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Ode to Palestine (1 )

2011-05-21T07:19:00.000-07:00

Ode to Palestine (1)

Artwork by Fathi Ghaben in devotion Hiyam Noir

Photo IKb Gaza - copyright Hiyam Noir

قصيدة من اجل فلسطين

فلسطين قلب العرب ستكون حرة من جديد

بقلم: هيام نوار – نيويورك –29 إبريل نيسان 2011

انتهى البحث الطويل

في سراب اللا يقين

وانتهى المشي بخطوات متعثرة

وتحسس الأشياء في عتمة المجهول

لسعتنا ذكريات الطفولة

مثل طعم خمر عتيق

سوف تخبو الذكريات القديمة

لكنها تبقى - لن تزول

كل شيء يظل ساكنا في المخيلة

يستدعي ذكريات زمان خلى

يتجرع أهوال العار والمهانة

طي صفحة جديدة يبعث في النفس قبسا من نور

نور يبعث على الأمل في غد مشرق

مثل خيط الفضة يتمدد عبر منسوجة جدارية

الحزن على فقدان الأحبة

في آلاف القبور يستريح المقاتلون من اجل الحرية

وفي ساحات كثيرة يلتقي الناس للصلاة

لاجل بحر نظيف لطالما لوثته علوج الغاصبين

لأجل إصلاح أدوات الصيد

التي خربتها أيادي الآثمين

لأجل استحضار محاصيل القمح

التي لم تمسسها قط أيادي الفلاحين

كن على يقين, فالشياطين تؤمن أن الشر يؤتي أكله دائما

إذا ما تعهدته أيادي المجرمين

فينتج أشرارا ما كان لها أن تصير

مثل الجرائم وأعمال العنف

قذائفهم ضربت مدارسنا

بيوتنا

مزارعنا

آناء الليل و آناء النهار

بها قتلوا أطفالنا... فلذات أكبادنا ... نالوا من أجسادهم اليانعة

والآن عندما تلاطمت أمواج البحر

وانقلب "الوضع الراهن" رأسا على عقب

وفرحت القلوب بالانقلاب من النقيض إلى النقيض

وانتهت الولاءات الخائبة إلى زوال

وأصبح الناس يهتفون ..نحن أحرار نحن أقوياء

على مائدة إفطار متأخر كان اللقاء

بمعية أصدقاء حلفاء

إنه يوم الجائزة

لأجل فلسطين الحبيبة

سيكون حرا من جديد

قلب العروبة النابض

Translation from English to Arabic

By Khalid Amayreh

****

" Ode to Palestine "(1)

By Hiyam Noir

The long blindly search

and the uncertainty is over

and the moving with small unsure steps

our groping hands will at last come to rest

stung by memories from our childhood

as the very bitter taste of old wine

our bad memories will fade, but last

recalling memories that are the past

the sum of everything retained by our mind

the picking in all shames and humiliation

the grieving over the loss of our people

in thousand graves rests our freedom fighters

in thousand memorial gatherings to pray

called down the spirits of our polluted sea

for our fishing tools they have destroyed

for our crops that labor hands never harvested

the devils always found the spiteful work for idle hands

all the awful things they never should have done

such as the most forceful, violent crimes

the evil that men do, lives after them

their missiles struck our schools and homes

they fired rockets and erased our farmlands

their shelling continued through the nights and days

sound reflections lengthen in the dust and haze

pierced through the eerie stillness long after the blaze

they killed our children with lead bullets

now when surface levels off, the oceans are turning

the Status Que in middle east to be upend

we are so thrilled about this awesome shift

abandoned are the shameful allegiances

people chanting we are free, we feel the power

having a late breakfast with our new allies

a great reward for our tireless work

to the good cause of Palestine

the big heart of Arab people

turning a new page in our history

will bring the bright glimmer

as pure silver threads

in the finest woven pattern

of our ancient tapestry.

May 14 2011

________

"Palestine is the heart of Arab countries”

_______________________________________

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Marriage in Palestine

2009-02-25T17:10:00.000-08:00

From a Bride Grooms Perspective

PalestineFreeVoice September 15 2007

K.Safi/Hiyam Noir

Generally, marriage in Palestine is divided into two types : the traditional and the marriage of the bourgeoisie, (the " modern") - they both have different types of access road to the bride of the young mans dreams, but the rest of the details are similar. In traditional type of marriage, the mother of the groom and a sister, will search for the appropriate women, among acquaintances or relatives, or travel to different regions in search of a suitable women.When they find the appropriate women - as requested by the groom himself, he goes with them to the woman's parents, her home , to confirm his acceptance after a look at the wife to be.

This very first look at the woman considered as legitimate, recognized and approved. If the woman is not suitable for him, from the point of his view, the mother and sister will keep searching for another women, to be the partner of his married life. Until he fined the chosen one, the women's role ends here, and the men's role comes in. Hence both traditional and modern marriage have common details. In the modern marriage the young man knew a women before, and there is no need to involve the family, to make decisions and to seek for a suitable bride.

Only the young man asks his mother and sister to go with a question, if the woman’s family would accept to their marriage or not. Upon acceptance the men from each family will together hold a meeting, called (dowry determining), where both parts will evaluate the wedding costs, and all demands requested for the bride, to agree to this marriage. Of course after they have asked around about the husband to be, and accepted his manners, ideas and tendencies.

The Dowry Meeting

The groom's family starts the conversation asking questions in a polite way, about the acceptable dowry. They will convince on its value for their bride, a habitual, determined by Jordanian Dinars currency (1JD=1.3$) -the amount is roughly between 2.000 to 4.000 JD ( approx 7.000 used ) - less or more. The dowry is determinded according to the traditions and the customs of the family itself, the age and level of education of the girl and other related issues, the answers are spoken in gentle way too.

This important meeting may continues for an hour or two, until both families reach a mutually convenient, the dowry paid by the groom will be used to purchase all the clothes for the wedding, her jewelry and personal things, while the groom had fully equipped their home before, including furniture, bedroom and its contents, which costs up to another 2.000 JD, written in the marriage contract for the bride, in addition to another amount payable only when and if the husband divorced his wife, so the total after dowry will be determined and meeting its dowry and the preparations of their home can begin.

The Dowry

Generally, dowry is considered the be of the largest anxiety to the young men, especially when he works for continuous years and he still may not be capable after all, to finalize the building of a home and pay the amount of the dowry agreed upon, the reason is the low level of income and high unemployment in the occupied Palestine. Because of the high cost of living, and the high rates of basic requirements to live, many of the employees turn to the banks for a loan, while others incur debts from relatives and friends. Also many of them strive to buy home - furniture, electric appliances and installments ways, spending their best years of youth in a constant concern for continued payment of these premiums. - Accumulated for years, many of them force or compel to sell their wives' jewelry in the first months of marriage to repay all the debts.

Dowry and home furnishing costs are no longer ultimately, after approval and acceptance of the marriage officially, it is time to celebrate. The groom invites all his friends and the youth from both families and also their friends to celebrate with him. On the occasion of the wedding a youth concert called Zaffa,will be held, which requires the rental of a music ensemble,or a music band, a voice mixer, a stereo, head- phones to every one, and a large number of chairs for all the family members. Sometimes a wedding hall will be rented to throw a banquet. the very next day, in which the two families are gathering to get to know each other and to strengthen their bonds.

The Betrothal

After all this arrangements, it is OK for the bride- groom to see and talk freely with his wife, now the two has becomes one, though he has to wait to take her to their new home. As long as the arrangements around the wedding is not complete. The wedding might be have been delayed, sometimes because the bride is not ready yet, she did not buy all the necessities, or the reason can be that the groom failed to pay the dowry, which will make it difficult for him. Now he will spend the time in a critical psychological state, his wife to be, is standing in front of him and he cannot approach her more. He can not stay alone with her, or spend time with her, without the presence of another person. Every time he pay a visit to her, the family members will stay around them.

Maybe he can enjoy a few moments with her alone. This period considered to be the most important for both spouses, to examine each other, and get to know the true nature of each others. The longing to be with each other reaches its ultimate peak, after each meeting, the two is using all the possibilities to communicate with each others, across all available channels – they write letters to each others, they call each other on mobile-phones, they send to each others e-mail, and they find ways to send messages through friends, to each others. Therefore, he must strive to provide the amount of dowry agreed upon as soon as possible, to take his wife home,to terminate the engagement at its best.

The Wedding day

The wedding day is one of the most complex and busiest days of both the spouses; their schedule tends to be fraught since the first hour of dawn. In the morning he must take her, her sisters and her chosen female friends from relatives, to a women beauty & hair salon and he must pay the costs for them all. While he goes to the hairdresser for himself and his best friends, he leaves to confirm the date of the arrival of cars (10 to 20 limosines) that will take all the members of both families to the specified wedding hall.

Of course, he must pay the rent for the cars in advance; often the groom chooses the day of his wedding, to be the same day of the announcement, which will take place in the same hall. Wedding invitation cards (500 to 1.500 cards) must be distributed a head of time, to his family, members of her family, friends and acquaintances – the wedding ceremony will be held a specified time and date and often after the prayer time at 5:00pm.

When the bride finishes her makeup procedures, at the beauty salon, her husband to be, drives her to the closest photo studio, to capture the moment together for reminiscence, then he leads her back to her home, where her relatives and friends celebrate her wedding. The groom then finalizing the declaration process in the hall together with the men, of both families.As soon as he is finished, the groom takes the waiting cars towards the brides home, while he brings them all on a tour around the city.

The Celebration

The family members and friends begin to arrive to the wedding hall, where the celebration for the spouses starts from the beginning of the evening until midnight. Young and old will dance together the Palestinian folklore dance Debka,) singing and taking photos of the just married, blessing them and wishing them a happy marriage life .

Incidentally, the wedding halls is a great opportunity for a mother of a single son,to search for a suitable women. So each girl (women) that is invited to be a guest of a wedding, one of the objectives , is to expose her specifications in front of the mothers, who is looking for a traditional Palestinian marriage for their sons.

The Honey - moon

After all this marriage arrangements, the spouses enjoy a good month of honeymoon. It is a tradition that parents in Palestine provide a comfortable required rest for the new marriage couple. Everything possible is arranged to facilitate their life from now on, all close relatives of the two families, arrives with their gifts to help the new wedded couple to fulfill their dream. So the gifts will complete the new home, any lack of their basic needs or luxury, all gifts will be given after that the two have passed the test of ability to get married. He must provide all of the above requirements and need to prove that he is honorable to receive all the gifts.

He, the groom, must equip the house, pay the dowry, invite to the youth ceremony, pay for the wedding day & the banquet for both families, including all other expenses, to prove that he highly appreciate his the women that is now his wife, even if he is forced to borrow the money. - “There one who proposes to a beauty does not care about the dowry” - which means that he may sells his own soul, to provide the dowry for her, to express his high appreciation and his warm feelings towards his future wife.

The High Costs

The high costs of the dowry, may cause the reluctance of many young people to get married – because their inability to pay all these money, in addition to take such a heavy responsibility at an early age. Especially with the deteriorating economic conditions and the high unemployment in Palestine, some families may not be granted to alienate or waiver the issue of dowry.The issue of the dowry put social pressure on this family, their pride and also to her prestige. While the religion of Islam insists on woman’s right to take their dowries, the man did his best, he might felt tired forced to obtain her, sure he will value his wife later - and take the very best care of his queen.

In Islam, men are thought to believe that women are expensive and valuable – and that she must be satisfied when he is approaching her, to ask her to marry him. In addition to her familys satisfaction, this is to ensure that the Islamic religion reinforced the woman’s position and respecting her role in the society. Giving the woman the right to ask for her dowry, the wedding ceremony, and the approval of parents is a fundamental principal.

The queen in his kingdom does not accept any one of all the other males around her husband, only the one who will be able to catch her in this great marathon race. Except from the chosen one – all the rest will vanish. So therefore she must be the queen and her husband should be the chosen one.

Gaza Strip Palestine

The First Night of Ramadan

September 12 2007

BattleSpace Unrealities of War

2008-11-11T06:14:00.000-08:00

Children play near a cluster of bullet-riddled homes

in the southern Gaza Strip town of Rafah in August, 2008
Photographer Zoriah©
Photojournalist Zoriah specializing in documenting
mass casualty disasters and humanitarian crisis.

November 11: "BattleSpace Unrealities of War"

Photographs from Iraq and Afghanistan

Photographer Balazs Gardi©
Balazs Gardi is a Hungarian freelance photographer,
who focuses on documenting the everyday life
of marginalized communities facing humanitarian crisis

Sideshow Gallery and November Eleven present

BattleSpace Unrealities of War

Photographs from Iraq and Afghanistan by:

Alvaro Ybarra Zavala, Andrew Cutraro, Ashley Gilbertson,

Balazs Gardi, Ben Lowy, Christoph Bangert, Eros Hoagland,

Ghaith Abdul Ahad, Guy Calaf, Jason Howe, Jehad Nga, Lucian Read,

Luke Wolagiewicz, Mike Kamber, Moises Saman, Peter van Agtmael,

Rita Leistner, Stefan Zaklin, Stephanie Sinclair,
Teru Kuwayama, Yuri Kozyrev, Zoriah

Oct 25 - Nov 16 Opening Reception: Saturday Oct 25 6pm-9pm

Sideshow Gallery
319 Bedford Avenue, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYC

The Great Home-Coming

2008-09-10T07:04:00.000-07:00

Poetry4Palestine

The Great Home-Coming

High hostile walls cast frightful shadows and too much darkness, inside the jail at night.
The wise bearded men we trust and need outside, are captive there, shone of their human rights.
Gathered in a secret meeting, called in to be alert for the big fight.

Rehearse old holy rituals, sad words intoned in prayers.
Be mourn the dead, the great losses, of departed children, wives, mothers, sisters, fathers and brothers, comrades and friends.

Thin shoulders start to shiver,under the weight of heavy chains, a burning pain.Large wounds from dirty fists and iron canes
All of a sudden throughout the mist outside the prison gates, a distant roar from the wild beast.

The sound of a footsteps from madmen can be heard, approache then disappeared.

In twilight, a hot breeze rustle through the quadrangle, grasped a piece of a thin paper.
The message is now posted lifted upwards by the wind, carried safe away.

By falling dusk a bright beam of light squirm free, ten thousand fugitives happily escaped in the warm darkness of the night..

Behind a weak inner wall, harsh whispers can be heard. The peoples enemy attend a meeting there,assemble evil plans with the others, a national embarrassment, constructed rival battles among brothers..
The cowards, traitors and the liars, went to war on false pretenses in deception and denials.

Last line a fuse fought to the very end, what did they ever gain?
Now gray violet skies are covered, by a large blooded quilt of carnage.
In cosmos our spirit speed, until the nightfall a million stars twinkled, then exploded.
An extra ordinary ray gave birth to the bright shining new.
Endlessly the old fell down to earth, divided yet entwined.

Finally a great revenge achieved, the inner walls on every side have fallen. The peoples army swept away, all foreign devils, turncoats, ghosts.

After the Liberation Day,arrives a new bright beginning, the long great awaited home-coming.
The hard work of purification,the big scrub will begin at once.
The hills and valleys will grow green again. The rivers will flow pure and clean, the wind so soft and mellow.

In startling revelations with clarity and oversight, soon a long sad saga will reach the end.

...................................

http://poetry4palestine.blogspot.com/2005/10/strike-wall.html

By Hiyam Noir

August 14 -2008

The photo:Narrating the Rafah border crossing in year 2008, ten of thousands' Palestinians breached the wall of shame to Egypt, returning back to Gaza with food, fuel, medicine and other good and much needed survival stuff:)Photo artist Fady Adwan /Propa Images/PalestineFreeVoice 2008

The Memory of Naji Al -Ali Honored in Gaza City

2008-09-06T14:11:00.000-07:00

Hiyam Noir

On Friday in Gaza City,a group of Palestinian artists and cartoonists celebrated the memory of the world renowned Palestinian cartoonist, Naji Al-Ali. Al-Ali is known for his signature mark, portraying a young Palestinian refugee,Handalah. A young boy in torn clothes, turning his back against the viewer, a victim symbolizing the poverty of his people and his occupied country, Palestine.

Naji Al-Ali has published more than 40.000 cartoons during his lifetime,the cartoons were deeply critical of Israel, the Palestinians and the Arab world.Al-Ali was assassinated in June 1987 outside the London-based Kuwaiti newspaper where he published his art work, he died later in August in a London hospital.

Al-Ali was born 1936 or 1937 in Al-Shajara village between Nazareth and Tiberias in Galile.In the 1948 Al Nakba,at the age of 11 the young boy,as hundreds of thousands of other Palestinians, was forced out of Palestine.Naji settled down with his family in Ain-al-Helwe refugee camp in Sidon in Southern Lebanon.In the late 1950 the Palestinian journalist and poet Ghassan El-Kanafani discovered the talented young man,Naji Al-Ali, while Al-Kanafani visited the Ain-al-Helwe refuge camp.

In the beginning of the sixties, the young man Naji,left to Kuwait to work in Al-Taliah magazine. In the early 1970's Al- Ali returned to Beirut from Kuwait and became a member of the Editorial Board of the prominent Lebanese newspaper Al-Safir:"Working for al-Safir newspaper in Beirut in 1971 was the best part of my life, and the most productive. There, surrounded by the violence of many army, and finally by the Israeli invasion, I stood facing it all with my pen every day. I never felt fear, failure or despair, and I didn't surrender.I faced armies with cartoons and drawings of flowers, hope and bullets. Yes, hope is essential, always. My work in Beirut made me once again closer to the refugees in the camps, the poor, and the harassed." - During this period Naji Al-Ali contributed with his drawings to the Al-Khalij newspaper in the United Arab Emirates.

In 1982 during Israeli invasion of Lebanon, Naji al-Ali was an eyewitness to the terrifying massacre that took place in the Palestinian refugee camp of Sabra and Shatila.With those devastating experience Al-Ali left the country he grew up in to settle in Kuwait. During this period, he worked for both Al-Qabas (‘The Light ") – the largest Independent daily newspaper in the Middle East - and Al-Khalij newspapers.In 1985,the artist was expelled from Kuwait, because of political reasons.He received asylum in England and settled in London,he continued to work for the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Qabas.where he stayed until his death in 1987.

Naji Al-Ali had no political affiliation, which rendered him both success and criticism.His work was published daily in Cairo, Beirut, Kuwait, Tunis, Abu Dhabi, London and Paris in publications ranging from far right to the far left. Naji Al-Ali is believed to be the highest paid cartoonist in the Arab world.

Waiting for Midnight Hour

2008-08-29T09:33:00.000-07:00

No to Annapolis Photo Khaled Safi Gaza City 2007

PalestineFreeVoice Images

better Angels of the nature
waiting for the midnight hour

dawning of a new day
will cease historic moment

great drama of our people
a mighty winding road

hard struggle and despair

now begins a fascinating story
in heroic transformation

all the streets are crowded
a generation full of light and hope

clear brains and down to earth
intertwined and color blind

will take our freedom back

its imminently possible

eloquence on the occasion
fierce state of urgency is now

Hiyam Noir

Palestinian Islamic Wedding Beit Lahiya 2008

2008-07-25T10:26:00.000-07:00

Palestinian young girls are performing during a mass wedding ceremony in Beit Lahiya, in northern Gaza Strip, on July 24, 2008. More than 100 couples took part in the event which is organized every year by the Islamic Association.

Photo Fady Adwan
Biet Lahiya Gaza Strip 2008

كوحده واحده Palestine As One

2008-07-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

Art work by Fathi Ghaben

(Photo Islam Kaloub)

تأليف : هيام By Hiyam Noir

غذيني طعام القوهFeed me trough your strength
تمنحني قوة المعيشgive me strength to live
دعني اضييء دربكlet me light your path
ارشدك في رحلتكlead you in your journey
كواحد نحن ماas one we are together
لا انفصال معا متشابكيseparate yet entwined

معنويات توأم بروح واحدtwin spirit in one soul
تنبض القلوب سويةhearts beat as in one
لو كان ليIf I would have had
في كل حياتي بقيهall my life time left
لصليت لالهيI would pray to God
لم ارغب ذكرياتmemories I never wanted
فقط اريدك ان I only wanted you
لأكون واحدا معfor I am one with you
روح واحده و توأم معنوياتone soul in twin spirits

Palestine Heritage Day 2008

2008-07-15T09:55:00.000-07:00

Palestinian bride and groom in a Palestinian wedding ceremony held at Birzeit University,in celebration of Palestinian Heritage Day July 15 2008

photo propaimages/PALESTINEartes.com Images

Palestineartes.com - Copyright 2008

Fathi Ghaben - Son of Jabalya Camp

2008-07-15T09:14:00.000-07:00

Great Palestinian Painter

Fathi Ghaben in his studio Jabaliya(Photo Islam Kaloub)

First published July 14 in PalestineFreeVoice.com

Hiyam Noir

July 14 2008

We are walking through the narrow streets and alleys in Jabalyia refuge camp, suddenly we make a stop, we stand outside a house full of life and crowded of art, containing motives which capture the life in Palestine before the Al-Nakba, and the painful and miserable life of the displaced Palestinian people before the 1st, and the period of the 2nd Intifada. In front of me, stands a man, a Palestinian I have longed to meet for some time now.

"Intifada" Fathi Ghaben (Photo Islam Kaloub)

The man we will meet is Fathi Ghaben, a proud son of the Jabalya refuge camp, a well known Palestinian painter and art teacher professor, he still live here in Jabaliya,after so many years, together with his two wives and some of the children.

Ghaben's work captures life in Palestine before Al-Nakba.
(Photo: Islam Kaloub)

From the first look in a mans face you can read many things, if you are observant, Fathi Ghaben's face is a mirror of Palestinian suffering, and only Fathi Ghaben have the answers to many of our questions. The face of Fathi Ghaben is marked by sadness, the endurance of loss, the sacrifice linger in his eyes. In a few bright moments, you can also see the smile of a man, with a child still inside, and the dignity and statue of the Palestinian man, who is well traveled in life, a man who has seen it all.

We are greeted to sit down and served a cup of sweet tea, in this interview we will focus on Fathi Ghaben's life. A Palestinian man living under occupation, the father and the artist. Fathi as a small child, an exclusive eye - witness of the events after the Al Nakba( 1947) ,and as a teenager and a mature man, through the years of the first and the second Palestinian Intifada.

After Israel's capture of the West Bank and Gaza Strip from Egypt and Jordan in the wake of 1967, a growing sense of frustration among Palestinians living in the occupied territories had developed. The1^st Intifada came at a time when Palestinians were protesting the acts conducted by the Israelis, that was perceived by the Palestinian people, as a brutal repression, which included extra-judicial killings, mass detentions, house demolitions and confiscation of Palestinian land and possessions.

Ghaben's work captures life in Palestine before Al-Nakba
"Elaladah Eid Cermony" ( Photo Islam Kaloub)

The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) did not bring solutions to alleviate Palestinian suffering, and in 1982 the PLO was forced to relocate their offices to Tunis. Although all Arab states with the exception of Egypt, maintained an official state of war with the Israelis, the Arab summit in Amman in November 1987 focused on the Iran-Iraq war, and the Palestinian issue was sidelined for the first time in many years.

The Israelis occupation of Southern Lebanon and the continued Israeli military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip contributed to a growing discontent with the status quo among the Palestinians. Over the course of the 1st Intifada, an estimated 1,300 Palestinians were killed by the Israeli occupant, and 160 Israelis died in clashes with the Palestinian resistance and from Palestinian retaliation attacks.

According to Fathi Ghabel, the immediate cause of the 1^st Intifada came on Dec. 8 1987,when an Israeli army truck ran over a group of Palestinian workers from Jabalyia refuge camp in Gaza Strip, killing four of them and injuring seven..”

PFV: How was the life in Gaza Strip prior to the Israelis occupation of Palestinian lands 1967 ?”

FG: When I left the primary school I worked as newspaper seller during 15 years at the Kamel Abed Rabu office. I tried to increase my knowledge of culture, by reading newspapers and magazines, and I was drawing small stories for kids containing nice children pictures , I also worked in a citrus orchard, it was a miserable life, but it was advancing in my career because there was no occupation at that time.

PFV: How was the situation in Gaza Strip during the Israeli occupation that began after 1967 ?”

FG:_ When the occupation began, there was the massacres of our people, the psychological pressure, the detentions and the strikes. Gaza Strip residents were working in what is now called Israel, and the worker got regular salaries, corresponding to their dignity and their honor imagine our life before the occupation better than after, it was a miserable life, but there was still dignity and honor.

Before the Israeli occupation we lived, however very poor, but it was more calm before, then after the occupation, that began in 1967.Not too many possibilities to support our families, few job openings, but it was more harmony and dignity for us.

PFV: Fathi, how did people travel to work and to school, - did you work in the construction business during that time, and how was the daily interaction with the Jews inside Israel ?”

FG:_ After the Israeli occupation, many people were forced to work inside Israel, to be able to help their families to survive. However there were big problems facing the workers during the time prior to the 1st Intifada, because of our patriotism. It was a big decision to make, if we should work in Israel, or leave our family starving without food. We had to decide between patriotism and to feed our hungry family..

I worked in what is now called Israel, but not for long time, only temporary to feed my family. Until my talent grow and my urge to establish my self as a painter, led me to leave my day-job in Israel, I looked for a new challenge in my life. In the beginning to be able to put food on the table, I was commercial in my art. My paintings were not patriotic in the beginning, because our living conditions were so poor and miserable, in that period of my career.Tues, I do not believe that art can ever be commercial anyway, I was forced by my life situation to draw and paint commercial art works, to be able to keep my poor family a live.

After a few years I was able to buy a small house for my family in Jabalyia refuges camp, and I began thinking of how to promote my art. In the period of 1979, my paintings expressed my nations pain and suffering. I felt as if I were a slave when I worked in Israel, and I felt much hate towards Arabian leaders, because from them we did not feel solidarity, and no support for the Palestinian cause. These Arab leaders were not even promoting their own culture heritage. There was no unity not even for one day. These were the main reasons which caused pain and distress among our people.

PFV: You are born in a small village Herbia outside Majdal, from where a large number of refugees came, as the refugees that had to flee their homes in the nearby villages Yebna and Asdod.Would you tell us about your childhood in Herbia, do you have memories left from this time? Your family was forced to leave from the lands between the year 1947-1948? How old where you then? How many family members were forced to leave their home and land in Herbia. Did your family have time to bring with them documents of ownership of the land and the possessions? Do you know what happened to your relatives, the rest of your family?

FG: I am in a strange way very proud that I was born during the the hell of 1947, and forced to leave our lands with my family - among tens of thousands of other Palestinian families, Our people were violently forced to leave our homes and lands, all that is, are our footprints, that has left permanent marks on the ground. We left behind us our sad olive trees, even the calm in our environment left for the distress and the anger. The Palestinian people left their villages and towns in the fifths-wind of the storm, while Israeli aircrafts roar above us, striking its human targets across the farmlands, the small villages and towns..

I remembered how my mother was hiding me in her arms, patiently standing still behind a large wall of a ruin, inhabited by snakes, until suddenly there was silence. The Israelis returned back in their warplanes, searching for remaining small children, the elderly people and the women. I remember I cried in my mothers arms, because I had intense hunger feelings, a child does not feel fear - but the intense hunger.

We were seven family members including my father and his two wives. No one member of our family remained in Herbia after the intense shelling, targeting of the people in the village. We left in a haste, we were not able to take our belongings with us, everyone had only one thing in mind, to escape the horror. That is why not many families had the time to bring contracts of house and landowner ship, and other legal documents. We eat leaves from the threes, some of us did not even have enough clothes to cover our bodies.”

PFV: How was your life at the time before the first Intifada? How did the Israeli occupant threatened the residents of Jabaliya. Would you tell us about the uprising (the second Intifada) in 2000, and what impact the events have had on you and your family, and the other residents of the camp.”

FG: In the 1987 uprising my feelings were terribly moved. After the Israeli collision with an army truck, driving into a group of workers, killing 4 and wounding seven Palestinians. I was during this period very depressed by the events around me and I suffered daily.

As for the Israeli occupants treatment of the residents in Jabalyia camp, during that time there were many arrests, the beatings and the cracking of bones. Trucks from UNHWR, came loaded with bags of bread and food cans to the refugees in the camp, so that we would not starve to death. Some where looking in the piles of garbage, our lives had become dreadful. The Al-Aqsa Intifada ( second Intifada) is not less painful than the previous Intifada of 1987.”

PFV: Being a recognized artist, can you describe for us (in color) the streets of Jabalya refugee camp, during the occupation. The small narrow alleys, the sewer water flushing through the channels, in particular the Block 2.( this is where the resistance lived during that time.) Can you also make a comment about the coding system, to classify the buildings in the camp, used by the Israeli occupant during that time?

FG: The Jabalyia refuge camp was intact in the aspects of unity between the residents, that's what makes the refugee camp able to survive, despite of all the pitfalls in our lives. The old and narrow alleys the pollution and diseases spread through the camp. We the residents in the camp worked hard in trying as much as possible to pass through all the difficulties, to continue with our lives in defiance of the occupation and its obstacles.The number coding of our homes, was the classification of the owner of the house and the information were the resistance were to be found.Similar code systems were used by the German National socialist party to classify the Jews.

Being a sensitive artist soul, I believe the colors appropriate for our life in Jabaliya and the individual perception of them, are the warm, dark and the earthly colors - with a grasp of hope, maybe half of that dark brown, dark blue, but with orange, yellow and a mixture of white and yellow, these light colors reflects a glimpses of hope in this hell on earth.'

PFV: How many children do you have, boys and girls? Do they work, study, are they all alive? Can you remember the bright moments of fatherhood ?

FG: I do not know of how many sons I have, ( smiling )- is it punishment or a reward I do not know? I believe I have 10 sons and 6 daughters, I am still the head of a seven member family. Although I exceeded sixty years of age, every day I have to worry for my children.

Four of my children are working in the police. and 4 of my daughters are married, the rest of them are still young living at home. All of them are alive except for my son Hossam.When Hossam became ill, I was detained in Israeli prison. When I got out, I found my son Hossam in poor health, he suffered from a serious weakness in his body.

Hossam was transferred by Dr, Abdel Shafi, to Maqassed Hospital inside Israel, a specialist hospital. My son was in very poor health, and I accepted the bad news as calm as possible, my son Hossam suffered from intestinal cancer.Hossam died when he was 18 years. I consider my son a Martyr, since he died at such a young age, and suffered from severe pain, that could not be treated at that time.”

FG: Believe me, I never felt the joy of being the captain of the crew, I keep asking myself weither my children will live under a continued occupation, or will it ever end? How long will they suffer? The forecast of today have began to appear in all its reality, we are all still trapped here inside Gaza Strip.

Even after the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza Strip, I did not see it as a good thing, it all became a nightmare for us, and I said, this is the beginning of the full hold on our people. And as I expected, the first years after the withdrawal, the features of the Jews are still inside Gaza Strip, that prove I was right.”

PFV: You have suffered in Israeli prisons during the time of occupation because of your patriotism, Your paintings depicts the Palestinian life under occupation, and the Palestinian culture heritage. The Palestinian flag, the famous Arab Stallion, wedding celebrations and Dabka dancers, women dressed in the special Palestinian folklore dress. There were demonstrations and protests against your detention, in Tel Aviv and East Jerusalem and also outside your home in the Jabalya refugee camp. Would you tell us about this dark period in your life?

FG: The Israelis detained me more than once. The first time in the beginning of the seventies, several charges was brought against me, without the findings of any wrongdoing. I was release from the prison after seven months.

The second time they arrested me was in 1975, not a piece of evidence against me, I was detained 45 days. In 1984 I was arrested because of a motive in some of my paintings. The paintings depicted the uprising ( the Intifada).The Israelis court confiscated 7 artwork, under the pretext that the paintings incited violence,although they were not only reflecting the struggle of our people, but the hard time we are going through every day. Two days after I was detained students from the Bir-Zeit University left the demonstrations, Israeli peace activists and artists demanded protection and respect for freedom of expression in art.

In Gaza Strip the people was threatened by the occupant ruler, when they rallied in protest to the conditions during my arrest. I never created artwork to make PR for my self. The media covered the events and I refused to act pursuant to this arrests. I consider myself a bright light, a burning candle, in regards to the struggle of the Palestinian people. I yearn to express my self through my art, and want the viewer to know that my paintings are reflecting my soul, a mental, social and national deep ocean, of passion and compassion. My paintings are not filled with smiles, they are not loud, gaudy or without a deep thought. I draw the national Palestinian issues and the reality of the Palestinian struggle.

PFV: Fathi you worked for a time in an elementary school as the teacher/professor of art. Do you still give courses in art, do you still work in graphics, and how can you buy the tools, the paint, canvas etc,when the border crossings are blocked for shipment of goods, and it is impossible to travel outside Gaza Strip.

FG: I worked for 13 year at the Al-Naser Islamic school, where I gave private lessons to students to teach them about art. Because of poverty and minimal resources, under siege, and the difficulty to buy material. I am surviving, though I have to buy my working tools, even if it will be at astronomical costs.

True is that I am suffering every day, because I represent in my art work, the Palestinian struggle. I believe the Palestinian people are the best, their nobility and their gentle humanity is unique.Tues the events that has taken place has turned me to live my life in solitude, I am walking the alleys and streets here in Jabaliya, a shadow of my self, walking up from the darkest graves.

Some of my artwork has spread internationally, including inside the Arab world. I am waiting for the crossing roads to open, so that I can continue to buy colors and graphic tools needed. I am now retired and my monthly salary is not enough for survival. I am planning to take up technical courses. Life necessities (bring food to the table) has over shadowed my artistic ambitions. I can not really afford to buy paint and tools, therefore I am not able to work with my art, and the children need to have food on the table every day- it has become a big dilemma.

I have serious intentions to expose my art work to the public. I have produced many paintings, some of my paintings is large enough in booth size and quality, to be displayed at a finer art exhibition, but still, everything depends on, when the Gaza Strip border crossings will open.”

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Photo Islam Kaloub/Palestineartes.com Images

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