The Words of My Father: Love and Pain in PalestineA Palestinian American recalls his adolescence in Gaza during the Second Intifada and how he made a commitment to peace in this transformative memoir. In the Gaza Strip, growing up on land owned by his family for centuries, fourteen-year-old Yousef Bashir was preoccupied with soccer, school pranks, and meeting his father’s impossibly high standards. Dignified and empathetic, kind yet strict, Yousef’s father was a pillar of strength for his family and community. Though he and Yousef butted heads fiercely, they loved each other unconditionally. Despite an Israeli settlement hovering on its periphery, the Gaza of Yousef’s childhood could only be described as a paradise. That all changed when the Second Intifada exploded, and Israeli soldiers seized the Bashir family home. Yousef was forced to learn the rules of a new life in captivity and to watch his father treat the invading soldiers as honored guests—a testament not only to his father’s desire for peace between Palestine and Israel but also to his unshakeable belief that it was truly within reach. Yet nothing could prepare Yousef or his father for the Israeli bullet that would instantly transform both of their lives . . . A riveting tale of a father and son, of reckoning and redemption, Yousef’s story is a heart-wrenching reminder in these troubled times that forgiveness is a gift—and a choice. |
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Allahu Akbar America Arabic asked began brother bulldozers bullet camp checkpoint Dayenu Deir el-Balah door dreams English everything father feel felt floor football friends front Gaza Gaza City Gaza Strip grandmother Zana greenhouses Gush Katif happened hard head hear heard hospital hugged Iftar Intifada Israel Israeli army Khalil Khan Younis kitchen knew land laughed leave living room looked loved Mohammed Salah morning mother move needed never night nurses Omar pain Palestine Palestinian parents Peace begins play Rafah Ramadan Ramallah Real Madrid Seeds of Peace settlers shawarma shooting shot shouted siblings sister sleep smile soldiers Sometimes spoke started stay stood stop story sure talk teacher Tel Aviv tell things thought told took trees tried trying Uncle Mujeeb upset upstairs veranda voice waiting walk wanted watched window worried Yaba Yousef