The Bitter Landscapes of Palestine
The Bitter Landscapes of Palestine (Book)
Through an interplay of words and images, this book documents the life of Palestinian communities of shepherds and farmers under Israeli occupation that threatens their very survival. Years of human rights activism in Palestine have guided the authors in crafting this unique visual and verbal record. 172 colour illus.
Edition
Using both photographs and written narratives, The Bitter Landscapes of Palestine provides a depiction of the lives and struggles faced by Palestinians living in the occupied Palestinian territories on the West Bank, in particular the South Hebron Hills and the Jordan Valley. It sheds light on issues including house demolitions, conflicts between Palestinian shepherds or farmers and Israeli settlers, soldiers, and police, the daily struggles brought about by the occupation's efforts to displace Palestinians from their land, and the resilience and bravery required to endure these conditions. This moving book conveys the beauty of the landscape, the essence of the language, the value of friendships, and the richness of a threatened way of life.
Voices of activists, both Palestinian and Jewish, are brought into focus. The historical context that generated present realities in Palestine is outlined briefly, as well as the history of the authors’ partnership. Their perspective mirrors extensive years of involvement in peace and human rights activism in Palestine. It also captures the ongoing dialogue between the two authors, who have experienced together the continually renewed astonishment that comes with such experiences and encounters.
Margaret Olin, born Chicago, 1948, is Senior Lecturer Emerita, Yale University. She specializes in visual culture and theory, and is also a photographer active in the Israeli-Palestinian peace movement.
David Shulman, born Waterloo Iowa, 1949, is a Professor Emeritus, Hebrew University Jerusalem. He is scholar of South Asian language and literature, and veteran activist in the Israeli-Palestinian peace movement.
The Editor to the Reader
List of Figures
Acknowledgements
Preface
Rev. Prof. Dr Mitri Raheb
Seeing, Reading, Breathing
W. J. T. Mitchell
Introduction
1. Can Rocks Feel Pain?
Laḥza: Al-`Auja
2. Attack
Laḥza: Morning Tea
3. Following Fatma
Laḥza: Tea Time
4. Out of Sight: `Ein ar-Rashash, December, 2018
Laḥza: Abu Jibril
5. Arabic
Laḥza: Umm al-Khair
6. Demolitions
Laḥza: Tea in Protest
7. Asael, Twaneh, Umm al-Khair, January 7, 2017
Laḥza: Tea Break
8. Wind, Sun, Power
Laḥza: Harun Abu-Haram
9. Al-Khan al-Ahmar, 2018–19
Laḥza: More Tea
10. Ezra Nawi, 1952–2021
Laḥza: Tea ar-Rakiz
11. Lost and Found
Laḥza: Al-`Auja
12. Voices
13. Friendship
Appendix 1: Timeline
Appendix 2: Suggestions for Further Reading
Maps
'The photographs and texts by David Shulman and Margaret Olin of the literally hardscrabble existence of Arab goat herders on lands now claimed and contested by Israeli "settlers" from elsewhere render that dreadful tug-of-war human, all too human. These images bridge the gap between global politics and everyday life in zones of conflict in ways that ordinary reporting cannot hope to achieve. They capture the rhythms, random gestures and hint of the better natures of avowed "enemies" as well as the humble beauty of the animals that graze and thereby truly occupy this ideologically charged territory. In these images a germ of peace survives even as our awareness of continual dispossession and gathering, spasmodic devastation increases.'
