Witness in Palestine: A Jewish American Woman in the Occupied Territories [Paperback]

Anna Baltzer (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 30, 2007

Anna Baltzer, a young Jewish American, went to the West Bank to discover the realities of daily life for Palestinians under the occupation. What she found would change her outlook on the conflict forever. She wrote this book to give voice to the stories of the people who welcomed her with open arms as their lives crumbled around them. For eight months, Baltzer lived and worked with farmers, Palestinian and Israeli activists, and the families of political prisoners, traveling with them across endless checkpoints and roadblocks to reach hospitals, universities, and olive groves. Baltzer witnessed firsthand the environmental devastation brought on by expanding settlements and outposts and the destruction wrought by Israel s separation barrier, which separates many families from each other, their communities, their land, and basic human services. What emerges from Baltzer's account is not a sensationalist tale of suicide bombers and conspiracies, but a compelling and inspiring description of the trials of daily life under the occupation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Captivating text and artistic photography...a deeply personal story that will inspire you not only to have hope but to actively seek and work for peace and justice." --Mazin Qumsiyeh, author of Sharing the Land of Canaan

Moving and vivid. --Tanya Reinhart, author of Roadmap to Nowhere

Even those who are familiar with the grim reality of the occupied territories will quickly be drawn into a world they had barely imagined by these vivid, searingly honest, intensely acute portrayals. --Noam Chomsky

About the Author

Anna Baltzer is a graduate of Columbia University, Fulbright scholar, and three-time volunteer with the International Women s Peace Service in the West Bank, where she documents human rights abuses and supports the nonviolent resistance movement to the occupation.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Paradigm Publishers (August 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1594513074
• ISBN-13: 978-1594513077
• Product Dimensions: 0.8 x 6.6 x 9.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #133,564 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

59 of 65 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars eye-opening and enlightening November 16, 2006

By second time mom

Format:Hardcover

Anna Baltzer's story should rise loud and clear above today's terrorist grabbing headlines. That of nonviolent resistance and daily hardships of the Palestinian people doing there best to maintain their dignity while living under occupation. Neverending checkpoints, extremist settlers and wall annexation won't stop them from carrying out their daily lives the best they can. The presence of Internationals and Israeli activists make like more bearable and events run more smoothly and peacefully. What is life like for the average Palestinian, Anna describes this very well. A harrowing and necessary read for anyone interestd in equality and peace in the holy land. After reading, I feel ready to pack my bags, go and be an international peace worker in Palestine.

61 of 68 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A look at Israel\Palestine from the Palestinian's Point of View November 24, 2007

By Richard G. Newton

Format:Paperback

Though I consider myself a Zionist, even having been to Israel, I had no idea how badly the Palestinians were being treated by the Israelis. Anna's eye witness account describes conditions that I have read in no other publication. The Wall, which I applauded as a necessary security device, seems to be used as an Israeli land grab in addition to being a means of harassing the Palestinians. I believe that she's doing us a service with her lectures and her writings. I recommend it.

47 of 52 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars An alternative perspective October 25, 2007

By Baern

Format:Paperback

I just recently attended a lecture by Anna Baltzer on this same issue, and I was absolutely shocked. The information she presented was so alien to what I usually expected (I knew life for the Palestinians was hard, but I really didn't know what that meant). Do not expect a sweeping documentary of the whole situation and conflict - this is HER perspective based on HER experiences. Yes, there are Palestinians who blow themselves up in an attempt to kill Jewish Israelis. But this book isn't about those people - this book is about the hundreds of thousands of regular Palestinian people, people like you and me, who just want to live their lives like anybody else, but are unable.