Humans of Hebron
On the bus: I was born during the Turkish period. The Turkish period was 100 years ago? So I am 100 years old. I own 100 dunams. I bought them. I never eat (food from) outside (my home), and my children don’t either. We take everything from the land. This is my land here (she points, from the bus). And here (she points to the left) it is forbidden to build. This is a military zone. And here (one kilometer down the road, she points again, now to the right) this is my house. I am going now to Jerusalem. I have babunij (chamomile) and zaatar (wild thyme), and I sell it. And I go to pray
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I don’t want to leave Hebron. I was born here and I have always lived here and I am accustomed to Hebron. It is difficult for someone to get up and leave his land, his family, and his friends. The area of Hebron I most love is my area. I live near the Ibrahimi mosque in the Old City. I love the Old City’s atmosphere and its people. True, life is a bit difficult there, and there are problems. I, as a male youth, suffer a lot. There are often periods when the Jews (Israeli soldiers) randomly stop many people. They take a bit of our time. There are (armed and guarded) visits of the settlers, especially on Saturdays. There are problems between the army and the youth when there is an attempt to kill someone. They (Israeli soldiers) often enter our house, and they sit on our roof (as a lookout position). I am not afraid of them. I have grown accustomed to this. It’s been like this since I was little. It has become normal. My area is the area I most love. I was born there, and I live there, and all my relatives live there. I am able to buy things, to do things, and I can work. It’s true that I am deprived of freedom (here), but there are others whose situations are worse
“Dreams?”l"
One’s dreams are different when he is little and when he grows up. I used to say, I will be a doctor, or I will be this, or I will be that. But the reality that we live in is what imposes our outcome on us. (Here), the economic situation is difficult. Study conditions are difficult. The order of life is very difficult, and when one spends all day in difficulty he can only think about living. I can’t think about the future. In the area I live, I can’t think about it. There is no thought about it in my head. I concentrate on helping my family and my situation.
“Love?”l"
I haven’t thought about the subject. I have a lot of friends. Inshallah, in the future. (Love) is difficult here. I live in a society that runs on customs and traditions. Therefore, it is difficult for me to speak to a girl or her father (about marriage). (When I want to marry) I would prefer that I know the girl. But that is difficult. According to the rule of customs and traditions, my mother will first go (to meet a potential wife for me), and then I will go see her. But this is my life, and in the end (whom I marry) is my decision. Every mother wants to make her son happy.
“Goals?l”
My goal is that I will be a person who lives like any other. I dream about freedom. One wants the necessities of life. One wants to design his life in the way that he wishes. My goal was to travel abroad for a short period and learn about the world, how others live, how the atmosphere is abroad, and how others solve their problems in life. I traveled to Italy when I was 14. My friend was a member of the Italian parliament, and I and five others from Hebron went for a week. We visited Rome and Naples and a beautiful region called al-Banduqiya, “Venizia” (banduqiya is the word for both rifle and Venice in Arabic), and Turin. I thought a lot while there. There is good and there is bad there. I saw the mafia on the street. And I was always singing an Italian song (I learned). It is called “Ciao Bella”. It is a song about freedom. It’s beautiful.l
l“If there was freedom starting tomorrow, no army, no Occupation, no borders, what would you do? Where would you go?"l”
The first thing I would think is, for how long will this freedom last? Is it for an hour, or two, three or four, or for a few days? That is the first thing I would think about. Secondly, I would go learn about the places people used to live. I would learn more about the past. I would visit the area of Shuhada Street and the area of the old vegetable market (areas of downtown Hebron closed to Palestinian traffic since 1994 and freely accessible only to Israelis and foreigners). Then I would go to Jerusalem. I have never been there. Then I would go to the beach. Then I would like to see all of Palestine. Then, if there was an opportunity, I would want to visit the world. After that, then I would think about my life and what I should do. I would think about the future
“Dreams?”l"
One’s dreams are different when he is little and when he grows up. I used to say, I will be a doctor, or I will be this, or I will be that. But the reality that we live in is what imposes our outcome on us. (Here), the economic situation is difficult. Study conditions are difficult. The order of life is very difficult, and when one spends all day in difficulty he can only think about living. I can’t think about the future. In the area I live, I can’t think about it. There is no thought about it in my head. I concentrate on helping my family and my situation.
“Love?”l"
I haven’t thought about the subject. I have a lot of friends. Inshallah, in the future. (Love) is difficult here. I live in a society that runs on customs and traditions. Therefore, it is difficult for me to speak to a girl or her father (about marriage). (When I want to marry) I would prefer that I know the girl. But that is difficult. According to the rule of customs and traditions, my mother will first go (to meet a potential wife for me), and then I will go see her. But this is my life, and in the end (whom I marry) is my decision. Every mother wants to make her son happy.
“Goals?l”
My goal is that I will be a person who lives like any other. I dream about freedom. One wants the necessities of life. One wants to design his life in the way that he wishes. My goal was to travel abroad for a short period and learn about the world, how others live, how the atmosphere is abroad, and how others solve their problems in life. I traveled to Italy when I was 14. My friend was a member of the Italian parliament, and I and five others from Hebron went for a week. We visited Rome and Naples and a beautiful region called al-Banduqiya, “Venizia” (banduqiya is the word for both rifle and Venice in Arabic), and Turin. I thought a lot while there. There is good and there is bad there. I saw the mafia on the street. And I was always singing an Italian song (I learned). It is called “Ciao Bella”. It is a song about freedom. It’s beautiful.l
l“If there was freedom starting tomorrow, no army, no Occupation, no borders, what would you do? Where would you go?"l”
The first thing I would think is, for how long will this freedom last? Is it for an hour, or two, three or four, or for a few days? That is the first thing I would think about. Secondly, I would go learn about the places people used to live. I would learn more about the past. I would visit the area of Shuhada Street and the area of the old vegetable market (areas of downtown Hebron closed to Palestinian traffic since 1994 and freely accessible only to Israelis and foreigners). Then I would go to Jerusalem. I have never been there. Then I would go to the beach. Then I would like to see all of Palestine. Then, if there was an opportunity, I would want to visit the world. After that, then I would think about my life and what I should do. I would think about the future
I’ve been working in this shop since I was 15 years old. Back then, there were no children on the streets. Why? There was plenty of work. Everyone worked. Today it’s different; kids go and play after school. My brother and sister studied at the university; my university was here in this shop. Forty years ago, this street was full of shoemakers. Today all the shoes come from China. They aren’t as good as the ones we used to make. Today everyone wants a flashy shoe. They want to shop in a store that looks luxurious and which has spent 20,000 or 30,000 shekels on its design. They see a shop like this one and don’t think twice. But my work is quality work. I am Muslim, and therefore I am obliged to do
good work. Some people ask for a high price and then reduce it, but I give a fair price from the beginning
good work. Some people ask for a high price and then reduce it, but I give a fair price from the beginning
I work selling sweets. This is my (little) brother. He works with me. He started a week ago. Our financial situation is difficult. We don’t have anything to eat. So I quit school to start working. If I earn enough, I can go back to school. When I am older, if I go back to school, I want to be a doctor. … I want all Hebron to become doctors. I want everyone to be educated. People who don’t have money, they must work at work like this. My advice to the world? Don’t quit school. Finish school. Learning is the most important thing in the world. One who studies can then go on to work.
May I take your photo?i
No, but you can photograph my cart
How old are you two?i
I am 15, my brother is 9
May I take your photo?i
No, but you can photograph my cart
How old are you two?i
I am 15, my brother is 9
I am a school-bus driver on Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. On the weekends I drive the bus to and from Jericho. Driving is a difficult job. It is tiring. Why? This is an old bus. ("What year is your bus?" 2002.) Moreover, the streets here are not good. There is not one good street here
I opened this bakery twenty years ago. I am married to two women. My children's ages range from 14 to one. Life is delightful! My advice to the young is that they live their childhood. I didn't live my childhood. My family was poor. I lived in a refugee camp. Kalandia camp (between Ramallah and Jerusalem). The first time I was arrested, I was 12 years old. The army arrived and I hurled stones and was arrested. My father came and got me. It was (a story of) one day. After that, when I was 19, I was arrested (on political charges) for three years.i
We want freedom. We, people, love freedom. The happiest day of my life was when I was freed from jail. There is no freedom in jail. We all love freedom...and we all have a right to resist (iniquity). Life is pleasant! The weather is delightful. The mountains are delightful. Nature is delightful. ... A kid wants to visit the sea and amusement parks, but it is forbidden, because of The Occupation.i |
There have been several sorrows in my life. The saddest was when my (oldest) son died. There is nothing more difficult than that. He was sick. He became sick and was hospitalized. (I took him) here and there. It destroyed my heart. Every moment my heart was consumed. Every minute and every second I was grieving, because I could not help him or do anything. I was unable (to do anything), even though I spent a lot. I didn't care about the money. If they had given me the choice of giving my life and dying instead of him, I would have preferred that. I am very sad now, speaking of it... .i
A father's feelings for his children cannot be understood by anyone who doesn't have children. All the troubles of the world can be on my head, but I see my children and forget them all. I play with my son every which way. I laugh with him; I throw him in the air. I bring him toy cars, and I give him rides on my back, telling him, yalla Sulayman, ride the horsey!i
A father's feelings for his children cannot be understood by anyone who doesn't have children. All the troubles of the world can be on my head, but I see my children and forget them all. I play with my son every which way. I laugh with him; I throw him in the air. I bring him toy cars, and I give him rides on my back, telling him, yalla Sulayman, ride the horsey!i
When I was young, I wanted to be a pilot. When I turned 19, I travelled to Jordan and looked for a course to become a pilot and get a pilot's license. I was told that I have no identity card, no passport, and no country -- this was before there were Palestinian passports -- and so I could not become a pilot. I took this news very naturally. Then I went to Aqaba. I saw there someone designing sand in bottles. I asked him to teach me this craft, but he told me he would only teach his children. I took this news very naturally. Then, a week later, I saw an ad in the paper announcing the opening of a course for designing sand in bottles. It was at the Arab College (in Amman). I registered. The course lasted two years. I have been doing this work since 1983. My advice to the young is not to get mixed up in politics. When one walks down a dusty or a muddy road, his clothes get dirty.i