What is uniquely Palestinian? Olive oil? Struggle? Stones? A map hung on every wall of historical importance and rights being constantly re-debated?
Perhaps that’s part of being Palestinian, but it can’t be all of it. We are all so uniquely different and special and terrible in our own little ways, and that is what makes us the most beautiful.
In this lovely new issue, we have so many stories about what makes a Palestinian Palestinian. We present to you “Embroidery as a Source of Palestinian Identity,” by Hanan Karaman Munayyer; “Jerusalem’s Palestinian Identity and Intangible Heritage,” by the ever-brilliant Ali Qleibo; “One border, Two Worlds” by Fida Jiryis, about the worlds on either side of an Israeli checkpoint; two lovely and difficult articles by Mariam Barghouti and Hasheema Afaneh; Al-Shajara al-Mubaraka by Nada Atrash and Sami Backleh; and many other pieces that bring to life the beauty and ordinariness of being Palestinian.
Our personality of the month is Albert Aghazarian, and our artist of the month is Osama Said, both special and inspiring, and a delight to read about.
We hope that in these articles you find your own edge, and your own way of being Palestinian, one that isn’t bound by a certain reality but celebrated with the most random and small details and loves.
May you always be free, and may you always be you.
