Twaneh

December, 2024, Masafer Yatta, February 2, Mu‘arrajat: texts Margaret Olin and David Shulman

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Ahribat a-Nabi, December, 2024

1. Visits to Prisoners. Text and photographs by Margaret Olin

I began this post on Martin Luther King Day, 2025, a moment to think back on all we in the United States have achieved and the distance we still must go to realize King’s dream of racial equality. In 2025, this day of concern for justice and love also marked the inauguration of a president who opposes these values and many others we hold. Some, dreading this event, found ways of trying to forget about it. My way was to think back to my visit to Israel and Palestine this past December.

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Balagan in Twaneh, July 15, 2023. Text and Photographs, Margaret Olin

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1.

I read that modern Hebrew borrowed the word balagan from Russian or Polish. In all three languages, balagan means utter chaos. But chaos came later in the town of Twaneh. This hot day began quietly in Wadi Jhesch, where we were the only disruption. A man who had been asleep in the back of his truck awoke at our approach and chatted with us in his excellent English.

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January 7, 2023    Gawawis, Ar-Rakiz, Twaneh. Text: David Shulman

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Gawawis, August, 2022. Photograph: Margaret Olin

1.

Jibrin says, “I hardly ever sleep. Maybe an hour in the night.”

“Because of the settlers?” I say.

“Yes. I’m afraid. A thousand times they have told me they will slaughter me.”

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October 29, 2022.  Umm al-‘Ara’is. Text by David Shulman. Photographs by Margaret Olin

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By 8:00 when we arrive at Simri, some twenty soldiers are already waiting for us.

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February 2, 2022. Twaneh. Text by David Shulman; Photographs by Margaret Olin

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Twaneh

I spent part of today wondering which I hated more:  sheer stupidity or pure human malevolence. I guess it’s what might be called an academic question. As our friend Guy said, the real killer is when the two come together.

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