ancient city of Ginaea is located north of Nablus, on the slopes of a hill nestled among the picturesque surrounds of fig and palm trees. Its fertile lands produce a variety of fruits and vegetables. Jenin is most renowned for its delicious watermelons. Archaeological findings indicate that watermelons have been grown in Palestine since about 2000 BC. Watermelons were valued as a source of water during dry periods. They are likewise a source of refreshment during the hot Palestinian summers of today.

Though small in size, Palestine is vast in its array of terrain. Palestine’s diverse landscape is translated into a wide palate of flavours: from the fresh seafood of Gaza’s beaches to the olive oil harvested from among Tulkarm’s terraced hillsides. It is among this eclecticism that Palestine has found a flavour of its own.

The Rich Flavours of PalestineBy Mai M. Farsakh

Photo by Steve Sabella Photo by Majdi Hadid

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Since the outbreak of the second Intifada, food security has been at a decline throughout the occupied Palestinian territory (oPt). An update to the joint World Food Programme (WFP)/Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) assessment in 2003, conducted in June 2004, estimated some 37 percent of the population (1.3 million people) to be food insecure and a further 27 percent (975,864 people) to be in danger of food insecurity. Whilst in the period 2004-2005 food insecurity showed a small increase by three percent overall, WFP/FAO foresee that by June 2006 food insecurity will have increased by a further 14 percent, affecting some 1.5 million Palestinians throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. The main factors affecting this increase are the cutting off of PNA funds, extended closures (particularly affecting trade), market disruption, exhaustion of coping strategies, and the outbreak of avian influenza in the Gaza Strip.

While the increased food insecurity has affected all Palestinians to a greater or lesser extent, WFP/FAO studies consider the most affected groups to be the following:

(i) Social hardship cases throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, reliant on social assistance, who haven’t received their cash payments from the Ministry since February 2006.

(ii) Low income PNA employees. This group of employees has few savings and no access to credit and thus the delay in income is immediately affecting their food security (and that of their dependants).

(iii) Small shop owners in the Gaza Strip. Palestinian traders and small shop owners are severely affected by the closure policies. The lack

of movement of Palestinian passengers and goods has a direct impact on the flow of commercial goods, reducing profits and increasing costs. Many factories and shops have decreased the number of workers to reduce costs, and it is estimated that many small businesses will become unviable should the situation continue.

(iv) Small farmers. Owing to the extended closures, the majority of basic agricultural inputs such as seedlings and

fertilizers (imported from Israel) are no longer available in markets throughout the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. Gaza farmers are most affected due to the severity of the Karni terminal closure.

(v) Children under five years and pregnant and nursing women in poor families. These individuals are at a high risk of nutritional deficiencies owing to the dual effect of increased food insecurity and avian influenza. Seventy percent of the animal protein consumed in Gaza is poultry based and the loss of this, the cheapest source of animal protein, is having a significant impact on the diet of poor families.

WFP is currently assisting 441,000 food insecure non-refugees in the oPt. Thirty-eight percent are social hardship cases, 59 percent are new poor and three percent are special vulnerable groups reliant on social institutions. Furthermore, WFP is responding to the outbreak of avian influenza by the distribution of supplementary animal protein in the Gaza Strip. Some 50 percent of WFP food distributed in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip (oil, wheat flour and iodized salt) is purchased from local Palestinian suppliers in support of the local economy.

Kirstie Campbell Reporting Officer

World Food Programme

Food Security“Food security exists when all people at all times have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and satisfy their food preferences and thus conduct a healthy and active life.”

World Food Summit, 1996

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Palestinian children’s rights to health and nutrition have been denied. Their nutritional status has deteriorated during the past four years. The political and economical situation has added to that. Several nutrition surveys came up with the conclusion that the Palestinian children’s nutritional status is deteriorating and action has to be taken.

Palestinian children are short for their age, they are anaemic, have iodine deficiency and are vitamin A deficient. Each of these nutritional problems constitutes a major health problem in Palestine. One in ten children is short for his/her age (stunted). This number has been continuously increasing over the past eight years (7.2% in 1996 compared to 9.4% in 2004). The increase is more significant in the Gaza Strip where 11% of children are short for their age (Demographic and Health Survey (DHS), 2004).

Anaemia is another major health problem among children aged 6-59 months in Palestine. The prevalence of anaemia reaches up to almost 60% among children aged 6-11 months but is less among older age groups. Women of child-bearing age suffer from anaemia as well. The prevalence of anaemia among non-pregnant women reaches more than 38% in the Gaza Strip while 31% of pregnant women are anaemic.

Foods that are rich in iron and protein (animal protein) are not readily available to many families in Palestine due to the prevailing situation and the hardship conditions Palestinians are living under. Dietary adequacy for energy, protein, vitamins A and E, folate, iron and zinc has deteriorated in 2003 compared to 2002 based on a 24-hour dietary recall of an Al-Quds University and Johns Hopkins study. Around 80-90% of preschool children receive less than 80% of the daily recommended intakes of iron and zinc. 70-80% of children are dietary deficient on vitamin A and folate. Around 50-60% of children are deficient in energy and vitamin E.

The assessment of the food and nutrition situation study in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip conducted in 2003 by FAO, WFP and UNRWA revealed that food is available but access is limited due to physical reasons

(curfews, closures) and economic reasons (high unemployment, depletion of resources, exhaustion of coping strategies and strained social support networks). With rising poverty and unemployment, the food security situation has considerably deteriorated over the past three years, with four out of ten Palestinians being food insecure, with a further 30% under threat of becoming food insecure should current conditions persist.

Iodine Deficiency Disorder (IDD) is another public health problem in Palestine. The last nation-wide survey conducted in 1997 showed that the prevalence of goitre among primary school children aged 8-10 years was 14.9% among males and 15.5% among females. Pocket studies performed by the Ministry of Health in 2004 revealed that the prevalence of IDD has not changed over time. A 2006 urinary iodine survey revealed that IDD has increased to 20%. Moreover, the DHS of 2004 showed that only 56.5% of Palestinian households consume iodized salt (47.4% in the West Bank and 82.7% in Gaza). Although a policy act on salt iodization has been approved in 1997, its implementation has been considerably affected by the second Intifada.

The prevalence of vitamin A deficiency in the West Bank reaches 18.9% compared to 26.5% in the Gaza Strip, but there is no difference with respect to gender, age group or refugee status. Moreover, almost 76% of Palestinian children are showing signs of being or becoming vitamin A deficient. Severe vitamin A deficiency causes visual impairment and eventually blindness. It is also a significant contributor to increased morbidity and mortality. Vitamin A deficiency also increases vulnerability to other illnesses in women and children such as iron deficiency anaemia, more frequent episodes of diarrhoea and measles, and growth failure among children.

Given these major nutritional problems that Palestinian children are faced with, the Palestinian Ministry of Health, non-governmental organizations and UN agencies are putting their concerted efforts towards preventing further deterioration as well as improving the situation.

Training of health professionals, setting national guidelines for proper infant and child feeding practices according to World Health Organization Protocols and monitoring their compliance are key towards improving the situation. Awareness raising to equip caretakers and mothers with the knowledge needed on how best to feed their children is a crucial step towards improving the health status of Palestinian children.

Donors and international organizations should

Palestinian Children’s Rights to NutritionBy Najwa Rizkallah

enhance their support to national efforts in addressing the health and nutritional needs of Palestinian children. Enhanced support to flour and salt fortification, support to training health professionals and support to national nutrition campaigns are key steps towards preventing further degradation of the nutritional status among children.

Najwa Rizkallah is a Nutrition Officer at UNICEF.

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Born in Jerusalem in 1992, Yara was lucky to be raised in a family that promotes sports such as swimming and karate. Her achievements in swimming are due to her father who is a swimming trainer at the YMCA in East Jerusalem and who was a trainer for Sariyyet Ramallah First Group in the past. When she was five years old she used to accompany her father to the swimming lessons he used to give and he always encouraged her to learn swimming.

When she went back home she used to practise on the floor the way the breast stroke should be coordinated.

Year after year Yara made considerable advances in swimming and later joined the swimming team at the Jerusalem International YMCA where she started to train four times a week. Her abilities gradually developed and she moved on to more advanced levels which required more efforts from her. Her motivation and determination allowed her to participate in swimming competitions. She won four gold medals in the 50, 100, 200 and 400-metre freestyle at the 2006 De La Salle Championship in Bethlehem. She also won a similar number of gold medals in the freestyle, backstroke, breast and butterfly strokes at a competition at the

YMCA held on Land Day this past March.

A very ambitious athlete, Yara is working very hard to qualify to represent Palestine at the 2008 Olympic Games. She wants to prove to the world that the chi ldren of Palestine, despite the harsh situation, can make a difference. Yara longs to

meet swimming colleagues from the Gaza Strip and Nablus and bemoans the scarcity of indoor swimming pools in which she can train all year round

with the Palestinian National Team.In addition to swimming, Yara took up

karate when she was eight years old. She trained with master Osama Al-Shareef at the Arab Centre in Jerusalem and then moved to the YMCA in Jerusalem, training with the same master. She holds a black belt Dan 2. In March 2006 she won a gold medal in free fighting for females which was held at the YMCA.

Yara likes karate because it develops her body and personality in a good way and it gives her confidence. She

believes that girls should learn this sport which is a good self-defence tool. She is presently looking forward to participating in the 5th World Karate Championship which will be held in Japan next September. But she needs to secure funds to be able to participate in this important event.

Yara Dowani: swimmer and karate player

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Edward Said once wrote that appeals to the past are amongst the commonest ways of interpreting the present. This is especially true when we ask “whether the past is really past, over and concluded,” or whether it still animates much of the present. And more so, when one can find clues in the past that might induce a positive change in the dreadful actualities of the present.

In light of the above, anyone interested in elevating Palestinian journalism cannot possibly ignore the enormous heritage that Palestinian journalists have left, which is nowadays sadly collecting dust, if not being eaten by moths in some distant archives.

The history of Palestinian journalism is as rich as it is diverse. While few people might recall, Palestinian journalists not only became leaders in the Palestinian national movement and the overall Arab awakening, but also played one of the most important roles in establishing journalism in many countries throughout the Arab world, including Jordan, Kuwait, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and elsewhere.

The BeginningWhile historians have differing views on

the exact year that Palestinian journalism is

thought to have commenced, the beginning is very much linked to the emergence of presses throughout the Holy Land. Most noteworthy of these newly established presses were the Franciscan Church’s press in 1846 and the Armenian Community press in 1848. Yet, while the existence of these presses played a role in preparing the ambience for the birth of Palestinian journalism, they were primarily focused on the production of religious materials. It was not until private presses surfaced in 1876 that a true new era of Palestinian journalism was heralded. This happened at a time when much of the Arab world was busy herding goats (no pun intended), with little concern for reading or knowledge.

Some notable names in the plethora of privately owned presses that emerged include Mubarak Lasfa, Damian Butrus, George Habibi, Bandali Mishahwar and Ali Al-Reemawi. In addition, the Islamic Orphanage Centre press played a vital role in producing a variety of books, magazines, weekly papers etc.

Yet, as many analysts of Palestinian journalism reveal, the vast majority of the periodical journals and papers produced during this period were inflicted by the

heavy hand of the censorship of the reigning Ottoman rule. This includes what is alleged to be Palestine’s first newspaper, called Al-Quds Al-Sharif, which became not much more than a newsletter and an announcement board for the government.

Three Stages of EvolutionHistorians of Palestinian journalism before

the end of mandate Palestine in 1948 have identified three distinct periods or stages of evolution in this industry: the 1920s, the 1930s and the period between 1940 and 1948.

Immedia te ly a f te r Br i t i sh t roops consolidated their overall control over historic Palestine in 1918, the reigning government announced its cancellation of the Ottoman censorship laws and began issuing licenses to publish newspapers to interested citizens. This important development opened a door that was tightly shut during the Ottoman rule. Coupled with a number of central factors that will be discussed presently, this transformation induced such an incredible energy in Palestinian journalism that the number of periodical journals at the time reached 60, with Jerusalem assuming the lion’s share as the centre of Palestinian cultural and economic life, while Jaffa and Haifa became close seconds.

This profound development in Palestinian journalism was affected by a number of factors that essentially continued throughout the three aforementioned periods. First, the emergence of political parties and interests (in some cases along family lines), with each party producing its own journal to reach out to the mass public, meant the proliferation of news journals and magazines. Second, an enhanced Palestinian national consciousness and increased interest in the events taking place in much of the Arab world ensured a high degree of thirst for news. By the late 1920s and early thirties, Palestinian journalists played a central activist role in enticing the public to rebel against British rule, in concert with other struggles in the rest of the Arab world. Indeed, as the Shaw investigation of the causes of the 1929 riots

concluded, Palestinian journalists were the chief inciters of the uprising and hence, according to the report, ought to be subject to increased scrutiny and censorship. Third, significant strides in education and the number of Palestinians seeking it created a continually developing readership base for the newspapers. It is a remarkable fact that by the 1940s almost 40% of Palestinians were literate, if not educated, while, for instance, in Egypt, one of the most cultured countries in the Arab world at the time, had a literacy rate of around twenty percent. Fourth, the availability of a number of new presses and cheaper paper, coupled with the emergence of a new, financially strong class that became interested in the power offered by owning a media outlet, provided more openings for journalists technical workers. This became especially true during the 1930s as the British government began to increasingly rely on local labour and industrial production during World War II, since German naval presence in the Mediterranean made it increasingly difficult to import from the “home country.” Fifth, one of the most profound developments throughout the 1930s and 1940s was that a new breed of Palestinian journalists who were not only highly professional and educated, but also committed to the highest international standards of journalism entered the arena. These journalists significantly improved the quality and quantity of journalism and, more importantly, brought news of the world, especially the anti-colonial struggles, to the fore of Palestinian consciousness. This was not only achieved through partnerships with major news agencies such as the Associated Press and French news agencies, but also through the extensive translation of articles from around the globe.

Finally, as major cities in historic Palestine such as Jaffa (the Bride of the Sea) and Haifa became flourishing cultural, political and economic metropolises, they metamorphosed into watering holes for several intellectuals from the Arab world who descended on Palestine, fleeing turmoil in their own countries. A clear case of this took place following the fall

A Quick Journey into Palestinian JournalismBy Mujar Al-Bahri

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of the monarchy in Syria, which resulted in the enriching of Palestinian journalism with such notable names as Sami Saraj, Khair El-Din Zarkali, Ibrahim Karim, Ajaj Nweihed, Michel Al-Najar and others. This migration not only enriched the quality of the journalism that was produced, but also ensured that Palestinian newspapers became beacons and role models for much of the Arab world.

Perhaps the two most noteworthy papers during the 1920s were Falastin and Al-Carmel, each of which boasted 2,000 prints (the real number of readers is a significant multiplication of this number, as papers were passed from hand to hand, or often read to groups of village elders by the literate youths).

While it was in the 1920s that Palestinian journalism witnessed its real birth, the golden age was, by many accounts, during the 1930s. If in the past Palestinian

j o u r n a l i s t s w e r e inciters for change, now they became the instigators. Nowhere w a s t h i s m o r e apparent than during the 1936 revolution, w h i c h w a s v e r y much instigated by journalists who were active in the nationalist struggle, as the Peel report concluded—often such journalists pa id a very dear price, with continual imprisonments and the closure of their papers.

The golden age was further complimented by the surfacing and participation of great literary figures such as Musa Al-Hussaini and poet Ibrahim Tu q a n , a m o n g s t others. Furthermore, Palestinian journalism

became the primary mechanism for developing a Palestinian narrative with which to address the Arab world. Testament to this is the fact that, with over 50 thousand issues per day, the leading Palestinian newspaper of the 1940s, Al-Difaa, was second only to Al-Ahram in its outreach to the Arab world. Equally noteworthy is the deep interest that Palestinian journalists had at the time in what was happening in the world, and formulating a dialogue with this world through the seven English language papers that were published at the time.

Thus, there is no doubt that the Palestinian journalistic heritage is incredibly rich and should make every Palestinian proud. Contrast this with the lamentable present state of affairs in which, for instance, there is not a single English language Palestinian newspaper and sigh: alas, the future will not be brighter than the present, if we do not learn from the past!

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Breastfeeding in Complex Emergency Situations

By Rihab Sandouka

“The benefits of breastfeeding are never as clear to me as when we face Israeli closures which cut us off quite literally from the world, and also from, among other things, infant formula.”

A mother from Gaza

we are now experiencing and with very limited resources, promoting and supporting breastfeeding will reduce the great burden on families and governments who are already suffering from insufficient budgets. Breastfeeding also ensures household food security, utilizes a nation’s natural resource, is ecologically friendly, reduces imports and thus saves resources. Iran, for example, saved US$50 million in infant formula imports when exclusive breastfeeding increased by 43% over a six-year period from 1991 to 1996.3 Seeing such savings for all sectors of society, we should no longer ignore the need to invest in breastfeeding and should immediately put into place a national breastfeeding programme, taking in consideration that the Palestinian culture encourages breastfeeding and considers it one of the most important responsibilities a Palestinian woman has towards her children. She is expected to nourish their minds,

1 WHO/UNICEF Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding, March 20042 Food and Nutrition Handbook, World Food Programme, 2000 3 Breastfeeding and Human Lactation, Riordan & Auerbach,1993

bodies and souls with her milk for a period of two years.

Finally, breastfeeding is a unique and natural gift to humanity and is worth far more than any economic value assigned to it. It is a right of all women and children; let us continue to support this right.

Rihab Sandouka is a primary heath care specialist and breastfeeding consultant working at Juzoor Foundation for Health and Social Development as programme manager.

of breastfeeding is even more important i n e m e r g e n c y situations where it may be the only sustainable element of food security for infants and young children. Exclusive a n d p r o l o n g e d breast feeding is o f t e n t h e m o s t important contributor to nu t r i t ion and resistance to disease

among infants up to six months of age, with

continued breastfeeding to two years of age.1 Breast milk is recognized as the ideal food for infants because it is highly nutritious and is, in fact, the best source of vitamin A for young infants; it offers protection against communicable diseases and infections; and it enhances cognitive development. Access to breast milk is not as easily disrupted by the political, military and economic constraints that can disrupt access to food.2

Furthermore, breastfeeding requires very little expenditure and has tremendous advantages for everyone. Households save, among other things, the unnecessary purchase of infant formula and equipment, and the time taken to prepare such feeds. Palestinian families would need to spend approximately 25% of their income for the purchase of breast milk substitutes in the first six months if they do not breastfeed. In addition, families spend less on doctors’ visits and hospitalization, as breastfed babies are always healthier.

In times of recession such as the one

The current situation is characterized by chronic instabi l i ty due to the absolute control of the Israeli military occupation over the day-to-day lives of the Palestinians. The separation o f t h e G a z a Strip from the West Bank and the construction of the separation Wall within the West B a n k h a v e a d d e d another dimension to the segregation and fragmentation of Palestinian communities, affecting all aspects of life. The nutritional status of children in the West Bank and Gaza therefore becomes critical. More than 21 and 31 infants per 1,000 births die before the age of one in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, respectively. This is due to the worsening living conditions and increased poverty rates. Pre-maturity and low birth weight, congenital malformations, pneumonia and other respiratory diseases are the most common deaths among infants less than one year old.

Breastfeeding is particularly important in complex situations because of the increased risk of diarrhoeal diseases and other infections, inadequacy and the contamination of complementary foods, and the bonding, warmth and care provided by breastfeeding which is crucial to both mothers and children in emergency situations. The risks associated with bottle and formula feeding is dramatically increased due to poor hygiene, crowding and limited water and fuel. The role

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Visually Impaired Training Centres at Palestinian Universities

By Fuad Sultan Tamimi “There is no better way to thank God for your sight than by giving

a helping hand to someone in the dark.”Helen Keller In the week of 15-18 May, 2006,

Birzeit University hosted its first Palestinian Industries Exhibition. It was put together through a combined effort between the University and the Palestinian Federation of Industries, and in cooperation with the Ministry of National Economy and the Palestinian Standards Institute.

The spirit of the exhibition was reflected in its title: “From the Heart of Palestine: Attaining Quality & Competitiveness.” The inspiration for the project was to promote consumer confidence in Palestinian products by showcasing the vast variety of foods, drinks, house decorations, cleaning materials, toiletries, large stone pieces and industrial supplies, representing about 50 companies from the West Bank. Unfortunately no representatives from Gaza took part due to the Israeli ban on the movement of goods and people in and out of the Strip.

The importance of this exhibition comes from the fact that it clearly presents Palestinian alternatives to a great deal of Israeli products. Most people who attended the exhibition commented on how surprised they were to find that they could replace many of the Israeli goods they consume on a daily basis with high quality Palestinian products.

As Palestine cannot trade freely with its

neighbours or the outside world because of Israeli border restrictions and its policy of holding Palestinian products hostage until they lose their marketability, it is important for all of us who live in the Occupied Territories to be the support for these Palestinian companies by buying Palestinian goods.

Another message of the exhibition was to stress the quality of these Palestinian alternatives. All companies represented at the exhibition have at least one certificate of quality, meaning they go through rigorous tests and meet either national or international consumer standards for health, safety, durability and taste. Palestinian products are therefore just as good, if not better, than those imported or dumped on the Palestinian market by Israeli competitors, who often receive state subsidies (such as those located in illegal settlements in the West Bank) and subsequently gain an unfair competitive advantage.

At a time when the world is bringing the Palestinian economy to a standstill and the threat of a humanitarian crisis is imminent, the message is clear: our active support for Palestinian products is crucial if we are serious about building an independent, self-sufficient Palestine.

Hiba Darwish is Media Coordinator at the Public Relations Office/Birzeit University. Laura Ribeiro is the Coordinator for the Right to Education Campaign/Birzeit University.

From the Heart of PalestineAn exhibition of Palestinian industries

By Hiba Darwish and Laura Ribeiro

“It’ s better to light one candle than to curse the darkness.”

April 1st, 2006 marked the first anniversary of the establishment of the Blind and Visually Impaired Training Centres of Al-Quds Open University (QOU) at its Hebron and Jenin locations. These centres were established in the conviction that students with disabilities have the same right to access Information Technology as everyone else.

The centres provide services to all university students who are blind or visually impaired, in addition to individuals with the same disabilities from the local community. The two centres are well equipped and furnished with the latest adaptive or assistive tools backed by qualified and trained staff to enable students achieve their highest potential. This will promote the students’ independence and economic well-being and enhance their quality of life through using the latest technology combined with time-tested adaptive methods. The training centres offer both academic and work-related practical training such as computer keyboarding, typing, Windows XP, introduction to computers, word processing, e-mail and Internet. The training materials are provided either in Braille or in large print, according to the students’ needs.

Screen Reader, Braille’s Display, Braille’s Converter (WinBraille) and Braille’s Embosser are the assistive tools that students use to access the world of technology. Students now have the capability to read, write, keep and retrieve records, send and receive e-mails and surf the web. Braille’s Printer or Embosser is a hardware which enables students to print out any soft copy document in Braille codes by using Braille’s converter system.

These centres are the first of their kind in the

southern and northern Palestinian areas, as similar centres exist only in the Islamic University of Gaza. These two centres have made a real revolution and introduced unprecedented steps in learning approaches for blind and visually impaired

university students through strengthening their academic expectations and bridging the gap that has too often existed between what students with disabilities learn and what is required in regular curriculums. During 2005, the two centres were able to graduate twenty students from both Hebron and Jenin and this number is expected to increase.

Al-Quds Open University took the initiative of launching such centres, but all agree that it is not enough to have only two such in the West Bank. It is hoped that other Palestinian universities will follow suit and put the interests of disabled students at the top of their agendas so they may have the same opportunities as their sighted peers. As one student commented, “The wonderful and rewarding opportunity that I had at the centre was not just an introduction to the world of technology, but an introduction to a new prospective hope and getting rid of being ignored and isolated… The computer has changed how I think and live.” Unfortunately, visually impaired individuals will still face discrimination and prejudice when it comes to employment opportunities, hiring, insurance costs, etc.

Engineer Fuad Sultan Tamimi is in charge of the Visually Impaired Training Centre of Al-Quds Open University in Hebron. He can be reached at fuad_tamimi@yahoo.com. For the centre in Ramallah contact Sa’ada Shalabi at sshalabi@qou.edu and in Jenin contact Akram Rabaya at arabayha@qou.edu.

Posters design: Zan Studios

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T h e P a l e s t i n i a n Shippers’ Council (PSC) was established to form a na t i ona l sh ippe rs ’ representat ion that is capable of addressing the urgent needs of Palestinian importers and exporters generated by the protracted conflict, and supporting the Palestinian Authority’s reform and long-term trade development efforts. The council will promote the interests of Palestinian shippers; represent them in dealings at the national and international levels with transport providers, regional and international po r t au tho r i t i es and relevant PA authorities. Moreover, the council will have various activities in which it will seek solutions for traders’ problems at Israeli ports, and establish agreements with carriers, custom brokers and ports on issues relating to traders. In addition, it will contribute to Palestinian economic development and trade expansion through measures that promote trade efficiency and facilitation at all stages of the maritime and related transport logistical chain.

Despite the dynamic and complex political constraints in Palestine, the Palestinian Shippers’ Council was successfully launched on 11 April 2006, in cooperation with Paltrade and the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), which is implementing and providing technical support for the project under the umbrella of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). At the inaugural workshop, which took place simultaneously in Ramallah and Gaza via videoconferencing, UNCTAD experts and various Palestinian speakers presented the objectives of the PSC, namely

to protect Palest inian shippers’ interests and rights, provide basic training for future members and laid down the role and functions of the Council.

The Council will foster, develop and maintain close cooperation between members on shipping and related matters of mutual and /or collective interest; extend assistance to any member, upon the latter’s request, consistent with its policies, resources and capabilities; improve or assist in improving shipping services and conditions, particularly in the region, in order to achieve the adequate, efficient and economic carriage of goods to and from other countries, and promote the optimum growth of international trade

in the region, and to represent members in their collective dealings with shipping lines, shipping conferences, the government, and other organizations.

The Council will provide a private sector counterpart for the Palestinian Authority’s efforts to promote a coordinated and coherent programme to enhance the competitiveness and quality standards of the Palestinian trade and transportation systems. PSC’s technical experience will support the PA’s negotiations with third parties on trade and transport arrangements and trade related matters, and will play an important role in raising awareness of the shippers’ needs by undertaking different projects that target the shipping sector and ensure proper synergies between these efforts.

Majdi KhalilGeneral Manager

Palestinian Shippers’ Council

The Palestinian Shippers’ Council

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Book of the Month

Personality of the Month

CrescentA NovelBy Diana Abu-JaberW.W. Norton Paperback, New York, May 2004, 398 pages.

A sweet sensation of anxiety runs through your taste buds as you scan “Crescent,” coupled with a wave of voluptuous desire to stop by Nadia’s café at which the Iraqi-American Sirine works as a cook. In her kitchen as the main character, suddenly, onion peeling is an utterly emotional ritual that sends a complicated metaphor of loneliness, passion, confusion, love, anger, and solitude. In other words, a large meal of emotions in one act for a dish.

“Crescent” by Diana Abu-Jaber introduces a delicious insight into the Arab-American community of Los Angeles. The dilemma, ambition and passion for a return to their mother countries still stick in the minds of the characters revolving around Sirine and her Arabian cuisine of tabbouleh, mjaddarah, and stuffed grape leaves with lamb shanks; knafe and ghraybeh cookies. Leisurely leafing through the pages, I was amazed by how much a kitchen can be such a chamber for restricted notions and an incubator for all that mystic rhythm of symbolism in food.

Gracious components of literature, poetry, food and flowers refine to expose the neo Arab-American culture that can apply to all domiciles in the Diaspora. Najib Mahfouz’s stories from the streets and alleyways of Cairo that can be contrasted with Hemingway’s in the literary analysis of Hanif, the Iraqi Arab literature professor; the bougainvillea flowers that can be easily translated by café owner Um Nadia into “El-Majnooneh,” and “the new kind of cooking, a shift of ingredients like a move from a native tongue into a foreign language: butter instead of olive oil; potatoes instead of rice; beef instead of lamb,” explains Sirine.

Food is also civilization, you will profoundly realize. When reading “Crescent” I guarantee you will enjoy exploring the connection. Sambusik and ghraybeh, explains the writer, are traditionally shaped into crescent moons. The beauty of ghraybeh, though, is that they are so simple, and are made of the sort of ingredients you usually have around: flour, butter and sugar.

Several narrations exist explaining how the crescent symbol, alone or combined with a star, came to represent the Islamic civilization in the minds of the people. The crescent and star in Islam come from the Arabs (although the Turks also claim them) and their geography. The Fertile Crescent includes modern-day Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine and Egypt. If you look at a map, these countries form a crescent shape which is the opposite of the Turkish flag’s crescent. Other explanations refer to the crescent and star heritage of the Babylonians. Either way, the symbolism exists and the link the writer makes to Iraq’s Abbasid era, the Arab-Islamic civilization, and the cultural ingredients mystically blend to take you back not only to their origins in history but also to the retreat of your kitchen in a desire to cook.

After reading “Crescent” you will see that the stuffed grape leaves, baklava, and ghraybeh will never taste the same again.

Reviewed by Reem M. Wahdan

Chef Ya’coub SalbisChef Ya’coub Boutros Salbis is a renowned

Palestinian chef who has been active on the culinary scene since the early 1980s. He has held several challenging positions as executive chef and his contributions in the field are many.

Salbis was born in Jerusalem in 1958. After completing his secondary education at the Mennonite School in Beit Jala in 1974 he attended Tadmor College in Ein Karem and graduated in 1976 with a degree in food production.

Soon after graduation, Salbis spent a few years in the southern resort city of Eilat working and assisting some very renowned chefs who were employed at the city’s many five-star hotels. He also worked at numerous eateries in Eilat, from fish and seafood restaurants to Hungarian, Italian and Mongolian ones. He did a stint at several San Francisco restaurants. This wide exposure allowed him to gain invaluable experience that enabled him to become executive chef later on. Salbis managed to become the chef de cuisine at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Guesthouse and the Three Arches Hotel at the YMCA in West Jerusalem. He was the executive chef for the opening of the Grand Park Hotel in Ramallah, and executive chef at the Jerusalem Hotel and many other local hotels and restaurants.

With his vast experience it was inevitable that Salbis would be involved in the

educational part of the food industry. Salbis was personally involved in the establishment of the Professional Promotion Hospitality Section at the Notre Dame of Jerusalem Center where he was the Middle Eastern cuisine chef instructor for over a decade, graduating dozens of Palestinian cooks. He was also the chief instructor for a course organised together with the Palestinian Authority and held at the Notre Dame Center to equip ex-detainees with a profession in the food industry. Salbis also hosted a local TV and radio programme for three years in which he portrayed and talked about the techniques of Middle Eastern cooking.

Salbis is a firm believer in peace and believes that peace among Palestinians and Israelis could also be achieved through food. He was therefore a pillar in establishing Chefs for Peace, an organization that includes Palestinian and Israeli chefs who work together to support peace activities among both peoples. The organization meets periodically and holds functions at which Palestinian and Israeli chefs work side by side, learning from one another and about one another. Salbis is a member of the Israeli Panel of Chefs.

Salbis was chosen to represent Palestine at numerous food shows and competitions. In 2001 he won the first prize at the International

Couscous Festival in Sicily, Italy, where Palestine beat chefs from the dish’s native country, Morocco, and other North African nations such as Tunisia and Algeria. Salbis also participated in activities with international chefs in Ireland, France and the USA.

Salbis is married and has one daughter.

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Artist of the M

onth

Hannan Abu HusseinIn her unique works of art, Hannan Abu Hussein

examines mainly the imagery of women’s bodies. The presentation of body images in her works reveals contradictory interpretations and paradoxes which reflect and generate the conflicting feelings women have towards their bodies where they, the women, struggle between their feelings and their survival in society which imposes rules and restrictions on how women are to look and act.

Abu Hussein was born in Um El-Fahem in 1972 and lives in Issawiya, a village near Jerusalem

that is several hundred metres away from the campus of the Bezalel Academy of Art. She did her academic studies at ‘Emeq Israel College (1992-95), then continued for her first degree in art at the Bezalel Academy (1995-99). She earned a professional diploma in construction art in 2002. She is currently studying for her M.A degree in art history.

A gifted artist, she built her individuality early on in her art life. She was twice awarded the Keren Sharet prize, in 1998 and 2002, for her remarkable capacity and creativity. She has won the 2000 prize of the Heinrich Böll Foundation for art. Abu Hussein is the first Arab female artist to win the 2005 young artist of the year prize awarded by the Ministry of Education.

Generally, Palestinian artists use women’s bodies to designate the measure of a nation’s purity. Abu Hussein is one of the first female pioneers to go beyond the male discourse. Her works correspond with prevalent feminist discourses that address gender and sexual identity in contemporary art. She achieved this in a short period of her art life, emphasizing and liberating the contrast between politics and personality, purity and pain, through her constant search for a new means of expression. In a thoughtful way she has experimented with a variety of materials such as tar, wax, ceramics, lithographs, nylon and hair, and created art forms

which signalled her as an innovative artist of unique imagination and with a highly developed style that have selflessly, artistically and beautifully offered us a chance to learn from her stories: to learn about ourselves and to learn about a world beyond ourselves.

Abu Hussein’s central theme is focused on body images. In her sculpture she deals with ignorance, repression and a lack of awareness among women with regard to their bodies in general and their genitals in particular. Her works reproduce and replicate symbols taken from her daily environment. A tortured tapestry is made of hairs from her mother’s blanket. Another tapestry, marvellously rich in colour, is decorated with shaving knives. An interesting work crafts a carpet of paraffin breasts – a substance reminiscent of women’s discharge. The breasts appear in numerous shapes and sizes. The substances also raise associations with artificial breast enlargement, be it cosmetic or reconstructive following mastectomy. Abu Hussein marks the breasts as the central object of women’s sexuality.

In 2003 Abu Hussein produced a documentary video that doggedly follows the compulsory depilation of a bride’s body, painfully stripping the

hair from her arms and legs, with a sound that sets the viewer’s teeth on edge. A big installation done between 2002-2003 is entitled “Out of Ashes.” It has no overt feminist message but effectively evokes loss and social decay. Scores of petrified twigs, some cleverly fashioned from white ceramic, lie on the floor beneath a scumbled wall painting that represents the ghost of a tree from which all the twigs and

branches have fallen. The ghostly wall image is made of real ashes.

The works of Abu Hussein reveal with powerful clarity her internal emotions and thoughts. They also give a voice to her struggle to keep her gender identity in the face of terrible odds—a brutal occupation marked by daily social violence and daily sorrow.

Abu Hussein’s artwork has been exhibited at prestigious galleries and museums in Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan and Haifa and at galleries in France and Germany. She recently took part in the Bruges Biennale where she presented an extraordinary piece entitled “New Territories.”

(Compiled by Aida Nasrallah)

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Note: Please make sure to contact the venue to check if the programme is still running.

Sounding Jerusalem FestivalJune 15th through July 1st

A chamber-music festival combined with music courses

for students from Palestine and AustriaHosted by the Austrian Hospice

(Old City of Jerusalem)Free entrance to all concerts although ticket

reservation is recommendedFor further information and ticket reservation:

Phone: 054-8038175E-Mail: soundingjerusalem@gmx.com;

culture@austrianhospice.com

EAST JERUSALEM (02) Al-Ma'mal Contemporary Art Foundation, tel. 628 3457 ;AL Kasaba Theatre, tel. 626 4052; Austrian Hospice (Sounding Jerusalem Hotline) tel. 0548 038 175; Centre for Jerusalem Studies at Al-Quds University, tel. 628 7517; French Cultural Centre (CCF), tel: 628 2451; Kaiserin Auguste Viktoria Stiftung, tel. 628 7704; Palestinian National Theatre (PNT), tel. 628 73501; Turkish Cultural Centre, tel. 540 0592

ARTThursday 818:00 Al Hoash in collaboration with CCF presents “Youth Behind the Wall”, a film directed by Aurore Reinicke, discussion follows at Palestinian Art Court Al Hoash Gallery, program followed by photoghraphy exhibition “Reminiscence” by Aurore Reinicke at CCF at 19:00Thursday 2220:00 Inauguration of photography exhibition “Homeland Lost” a photographic essay that juxtaposes portraits of individual Palestinian refugees and their families with present day images of the places they left in 1948 by Alan Gignoux (through July 22nd daily from 10:00 till 17:00 except sundays) in cooperation with the British Council, Al-Ma'mal Foundation

CHILDERN'S ACTIVITIESFriday 1616:00 Film “La Marche de L'Empereur” (French subtitles), CCFSaturday 2417:00 Play “the Boy and the Wolf”, PNT18:00 Film “Monster INC", PNTThursday 2917:00 Play “the Boy and the Wolf”, PNT18:00 Film “Bug's Life”, PNT

CONCERTSounding Jerusalem Festival is hosted by the Austrian Hospice Sunday 418:00 Jasmine Choir concert organized by the Magnificat Institute, St. Saviour’s Convent Immaculata hallThursday 819:30 “Voi Che Sapete C'ose Amor...” concert of classical and contemporary music, organized by the Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem, PNTSaturday 10 19:30 Abwab Alquds Group, PNT

Sunday 1116:30 Organ concert organized by the Magnificat Institute, St. Saviour’s Convent Saturday 1718:45 Sounding Jerusalem Festival: “A Night of Celebration”, opening concert of “Sounding Jerusalem Festival”, Music by Schumann, Mozart, van Beethoven, Austrian HospiceSunday 1818:00 Kittens concert organized by the Magnificat Institute, St. Saviour’s Convent Immaculata hallMonday 1918:00 Fête de la Musique: projection of music on stage, CCF19:00 Fête de la Musique: open stage in the garden of the French Cultural Centre, CCF20:00 Fête de la Musique: “La Machine” French Folk Group, CCFTuesday 2018:45 Sounding Jerusalem Festival: “The Spirit of Vienna”, String quartet highlights by Mozart and Schubert, Franciscan Church – Courtyard19:00 Fête de la Musique: “Sheibat” in cooperation with the French Cultural Centre, College des Freres20:00 Fête de la Musique: “Orange Blossom” in cooperation with the French Cultural Centre, College des FreresWednesday 2118:00 Bears concert organized by the Magnificat Institute, St. Saviour’s Convent Immaculata hall18:45 Sounding Jerusalem Festival: “Quartets of my Dreams”, Quartets by Mozart, Schumann, American Colony HotelFriday 2318:00 Tiger concert organized by the Magnificat Institute, St. Saviour’s Convent Immaculata hallSaturday 2418:45 Sounding Jerusalem Festival: “Icons of Chamber Music”, Quintets by Schubert, Mozart, Armenian Patriarchy

17:00 Organ Recital, Kimberly Marshall (USA), Works from the Renaissance and Baroque organized by the Kaiserin Auguste Viktoria Stiftung, Redeemer ChurchSunday 2518:45 Sounding Jerusalem Festival:“Sounding Emotions”: Piano trios by Tchaikowski, Mozart, Austrian HospiceMonday 2618:45 Sounding Jerusalem Festival:“Playful Mozart” improvised classical Western music, Austrian HospiceWednesday 2818:00 Shark concert organized by the Magnificat Institute, St. Saviour’s Convent Immaculata hall18:45 Sounding Jerusalem Festival: “Moonlight Serenade”, music by Mozart, Haydn, Kodaly, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer – CourtyardThursday 2918:45 Sounding Jerusalem Festival:“Rising Stars”, final concert with young students of “Sounding Jerusalem” music master classes, Austrian HospiceFriday 3019:00 Abwab Alquds Group, PNT19:00 The Choir of the Custody of the Holy Land organized by the Magnificat Institute, St. Saviour’s Convent Immaculata hall

DANCESunday 1819:00 Jerusalem Folklore Dance Group “Dabka”, PNTSunday 2519:30 Modern Dance “We are Here” produced by YWCA, PNT

FILMSThursday 117:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreFriday 217:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre

19:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreSaturday 317:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 A Few Crumbs for the Birds, by Nassim Amaouche & Annemarie Jacir. A documentary film shot in the dessert town of Ruwayshed received several awards at international film festivals, the film photographer Annemarie Jacir will present the film followed by a discussion, Palestinian Art Court Al Hoash Gallery19:00 Paradise Now for the Palestinian director Hani Abu Asad, PNT19:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Paradise Now for the Palestinian director Hani Abu Asad, PNTSunday 417:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreTuesday 617:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreWednesday 717:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreThursday 817:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreFriday 917:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreSaturday 1017:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre

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Sunday 1117:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreTuesday 1317:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreWednesday 1417:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreThursday 1517:00 Chaos (English with Arabic subtitles), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Chaos (English with Arabic subtitles), Al Kasaba TheatreFriday 1615:00 Gönderilmemiş Mektuplar (Turkish with English subtitles), Turkish Cultural Center17:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreSaturday 1715:00 Gönderilmemiş Mektuplar (Turkish with English subtitles), Turkish Cultural Center17:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreSunday 1817:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreTuesday 2017:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 Film about Palestinian refugees (please call for more infrmation), PNT19:30 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreWednesday 2117:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreThursday 2217:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre Friday 2315:00 Gönderilmemiş Mektuplar (Turkish with English subtitles), Turkish Cultural Center17:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Saturday 2417:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Since Otar Left (French with Arabic subtitlles) in cooperation with the French Cultural Centre, Al Kasaba TheatreSunday 2517:00 Chaos (English with Arabic subtitles), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre

Tuesday 2717:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Chaos (English with Arabic subtitles), Al Kasaba TheatreWednesday 2817:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreThursday 2917:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreFriday 3015:00 Gönderilmemiş Mektuplar (Turkish with English subtitles), Turkish Cultural Center17:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre

PLAYSSunday 1114:00 “Sizwe Banze is Dead” by Peter Brook, in cooperation with the French Cultural Centre, Al-Quds University Abu DisThursday 1519:00 Ghosts, PNTSaturday 1719:00 Ghosts, PNT

TOURSThe tours “Jerusalem, A Palestinian Perspective” are organized by the Centre for Jerusalem studies of Al-Quds University. The dates of the tours are to be confirmed. For further information please call the Centre for Jerusalem Studies, tel. 02 - 6287517Sunday 410:00 Jewish Settlements of the Old City, Centre for Jerusalem Studies at Al-Quds UniversitySaturday 1010:00 The development of modern living Quarters in the 18th century, Centre for Jerusalem Studies at Al-Quds UniversitySaturday 1715:00 Mount Ophel & Silwan – Siloam Church – Ancient Jerusalem (meeting point: Hind Husseini College, Al Quds University), Centre for Jerusalem Studies at Al-Quds UniversitySaturday 2410:00 Models of Jerusalem, two periods in history: Roman & Byzantine, Centre for Jerusalem Studies at Al-Quds University

BETHLEHEM and BEIT JALA (02)Alternative Information Centre (AIC), tel. 277 5444; Bethlehem Peace Centre, tel. 276 6677; International Centre of Bethlehem (Dar Annadwa), tel. 277 0047

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CONCERT DANDANAT, Bethlehem Youth Music Festival, Palestinian Swedish Cultural Encounter organized by the international Centre of Bethlehem in cooperation with the Swedish Christian Center-BildaThe Sounding Jerusalem Festival is hosted by the Austrian HospiceSaturday 1019:00 Musical evening with “Radwan Shalaby with Karlouma” in cooperation with the Edward Said National Conservatory, International Centre of BethlehemThursday 1519:00 Musical evening with “Anima Schola” from USA, International Centre of BethlehemFriday 1619:00 Sounding Jerusalem Festival: “A night of celebration”, music by Schumann, Mozart, van Beethoven in cooperation with the Edward Said National Conservatory, International Centre of BethlehemThursday 2220:00 DANDANAT: White Night in Bethlehem a mix of Swedish and Palestinian acts on the theme of Pop and Rock Music, International Centre of BethlehemFriday 2318:00 Fête de la musique: “La Machine” Bethlehem Peace Center in cooperation with Alliance Française de Bethléem at Manger Square20:00 DANDANAT: Blue Sky in Bethlehem a mix of Swedish and Palestinian acts on the theme of Dance and Modern Oriental Music, International Centre of BethlehemSaturday 2420:00 DANDANAT: Saturday Night Festival Heights, closing party for all participating groups, International Centre of Bethlehem

FILMSThursday 118:00 Weather Man, Bethlehem Peace CenterThursday 8 19:00 Yours, Mine & Ours, Bethlehem Peace CenterThursday 1518:00 The Russian Specialist, Bethlehem Peace CenterSaturday 1719:00 Screening of the film “Roots - Shaping communities in times of crises: Land, Peoples, Identities” by Wafa Jamil and Walid Atallah, International Centre of BethlehemTuesday 2019:00 My Garden ( Arabic with English subtitles) documentary from the Golan about land mines, followed by discussion with several people who appear in the film and those involved in making it, AIC

Thursday 2218:00 Hareem Kareem (Arabic), Bethlehem Peace CenterTuesday 2719:00 A The Firing Chamber (Arabic with English subtitles) documentary from the Golan about the experience of Palestinian Druze followed by discussion with people who appear in the film and those involved in making it, AICThursday 2918:00 Buha (Arabic), Bethlehem Peace Center

LECTURESFriday 218:00 “Palestinian Art Exhibition in the West” by the lecturer / Museum Consultant / Curator Ms. Salwa Mikdadi ,Bethlehem Peace Center in cooperation with Alliance Française de Bethléem, Bethlehem Peace CenterTuesday 619:00 On the anniversary of the Six Day War “The Impact of Exile on Culture, Behavior and Social Relations” with Nassar Ibrahim, AIC Saturday 1018:00 “The Nobel Sanctuary between the Religion and the History” by the lecturer Father Jean-Baptiste Humbert, Bethlehem Peace Center in cooperation with Alliance Française de Bethléem and The Biblical and the Archeological French School in Jerusalem, Bethlehem Peace Center

SPECIAL EVENTSFriday the 9th of June through Sunday the 9th

of July World Cup 2006, the German Representative Office in cooperation with Bethlehem Peace Center and the International Centre of Bethlehem, Screening of all World Cup 2006 games, International Centre of Bethlehem Tuesday 1319:00 Environmental Action: trash pickup at Solomon's Pools organized by AICThursday 22 till Saturday 24Steve Smith a well known ceramic artist, he teaches ceramics at Defiance College in the U.S.A. and has a great experience with ceramic, glazing and trouble shooting. He will be in Palestine for a study and solidarity tour, but would also like to meet with local artists, artisans, International Centre of Bethlehem

GAZA (08)Fawanes Theatre, tel. 288 4403; French Cultural Centre, tel. 286 7883

CONCERTSunday 2518:00 Fête de la Musique: Gipsy group “Bratsch” and French Folk group “La Machine” in cooperation with the French Cultural Centre, Shawa Center

ARTThursday 118:00 Inaugurationof end of the year exhibition for the art students (through June 12th), International Centre of BethlehemTuesday 617:00 On the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of UNESCO, inauguration of a photographic exhibit entitled “Sixty Years of UNESCO” by the Spanish art graphic artist Luis Sarda, UNESCO in cooperation with Bethlehem Peace Center (through June 27th daily from 10:00 till 18:00), Bethlehem Peace CenterThursday 818:00 Inauguration of an exhibition entitled “Deconstructing War”, visual representations by artists for peace, the exhibition is composed of 40 artists from Colorado, curated by Professor George Rivera. The medium represented are digital art, ink and pencil drawings, monotypes, small paintings, pastels, photography, serigraphs and solar etchings (through July 2nd), International Centre of BethlehemSaturday 1019:00 Inauguration of an exhibit entitled “Al Quds Al Sharif” Bethlehem Peace Center in cooperation with Alliance Française de Bethléem and the Biblical and the Archeological French School in Jerusalem (through June 24th daily from 10:00 till 16:00) , Bethlehem Peace Center

Thursday 2917:00 Inauguration of a photographic exhibit entitled “Stones of Jordan” by the Italian photographer Andrea Merli (through July 14th daily from 10:00 till 18:00), Bethlehem Peace Center

CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIESThursday 116:00 On the occasion of World Child Day: Festival under the slogan of “For Children, With Children” including Many activities will take place including Singing, Folklore dancing “Dabka”, a clown show, sketches and much more. The Palestinian Network for Children’s Rights in cooperation with Bethlehem Peace Center at Manger SquareFriday 29:30 - 13:00 Friday Club, Bethlehem Peace CenterFriday 99:30 - 13:00 Friday Club, Bethlehem Peace CenterFriday 169:30 - 13:00 Friday Club, Bethlehem Peace CenterFriday 239:30 - 13:00 Friday Club, Bethlehem Peace CenterFriday 309:30 - 13:00 Friday Club, Bethlehem Peace Center

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PLAYSThursday 1st through Friday 30th

11:00 Hada Msh Ellak by Fawanees Theatre, Ashkalan Theatre at Al Meshaal Centre

HEBRON (02)Thursday 2218:00 Fête de la Musique: “La Machine” French Folk group in cooperation with the French Cultural Cultural Centre, Happy Child House

NABLUS (09) French Cultural Centre (CCF), tel: 238 5914

CONCERTSaturday 1718:30 Fête de la Musique: “La Machine” French Folk Group in cooperation with the French Cultural Centre, Happy Child CentreThursday 2218:30 Fête de la Musique: “Bratsch” Gipsy group in cooperation with the French Cultural Centre, An-Najah National University Theatre

FILMSTuesday 618:30 Paradise Now by the Palestinian director Hani Abu Asad, CCFTuesday 2018:30 The Gods Must be Crazy, CCFTuesday 2718:30 We Know the Song, CCF

SPECIAL EVENTSTuesday 1318:30 Football Match, World Cup in Germany, “France - Switzerland“, CCF

RAMALLAH (02)A.M. Qattan Foundation, tel: 296 0544; Al-Kamandjâti Association, tel: 297 3101; Al-Kasaba Theatre & Cinematheque, tel: 296 5292; Ashtar Theater, tel: 298 0037; Franco-German Cultural Centre Ramallah, tel: 298 1922; Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre, tel: 298 7374; Popular Art Center, tel: 240 3891; Ramallah Cultural Palace, tel: 298 4704

ARTThursday 119:00 Inauguration of an art exhibition by the Palestinian artist Suhail Abu Nuwwarah from Nazareth (through June 17th from 10:00 till 17:00 daily except Fridays and Sundays), A. M. Qattan FoundationMonday 517:0019:00- Inauguration of an art exhibition: photography, sculpture and drawing “Mishwar” (through June 6th from 9:00 till 16:00), Khalil Sakakini Cultural CentreThursday 819:00 - 21:00 Inauguration of an art exhibition: photography “The Green Side of the Line” by Alban Biaussat (through June17th daily from 9:00 till 16:00) in partnership with Al-Ma’mal Foundation, Khalil Sakakini Cultural CentreFriday 918:30 Inauguration photo exhibition “Planet Soccer”, Franco-German Cultural CentreSaturday 2419:00 - 21:00 Inauguration of an art exhibition: painting “Muhana” by Jawad Ibrahim (through July 8th daily from 9:00 till 16:00). Khalil Sakakini Cultural CentreWednesday 2819:00 Inauguration of a painting exhibition by the young artist Ra’fat As’ad (through July 13th daily from 10:00 till 17:00 except Sundays and Fridays), A.M. Qattan Foundation

CHILDREN'S ACTIVITIESThursday 117:00 Film “Valiant”, Al Kasaba TheatreFriday 217:00 Film “Madghascar”, Al Kasaba TheatreThursday 817:00 Film “Madghascar”, Al Kasaba TheatreSaturday 1017:00 Film “Valiant”, Al Kasaba Theatre17:00 Film “In Spirit”, Khalil Sakakini Cultural CentreFriday 1617:00 Film “Valiant”, Al Kasaba TheatreSaturday1717:00 Film “Madghascar”, Al Kasaba TheatreFriday 2317:00 Film “Madghascar“, Al Kasaba TheatreSaturday 2417:00 Film “Valiant”, Al Kasaba TheatreFriday 3017:00 Film “Valiant”, Al Kasaba Theatre

CONCERTThe Sounding Jerusalem Festival is hosted by the Austrian HospiceSaturday 319:30 Openning of the new album “Hada leil” for Basel Zayed with the Turab Group, Ramallah Cultural PalaceThursday 819:00 Percussions group: blend of oriental and

occidental percussions in cooperation with Al Kamandjâti, Al Kasaba TheatreMonday 1917:00 - 19:00 Fête de la musique: “Orange Blossom”, French electro-world music group in cooperation with the French Cultural Centre, Sangria’s Restaurnat GardenWednesday 2118:00 - 21:00 Vocal and instrumental: musical exchange between young artists and well-known talents in partnership with Al-Kamandjâti, Khalil Sakakini Cultural CentreThursday 2218:45 Sounding Jerusalem Festival: “Orient meets Occident”: Arabic and Western music mix, Al Kamandjâti Music Center

DANCESaturday 1018:00 Ballet performance by Ramallah School of Ballet (call for final time), Ramallah Cultural Palace

FILMSFor the whole month the Popular Art Centre will screen films for groups of five persons and above (please call for reservation)

Thursday 118:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 King Kong, Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 War of the Worlds, Al Kasaba Theatre

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Friday 218:00 Match Point, Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 Good Night, and Good Luck, Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreSaturday 318:00 Crash, Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Tharf Tare’ (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreSunday 418:00 The Constant Gardener, Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 King Kong, Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreMonday 518:00 Little Senegal (French with English subtitles) in cooperation with the French Cultural Centre, Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 Tharf Tare’ (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Match Point, Al Kasaba TheatreTuesday 618:00 War of the Worlds, Al Ksasaba Theatre18:30 Soccer Movies: Liberated Zone (German with English subtitles), Franco German Cultural Centre19:00 Lord of War, Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreWednesday 718:00 March of Pengiuns, Al Ksasaba Theatre18:30 Soccer movie: Aus der Tiefe des Raumes (German with English subtitles), Franco-German Cultural Center

19:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Good Night, and Good Luck, Al Kasaba TheatreThursday 818:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Tharf Tare' (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreFriday 917:00 March of Penguins, Al Kasaba Theatre18:00 Chaos, Al Ksasaba Theatre19:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 The Constant Gardener, Al Kasaba TheatreSaturday 1018:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 Tharf Tare’ (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Lord of War, Al Kasaba Theatre Sunday 1118:00 Since Otar is Gone (French with English subtitles), Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 War of the Worlds, Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreMonday 1218:00 Tharf Tare’ (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Since Otar is Gone (French with English subtitles), Al Kasaba TheatreTuesday 1318:30 Soccer movie: Fimpen, der Knirps

(German with English subtitles), Franco-German Cultural Centre18:00 Crash, Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 The Constant Gardener, Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreWednesday 1418:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre18:30 Soccer movie: One Day in Europe (Russian, Spanish, Turkish, German with English subtitles), Franco-German Cultural Center 19:00 Crash, Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 King Kong, Al Kasaba TheatreThursday 1517:00 March of Penguins, Al Kasaba Theatre18:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre 19:00 War of the Worlds, Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreFriday 1618:00 Good Night, and Good Luck, Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre 20:30 Match Point, Al Kasaba TheatreSaturday 1718:00 Chaos, Al Kasaba Theatre18:30 Soccer Movies: Eleven Devils (German with English subtitles), Franco-German Cultural Centre18:30 Soccer movie:The Bern miracle (German with English subtitles), Franco-German Cultural Centre19:00 Haha W Tofaha (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre 20:30 Lord of War, Al Ksasaba TheatreSunday 1818:00 Crash, Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 The Constant Garndner, Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreMonday 1918:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 King Kong, Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Chaos, Al Kasaba Theatre

Tuesday 2018:00 Lord of War, Al Kasaba Theatre18:30 The Other Final (Dutch with English subtitles), Franco-German Cultural Centre 19:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre 20:30 The Constant Gardener, Al Kasaba TheatreWednesday 2118:00 Match Point, Al Kasaba Theatre18:30 Soccer movie: Bando und der Goldene Fussball (German with English subtitles), Franco-German Cultural Center19:00 Good Night, and Good Luck, Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreThursday 2218:00 Tharf Tare’ (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 King Kong, Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Crash, Al Kasaba TheatreFriday 2318:00 Lord of War, Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 Tharf Tare’ (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 War of the Worlds, Al Kasaba TheatreSaturday 2418:00 Tharf Tare’ (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre18:30 Coup de Coeur - Short Movies from Germany: Counter, Chaim, Behind the View, Cousin Cousine, Franco-German Cultural Centre19:00 Chaos, Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreSunday 2518:00 The Constant Gardener, Al Kasaba Theatre18:30 Coup de Coeur - Short Movies from Germany: Come on Strange, Delivery, Wanja Gehen, Tine Kluth, Franco-German Cultural Centre19:00 Tharf Tare' (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 King Kong, Al Kasaba TheatreMonday 2618:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre18:30 The Burn Miracle (German with English ubtitles), Franco-German Cultural Centre19:00 Chaos, Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Lord of War, Al Kasaba Theatre

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Tuesday 2718:00 Crash, Al Ksasaba Theatre18:30 Soccer movies: Im Vorwärtsgang, Adelante Muchachas! (with English subtitles), Franco-German Cultural Centre18:30 Soccer movie: Adelante Muchachas! (Spanish with English subtitles), Franco-German Cultural Centre19:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Good Night, and Good Luck, Al Kasaba TheatreWednesday 2818:00 Ouija (Arabic), Al Kasaba Theatre18:30 Soccer Movies: Im Vorwärtsgang, Adelante Muchachas! (English subtitles), Franco-German Cultural Center19:00 War of the Worlds, Al Kasaba Theatre20:00 Mona Lisa Smile, Khalil Sakakini Cultural Centre20:30 Tharf Tare’ (Arabic), Al Kasaba TheatreThursday 2918:00 Tharf Tare’, Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 Match Point, Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 King Kong, Al Ksasaba TheatreFriday 3018:00 War of the Worlds, Al Kasaba Theatre19:00 Chaos, Al Kasaba Theatre20:30 Crash, Al Kasaba Theatre

LITERATURETuesday 619:00 Poetry reading by Najwan Darwish, Khalil Sakakini Cultural CentreThursday 1519:00 Poetry reading by Othman Hussein, Khalil Sakakini Cultural CentreTuesday 2019:30 Poetry evening “Third Tuesday”, a monthly poetry evening with a young writer accompanied with live music coorganized by A.M.Qattan Foundation, Diwan Art Coffee Shop

PLAYSSaturday 319:30 Safad-Shatilla (English), Ashtar Theatre

Sunday 419:30 Safad-Shatilla (Arabic), Ashtar TheatreSaturday 1014:00 “Sizwe Banzi is Dead” by Peter Brook, in cooperation with the French Cultural Centre, Ashtar TheatreSaturday 1719:30 Opening of the theatre performance: Women Under the Spot Light, Ashtar TheatreSunday 1819:30 Women Under the Spot Light, Ashtar TheatreThursday 2217:00 Cinderella, Al Kasaba TheatreThursday 2917:00 Cinderella, Al Kasaba Theatre

SPECIAL EVENTSMonday 1218:00 Graduation Ceremony, Future Kids, Ramallah Cultural PalaceWednesday 1418:30 Football match Germany- Poland, a soccer movie, an exhibition and Taybeh beer, Franco-German Cultural CenterWednesday 21“Fête de la musique” Under the slogan “Music says NO”, Al Kamandjâti and the French Cultural Centre in Ramallah invite you to a musical day, many performances will take place all day long. The event will start at 10 a.m. with different concerts, then there will be the band orchestras (from 3 p.m.) performing in the streets, followed by specific evening events (from 4 to 8 p.m.) in diverse cultural institutions and Palestinian NGO’s - to get more information contact Al Kamandjâti Music Centre or the French Cultural Centre. Partners: Goethe institut, Sakakini Cultural Centre, Boy Friends School, Al Amari Youth Club, Qalandiah and Jalazoun Youth Centres, Edward Said National Conservatory of Music, AM Qattan Foundation, Abu Rayah Re-education Center, Sirreyeh Ramallah, Ramallah Municipality, Pension Retirement of Ramallah, Zan and Al Kasaba Theatre.

To get your classified ad published, please send an email to Aram Sharif: info@turbo-design.com

Apartment for Rent 145 m2 Beit Hanina02-5853177

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Hada LeilCD of the Month

The musical ensemble Turab (Soil or Earth in Arabic) was started in 2004 by a group of seven musicians living in Palestine. Turab performs original songs based on lyrics by contemporary Palestinian poets. Hada Leil, Turab’s first CD, contains eleven songs and one instrumental piece drawing on a number of different musical styles—often simultaneously. While much of the music is derived from the classical and pop Arabic music traditions, other influences are at times overt and at other times subtle. For instance, Tafran (Broke), the tenth track on the CD, transits from verses which combine reggae with a Latin beat and a walking bass line to choruses which are purely Arab pop. The group uses a combination of Arabic and other instruments including the ‘oud, bazouq, guitar, string bass, clarinet, nay, accordion and percussion from the Arab tradition, Iran, Africa and Latin America.

The music of Hada Leil is directly informed by the lyrics written by five poets. The poems that form the basis of the songs deal with topics of freedom, occupation, poverty and love. Some of the poetry and accompanying music were written during (and in reaction to) the Israeli invasion of Palestinian cities in 2002. For instance, the words of Hada Leil, the title track, were read to the composer, Basel Zayed, by the poet, Samer El-Salhy, with the last of his cell phone battery during the invasion of Ramallah when the city had no electricity or water.

The poet, Mahmoud Abu Hash-hash, wrote the following about Turab’s Hada Leil:

“This is a performance that moves with vigour and artistry between the surface and depth. On the one side is a vital frankness, a

straightforward musical language disengaged from symbols and codes, whose very clarity mocks at a reality preoccupied with reproducing itself and the tools of its misery. On the other is an inherent poetry, burdened by its humanity, whose existential cry is both universal and uniquely Palestinian.

“ I t s Pa les t i n i an essence—and i t s youthfulness—pervades its lyrics, melody and performance. This is a work that is firmly rooted in its cultural and political contexts, Palestinian and Arab, aware of its surroundings and attentive of their issues. It draws on a distinguished tradition of political and social music, yet hits a unique note all of its own. In so doing, its distinctive voice adds to that rich legacy.”

Turab will be performing pieces from Hada Leil as well as new material at the Ramallah Cultural Palace on June 3rd at 19:30 hours. Tickets are available at Zeit ou Zaatar (tel. 02-295 4455). For more information visitwww.turab.ps

Play of the Month

Safad – Shatilla, Vice Versa: A memory of the presentDirected by Annemieke DelisActor: Bayan ShbibText: Annemieke Delis, Bayan ShbibVideo montage: Olivia Magnan, Eduard MuallemSound and lighting: Attallah Tarazi

In ‘Safad – Shatilla, Vice Versa’ we go back to the Palestine of 1948. A small city in the north of the country, Safad, where life is wonderful: mountains, olive trees, gardens, summers, families, lovers and weddings. Until that fateful day in May …

Time-lapse, thirty-four years later, to 1982, Shatilla, Lebanon. Despite the circumstances in a refugee camp, life has taken its normal proportions. People laugh, work, fall in love,

get married, have babies. Until that day in September …

Two stories, two times, two countries, two women, two loves, two losses. One dream: return to Palestine!

‘Safad – Shatilla, Vice Versa’ is a play based on autobiographical aspects and facts. To tell the stories different theatrical techniques have been used such as dance, music, text and video. The play is based on a true story whose events intertwine with reality in different scenes. For those who witnessed the civil war in Lebanon and those who returned to Palestine, the events are historical and, as life goes on, those events will never be finalized nor finished.

‘Safad – Shatilla, Vice Versa’ is an exceptional monodrama tackling an exceptional political cause which longs for resolution. Watch it at Ashtar Theatre in Ramallah on June 3rd (in English) and June 4th (in Arabic). For information call 02-298 0037.

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Borage (Tale-wort)Herbal Medicine

http://www.parc.psWebsite Review

This month’s website of the Palestinian Agricultural Relief Committees is nominated as one of the top websites for review, and there are few that can be given solid marks for design. It is a tri-lingual site (English, French, and Arabic), and it shows from the starting pages what really good planning does to a website’s image. You cannot help but go ‘wow!’ right from the beginning. A flash image directs you to the three parts of the website, namely the three language versions.

The web pages are again very well structured, abandoning the familiar three-column layout in favour of a seemingly two-column structure highlighting the sections using colourful images that draw attention to the various ensuing sections: About PARC, Departments, Annual Plans & Reports, Branches & Offices, Media, CORDA (Coalition of Rural Development Associations), and The Gallery. The choice of colours further enhances the theme of the site with the olive-green background, Palestine’s foremost symbol, the olive tree. As one navigates further into the site, more and more detailed sections are revealed and they all follow the same structure, with vibrant images guiding you to the rest of the textual elements displayed in the same left-hand column.

A special noteworthy section is the Branches and Offices section which guides you to an appealing image map showing PARC’s different offices in the West Bank and Gaza. When you hover over the city using the mouse, a drop down list appears with the office address details of the city in question, including email address.

This website would have received top marks on my scale were it not for the following minor shortcomings. If you dig deep enough you will find there is a German section not listed in the main introductory pages. The choice of

language option is not carried through to the subsequent levels – only in the main pages – so if you want to change the language, then you have to navigate all the way back to the main page. The individual Department pages were missing at the time of review, and the Arabic reports pages start to show illegible textual content in the navigation and image text elements following the first introductory pages. The image map in the Arabic section should really carry the city names in Arabic. The reports are all PDF type files with no indicative markings (normally these elements are indicated so that users would have the choice of downloading Adobe’s reader programme in case they don’t have it installed). Finally, the ISO 9002 ranking is prominently displayed in all sections, yet the website possesses many blunders that need to be rectified. I do not know whether the ISO ranking was given for the website design and structure or for something else, and when it was given.

Overall, a visually appealing site to visit once and you cannot help but be impressed with the imagery, structure, colour, and customer journey. Yet more attention needs to be directed to fix the errors present throughout the site.

Gabi Batato, IT Specialist

I welcome your feedback to gbatato@yahoo.com for any comments you wish to raise regarding my reviews.

The English herbalist John Gerard, in one of his books written in 1597, is said to have written “ego borago gaudia semper ago” (“I” borage always bring courage). New research has given credence to this saying, as studies have shown that the tale-wort plant invigorates the endocrine gland that produces adrenaline, the hormone associated with courage and quick action in times of difficulty and stress. The plant’s beautiful blue flowers were added to salads in the days of Queen Elisabeth, to make the mood gay. Modern cooks should take note.

The leaves of borage are used to make an infusion which can be drunk in the early stages of disorders of the lungs and congestion of the chest. Breast-feeding mothers can mix the infusion

with fennel to increase their milk production capabilities. The leaves can also be turned into a tincture. Drinking 10ml of it three times daily strengthens the body after treatment with steroids or is taken to combat stress and weariness. Likewise, the juice extracted from the leaves is indicated for cases of depression and distress. The juice can also be diluted in an equal amount of water and used to rub over chapped skin or a rash.

The oil extracted from the seeds of tale-wort can be turned into capsules.

Taking 500mg daily of the oil complements the treatment for

eczema and inflammations of the joints. The oil is also beneficial in treating irregularities in the menstrual

cycle and to calm upset stomachs.The flowers can also be turned into a

drink for cases of severe coughing.

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East Jerusalem (02)Al-Jawal Theatre GroupTelefax: 628 0655

Al-Kasaba TheatreTel: 626 4052, Fax: 627 6310hanna@alkasaba.org

Al-Ma'mal Foundation for Contemporary ArtTel: 628 3457, Fax: 627 2312info@almamalfoundation.orgwww.almamalfoundation.org

Al-Ruwah Theatre GroupTel: 052 227 9607alruwahtheatre2000@yahoo.com

Al-Urmawi Centre for Mashreq MusicTel: 234 2005, Fax: 2342004 info@urmawi.orgwww.urmawi.org

Ashtar for Theatre Productions and TrainingTelefax: 582 7218info@ashtar-theatre.orgwww.ashtar-theatre.org

British CouncilTel: 626 7111, Fax: 628 3021britishcouncil@ps.britishcouncil.orgwww.britishcouncil.org/ps

Center for Jerusalem Studies / Al-Quds UniversityTel: 628 7517cjs@planet.edu, www.jerusalem-studies.alquds.edu

Community Action Centre (CAC)Tel: 627 3352www.cac.alquds.edu

French Cultural CentreTel: 628 2451 / 626 2236, Fax: 628 4324ccfjeru@consulfrance-jerusalem.org

Gallery AnadielTel: 628 2811, Fax: 626 4403

Goethe InstituteTel: 561 0627, Fax: 561 8431

Hakawati Groupf.abousalem@tiscali.fr

Issaf Nashashibi Center for Culture & LiteratureTelefax: 581 8232isaaf@alqudsnet.com

Jerusalem Centre for Arabic MusicTel: 627 4774, Fax 656 2469mkurd@yahoo.com

Palestinian Art Court - Al HoashTelefax: 627 3501palartco@yahoo.comwww.alhoash.org

Palestinian National TheatreTel: 628 0957, Fax:627 6293pnt@palnet.com

Public Affairs Office- US Consulate GeneralTel: 628 2456, Fax: 628 2454www.uscongen-jerusalem.org

Sabreen Association for Artistic DevelopmentTel: 532 1393, Fax: 532 1394sabreen@netvision.net.ilwww.sabreen.org

Sanabel Culture & Arts TheatreTel: 671 4338, Fax: 673 0993sanabeltheatre@hotmail.com

Spanish CooperationTel: 628 6098; Fax: 628 6099cooperac@netvision.net.il

The Edward Said National Conservatory of MusicTel: 627 1711, Fax: 627 1710info@ncm.birzeit.eduwww.birzeit.edu/music

Theatre Day ProductionsTel: 585 4513; Fax: 583 4233tdp@theatreday.orgwww.theatreday.org

Turkish Cultural CentreTel: 540 0592; Fax: 532 3310kudustur@netvision.net.il

Yabous ProductionsTel: 626 1045; Fax: 626 1372info@yabous.org, www.yabous.org

Bethlehem (02)Al-Harah TheatreTelefax: 276 7758alharahtheater@yahoo.cominfo@alharah.org

Al-Liqa' Centre for Religious & Heritage Studies in the Holy LandTelefax: 274 1639

Alliance Française de BethléemTelefax: 275 0777afbeth@p-ol.com

Anat Palestinian Folk & Craft CenterTelefax: 277 2024

Arab Educational Institute (AEI)-Open WindowsTel: 274 4030www.aeicenter.org

Artas Folklore CenterTel: 276 0533, 0599 938 0887 artas_heritage@yahoo.com

Bethlehem Academy of Music/ Bethlehem Music SocietyTel: 277 7141, Fax: 277 7142

Bethlehem Peace CenterTel: 276 6677, Fax: 274 1057info@peacenter.orgwww.peacenter.org

Cardinal HouseTelefax: 276 4778info@cardinalhouse.orgwww.cardinalhouse.org

Catholic Action Cultural CenterTel: 274 3277

Centre for Cultural Heritage PreservationTel: 276 6244, Fax: 276 6241info@bethlehem2000.orgwww.bethlehem2000.org/cchp

Inad Centre for Theatre & ArtsTelefax: 276 6263; Fax: 276 7746inad38@yahoo.com

International Centre of Bethlehem-Dar AnnadwaTel: 277 0047, Fax: 277 0048addar@annadwa.orgwww.annadwa.org

ITIP Center "Italian Tourist Information Point"Telefax: 276 0411itipcenter@yahoo.com

Palestinian Heritage CenterTelefax: 274 2381; 274 2642mahasaca@palestinianheritagecenter.comwww.palestinianheritagecenter.com

Palestinian Group for the Revival of Popular HeritageTelefax: 274 7945

Sabreen Association for Artistic DevelopmentTel: 275 0091, Fax: 275 0092bidayat@sabreen.org

Tent of NationsTel: 274 3071, Fax: 276 7446tnations@p-ol.comwww.tentofnations.org

The Edward Said National Conservatory of MusicTelefax: 274 5989

The Higher Institute of MusicTelefax: 275 2492highiom@hotmail.com www.thehigherinstituteofmusic.ps

Turathuna - Centre for Palestinian Heritage (B.Uni.)Tel: 274 1241, Fax: 274 4440pdaoud@bethlehem.eduwww.bethlehem.edu

Hebron (02)Association d'Echanges Culturels Hebron-France (AECHF)Telefax: 222 4811

Beit Et Tifl CompoundTelefax: 229 1559tdphebron@alqudsnet.com

British Council - Hebron Contact Point(Palestine Polytechnic University) Telefax: 229 3717

Dura Cultural Martyrs CenterTel: 228 3663nader@duramun.orgwww.duramun.org

Palestinian Child Arts Center (PCAC)Tel: 222 4813, Fax: 222 0855pcac@hotmail.comwww.pcac.net

Theatre Day ProductionsTelefax: 229 1559tdphebron@alqudsnet.com

Jericho (02)Jericho Community CentreTelefax: 232 5007

Jericho Culture & Art CenterTelefax: 232 1047

Municipality TheatreTel: 232 2417, Fax: 232 2604

Nablus (09)British Council Info-Point (An-Najjah University)Telefax: 237 5950

Cultural Centre for Child DevelopmentTel: 238 6890; Fax: 239 7518nutaleb@hotmail.comwww.nutaleb.cjb.net

French Cultural CentreTel: 238 5914, Fax: 238 7593 ccfnaplouse@consulfrance-jerusalem.org

Ramallah & Al-Bireh (02)A. M. Qattan FoundationTel: 296 0544, Fax: 298 4886info@qattanfoundation.orgwww.qattanfoundation.org

Al-Kamandjâti AssociationTel: 297 3101info@alkamandjati.comwww.alkamandjati.com

Al-Kasaba Theatre and CinemathequeTel: 296 5292/3, Fax: 296 5294info@alkasaba.orgwww.alkasaba.org

Al-Rahhalah TheatreTelefax: 298 8091alrahhalah@hotmail.com

AmideastTel: 240 8023, Fax: 240 8017westbank-gaza@amideast.orgwww.amideast.org

Ashtar for Theatre ProductionTel: 298 0037, Fax: 296 0326info@ashtar-theatre.orgwww.ashtar-theatre.org

Baladna Cultural CenterTel: 295 8435, Fax: 295 8435

British CouncilTel: 296 3293-6, Fax: 296 3297britishcouncil@ps.britishcouncil.org,www.britishcouncil.org/ps

Carmel Cultural FoundationTel: 298 7375, Fax: 298 7374

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Cinema Production CenterTel: 298 6942cpc@p-ol.com

El-Funoun Dance TroupeTel: 240 2853, Fax: 240 2851www.el-funoun.org

First Ramallah Group, Sareyyet RamallahTel: 295 2706 - 295 26 90, Fax: 298 0583sirreyeh@palnet.comwww.sirreyeh.org

Franco-German Cultural Centre RamallahTel: 298 1922 / 7727, Fax: 298 1923info@ccf-goethe.org

Greek Cultural Centre - "Macedonia"Telefax: 298 1736/ 298 0546makdonia@palnet.com

In'ash Al-Usra Society- Center for Heritage & Folklore StudiesTel: 240 1123 / 2402876, Telefax: 2401544usra@palnet.comwww.inash.org

Khalil Sakakini Cultural CenterTel: 298 7374, Fax: 298 7375sakakini@sakakini.orgwww.sakakini.org

Manar Cultural CenterTel: 295 7937, Fax: 298 7598

Mazra’a Qibliyeh Heritage and Tourism CentreTelefax: 281 5825mazraaheritage@yahoo.comwww.geocities.com/mazraaheritage/

Palestinian Association for Contemporary Art PACATelefax: 295 1849paca@pal-paca.orginfo@pal-paca.org

Palestinian Association for Cultural Exchange (PACE)Tel: 240 7611Telfax: 2407610pace@p-ol.com, www.pace.ps

Popular Art Center Tel: 240 3891, Fax: 240 2851info@popularartcentre.orgwww.popularartcentre.org

Ramallah Cultural PalaceTel: 298 4704 - 295 2105, Fax: 295 2107events@ramallahculturalpalace.orginfo@ramallahculturalpalace.orgwww.ramallahculturalpalace.org

RIWAQ: Centre for Architectural ConservationTel: 240 6887, Fax: 240 6986riwaq@palnet.com, www.riwaq.org

ShashatTel: 297 3336, Fax: 297 3337info@shashat.org, www.shashat.org

Sharek Youth ForumTel: 296 7741, Fax: 296 7742info@sharek.ps, www.sharek.ps

Tamer Institute for Community EducationTel: 298 6121 / 2, Fax: 298 8160tamer@palnet.com, www.tamerinst.org

Tantoura Puppet TheatreJawwal: 0599 653 149tantoura2000@yahoo.com

The Edward Said National Conservatory of MusicTel: 295 9070, Fax: 295 9071

The League of Palestinian ArtistsTelefax: 296 7013p-art@p-ol.com

The Palestinian Network of Art CentresTelefax: 240 7939 network@p-ol.com

Gaza Strip (08) Al-Qattan Centre for the ChildTel: 283 9929, Fax: 283 9949reem@qcc.qattanfoundation.orgwww.qattanfoundation.org/qcc

Arts & Crafts VillageTelefax: 284 6405artvlg@palnet.com

Ashtar for Culture & ArtsTelefax: 283 3569atlas9@palnet.com

British CouncilTel: 282 5394, Fax: 282 0512britishcouncil@ps.britishcouncil.orgwww.britishcouncil.org/psCulture & Free Thought Association Telefax: 285 1299

Culture & Light CentreTelefax: 286 5896ifarah@palnet.com

Fawanees Theatre GroupTelefax: 288 4403

French Cultural CentreTel: 286 7883, Fax: 282 8811ccfgaza@palnet.net

Gaza Theatre Tel: 282 4860, Fax: 282 4870

Global Production and DistributionTelefax: 2884399art.global@yahoo.com

Holst Cultural Centre Tel: 281 0476, Fax: 280 8896mcrcg@palnet.com

Rashad Shawwa Cultural CentreTel: 286 4599, Fax: 286 8965shawacentre@hotmail.com

Science & Culture CentreTel: 281 0476, Fax: 280 8896

Theatre Day ProductionsTelefax: 283 6766tdpgaza@palnet.com

Commodore Hotel (45 rooms; cf; mr; res)Tel: 627 1414, Fax: 628 4701Gloria Hotel (94 rooms; mr; res)Tel: 628 2431, Fax: 628 2401gloriahl@netvision.net.il

Golden Walls Hotel (112 rooms)Tel: 627 2416, Fax: 626 4658info@goldenwalls.com, www.goldenwalls.comHoly Land Hotel (105 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)Tel: 627 2888 / 628 4841, Fax: 628 0265

Jerusalem Hotel (14 rooms; bf; mr; res; live music)Tel: 628 3282, Fax: 628 3282raed@jrshotel.com, www.jrshotel.com Jerusalem Claridge Hotel (30 rooms; bf; mr; res)Tel: 234 7137, Fax: 234 7139claridge@palnet.com

Jerusalem Meridian Hotel (74 rooms; bf; mr; res)Tel: 628 5212, Fax: 628 5214www.jerusalem-meridian.com

Jerusalem Panorama Hotel (74 rooms; bf; mr; res)Tel: 627 2277, Fax: 627 3699panaroma@trendline.com.il

Knights Palace Guesthouse (50 rooms)Tel: 628 2537, Fax: 628 2401kp@actcom.co.il

Lawrence Hotel (30 rooms; business facilites; res)Tel: 626 4208, Fax: 627 1285karine@actcom.co.il

East Jerusalem (02)Addar Hotel (30 suites; bf; mr; res)Tel: 626 3111, Fax: 626 0791www.addar-hotel.com

Alcazar Hotel (38 rooms; bf; mr; res)Tel: 628 1111; Fax: 628 7360admin@jrscazar.com, www.jrscazar.com

Ambassador Hotel (122 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)Tel: 541 2222, Fax: 582 8202amb@netvision.net.il, www.jerusalemambassador.com

American Colony Hotel (84 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)Tel: 627 9777, Fax: 627 9779reserv@amcol.co.il, www.americancolony.com

Austrian HospiceTel: 626 5800, Fax: 627 1472office@austrianhospice.com, www.austrianhospice.com

Azzahra Hotel (15 rooms, res ) Tel: 628 2447, Fax: 628 3960azzahrahotel@shabaka.net, www.azzahrahotel.com

Capitol Hotel (54 rooms; bf; mr; res)Tel: 628 2561/2, Fax: 626 4352

Capitolina Hotel (ex. YMCA) (55 rooms; bf; cf, mr; res)Tel: 628 6888, Fax: 627 6301capitol@cast-jerusalem-ymca.org

Christmas Hotel (37 rooms; bf; mr; res)Tel: 628 2588, Fax: 626 4417

76 77

Victoria Hotel (50 rooms; bf; res)Tel: 627 4466, Fax: 627 4171

YWCA Hotel (30 rooms; bf; mr)Tel: 628 2593, Fax: 628 4654 ywca@ywca-palestine.org, www.ywca-palestine.org

Bethlehem (02)Alexander Hotel (42 rooms; bf; mr; res)Tel: 277 0780, Fax: 277 0782

Al-Salam Hotel (26 rooms; 6f; mr; cf; res)Tel: 276 4083\4, Fax: 277 0551samhotel@p-ol.com

Beit Al-Baraka Youth Hostel (19 rooms)Tel: 222 9288, Fax: 222 9288

Beit Ibrahim GuesthouseTel: 274 2613, Fax: 274 4250reception@luthchurch.com, www.abrahams-herberge.com

Bethlehem Hotel (209 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)Tel: 277 0702, Fax: 277 0706bhotel@p-ol.com

Bethlehem Inn (36 rooms; bf; mr; res)Tel: 274 2423, Fax: 274 2424

Bethlehem Palace Hotel (25 rooms; bf; res)Tel: 274 2798, Fax: 274 1562

Bethlehem Star Hotel (72 rooms; cf; bf; res)Tel: 274 3249 / 277 0285, Fax: 274 1494htstar@palnet.com

Casanova Hospice(60 rooms; mr; res)Tel: 274 3981, Fax: 274 3540

Everest Hotel (19 rooms; bf; mr; res)Tel: 274 2604, Fax: 274 1278

Grand Hotel (107 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)Tel: 274 1602 / 274 1440, Fax: 274 1604grandhotel_beth@hotmail.com

Golden Park Resort & Hotel (Beit Sahour)(54 rooms; res, bar, pool) Tel: 277 4414

Inter-Continental Hotel (Jacir Palace)(250 rooms; su; bf; cf; mr; res)Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6770

Lutheran Guesthouse "Abu Gubran"Tel: 277 0047

Metropol HotelTel: 628 2507, Fax: 628 5134

Mount of Olives Hotel (61 rooms; bf; mr; res)Tel: 628 4877, Fax: 626 4427info@mtolives.coml, www.mtolives.com

Mount Scopus Hotel (65 rooms; bf; mr; res)Tel: 582 8891, Fax: 582 8825mtscopus@netvision.net.il

New Imperial Hotel (45 rooms)Tel: 627 2000, Fax: 627 1530

New Metropole Hotel (25 rooms; mr; res)Tel: 628 3846, Fax: 627 7485

New Regent Hotel (24 rooms; bf; mr; res)Tel: 628 4540, Fax: 626 4023atictour@palnet.com

New Swedish HostelTel: 627 7855, Fax: 626 4124swedishhost@yahoo.com, www.geocities.com/swedishhostel

Notre Dame GuesthouseTel: 627 9111, Fax: 627 1995

Petra Hostel and HotelTel: 628 6618

Pilgrims Inn Hotel (16 rooms; bf; mr; res)Tel: 627 2416info@goldenwalls.com

Rivoli HotelTel: 628 4871, Fax: 627 4879

Savoy Hotel (17 rooms) Tel: 628 3366, Fax: 628 8040

Seven Arches Hotel (197 rooms; bf; mr; res)Tel: 626 7777, Fax: 627 1319 svnarch@trendline.co.il

St. Andrew’s Scottish Guesthouse “The Scottie” (17 rooms + 1 hostel)Tel: 673 2401; Fax: 673 1711standjer@netvision.net.il, www.scothotels.co.il

St. George Hotel (144 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)Tel: 627 7232 / 627 7323, Fax: 628 2575stgeorge1@bezeqint.net, www.hotelstgeorge-jer.com

St. George's Pilgrim Guest House(25 rooms; bf; res)Tel: 628 3302, Fax: 628 2253sghostel@bezeqint.net

Strand Hotel (88 rooms; mr; res)Tel: 628 0279, Fax: 628 4826

78 79

Nativity Hotel (89 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res)Tel: 277 0650, Fax: 274 4083nativity@nativity-hotel.com, www.nativity-hotel.com

Paradise Hotel (166 rooms;cf;bf;mr;res;su;pf)tel: 274 4542 /3, 274 4544 paradise@p-ol.com

Saint Antonio Hotel (36 rooms; mr; cf;res;pf)Tel: 274 4308, Fax: 277 0524

Santa Maria Hotel (83 rooms; mr; res)Tel: 276 7374/5/6, Fax: 276 7377smaria@p-ol.com

Shepherd HotelTel: 274 0656, Fax: 274 4888info@shepherdhotel.com, www.shepherdhotel.com

St. Nicholas Hotel (25 rooms; res; mr)Tel: 274 3040/1/2, Fax: 274 3043

Saint Vincent Guest House (36 rooms)Tel: 276 0967/8, Fax: 276 0970svincent@p-ol.com, www.saintvincentguesthouse.net

Talita Kumi Guest House (22 rooms; res; mr; cf)Tel: 274 1247, Fax: 274 1847

Jericho (02)Al- Zaytouna Guest House (7 rooms; bf; res; mr)Telefax: 274 2016ir Hijleh MonasteryTel: 994 3038, 050-348 892

Hisham Palace HotelTel: 232 2414, Fax: 232 3109

Inter-Continental Jericho (181 rooms; su; bf; cf; mr; res; ter; tb) Tel: 231 1200, Fax: 231 1222

Jericho Resort Village (60 rooms; 46 studios; bf; cf; mr; res)Tel: 232 1255, Fax: 232 2189reservation@jerichoresorts.com, www.jerichoresorts.com

Jerusalem Hotel (22 rooms)Tel: 232 2444, Fax: 992 3109

Telepherique & Sultan Tourist Center (55 rooms) Tel: 232 1590, Fax: 232 1598 info@jericho-cablecar.com

Hebron (02)Hebron Tourist HotelTelfax: 222 6760Regency Hotel (76 rooms; su; res; tb; cf; bf)Tel: 225 7389/98, Fax: 225 7388regency@palnet.com, www.hebron-regency.com

Nablus (09)Al-Qaser Hotel (38 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res) Tel: 238 5444, Fax: 238 5944 , alqasr@netvision.net.il

Al-Yasmeen Hotel & Souq (30 rooms; cf; mr; res) Tel: 233 3555 Fax: 233 3666 yasmeen@palnet.com, www.alyasmeen.com

Asia Hotel (28 rooms, res )Telefax: 238 6220

Chrystal Motel (12 rooms) Telefax: 233 3281

Ramallah & Al-Bireh (02)Al-A'in Hotel (24 rooms and suites; mr; cf)Tel: 240 5925, 240 4353 Fax: 240 4332alainhotel@hotmail.com

Al-Bireh Tourist Hotel (50 rooms; cf; res) Telefax: 240 0803

Al-Hajal Hotel (22 rooms; bf) Telefax: 298 7858

Al-Murouj Pension (Jifna village) (8 rooms; res) Telefax: 281 0881Al-Wihdah HotelTelefax: 298 0412

Ankars Suites (22 suites; cf; res; bf)Tel: 295 2602, Fax: 295 2603info@ankarsuites.com

Best Eastern Hotel (91 rooms; cf; res) Tel: 296 0450, Fax: 295 8452 besteastern@jrol.com

City Inn Palace Hotel (47 rooms; bf; cf; res) Tel: 240 8080, Fax: 240 8091

Grand Park Hotel & Resorts(84 rooms; 12 grand suites; bf; cf; mr; res; sp; pf) Tel: 298 6194, Fax: 295 6950 info@grandpark.com

Gemzo Suites (90 executive suites; cs; mr; pf; gm; res) Tel: 240 9729, Fax: 240 9532gemzo@palnet.com, www.gemzosuites.netManarh Hotel Tel: 295 2122, Telefax: 295 3274fyaraj@hotmail.com, www.manarahhotel.com.psMerryland Hotel (25 rooms) Tel: 298 7176, Telefax: 298 7074Rocky Hotel (22 rooms; cf; res; ter) Tel: 296 4470 Telefax: 296 1871

Pension Miami (12 rooms) Telefax: 295 6808Plaza Hotel Telefax: 298 2020Ramallah Hotel (22 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 295 3544, Fax: 295 5029

Retno Hotel (15 rooms & su; res; mr; gm; sp)Telefax: 295 0022, retnohotel@yahoo.comRoyal Court Suite Hotel (24 suites; res) Tel: 296 4040, Fax: 296 4047

Gaza Strip (08)Adam Hotel (76 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res) Telefax: 282 3521/19

Al-Amal, Palestinian Red Crescent Guesthouse Tel: 286 1832Al-Deira (11 suites; cf; mr; res; ter) Tel: 283 8100/200/300, Fax:283 8400ADEIRA@P-I-S.com

Al-Quds In ter na tional Hotel (44 rooms; 2 suites; bf; mr; res) Telefax: 2825181, 2826223, 2863481, 2822269

Al-Waha Hotel Tel: 287 0880, Fax: 287 0889

Beach Hotel (25 rooms; bf; mr; res) Telefax: 282 5492, 284 8433

Cliff Hotel (24 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 282 3450 Fax: 282 0742

Commodore Gaza Hotel (120 rooms;su; bf)Tel: 283 4400, Fax: 282 2623hotel@commodorgaza.com

Gaza International Hotel (30 rooms; bf; cf; res; sp) Tel: 283 0001/2/3/4, Fax: 283 0005

Grand Palace Hotel (20 rooms; cr; mr; cf; res; internet)Tel: 284 9498 / 6468, Fax: 284 9497grand_palace@p-i-s.com

Hotel Sea Breeze Tel: 283 0277, 284 2654, Fax: 282 4231

Marna House (17 rooms; bf; mr; res) Tel: 282 2624, Fax: 282 3322

Palestine Hotel (54 rooms; bf; cf; mr; res) Tel: 282 3355, Fax: 286 0056

Summerland Tourist Village (casino; cf; res) Tel: 284 7171, Fax: 286 4008

Zahrat Al-MadainTel: 282 6801

Key: su = suites, bf = business facilities; mr = meeting rooms, cr = conference facilities; res = restaurant, ter = terrace bar; tb = turkish bath, cf = coffe shop; gm = gym; pf = parking facilities, sp = swimming pool

80 81

Borderline Restaurant CaféTel: 532 8342

Cafَe EuropeTel:628 4313

Café Imperial Tel: 628 2261, Fax: 627 1530

City CafeTel: 583 8055

El Dorada Coffee shop & Internet CaféTel: 626 0993

Four Seasons Restaurants & Coffee ShopTel: 628 6061, Fax: 628 6097

GoodiesTel: 585 3223

Kan Zaman (Jerusa lem Ho tel)Tel: 627 1356

Lotus and Olive Garden (Jerusalem Meridian Hotel)Tel: 628 5212

Mocca Café (Beit Hanina)Tel: 583 6821

Moon Light PizzaTel: 627 5277

Nafoura Tel: 626 0034

Notre Dame - La RotisserieTel: 627 9114; Fax: 627 1995

Panorama RestaurantTel: 626 3344

Papa AndreasTel: 628 4433

Pasha's Tel: 582 5162; 532 8342

Patisserie SuisseTel: 628 4377

PhiladelphiaTel: 628 9770

Pizza HouseTel: 627 3970

Popular Arab Tel: 583 3226

Quick LunchTel: 628 4228

The Gate CaféTel: 627 4282

The Patio (Christmas Hotel)Tel: 628 2588

Victoria Restaurant Tel: 628 3051

East Jerusalem (02)3 Arches RestaurantTel. 569 2692, Fax 623 5192

Al-Diwan (Ambassador Hotel) Tel: 541 2213, Fax: 582 8202

Al-Shuleh GrillTel: 627 3768

Al-Quds Al-Arabi Tel: 627 3963

Amigo EmilTel: 628 8090, Fax: 626 1457

Antonio's (Ambassador Hotel) Tel: 541 2222

Arabesque, Poolside & Patio Restaurants (American Colony Hotel)Tel: 627 9777,Fax: 627 9779

Armenian TavernTel: 627 3854

AskidinyaTel: 532 4590

Az-ZahraTel: 628 2447

Blue DolphinTel. 532 2001, Fax: 581 1737 Bethlehem (02)

Abu EliTel: 274 1897

Abu Shanab RestaurantTel: 274 2985

Al Hakura RestaurantTel: 277 3335

AL-Kuz Café & BarTel: 277 0047

AndalosTel: 274 3519

Al Makan Bar - Jacir Palace Inter-Continental BethlehemTel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6754

BalloonsTel : 275 0221, Fax : 277 7115

Baidar - Jacir Palace Inter-Continental BethlehemTel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6754

Cafe BonjourTel: 274 0406

Cafe SimaTel: 275 2058

CentralTel: 274 1378

Cigar Bar (Jacir Palace Inter-Continental Bethlehem)Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6754

Dar Jdoudnah Coffee ShopTel: 274 3212

Golden RoofTel: 274 3224 Il’iliyeh Restaurant Tel: 277 0047

La TerrasseTel: 275 3678

Mariachi (Grand Hotel)Tel: 274 1440

Riwaq Courtyard (Jacir Palace Inter-Continental) Tel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6754

Shepherds Valley Village (The Tent)Tel: 277 3875

Tachi ChineseTel: 274 4382

Zaitouneh - Jacir PalaceInter-Continental BethlehemTel: 276 6777, Fax: 276 6754

Jericho (02)Al-AmaraTel: 232 3500

Al-Nafoura Restaurant (Jericho Resort Village)Tel: 232 1255, Fax: 232 2189

Al-RawdaTel: 232 2555

Al-Rabiyah Park & Restaurant Tel: 232 4060

Green Valley ParkTel: 232 2349

Jabal QuruntulTel: 232 2614; 232 2593

Jericho Tent Tel: 232 3820

Old Jericho TentTel: 232 3820

Papaya ParkMob: 0505 286 067

SamhouriTel: 232 3252

Spanish ParkMob: 0505 515 518

Seven TreesTel: 232 2781

ShallalMob: 0505 520 932

Sultan Restaurant - Jericho Cable CarTel: 232 4025

TahhanTel: 232 2600

82 83

Nablus (09)Al-MankalTel: 267 5362

RozanaTel: 238 5676

Salim Afandi Tel: 237 1332

Zeit Ou Zaater (Al-Yasmeen Hotel)Tel: 238 3164

Ramallah &Al-Bireh (02)Addar (Birzeit)Tel: 281 0274AlmakanTel: 295 7676

AlmondsTel: 295 7028

Al-AseelTel: 298 0456

Al-Bardauni'sTel: 295 1410

Al-MattalTel: 298 6529

Al-PashaTel: 0599 609 050 (Jifna)

Angelo's Tel: 295 6408

Baladna Ice CreamTel: 295 6721Benny's Tel: 296 0937

Caesar's (Grand Park Hotel)Tel: 298 6194

Café Mocha RenaTel: 298 1460

CasablancaTel: 298 7658

ChampsTel: 298 7188

Chinese House RestaurantTel: 296 4081

Cliff House (Rocky Hotel)Tel: 296 4470DarnaTel: 295 0590

Diwan Art coffee shopTel: 297 3043

Elite Coffee House Tel: 296 5169Ein Al-Marj (Birzeit) Tel: 281 0220/1

FawaneesTel: 298 7046

KingsTel: 296 4040

K5M - CaterersTel: 295 6813Mr. Donuts CafَeTel: 240 7196Mr. Pizza Tel: 240 3016

Muntaza Restaurant & GardenTel: 295 6835

Osama's PizzaTel: 295 3270Piano RestaurantTel: 298 7995Pizza InnTel: 298 1181/2

Plaza Restaurant & ParkTel: 295 6020Pollo-Loco (Mexican)Tel: 298 1984

Pronto Resto-Café (Italian) Tel: 298 7312

Rukab's Ice CreamTel: 295 3467

Saba SandwichesTel: 296 0116

Samer Tel: 240 5338

Sangria's Tel: 295 6808

Sinatras Cafe & Restaurant Tel: 297 1028

StonesTel: 296 6038Tabash (Jifna village)Tel: 281 0932TabounTel: 298 0505

Tal El-Qamar Roof Tel: 298 7905/6

The Orthodox Club Tel: 295 6520Tomasso'sTel: 240 9991

UrjuwanTel: 298 7783/4

Urobian Coffee shopTel: 295 7031, 296 6505

Vatche's Garden RestaurantTel: 296 5966; Fax 296 5988

Zan Restaurant and PubTel: 297 0548

Zarour Bar BQTel: 295 6767; 296 4480

Zeit ou ZaaterTel: 295 4455

ZiryabTel: 295 9093

Gaza Strip (08)Abu NuwasTel: 284 5211

Al-AndalusTel: 282 1272

Al-BaidarTel: 286 1321

84 85

East Jerusalem (02) Armenian Museum, Old City, Tel: 628 2331, Fax.: 626 4861, Opening hours: Mon.- Sat. from 9:00 - 16:30 • Dar At Tifl Museum (Dar At Tifl Association), Near the Orient House, Tel: 628 3251, Fax: 627 3477 • Islamic Museum (The Islamic Waqf Asso ciation), Old City, Tel: 628 3313, Fax: 628 5561, Opening hours for tourists: daily from 7:30 - 13:30 • Qalandia Camp Women's Handicraft Coop., Telefax: 656 9385, Fax: 585 6966, qalandia@palnet.com

Ramallah & Al-Bireh (02) Museum of Palestinian Popular Heritage - In'ash el Usra, In'ash el Usra society, Al-Bireh, Tel: 240 2876, Fax: 240 1544, Opening hours: daily from 8:00 - 15:00 except Fridays • The Birzeit University Ethnographic and Art Museum Tel: 298 2976, vtamari@birzeit.edu, Opening hours: daily from 9:00 - 14:30 except for Fridays and Sundays

Bethlehem (02) Al-Bad Museum for Olive Oil Production, Tel: 274 1581, Opening hours: 8:00-14:30 Monday through Saturday • Baituna al Talhami Museum, (Folklore Museum) Arab Women's Union, Tel: 274 2589, Fax: 274 2431, Opening hours: daily from 8:00 - 12:00/ 14:00 - 17:00 except for Sundays and Thursdays afternoon • Bethlehem Peace Center Museum, Tel: 276 6677, Fax: 274 1057, info@peacenter.org, www.peacenter.org, Opening hours: daily from 10:00-18:00 except Sundays from 10:00 - 16:00 • Natural History Mu-seum, Telefax: 277 4373, wildlife@palnet.com, www.wildlife-pal.org • The Crib of Nativity Museum, Tel: 276 0876, Fax: 276 0877, crib@p-ol.com, www.cribofnativity.com • The International Museum of Nativity, Tel: 274 7825 • Palestinian Ethnographic Museum, Tel: 276 7467, Fax: 276 0533, artas_fc@yahoo.com, Opening hours: daily from 9:00 - 17:00 • Palestinian Heritage Center, Telefax: 274 2381, mahasaca@palestinianheritagecenter.com, www.palestinianheritagecenter.com

East Jerusalem (02) Car Rental AutoNation, Tel: 585 1666, Mob: 0504 414 449 • Car & Drive, Tel: 656 5562/3 • Dallah Al-Baraka, Tel: 656 4150 • Good Luck, Tel: 627 7033, 656 9851 • Green Peace, Tel: 585 9756, Mob: 0505 522 619 • Orabi, Tel: 585 3101 • Petra, Tel: 582 0716, Mob: 0544 4542 666 Taxis Abdo,Tel: 585 8202 (Beit Hanina), Tel: 628 3281 (Damascus Gate) • Al-Eman Taxi & Lemo Service, Tel: 583 4599, 583 5877 • Al-Sha'ab, Tel: 672 4908 • Al-Rashid, Tel: 628 2220 • Aqsa, Tel: 627 3003 • Beit Hanina, Tel: 585 5777 • Holy Land, Tel: 585 5555 • Imperial, Tel: 628 2504 • Itihad, Tel: 628 6941 • Jaber - Petra, Tel: 583 7275, 583 7276 • Khaled Al-Tahan, Tel: 585 5777 • Mount of Olives, Tel: 627 2777 • Panorama, Tel: 628 1116 • Ummeh, Tel: 234 0378 Tourist Trans por tation Abdo Tourist, Tel: 628 1866 • Future Line Tourss Ltd., Tel: 672 5721, Fax: 671 0081 • Jerusalem of Gold, Tel: 673 7025/6, Mob: 0505 259 186 • Kawasmi Tourist Travel Ltd, Tel: 628 4769, Fax: 628 4710 • Mount of Olives, Tel: 627 1122 • Mahfouz Tourist Travel, Tel: 628 2212, Fax: 628 4015 Bethlehem (02) Car Rental Murad, Tel: 274 7092 • Orabi, Mob: 0505 372 687 • Petra, Mob: 0544 4542 666 • Taxis Asha'b, Tel: 274 2309 • Beit Jala, Tel: 274 2629 Hebron (02) Car Rental Holy Land, Tel: 222 0811 • Taxis Al-Asdiqa', Tel: 222 9436 • Al-Badawi, Tel: 222 8545 • AL-Khalil, Tel: 222 8276 • Al-Najah, Tel: 222 8996 • Al-Nissreen, Tel: 222 8346 • Al-Sha'b, Tel: 222 8726 • Al-Itihad, Tel: 222 8750 • Maydan Al-Quds, Tel: 225 3320

Jericho (02) Car Rental Orabi, Mob: 0505 405 095 • Petra/Allenby Bridge Branch, Tel: 940 0494, Fax: 940 0493 • Taxis Petra, Tel: 232 2525

Nablus (09) Car Rental Orabi, Tel: 238 3383 • Taxis Al-Ittimad, Tel: 237 1439 • Al-Madina, Tel: 237 3501 Ramallah & Al-Bireh (02) Car Rental Good Luck, Tel: 234 2160 • MENA, Tel: 296 5744 • Orabi, Tel: 240 3521 • Petra, Tel: 295 2602 • TWINS, Tel: 296 4688 • Taxis Al-Bireh, Tel: 240 2956 • Al-Masyoun Taxi, Tel: 295 2230 • Al-Salam, Tel: 295 5805 • Al-Wafa, Tel: 295 5444 • Al-Itihad, Tel: 295 5887 • Hinnawi Taxi, Tel: 295 6302, 295 6186 • Omaya, Tel: 295 6120 • Shamma' Taxi Co., Tel: 296 0957 Gaza Strip (08) Car Rental Al-Ahli, Tel: 282 8534 • Al-Farouq, Tel: 284 2755 • Al Rayyes, Tel: 286 3063 • Imad, Tel: 286 4000 • Luzun, Tel: 282 2628 • Palestine, Tel: 282 3841 • Yafa, Tel: 282 5127• Taxis Al-Marwa, Tel: 284 8887 • Al-Nasser, Tel: 286 1844, 286 7845 • Al-Wafa, Tel: 284 9144, 282 4465 • Azhar, Tel: 286 8858 • El-Gherbawi, Tel: 286 3133 • Emad Travels, Tel: 286 4000, 286 5390 • Midan Filastin, Tel: 286 5242

East Jerusalem (02) 4M Travel Agency, Tel: 627 1414, Fax: 628 4701, info@4m-travel.com, www.4m-travel.com • Abdo Tourist & Travel , Tel: 628 1865, Fax: 627 2973, abdotours@hotmail.com • Aeolus Tours, Tel: 0505 635 5496, Fax: 656 5823, aeolus@aeolus-ltd.com • Albina Tours Ltd., Tel: 628 3397, Fax: 628 1215, albina@netvision.net.il; info@albinatours.com, www.albinatours.com, • Arab Tourist Agency (ATA), Tel: 627 7442, Fax: 628 4366,george@atajrs.com • Aswar Tourism Services, Tel: 628 2183, Fax: 628 2189, hai_mou_t_s@yahoo.com • Atic Tours & Travel Ltd., Tel: 628 6159, Fax: 626 4023, info@atictour.com, www.atictour.com • Awad & Co. Tourist Agency, Tel: 628 4021, Fax: 628 7990, admin@awad.tours.com, www.awad-tours.com • Aweidah Bros. Co., Tel: 628 2365, Fax: 628 2366, aweidah@netvision.net.il, www.aweidah.com • Ayoub Caravan Tours, Tel: 628 4361, Fax: 628 5804 caravan@palnet.com • B. Peace Tours & Travel, Tel: 626 1876, Fax: 626 2065, b.peacetours@bezeqint.net • Bible Land Tours, Tel: 627 1169, Fax: 627 2218, links@palnet.com • Blessed Land Tours, Tel: 628 6592, Fax: 628 5812, blt@blessedlandtours.com, www.blessedlandtours.com • Carawan Tours and Travel, Tel: 628 1244, Fax: 628 1406, carawan@jrol.com, www.carawan-tours.com • Daher Travel, Tel: 628 3235, Fax: 627 1574, dahert@netvision.net.il, www.dahertravel.com • Dajani Palestine Tours, Tel: 626 4768, Fax: 627 6927, dajani@netvision.net.il • Dakkak Tours Agency, Tel: 628 2525, Fax: 628 2526, dakkak@netmedia.net.il • Gates of Jerusalem Travel Agency, Tel: 234 4365, Fax: 234 3835, gates@alqudsnet.com • George Garabedian Co., Tel: 628 3398, Fax: 628 7896, ggc@ggc-jer.com • Golden Dome Company for Hajj& Umra Services, Tel: 628 0770, Fax: 628 5912 • Guiding Star Ltd., Tel: 627 3150, Fax: 627 3147, mark@guidingstar2.com, www.guidingstarltd.com • Holy Jerusalem Tours & Travel, Tel: 540 1668; Fax: 540 0963, info@holyjerusalemtours.com, www.holyjerusalemtours.com • Holy Land Tours, Tel: 532 3232, Fax: 532 3292, info@holylandtours.biz • J. Sylvia Tours, Tel: 628 1146, Fax: 628 8277, sylviatours@yahoo.com • Jata Travel Ltd., Tel: 627 5001, Fax: 627 5003, jatatraveltd@hotmail.com • Jiro Tours, Tel: 627 3766, Fax: 628 1020, jiro@netvision.net.il, www.jirotours.com • Jordan Travel Agency, Tel: 628 4052, Fax: 628 7621 • JT & T, Tel: 628 9418, 628 9422, Fax: 628 9298, jtt@bezeqint.net.il, www.jttours.com • KIM's Tourist & Travel Agency, Tel: 627 9725, Fax: 627 4626, kim@shabaka.net, www.kimstours.com • Lawrence Tours & Travel, Tel: 628 4867, Fax: 627 1285, info@lawrence-tours.com • Mt. of Olives Tours Ltd., Tel: 627 1122, Fax: 628 5551moot@netvision.net.il, www.olivetours.com • Nawas Tourist Agency Ltd., Tel: 628 2491, Fax: 628 5755 • Near East Tourist Agency (NET), Tel: 532 8706, Fax: 532 8701, Jerusalem@netours.com, www.netours.com • O.S. Hotel Services, Tel: 628 9260, Fax: 626 4979, os@os-tours.com • Overseas Travel Bureau, Tel: 628 7090, Fax: 628 4442, otb@netvision.net.il • Royal Orient Tours & Travel, Tel: 626 4181/2, Fax: 626 4186, info@royal-orient.net • Safieh Tours & Travel, Tel: 626 4447, Fax: 628 4430 • Samara Tourist & Travel Agency, Tel: 627 6133. Fax: 627 1956, samto@palnet.com • Season Travel ltd., Tel: 627 7552, Fax: 627 7564, info@season-travel.com, www.season-travel.com • Shepherds Tours & Travel, Tel: 628 4121, Fax: 628 0251, info@shepherdstours.com• Shweiki Tours Ltd., Tel: 673 6711, Fax: 673 6966 • Sindbad Travel Tourist Agency, Tel: 627 2165, Fax: 627 2169,

Al-DeiraTel: 283 8100/200

Al-Diwanea TouristTel: 282 5062

AlladinTel: 282 3355

Al-MarsaTel: 286 3599

Al-MoloukeTel: 286 8397

Al-SalamTel: 282 2705

Al-SammakTel: 286 4385

Al-Sammak GhornataTel: 284 0107

Al-SayyadTel: 283 4779

An Nawras Tourist ResortTel: 283 3033

Cyber Internet CaféTel: 284 4704

Fisher touristTel: 283 4779

GranadaTel: 282 2165

La MirageTel: 286 5128

LidoTel: 286 4198

LotusTel: 284 2431

Love BoatTel: 286 1353

ManderinTel: 286 4198

Mika CafeteriaTel: 286 6040

MatouqTel: 282 6245

Palm BeachTel: 286 0142

Pizza InnTel: 284 0415

Summer land VillageTel: 245 3441

Salam BeachTel: 284 4964

Roots - The ClubTel: 288 8666

WhispersTel: 282 1011

White TentTel: 286 0380

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sindbad1@bezeqint.net, www.Sindbad-Travel.com • Siniora Star Tours, Tel: 628 6373, Fax: 628 9078, travel@siniora.net • Terra Sancta Tourist Co, Tel: 628 4733, Fax: 626 4472 • The Pioneer Links Travel & Tourism Bureau, Tel: 626 1963, Fax: 628 4714, www.pioneer-links.com • Tony Tours Ltd., Tel: 244 2050, Fax: 244 2052, ihab64@012.net.il • United Travel Ltd., Tel: 583 3614, Fax: 583 6190, unidas@bezeqint.net, www.unitedtravelltd.com • Universal Tourist Agency, Tel: 628 4383, Fax: 626 4448, uta-j@zahav.net.il, www.universal-jer.com • Zatarah Tourist & Travel Agency, Tel: 627 2725, Fax: 628 9873, zaatarah@jrol.com

Bethlehem (02) Angels Tours and Travel, Tel: 277 5813, Fax: 277 5814, angels@p-ol.com, www.angelstours.com.ps • Arab Agency Travel & Tourism, Tel: 274 1872, Fax: 274 2431, tourism@aca-palestine.com, www.crown-tours.com • Crown Tours & Travel Co. Ltd., Tel: 274 0911, Fax: 274 0910, crowntt@p-ol.com, www.crown-tours.com • Four Seasons Co. Tourism & Travel, Tel: 277 4401, Fax: 277 4402, fseasons@p-ol.com • Friendship Travel & Tourism, Tel: 277 7967, Fax: 277 7987, friendshipest@yahoo.com • Gloria Tours & Travel, Tel: 274 0835, Fax: 274 3021, gloria@p-ol.com • Golden Gate Tours & Travel, Tel: 276 6044, Fax: 276 6045, ggtours@palnet.com • Kukali Travel & Tours, Tel: 277 3047, Fax: 277 2034, kukali@p-ol.com • Laila Tours & Travel, Tel: 277 7997, Fax: 277 7996, laila@lailatours.ps, www.Lailatours.ps • Lama Tours International, Tel: 274 3717, Fax: 274 3747, litco@p-ol.com • Millennium Transportation, TeleFax: 676 7727, 050-242 270 • Mousallam Int'l Tours, Tel: 277 0054, Fax: 277 0054, Mitours@palnet.com • Nativity Travel, Tel: 274 2966, Fax: 274 4546 • Sky Lark Tours and Travel, Tel: 274 2886, Fax: 276 4962, skylark@palnet.com • Terra Santa Tourist Co., Tel: 277 0249 Fax: 277 0250

Beit Jala (02) Guiding Star Ltd., Tel: 276 5970, Fax: 276 5971, info@guidingstar2.com

Beit Sahour (02) Alternative Tourism Group, Tel: 277 2151, Fax: 277 2211, e-mail: atg@p-ol.com, www.patg.org • Brothers Travel & Tours, Tel: 277 5188, Fax: 277 5189, holyland@brostours.com, www.brostours.com • Magi Tours, Telefax: 277 5798, magitours@spidernet.ps

Hebron (02) Al Amir Tours, Telefax: 221 2065, alamiredu@yahoo.com • Alkiram Tourism, Tel: 225 6501/2, Fax: 225 6504, alkiram@hebronet.com • Al-Haya Travel & Tourism, Tel: 229 3108, Fax: 229 7496 • Al-Salam Travel and Tours Co., Tel: 221 5574, Fax: 223 3747 • Arab Nisr Travel & Tourism, Tel: 221 5970/1, Fax: 229 2730/1, arabnisr@yahoo.com • Sabeen Travel Tourism, Telefax: 229 4775, sabeenco@yahoo.com

Ramallah (02) Al-Asmar Travel Agency, Telefax: 295 4140, 296 5775, asmar@p-ol.com • Al Awdah Tourism & Travel, Tel: 295 2597, Fax: 295 2989 • All Middle East Pilgrimage and Tourism Coordination Office, Telefax: 289 8123, admin@historicholyland.com, www.ameptco.com • Amani Tours, Telefax: 298 7013, amanitr@p-ol.com • Anwar Travel Agency, Tel: 295 6388, Fax: 295 6517, alaa@palnet.com • Arab Office for Travel & Tourism, Tel: 295 6640, Fax: 295 1331 • Atlas Tours & Travel, Tel: 295 2180, Fax: 298 6395, www.atlasavia.com • Darwish Travel Agency, Tel: 295 6221, Fax: 295 7940 • Golden Globe Tours, Tel: 296 5111, Fax: 296 5110, gg-tours@palnet.com • Issis & Co., Tel: 295 6250, Fax: 295 4305 • Jordan River Tourist & Travel Agency, Tel: 298 0523, Fax: 298 0524 • Kashou' Travel Agency, Tel: 295 5229, Fax: 295 3107, mkashou@palnet.com • The Pioneer Links Travel & Tourism Bureau, Tel: 240 7859, Fax: 240 7860, pioneer@pioneer-links.com • Rahhal Tours & Travel, Tel: 240 3256, Fax: 240 6692, rahhal@mail.com • Raha Tours and Travel, Tel: 296 1780, Fax: 296 1782, raha@palnet.com, www.rahatravel.com • Ramallah Travel Agency, Tel: 295 3692, Fax: 295 5029, admin@kaoud.org, www.kaoud.org • Reem Travel Agency, Tel: 295 3871, Fax: 295 3871 • Royal Tours, Tel: 296 6350/1 Fax: 296 6635 • Sabeen Travel Tourism, Telefax: 240 5931, sabeenco@yahoo.com • Salah Tours, Tel: 295 9931, Fax: 298 7206 • Shbat & Abdul Nur, Tel: 295 6267, Fax: 295 7246 • Skyway Tourist Agency, Telefax: 296 5090

Jenin (04) Asia Travel Tourism, Telefax: 243 5157, www.asia-tourism.net • Al Sadeq Travel & Tourism, Tel: 243 8055, Fax: 243 8057, email: amr_jarrar@yahoo.com

Nablus (09) Dream Travel & Tourism, Tel: 233 5056, Fax: 237 2069 • Firas Tours, Tel: 234 4565, Fax: 234 7781 • Top Tour, Tel: 238 9159, Fax: 238 1425, toptourandtravel@yahoo.com • Yaish International Tours, Telefax: 238 1410, 238 1437, yaishtrl@palnet.com

Gaza Strip (08) Al-Muntazah Travel Agency, Tel: 282 7919 Fax: 282 4923 • Halabi Tours and Travel Co., Tel: 282 3704, Fax: 286 6075, halabitours@email.com, www.halabitours.ps • Maxim Tours, Tel : 282 4415 Fax: 286 7596 • National Tourist Office, Tel: 286 0616 Fax: 286 0682, shurafa@mtcgaza.com • Time Travel Ltd., Tel: 283 6775, Fax: 283 6855, timetravel@marna.com

Air France and KLM, Tel: 02 628 2535/6 (Jerusa lem), Tel: 08 286 0616 (Gaza) • Air Malta, Tel: 02 298 6395 (Ramallah) • Air Sinai - Varig, Tel: 02 627 2725 (Jerusalem), Tel: 08 282 1530 (Gaza) • Alitalia, Tel: 02 628 3515/6788 (Jerusalem) • British Airways, Tel: 02 628 8654 (Jerusalem) • Continental Airlines, Tel. 02 626 0606 (Jerusalem) • Cyprus Airways, Tel: 02 240 4894 (Al-Bireh) • Egypt Air, Tel: 02-298 6950/49 (Ramallah), Tel: 08 282 1530 (Gaza) • Emirates Airlines, Tel: 02 296 1780, (Ramallah) • Gulf Air, Tel: 09 238 6312 (Nablus), Tel: 02 295 3912/3 (Ramallah) • Iberia, Tel: 02 628 3235/7238 (Jerusalem) • Lufthansa, Tel: 09 238 2065 (Nablus) • Malev-Hungarian Airlines, Tel: 02 295 2180 (Ramallah) • Palestine Airlines, Tel: 08 282 2800 (Gaza), Tel: 08 282 9526/7 (Gaza) • Qatar Airways, Tel: 02 240 4895 (Al-Bireh), Tel: 08-284 2303 (Gaza), Royal Jordanian Airways, Tel: 02-240 5060 (Ramallah), Tel: 08 282 5403/13 (Gaza) • SN Brussels Airlines, Tel: 02 295 2180

CONSULATESEast Jerusalem (02) Apostolic Delegation, Tel: 628 2298, Fax: 628 1880 • Belgium, Tel: 582 8263, Fax: 581 4063, e-mail: jerusalem@diplobel.org • European Community - Delegation to the OPT, Tel: 541 5888, Fax: 541 5848 • France, Tel: 582 8250, Fax: 582 0032 • Great Britain, Tel: 541 4100, Fax: 532, 2368, britain.jerusalem@fco.gov.uk, www.britishconsulate.org • Greece, Tel: 582 8316, Fax: 532 5392 • Italy, Tel 582 2170, Fax: 561 9190 • Spain, Tel: 582 8006, Fax: 582 8065 • Sweden, Tel: 582 8212, Fax: 582 8801 • Turkey, Tel: 591 0555-7, Fax: 582 0214, e-mail: turkudus@netvision.net.il • United States of America, Tel: 622 7230, Fax: 625 9270

REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES TO THE PNA Ramallah & Al-Bireh (02) Australia, Tel: 240 7710, Fax: 240 8290, austrep@palnet.com, ausaid@palnet.com • Austria, Tel: 240 1477, Fax: 240 0479 • Brazil, Tel. 295 3753, Fax 295 3756, admin-office@rep-brazil.org • Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Tel: 240 58 60/1, Fax: 2405862, representacionenpalestina@yahoo.com / representacionenpalestina@hotmail.com • Canada, Tel: 295 8604, Fax: 295 8606 • Chile, Tel: 296 0850, Fax: 298 4768, chileram@palnet.com • Cyprus, Tel: 240 6959, Fax: 240 4897 • Czech Republic, Tel: 296 5595, Fax: 296 5596 • Denmark, Tel: 240 2330, Fax: 240 0331 • Finland, Tel: 240 0340, Fax: 240 0343 • Germany, Tel: 298 4788, Fax: 298 4786, gerrprof@palnet.com • Hungary, Tel: 240 7676, Fax: 240 7678, humisram@palnet.com • India, Tel: 290 3033, Fax: 290 3035, roi_ramallah@palnet.com • Ireland, Tel: 240 6811/2/3, Fax: 240 6816, irishrep@palnet.com • Mexico, Tel: 297 5592, Fax: 297 5594, ofimex-ramala@palnet.com • Norway, Tel: 234 5050, Fax: 234 5079, repram@mfa.no • Poland, Tel: 2971318, Fax: 2971319 • Portugal, Tel: 240 7291/3, Fax: 240 7294 • Republic of Korea, Tel: 240 2846/7, Fax: 240 2848 • Russian Federation, Tel: 240 0970, Fax: 240 0971 • South Africa, Tel: 298 7355, Fax: 298 7356, sarep@sarep.org , www.sarep.org • Switzerland, Tel: 240 8360, e-mail: vertretung@rah.rep.admin.ch • The Netherlands, Tel. 240 6639, Fax. 240 9638 • The People’s Republic of China, Tel: 295 1222, Fax: 295 1221, chinaoffice@palnet.com

Gaza Strip (08) Egypt, Tel: 282 4290, Fax: 282 0718 • Germany, Tel: 282 5584, Fax: 284 4855 • Japan, Tel: 284 2406, Fax: 284 2416 • Jordan, Tel: 282 5134, Fax: 282 5124 • Morocco, Tel: 282 4264, Fax: 282 4104 • Norway, Tel: 282 4615, Fax: 282 1902 • Qatar, Tel: 282 5922, Fax: 282 5932 • South Africa, Tel: 284 1313, Fax: 284 1333 • Tunisia, Tel: 282 5018, Fax: 282 5028

UNITED NATIONS & INTERNATIONAL OR GA NI ZATIONSFAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Jerusalem (02), TeleFax: 532 2757, 532 1950, registry.fao@undp.org, www.fao.org • IBRD, - International Bank for Reconstruction and De vel opment (World Bank), West Bank (02), Tel: 236 6500 Fax: 236 6543, Gaza (08) Tel: 282 4746 Fax: 282 4296, firstletterofsurname.familyname@worldbank.org • IMF, - International Monetary Fund, www.imf.org, Gaza (08), Tel: 282 5913; Fax: 282 5923, West Bank (02), Tel: 236 6530; Fax: 236 6543 • ILO - International Labor Organization, Jerusalem (02), Tel: 626 0212, 628 0933, Fax: 627 6746, Khaled.doudine@undp.org, Ramallah (02), Tel: 290 0022 Fax: 290 0023, Nablus (09), Tel: 237 5692 Tel: 233 8371, Fax: 233 8370 • OHCHR - Office of the High Commissioner For Human Rights, Gaza (08), Tel: 282 7021, Fax: 282 7321, ohchr@undp.org, West Bank Office, Telefax: 02-296 5534 • UNESCO - United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization, Ramallah (02), Tel: 295 9740, Fax: 295 9741, unesco@palnet.com • UNFPA - United Nations Population Fund, Jerusalem (02), Tel: 581 7292, Fax: 581 7382, unfpa.ps@undp.org, www.unfpa.ps • UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund, Jerusalem (02), Tel: 583 0013,4 Fax: 583 0806, Gaza (08), Tel: 286 2400 Fax: 286 2800, Jerusalem@unicef.org • UNIFEM - United Nations Development Fund for Women, Tel: 02-626 8200, Fax: 02-626 8222, unifem@palnet.com • UN OCHA – United Nations Office for Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, Tel: 02-582 9962/02 - 582 5853, Fax: 02-582 5841, ochaopt@un.org, www.ochaopt.org • UNRWA - United Nations Relief and Works Agency, Gaza (08), Tel: 677 7333, Fax: 677 7555, unrwapio@unrwa.org, West Bank (02), Tel: 589 0401, Fax: 532 2714, firstletterofsurname.familyname @unrwa.org • UNSCO - Office of the Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Tel: 08-2843555/02-5687276, Fax: 08-2820966/02-5687288, UNSCO-Media@un.org, www.unsco.org • UNTSO - United Nations Truce Supervision Organization, Jerusalem (02), Tel: 568 7222 - 568 7444, Fax: 568 7400, DPKO-UNTSO-admin@un.org • WFP - World Food Programme, Gaza (08), Tel: 282 7463, Fax: 282 7921, Jerusalem (02), Tel: 540 1340, Fax: 540 1227, Arnold.Vercken@wfp.org • WHO - World Health Organization, Jerusalem (02), Tel: 540 0595 Fax: 581 0193, who@papp.undp.org, Gaza (08) Tel: 282 2033 Fax: 284 5409, who@palnet.com • World Bank, Tel: 236 6500, Fax: 236 6543

United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)Programme of Assistance to the Palestinian People (PAPP)

4 Al-Ya'qubi Street, Jerusalem, Tel: 02 6268200, Fax: 02 6268222 E-mail: registry.papp@undp.org / URL: http://www.papp.undp.org

(Ramallah), SAS Scandinavian • Airlines, Tel: 02 628 3235/7238 (Jerusalem) • Singapore Airlines, Tel: 02 295 2180 (Ramallah) • South African Airways, Tel: 02 628 6257 (Jerusalem) • Swiss International Airlines, Tel: 02 295 2180 (Ramallah) • Tunis Air, Tel: 02 298 7013 (Ramallah), Tel: 08 286 0616 (Gaza) • Turkish Airlines, Tel: 02 277 0130 (Bethlehem)

Airport Information Gaza International Airport, Tel: 08-213 4289 • Ben Gurion Airport, Tel: 03 972 3344

88 89

East Jerusalem (02) Hospitals, Augusta Victoria, Tel: 627 9911 • Dajani Maternity, Tel: 583 3906 • Hadassah (Ein Kerem) Tel: 677 7111 • Hadassah (Mt. Scopus), Tel: 584 4111 • Maqassed, Tel: 627 0222 • Red Crescent Maternity, Tel: 628 6694 • St. John's Opthalmic, Tel: 582 8325 • St. Joseph, Tel: 582 8188 • Clinics and Centers Arab Health Center, Tel: 628 8726 • CHS Clinics, Tel: 628 0602/0499 • Ibn Sina Medical Center, Tel: 540 0083/9, 532 2536 • Jerusalem First Aid Clinic, Tel: 626 4055 • Medi-cal Relief Women's, Health Clinic, Tel: 583 3510 • Palestinian Counseling Center, Tel: 656 2272, 656 2627 • Peace Medical Center, Tel: 532 7111, 532 4259 • Red Crescent Society, Tel: 586 056 • Spafford Children's Clinic, Tel: 628 4875 • The Austrian Arab Commu nity Clinic (AACC), Tel: 627 3246 • The Jerusalem Princess Basma Center for Disabled Children, Tel: 628 3058

Bethlehem (02) Hospitals Al-Dibis Maternity, Tel: 274 4242 • Al-Hussein Government, Tel: 274 1161 • Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation, Tel: 274 4049-51, Fax: 274 4053 • Caritas Baby, Tel: 275 8500, Fax: 275 8501 • Mental Health, Tel: 274 1155 • Shepherd’s Field Hospital, Tel: 277 5092 • St. Mary's Maternity, Tel: 274 2443 • The Holy Family, Tel: 274 1151, Fax: 274 1154 Clinics and Centers Beit Shour Medical Center, Tel: 279 4443 • Bethlehem Dental Center, Tel: 274 3303

Hebron (02) Hos pi tals Amira Alia, Tel: 222 8126 • Al-Ahli, Tel: 222 0212 • Al-Meezan, Tel: 225 7400/1 • Al-Za'tari, Tel: 222 9035 • Hamdan, Tel: 228 1860 • Mohammed Ali, Tel: 225 3883/4 • Shaheera, Tel: 222 6982 • St. John's Opthalmic, Tel: 223 5042 • The Red Crescent, Tel: 222 8333 • Yattah Governmental Hospital, Tel: 227 1017 / 227 1019 Clinics and Centers Red Crescent Society, Tel: 222 7450 • UPMRC, Tel: 222 6663

Jericho (02) Hospitals Jericho Government, Tel: 232 1967/8/9 Clinics and Centers UPMRC, Tel: 232 2148

Nablus (09) Hospitals Al-Aqsa Hospital and Medical Center, Tel: 09 294 7666 • Al-Ittihad, Tel: 237 1491 • Al-Watani, Tel: 238 0039 • Al-Zakat Hospital (TolKarem), Tel: 09 268 0680 • Aqraba Maternity Home, Tel: 09 259 8550 • Rafidia, Tel: 239 0390 • Salfit Emergency Governmental Hospital, Tel: 09 251 5111 • Specialized Arab Hospital, Tel: 239 0390 • St. Luke's, Tel: 238 3818 • UNRWA Qalqilia Hospital (Qalqiliya), Tel: 09 294 0008 Clinics and Centers Al-Amal Center, Tel: 238 3778 • Arab Medical Center, Tel: 237 1515 • Hagar (Handicapped Equipment Center), Tel: 239 8687 • Red Crescent Society, Tel: 238 2153 • UPMRC, Tel: 283 7178

Ramallah & Al-Bireh (02) Hospitals Arabcare Hospital, Tel: 298 6420 • AL-Karmel Maternity Home, Tel: 247 1026 • Al-Mustaqbal Hospital, Tel: 240 4562 • AL-Nather Maternity Hospital, Tel: 295 5295 • Ash-Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Tel: 298 8088 • Birziet Maternity Home, Tel: 281 0616 • Khaled Surgical Hospital, Tel: 295 5640 • Ramallah Government Hospitals, Tel: 298 2216/7 • Red Crescent Hospital, Tel: 240 6260 Clinics and Centers Arab Medical Center, Tel: 295 4334 • Arabcare Medical Center, Tel: 298 6420 • Emergency & Trauma Center, Tel: 298 8088 • Harb Heart Center, Tel: 296 0336 • Modern Dental Center, Tel: 298 0630 • Patients' Friends Society K. Abu Raya Re ha bili tation Centre, Tel: 295 7060/1 • Peace Medical Center, Tel: 295 9276 • Red Crescent Society, Tel: 240 6260 • UPMRC, Tel: 298 4423, 296 0686

Gaza Strip (08) Hospitals Al-Ahli Al-Arabi, Tel: 286 3014 • Dar Al-Salam, Tel: 285 4240 • Nasser, Tel: 205 1244 • Shifa, Tel: 286 2765 Clinics and Centers Arab Medical Center, Tel: 286 2163 • Beit Hanoun Clinic, Tel: 285 8065 • Dar Al-Shifa, Tel: 286 5520 • Hagar (Handicapped Equipment Center), Tel: 284 2636 • St. John's Opthalmic, Tel: 284 8445 • UPMRC, Tel: 282 7837

East Jerusalem (02) Arab Bank (Al-Ezzarieh), Tel: 279 6671, Fax: 279 6677 • Arab Bank (Al-Ram), Tel: 234 8710, Fax: 234 8717 • Center for Development Consultancy (CDC), Tel: 583 3183, Fax: 583 3185 • Commer cial Bank of Palestine, Tel: 279 9886, Fax: 279 9258 • Bethlehem (02) Arab Bank, Tel: 277 0080, Fax: 277 0088 • Arab Land Bank, Tel: 274 0861 • Cairo-Amman Bank, Tel: 274 4971, Fax: 274 4974 • Jordan National Bank, Tel: 277 0351, Fax: 277 0354 • Bank of Palestine Ltd., Tel: 276 5515/6, Fax: 276 5517 • Palestine Investment Bank, Tel: 277 0888, Fax: 277 0889

Hebron (02) Al-Ahli Bank, Tel: 222 4801/2/3/4 • Arab Bank, Tel: 222 6410, Fax: 222 6418 • Bank of Palestine Ltd., Tel: 225 0001/2/3 • Cairo-Amman Bank, (Wadi Al-Tuffah) Tel: 222 5353/4/5 • Cairo-Amman Bank, (Al-Balad) Tel: 222 9803/4 • Cairo-Amman Bank, (The Islamic Branch) Tel: 222 7877 • Islamic Arab Bank, Tel: 2254156/7 • Islamic Bank, Tel: 222 6768 • Jordan Bank, Tel: 222 4351/2/3/4 • Palestine Investment Bank, Tel: 225 2701/2/3/4 • The Housing Bank, Tel: 225 0055

Ramallah (02) Arab Bank, (Al-Balad) Tel: 298 6480, Fax: 298 6488 • Arab Bank, (Al-Bireh), Tel: 295 9581, Fax: 295 9588 •Arab Bank, (Al-Manara) Tel: 295 4821, Fax: 295 4824 • Arab Land Bank, Tel: 295 8421 • Bank of Palestine Ltd., Tel: 298 5921, Fax: 298 5920 • Bank of Palestine Ltd., (Al-Irsal) Tel: 296 6860, Fax: 296 6864 • Beit Al-Mal Holdings, Tel: 298 6916, Fax: 298 6916 • HSBC Bank Middle East, Tel: 298 7802, Fax: 298 7804 • Cairo-Amman Bank, Tel: 298 3500, Fax: 295 5437 • The Center for Private Enterprise Development, Tel: 298 6786, Fax: 298 6787 • Commercial Bank of Palestine, Tel: 295 4141, Fax: 295 4145 • Cooperative Development Unit, Tel: 290 0029, Fax: 290 0029 • Deutsche Ausgleichsbank (DTA), Tel: 298 4462, Fax: 295 2610 • The Housing Bank, Tel: 298 6270, Fax: 298 6276 • International Islamic Arab Bank, Tel: 298 0060, Fax: 298 0065 • Jordan Bank, Tel: 295 8686, Fax: 2958684 • Jordan-Gulf Bank, Tel: 298 7680, Fax: 298 7682 • Jordan National Bank, Tel: 295 9343, Fax: 295 9341 • Palestine International Bank (PIB), Tel: 298 3300, Fax: 298 3333 • Palestine Investment Bank, Tel: 298 7880, Fax: 298 7881 • Union Bank, Tel: 298 6412, Fax: 295 6416

Gaza Strip (08) Arab Bank, Tel: 08-286 6288, Fax: 282 0704 • Arab Bank (Al-Rimal), Tel: 282 4729, Fax: 282 4719 • Arab Bank, (Khan Younis) Tel: 205 4775, Fax: 205 4745 • Arab Bank (Karny), Tel: 280 0020, Fax: 280 0028 • Arab Land Bank, Tel: 282 2046, Fax: 282 1099 • Bank of Palestine Ltd., Tel: 282 3272, Fax: 286 5667 • Beit Al-Mal Holdings, Tel: 282 0722, Fax: 282 5786 • Cairo-Amman Bank, Tel: 282 4950, Fax: 282 4830 • Commercial Bank of Palestine, Tel: 282 5806, Fax: 282 5816 • The Housing Bank, Tel: 282 6322, Fax: 286 1143 • Jordan Bank, Tel: 282 0707, Fax: 282 4341 • Palestine Development Fund, Tel: 282 4286, Fax: 282 4286 • Palestine International Bank (PIB), Tel: 284 4333, Fax: 284 4303 • Palestine Investment Bank, Tel: 282 2105, Fax: 282 2107

Nablus (09) Arab Bank, Tel: 238 2340, Fax: 238 2351 • Arab Bank (Askar), Tel: 231 1694, Fax: 234 2076 • Arab Land Bank, Tel: 238 3651, Fax: 238 3650 • Bank of Palestine Ltd., Tel: 238 2030, Fax: 238 2923 • Bank of Palestine (Al-Misbah), Tel: 231 1460, Fax: 231 1922 • Cairo-Amman Bank, Tel: 238 1301, Fax: 238 1590 • Commercial Bank of Palestine, Tel: 238 5160, Fax: 238 5169 • The Housing Bank, Tel: 238 6060, Fax: 238 6066 • Jordan Bank, Tel: 238 1120, Fax: 238 1126 • Jordan-Gulf Bank, Tel: 238 2191, Fax: 238 1953 • Jordan-Kuwait Bank, Tel: 237 7223, Fax: 237 7181 • Jordan-National Bank, Tel: 238 2280, Fax: 238 2283 • Palestine Investment Bank, Tel: 238 5051, Fax: 238 5057

Border CrossingsAllenby Bridge 02-994 2302 Arava Border 08-630 0555Eretz Crossing 08-674 1672Rafah Border 08-673 4205 Sheikh Hussien 04-609 3410

City Fire Ambulance Police Jerusalem* 02-6282222 101 100 CHS (Old City Jerusalem) 101 / 050-319120 Bethlehem 02-274 1123 101 / 02-274 4222 02-274 8231 Gaza 08-2863633 101 / 08-2863633 08-2863400 Hebron 102/22 28121-2-3 101 100Jericho 02-232 2658 101 / 02-232 1170 02-232 2521 Jenin 04-250 1225 101 / 04-250 2601 04-250 1035 Nablus 09-238 3444 101 / 09-238 0399 09-238 3518 Ramallah 02-295 6102 101 / 02-240 0666 02-295 6571 Tulkarem 09-267 2106 101 / 09-267 2140 09-267 2161 Qalqilia 09-294 0440 101 / 09-294 0440 09-294 22730

Calls from OverseasDial access code, international country code (972) or (970), area code (without the zero), desired number

Telephones ServicesBezeqWake up calls 1475Talking ClockClock time around the world 1455Vocal Information 1975Pager Service 1705Repeat call *41Last call *42Call waiting *70Call forwarding *71General information 199Services 164Corporate services 166

Tourism and An tiq uities PoliceBethlehem 02-277 0750/1Gaza 08-282 9017Jericho 02-232 4011Nablus 09-385 244

PaltelWake up calls 175Free fax service 167Follow me (forwarding calls) 72*Phone book 144Maintenance 166Information 199Internet maintenance 167

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Population and Demography (revised - 2006)Projected Population (15/05/2006)Palestinian Territory ..................................................................................................................3,872,506West Bank (all Governorate) .....................................................................................................2,435,445Gaza Strip .................................................................................................................................1,437,061Jerusalem Governorate ...............................................................................................................405,995Projected Population by Age (Mid 2005)

0-17 years ................................................................................................................................. 52.5%18-64 ......................................................................................................................................... 44.5%65+ .............................................................................................................................................. 3.0%

Sex Ratio (2005) ..............................................................................................................................102.7Fertility rate (2003)*** ..........................................................................................................................4.6Population Natural Increase Rate (2005)*** ........................................................................................3.3

Land Use and AgriculturePalestinian Territory (PT) Area (Km2) ...............................................................................................6,020Area of PT by Type of Use (deferent reference periods) • Agricultural Land (2004) ............................................................................................................... 24.7%• Forest and Wooded Land (2004) ................................................................................................... 1.5%• Palestinian Built-up Land (2000) .................................................................................................... 9.7%Area of built-up land in Israeli Settlements of the total area of West Bank (August, 2004) .............. 3.3%

Cultivated Area (Km2)-2003/2004 ..................................................................................................1,824

Education (2005/2006)Illiteracy rate for persons 15 years and over (2005) ......................................................................... 7.2%No. of schools ** ...............................................................................................................................2,276No. of school teachers ** ................................................................................................................42,385No. of school students ** ...........................................................................................................1,078,488Students per class (schools) ** ...........................................................................................................34.8Drop-out rate (schools 2003/2004) ................................................................................................... 0.9%Repetition rate (schools 2003/2004) ................................................................................................. 1.4%

Health (2003-2005)No. of hospitals (2005) ..........................................................................................................................77No. of Primary Health Care centers (2004) .........................................................................................731Doctors per 1000 population (2005) ...................................................................................................1.57Nurse per 1000 population (2005) ........................................................................................................1.9Beds per 1000 population (2005) .........................................................................................................1.4Insured persons (2004)*** .............................................................................................................. 76.1%Infant mortality rate per 1000 live birth (1999-2003)*** ......................................................................24.2Child mortality rate per 1000 live birth (1999-2003)*** ......................................................................28.3Stunting among children (under 5 years) (2004)*** ......................................................................... 9.9%Wasting among children (under 5 years) (2004)*** .......................................................................... 2.8%Percentage of pregnant women who received antenatal care (2004) ............................................ 95.6%Percentage of smokers (12 years and over ) (2004) ...................................................................... 19.6%

Culture (2005)No. of mosques (in operation) 2004 .................................................................................................1,900No. of churchs ....................................................................................................................................146No. of newspapers (in operation) ..........................................................................................................12No. of museums (in operation) ................................................................................................................5No. of cultural centers (in operation) .....................................................................................................86

Information & Communication Technology (2004)Availability of TV sets ..................................................................................................................... 93.4%Availability of satellite dish for household having TV set ................................................................ 69.5%Availability of computers at home ................................................................................................... 26.4%Availability of Internet at home ......................................................................................................... 9.2%Persons (10 years and over) have acces to the Internet .................................................................11.9%

Living Standards and Humanitarian Aid (April-June, 2004)Percentage of Households below poverty line .............................................................................. 58.1%Number of Individuals below poverty line ..................................................................................2,213,000Percentage of households that lost more than half of their income during Al-Aqsa Intifada .................................................................................................................. 62.5%Percentage of households that indicated their need for assistance ............................................... 71.8%

Labour Force (1st quarter of 2006) Males FemalesLabour Force participation rate ................................................................................ 66.8% 12.7%Unemployment rate in Palestinian Territory ............................................................. 25.6% 23.5%Unemployment rate in West Bank ........................................................................... 21.5% 21.0%Unemployment rate in Gaza Strip ........................................................................... 34.0% 35.1%Average net daily wage for employees working in the Palestinian Territory (US$) ................................................................................ 16.3 16.5Percentage of working children (5-17 years) - 2004 ............................................ 5.3% 0.7%

Percentage of graduates of high education and vocational training of persons aged 15 years and over (End 2005) ...................................................... 14.5%Percentage of graduates of high education and vocational training that participated in labour force (End 2005) ............................................................ 83.4%Unemployment rate of graduates of high education and vocational training (End 2005) ......................................................... 25.4%

EconomicsGDP (2005-million US$)-at constant prices (RWB and GS)*** .....................................................4,456.4GDP Per Capita (2005-US$)-at constant prices (RWB and GS)*** ...............................................1,268.2CPI and percent change in Palestenian Terrotiry in April 2006 Compare with March 2006.. .................................................................. 151.79 0.20%

Number of establishments in operation in the private sector by economic activity (2005)*** � Mining and Quarrying .....................................................................................................................259� Manufacturing ............................................................................................................................13,085� Electricity and Water supply ............................................................................................................508� Construction ....................................................................................................................................644� Commerce .................................................................................................................................55,024� Transportation, storage and communication ...................................................................................869� Hotels and Restaurants ..............................................................................................................4,195� Financial Intermediation ..................................................................................................................726� Real Estate, Renting and Business Activities ..............................................................................3,889� Education .....................................................................................................................................1,949� Health and Social work ................................................................................................................3,672� Other Community, Social and Personal Services .......................................................................6,394

Imports (2004**million US$) * .......................................................................................................2,373.2Exports (2004**million US$) * ..........................................................................................................312.7

Hotels (4th Quarter, 2005 )Room occupancy rate ..................................................................................................................... 16.4%Bed occupancy rate ........................................................................................................................ 12.2%

EnvironmentAvailable quantities of water (2004-mcm) ........................................................................................295.8Connected households to wastewater network (2005) ................................................................... 44.7%

Housing Conditions (2005)Average number of rooms in housing units ..........................................................................................3.6Average number of persons per room (housing density)*** .................................................................1.8

(RWB and GS) = Remaining West Bank and Gaza Strip* RWB and GS at constant prices: 1997 is the base year: revised version ** It's primary data*** Revised figures

Prepared by the Palestinian Central Bu reau of Sta tis ticsTel: 02-240 6340, Fax: 02-240 6343 Email: diwan@pcbs.gov.psURL: www.pcbs.gov.ps

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ARTS AND CULTURE: Ashtar Theater www.ashtar-theatre.org, Al-Kasaba Theatre and Cinematheque www.alkasaba.org, Al-Ma'mal Foundation for Contemporary Art www.almamalfoundation.org, ArtSchool Palestine www.artschoolpalestine.com, Baha Boukhari's website www.baha-cartoon.net, Khalil Sakakini Cultural Center (Ramallah) www.sakakini.org, Paltel Virtual Gallery(Birzeit University) www.virtualgallery.birzeit.edu, Rim Banna www.rimbanna.com, RIWAQ: Centre for Architectural Conservation www.riwaq.org, Sunbula (fair trade/crafts) www.sunbula.org, The International Center of Bethlehem (Dar Annadwa) www.annadwa.org, The Popular Arts Centre www.popularartcentre.org, Shammout.com www.shammout.com, Pal es tinian Pottery www.pal es tinianpottery.com, A.M. Qattan Foundation www.qattanfoundation.org, The Musical Intifada www.docjazz.com, El-funoun www.el-funoun.org BUSINESS AND ECONOMY: Arab Pal es tinian In vestment Com pany www.apic-pal.com, Hebron Store www.hebron-store.com, The Palestinian Economic Council for De vel opment and Re con struction (PECDAR) www.pecdar.org, Pal es tinian Securities Ex change, Ltd. www.p-s-e.com, Massar www.massar.com, Pal es tine Development and In vestment Ltd. (PADICO) www.padico.com DIRECTORIES, ISPs AND POR TALS: Jaffa Net www.weino.com; Palestine-Net www.palestine-net.com, Palestine On line www.p-ol.com, Palnet www.palnet.com, Al-Quds Network www.alqudsnet.com, Palseek www.palseek.com, Paleye www.paleye.com, Al Buraq www.alburaq.net GOV ERNMENT: PLO Negotiations Affairs Department (NAD) www.nad-plo.org, PNA www.pna.gov.ps, Ministry of Higher Edu cation www.mohe.gov.ps, Min is try of In dus try www.industry.gov.ps, Ministry of Education www.moe.gov.ps, Min is try of Health www.moh.gov.ps, Gov ernnt Computer Center www.gcc.gov.ps, Orient House www.orienthouse.org HEALTH AND MENTAL HEALTH: Augusta Victoria Hospital www.avh.org, Gaza Community Mental Health Programme www.gcmhp.net, Ministry of Health www.moh.gov.ps Palestinian Counseling Center www.pcc-jer.org, Red Crescent Society www.palestinercs.org, Spafford Children Clinic www.spafford-jerusalem.org, UNFPA www.unfpa.ps, Union of Palestinian Medical Relief Committees www.upmrc.org, Bethlehem Arab Society for Rehabilitation www.basr.orgHUMAN RIGHTS OR GANIZATIONS: Al Haq www.alhaq.org, Defence for Children International Palestine Section www.dci-pal.org, LAW - The Pal es tinian Society for the Pro tection of Human Rights and the Environment www.lawsociety.org, The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights www.pchrgaza.org, BADIL www.badil.org, Women's Affairs Technical Committee (WATC) www.pal-watc.org, www.pcc-jer.org, UNOCHA www.ochaopt.orgRESEARCH AND NEWS: Applied Research Institute - Jerusalem www.arij.org, JMCC www.jmcc.org, PASSIA www.passia.org, MIFTAH www.miftah.org, AMIN www.amin.org, Al Quds www.alquds.com, Al Ayyam www.al-ayyam.com, WAFA www.wafa.pna.net, Al-Hayyat Al-Jadedah www.alhayat-j.com, Palestine Wildlife Society www.wildlife-pal.org, Ramallah on line www.ramallahonline.com, Ramattan Studios www.ramattan.com, Palestine Mapping Centre www.palmap.org, The Palestine Monitor www.palestinemonitor.orgTOURISM: Ministry of Tourism www.visit-palestine.com, Arab Hotel Association www.palestinehotels.com, Arab Travel Association www.visit-holyland.comTRAVEL AGENCIES: Al ter native Tourism Group www.patg.org, Atlas Aviation www.atlasavia.com, Awad Tourist Agency www.awad-tours.com, Aweidah Tours www.aweidah.com, Blessed Land Travel www.blessedland.com, Crown Tours www.crown-tours.com, Daher Travel www.dahertravel.com, Guiding Star www.guidingstarltd.com, Halabi Tours and Travel Co. www.halabitours.ps, Jiro Tours www.jirotours.com, Mt. of Olives Tours www.olivetours.com, Pioneer Links www.pioneer-links.com, Raha Tours www.rahatravel.com, Ramallah Travel Agency www.kaoud.org, United Travel www.unitedtravelltd.com, Universal Tourist Agency www.universal-jer.comUNIVERSITIES: Birzeit University www.birzeit.edu, An-Najjah University www.najah.edu, Al-Quds Uni ver-sity www.alquds.edu, Al-Azhar Univeristy (Gaza) www.alazhar-gaza.edu, Arab American University www.aauj.edu, Bethlehem University www.bethlehem.edu, Hebron University www.hebron.edu, The Islamic University (Gaza) www.iugaza.edu, Palestine Polytechnic www.ppi.edu.

As Palestine continues its struggle for independence, it has already begun to acquire sovereign cyberspace recognition. A difficult three-year international debate resulted in the "Occupied Palestinian Territory" being officially assigned the two-letter suffix, ".ps," in the ISO 3166-1 list for the representation of names of countries or territories. The successful struggle to attain country code 970 led the way for the Internet Corporation for Associated Names and Numbers (ICANN), the international corporation that manages the country code Top-Level Domain (ccTLD) system on the Internet, on 22 March 2000, to assign Palestine its unique country identifier, ".ps," in line with other sovereign nations such as .fr for France and .ca for Canada.

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Where to Go?

A. M. Qattan Foundation

A. M. Qattan Foundation a UK-based charity founded in 1994 by philanthropist Abdel Muhsen Al-Qattan and with a branch registered in Palestine in 1998, the A.M. Qattan Foundation serves culture and education in Palestine and the Arab World through the:

• Qattan Centre for Educational Research and Development

• Qattan Centre for the Child• Culture and Science Programme• Palestinian Audio-Visual ProjectThe Foundation, and through its

Culture & Science Programme, holds competitions in poetry, short story, novel and script writing, journalism, and the plastic arts, with its coveted prizes spurring forward the creative process in Palestine.

“Investing in the children and youth of Palestine and the Arab world would be our most valuable bequest”

Abdel Muhsin Al-Qattan

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Where to Go?

Bethlehem Peace Center

The Bethlehem Peace Center (BPC) is a cultural forum that promotes and enhances peace, democracy, religious tolerance and diversity.

The pivotal location of the BPC on Manger Square, near the Church of the Nativity and the Mosque of Omar, makes it a unique place for the citizens of Bethlehem as well as for the many tourists who pass through Bethlehem every year.

The Center strives to activate the Palestinian cultural movement by delivering activities ranging from art exhibits, concerts, plays, puppet shows, film screenings, workshops and literary events to awareness programmes in the fields of peace, democracy, human rights and environmental issues.

vojtech vlk - Bethlehem Peace Center Archive

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Map of Jerusalem source: Arab Hotel Association/Pecdar

Where to Go?

Rana Bishara, mixed media on canvas 120x 100 (1999)

Palestinian Art CourtAl-Hoash

The Palestinian Art Court – Al-Hoash is an independent non-profit organization based in Jerusalem dedicated to the promotion, preservation and development of Palestinian visual art through its many projects.

One of Al-Hoash’s goals is the establishment of the first Palestinian Contemporary Art Museum. Al-Hoash also has a unique archive of Palestinian art, which is maintained and updated regularly.

The first exhibited works of art in the national gallery will comprise the vast and unique Palestinian art collection of Mazen and Yvette Qupty. Al-Hoash has an active board of directors that is devoted to the promotion of culture and arts.

The Last Word

Sani P. Meo

The Private Sector InitiativeNegotiations were tough and lengthy; the difference in opinion often resulted in tension

and heated arguments, but at the end all thirty one representatives of the Palestinian private sector did sign the "Initiative by the Private Sector for the Sake of Palestine," the five-page position paper on current affairs. The Initiative was presented on May 2nd to President Abbas, later to Prime Minister Haniyyeh, then to the leaders of all other political factions.

In this Initiative, the private sector expresses its deep concern over the current situation and over the dangers that threaten to undermine the important gains achieved by the people, not least of which is the Palestinian identity and the almost unanimous international acceptance of the Palestinian people's right to self determination to establish a free and independent Palestinian state. Those gains, the document asserts, have been paid for dearly with Palestinian suffering. The private sector very much regrets and warns of the consequences of boycotting the new government and the suspension of aid to the Palestinian people and the freezing of development projects previously agreed to by donor states. It deems this unfair, particularly after the flawlessly conducted elections that the international community insisted on having. It rejects all pressure exerted on friendly states in order to discourage them from assisting the Palestinian government, as well as the pressure on the banks to prevent them from transferring assistance funds.

In its Initiative, the Palestinian private sector strongly criticizes Israel for its unilateral demarcation of borders and for continuing to hamper the freedom of movement for people and goods. It also severely criticizes the lawlessness recently witnessed in Palestinian cities and describes it not only as 'unacceptable,' but also causing serious harm to the national unity, harming the national image and negatively affecting the morale of the people.

At this point of the Initiative, a direct call is made to all Palestinian political and civil leaders, irrespective of their affiliation, to "respect higher national interests, rather than narrow group or party-political concerns." The document then outlines the principles that all patriotic and Islamic forces should uphold, starting with the need of having a political programme with national support to respecting the democratic choice of the people as well as the Basic Law (and the rule of law in general) and finally the necessity to employ dialogue as a means of settling differences.

The private sector then suggests that the priorities of the Palestinian Authority should be to confront the Israeli project of unilaterally setting the borders and imposing a settlement, as well as confronting the process of isolation. Simultaneously, the Initiative calls for completing the reform process and improving transparency, accountability and the principles of good governance, safeguarding personal security, fighting poverty and unemployment, providing a suitable environment to nurture the private sector and reforming the PLO.

The Initiative concludes with recommendations given a) to the political level essentially to draw up a nationally accepted Palestinian peace plan and market it internationally, b) to the internal front basically to form a national coalition government and to immediately embark on a national dialogue and c) in regard to the PLO to find the mechanism for it to perform its role as the sole, legitimate representative of the Palestinian people.

The Initiative, which since its inception has been gaining momentum and acceptance, is truly a fine example of Palestinian solidarity and clear vision. It is also a smart approach to call on the two major political parties to move away from their entrenched positions in dignity for the sake of Palestine. Finally, the Initiative, which the civil society organizations have also endorsed, will serve as a solid platform in the national dialogue that has started on May 25th.

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