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Writings on the Wall

Palestinian Oral Histories

Published by Olive Branch Press
Distributed by Simon & Schuster

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About The Book

“[We express our] grave concern about the continuing construction, contrary to international law, by Israel of the wall inside the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including in and around East Jerusalem ... in departure from the Armistice Line of 1949 ... [and] the failure of the Government of Israel to cooperate...”

?United Nations Commission on Human Rights

A book that truly “sees through walls,” Thomas Suárez has organized a remarkable collection of Palestinian oral histories, most of which hang on Israel’s apartheid Wall. Following his forthright introduction deconstructing the so-called “conflict,” the author’s annotations and photographs provide background to these testimonies of ordinary people living under a sadistic, seven-decade military occupation.
Lost in the chaos of Israel’s war against Palestine are the voices of the ordinary Palestinians who are its primary victims. This book puts a dent in that injustice by preserving oral testimonies collected and translated by the Sumud Story House project of Bethlehem’s Arab Educational Institute and hung as posters on Israel’s apartheid Wall.
Despite their brevity—each oral history occupies a single page in this book—each conveys the fears, the hopes, the resolve, the humanity of people under brutal military occupation, and their unwavering determination to realize a better future for their children.

About The Author

Thomas Suárez is a London-based writer and musician. His previous works include Palestine Sixty Years Later, Early Mapping of the Pacific, and Early Mapping of Southeast Asia, this last work considered the standard text on the subject. A professional violinist, Suárez is a former faculty member of Palestine’s National Conservatory of Music.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Olive Branch Press (September 15, 2019)
  • Length: 232 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781623719227

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Raves and Reviews

“At last, a chance to hear the voices of Palestinians being punished simply for their homes being in a place that others wanted. If you think you understand the Palestine-Israel conflict, read this.”

“Thomas Suarez has organized a moving collection of oral histories conveying the hopes and humanity of Palestinians living under Israel's seven-decade military occupation … From the Nakba to current violations experienced under Israel's military occupation, Palestinian testimonies are marked with resilience.”

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