Customer Reviews

Occupied Voices: Stories of Everyday Life from the Second Intifada (Nation Books)

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

Wendy Pearlman's "Occupied Voices" addresses an often overlooked aspect of the conflict in the Middle East. By recounting the stories of individuals living under conditions that (thankfully) none of us can even imagine, Pearlman sheds light on the crucible that is Palestine. The book helps the Western reader see Palestinians as individuals--something most texts fail to do, and something essential to truly understanding and resolving the conflict.

I found the stories evocative and so moving, the photographs stunning.

I think the Publisher's Weekly (PW) reviewer must have either had an axe to grind or not read the Pearlman book in which she convincingly outlines the reasons why she has chosen to give voice only to the (vastly under-represented) Palestinians. The funny thing is that the PW review talks about 'sides' where Pearlman's gentle and ruminative introductory essays and the interviewees she has chosen show *human beings* at the end of their tethers. The people she has chosen to interview represent a wide variety of backgrounds, and that she has gotten gripping, sad, and sometimes gently humourous stories from all of them is not only testament to her hands-off approach, but also to the depth of stories that are there to be told.

Pearlman's background as a young Midwestern Jew who was raised with an allegiance to Israel makes the preface -in which she explains how she decided to write this book- as interesting a story as that of the Palestinians in the book itself. Furthermore, she gently, but firmly, deals with any number of arguments one often hears in the media about the Israel-Palestine conflict or about the Palestinians in the preface.

As an Iranian who is interested in the Israel/Palestine conflict, I found her book rich in explanatory material, and rewarding in its attention to the human side of the conflict. I also liked its decidedly un-polemical stance, and its simple, jargon-free humanity.

This is a great book and serves a great cause. I also recommend the to read Arab Voices Speak to American Hearts and the link for it is
www.AeabVoicesSpeak.com

It is very refreshing to read a scholarly book and find not just well-presented information about the conflict, but also to find such a warm, personal voice. Ms. Pearlman really provides such a compelling voice for those Palestinians who are trying to live gracefully in the midst of chaos. I didn't find that it minimizes the experience of the Israeli suffering, as one reviewer did, instead, amplifying their voices allowed me to, in effect, make eye contact with them, and walk a little while in their shoes, to glimpse the suffering, their tenacity and motivated me again to pray for a resolution to the crisis.

Wendy Pearlman, a gifted writer, has succeeded in capturing the human dimension of the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza. Through a series of vignettes and interviews with people from all walks of life -- ranging from filmmakers to students to doctors and more -- Pearlman brings an entire nation to life. Readers learn about the Palestinian perspective through regular people, not government spokespeople and negotiators. If you like books that open your mind to new thoughts, new cultures and new perspectives know that this book accomplishes that in spades.

This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the human cost to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. It is a poignant and factual rendering from people of enormous faith, hope and courage, under conditions that most of us cannot come close to understanding. Once you read it, you will want to do something to help the people of Palestine. Read it, keep it, or pass it on. The world has to know the day to day tragedies that do not reach the pages of the newspapers, or the voices of the newsreaders.

Wendy brought to life the voices of the occupied that never had a chance to present their case to Americans. Arab Voices Speak to American Hearts does the same to the voices of the average Arab in the Arab world. Visit www.ArabVoicesSpeak.com

This book was very good, because it not only gave the views of Palestinian Muslims but also Christian. It is a common misconception that the war in Palestine/Israel is a was between Islam and Judaism, it is a war between ARABS and JEWS. A fight no longer about the land. This "war" has lost all meaning, and this book examines the lives of those most affected.
The best part is that it is written by a Jewish lady who writes a small intro, but otherwise lets the stories be told. There is no perverted hate felt by these Palestinians, just a kind of hurt, pain and injustice that they cnnot comprehend why it is happening and allowed to happen...
Read it please a Very good book

unjust violence too. The Islamic term applies to anyone within Palestinian community who is subject to obliteration. Rachel Corrie, for example, could be a martyr(for peace).

I disagree with the poster who has viewed the book holistically and decided to catergorize: pretty much implying every Palestinian is a suicide bomber, or those interviewed Pearlman's book are, and they all support terrorist activity. This is an incorrect deduction made by the reader. The contents clearly note that the book isn't a race in dichotomy for "winner/loser", to take a unilateral stance on the conflict and weigh out the violent tactics of one side as worse than the other. But rather, to acknowledge that we as U.S. citizens are only being fed one piece of the conflict's information, this being in favor of the Israeli government and its soldiers- armed, largely proclaimed Zionist, and ready to defend their "values". The ongoing war for a state should not be taken as a religious one (Islamic vs. Jewish- though 1 out of 5 inhabitants of Israel are not Jewish), but stifled for an egalitarian goal. But there are indeed some pages within the book where emotionally drained Palestinian women and men admit they preferred the Intifada resistance to their deteriorating lives because its all they had left to live for (and express themselves- because as it stands, they won't be getting heard anytime soon by the international community).

First I was automatically captivated by this book once I read on the back cover that the author was a Jewish woman born in America: what would entice her to cross such said dangerous boundaries, to sacrifice her religious name and take on an endeavor where she couldn't estimate its' outcome? It'd be a different mood if Wendy Pearlman provided information from pro-Palestinian publications, but much are widely human rights sources and from Israeli officials themselves. The objective of the book doesn't play games from the scope of a Palestinian newspaper. The writings within the book express concern, loaded with facts of knowledge. What does Pearlman have to gain from taking sides? Is she Israeli? Is she Palestinian? Muslim?

This book proved the voices of ordinary Palestinians(not gov. officials, paramilitaries) are not merely simplified responses or those of terrorists as the American news media and public would like to persevere. They are outcries, blood-curdling screams and daily tears emitted from children, mothers, fathers, grandfathers existing since the separation, of every race and religious background of the Palestinian people. Everyday waking day is a constant reminder of the ruthless bloodshed within Palestinian areas towards all their people. I don't know whether to describe the amount of knowledge young Palestinian children have attained about their bloody history and witnessing current events is saddening or worth appraisal for "intellectual maturity", since it's most of what they have grown up to learn. Dum-dum bullets exploding in the skins of young children as Israeli soldiers turn their schools and homes into military posts; rescue teams getting shot at and prevented from caring for the wounded; young kids painting pictures of war and bloodshed rather than nature's entities, wetting their pants by nightmares; old and young parents on the verge of delirium because the land they have worked so hard to cultivate or invested money into to survive has been promptly plowed over without warning. Much of Palestinian's livelihood is stripped away from them- numerous amount of barriers (checkpoints) both randomly and strategically placed where trading areas would be active, and there is no assurance your goods will get through, and if they do if they will be suitable for market (see: internal and external closures); international visitors intentionally steered away from the Pal tourism sector. Extreme actions(indiscriminate attacks, long curfews, prohibition of mentioning anything related to Pal nationalism) are taken in order to punish the whole of Palestinians, no matter who was responsible. Arbitrary lines marking Palestinian and Israeli zones, interrupting the psychological balance of the minds of Palestinians who wish to maintain a sense of self-control. All Jewish settlers reserve the right to harass and chastise Palestinians, but if a Palestinian were to retort or react angrily this will suddenly be labeled as a burst of terrorism.

What all of the interviewees have in common are they just want to exist in a normal life, engage in social and cultural activities without fear of curfews, persecution, or risking one of their relatives' lives. The Oslo accords actually increased hostility and violent attacks within the territories and Israel, reducing the key factors of production (land, water, food, shelter) and allowing Israel to shut down systems of production and reduce economic flow within the communities, and without supplying aid. Living under this hazardous stress day in and day out is a perfect example of psychological warfare. Who can live like this without harboring mixed feelings of resentment and sadness towards pro-Israeli ideals? If you prefer fabricated, one-sided, non-educational reportage don't refer to this book for a better understanding of the Palestinian-Israeli struggle on ground level. Otherwise, do not deny yourself the 257 pages of this compassionate masterpiece. The shocking and horrifying events(a few of which i accounted above) that can occur when turning every page left me spellbound; many times I couldn't really set down the book without being very uneasy. No matter what you hear or read millions of miles away from the situation, these are people undergoing harsh conditions as a result, under severe brutality in areas of unique conflict- like Hebron.

The occasional anti-Israeli suicide bomber, rocks, and dehumanization do not parallel years of professional military training, an excessive array of bullet fire, tanks, and explosives. Neither acts of retaliation are more justified, but I think if you read the history (lots of useful credible information is provided in the book), look at context of the wars between the two groups, the dynamics are uneven. We have to give BOTH sides a chance to speak before we can truly come to understand both of their mindsets, and needs, for a fair and balanced justice. You have threats on both sides that never want to achieve this peace. But at the same time, there are those who have taken it upon themselves to engage in things like performance arts (Israelis and Palestinians) to pursue calmness and instill peace within the hearts and minds of the peoples, particularly the children. And that's what has to be understood to help mediate the conflict. Before any legislation can be enacted to define how the Pal/Israeli population at large feel about each other, there has to be a positive impetus detached from the context of war in order to initiate normal life, and universal unity.

There are so many in-depth positive reviews of this book that I don't feel I need to reiterate much. Pearlman presents a compelling account of the oppression suffered by everyday Palestinians on a daily basis at the hands of Israeli occupiers, as described vividly by the victims themselves. From the trauma of nightly shellings to the sense of abandonment by the international community despite the clear presence of genocide, the grief of the Palestinian people is clearly transmitted in this work. I fully suggest it to anyone who wants to further their knowledge of this continuously unfolding tragedy supported by billions of US $'s and millions of cold Israeli hearts.