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Strangers in the House: Coming of Age in Occupied Palestine (Hardcover)

by Raja Shehadeh (Author), Anthony Lewis (Foreword) "THE HOUSE WHERE my family lived, and in which I was born, was the summerhouse of my grandmother..." (more)
Key Phrases: human rights work, West Bank, East Jerusalem, Tel Aviv (more...)

4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
alestinian perspectives on the Middle East conflict don't often reach the West and today they are more relevant than ever. In this fascinating memoir, leading Palestinian lawyer Shehadeh offers a chilling and moving view of life inside the Occupied Territories. He was born into a prominent family around the time of Israel's establishment in 1948. As Shehadeh recounts his relationship with his parents, his first love, intellectual experiments in college, world travels, law career and human rights work, his struggles under Israeli occupation distinguish his story. Shehadeh names his father, Aziz, also a prominent attorney, as the first Palestinian in the late 1960s to advocate recognizing Israel and adopting a peaceful two-state solution. The author gives a gripping narrative regarding Aziz's murder and the Israeli authorities' sluggish investigation; it's widely assumed that Aziz's killer was a Palestinian who disapproved of his willingness to compromise with Israel. More broadly, Shehadeh deftly renders the Israeli government's systematic harassment and humiliation of the Palestinians, ranging from constant surveillance at checkpoints to random searches in homes and offices. Such situations, Shehadeh makes clear, account for the powerlessness, frustration and anger experienced by most Palestinians. His deliberate analysis of the expansion of Jewish settlements in the Occupied Territories, a major obstacle to the peace process, is especially intriguing. The author argues that these settlements are illegal under international law, but have slowly and surely been aligned with Israeli legal statutes. Anyone seeking a nuanced view of Palestinian experience should read this brave and lyrical book. B&w photos.

From Library Journal

In this autobiography of a Palestinian living in Israel, Shehadeh, a lawyer and founder of Al-Haq, an affiliate of the International Commission of Jurists, reminisces about growing up "in the shadow of home" and coming to terms with the political situation in which he was born. It wasn't until he was an adult that he finally understood the work of his father, Aziz, an early advocate of the two-state solution for the Israeli-Palestinian conflict who was murdered in 1985. In a strong voice that is without diatribe, melodrama, or anger, Shehadeh describes the uncertainties of life during a period of national difficulty. Readers will get a glimpse into the emotional and political turmoil of the region and possibly form a better understanding of the troubles in the Middle East. This book also shares the insight of one man's journey and the maturity that allowed him to see his life in context. Recommended for public and academic libraries with Middle Eastern collections or biography collections that extend beyond the famous. Naomi Hafter, Enoch Pratt Free Lib., Baltimore, MD

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Product Details

Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Steerforth (November 7, 2001)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1586420321
ISBN-13: 978-1586420321
Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.7 x 1 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds

Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (12 customer reviews)

Amazon.com Sales Rank: #706,906 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
THE HOUSE WHERE my family lived, and in which I was born, was the summerhouse of my grandmother. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
human rights work

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
West Bank, East Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, United States, Grand Hotel, Abu Jamal, Old City, American University of Beirut, Martello Tower, World War, Bliss Street, Captain Yossi, Continental Hotel, Jordan River, Nassar Hotel, Abu Nidal, Allenby Bridge, Givat Zeev, New York, Palestinian Authority

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Citations (learn more)

7 books cite this book:

The Accidental Empire: Israel and the Birth of the Settlements, 1967-1977 by Gershom Gorenberg in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
The Trouble with Islam: A Muslim's Call for Reform in Her Faith by Irshad Manji on page 88, and Back Matter
Diaspora and Memory: Figures of Displacement in Contemporary Literature, Arts and Politics (Thamyris 13) (Thamyris/Intersecting: Place, Sex & Race) by Marie-Aude Baronian; Stephan Besser; Yolande Jansen (Eds.) on page 28, and page 32
Islamophobia and Anti-semitism by Hillel Schenker on page 83
Courting Conflict: The Israeli Military Court System in the West Bank and Gaza by Lisa Hajjar in Back Matter

See all 7 books citing this book

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	86% buy the item featured on this page: Strangers in the House: Coming of Age in Occupied Palestine 4.8 out of 5 stars (12)
	8% buy Palestinian Walks: Forays into a Vanishing Landscape 5.0 out of 5 stars (7) $6.00
	3% buy Once Upon a Country: A Palestinian Life 4.4 out of 5 stars (17) $10.88
	2% buy The Road to Mecca 4.9 out of 5 stars (33) $12.21

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Customer Reviews

12 Reviews

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
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Average Customer Review

4.8 out of 5 stars (12 customer reviews)

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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Powerful message, February 8, 2002

By	J Dozier (Florida) - See all my reviews

This book was assigned reading for a class of mine, but I am extremely glad that I read it. At first, it seems to be merely Raja's autobiography, but it is much more than that. Strangers in the House is described in the foreward as being "not a political book," but at the same time "in a hundred different ways it is political." A strong message about what should be done to solve and end the Palestine-Israeli conflict is presented through Raja's story of his life.

Since his views on what should happen contrast so sharply with those of his father, Aziz, it was difficult for him to grow up and not argue incessantly with his parents. Somehow me managed to look at his situation logically, and has maintained his individuality in the world. By fighting for human rights and trying to enfore the real estate laws which are broken by the Israelis, Raja is trying his hardest to change the world and better everyone's lives in the Middle East.

I strongly recommend this book to anyone with any desire to learn about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, as well as to anyone who tries to keep one eye open to the state of our world today.

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10 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A civilian's perspective, March 7, 2002

By	William B. Colohan "dursum" (Cincinnati, OH USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The author effectively tells the Palestinian-Israeli story from a civilian's perspective. Too often in war we forget about the innocent bystanders in a conflict. Most of the time the vast majority of people living in an area, caught up in a war, are just trying to live and raise a family. Shehadeh helps us understand that the vast majority of Palestinians are trying to do just that, but they can't since they have been displaced. Heart-wrenching.

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5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eye-opening, July 27, 2006

By	Anna Fudge (IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Strangers in the House: Coming of Age in Occupied Palestine (Paperback)

As an American, I have grown up to believe that Israel is a close friend to us. I would imagine that an ally of the United States would be a country that follows human rights guidelines. However, I was mistaken. "Strangers in the House" is a brilliantly written piece which provides personal experiences in an occupied Palestine. With all of the conflict in the Middle East currently, it is a must-read, to understand the viewpoint from all angles. Raja Shehadeh thinks way past his time, as his father had. He has written this book for the world to know what daily life is like under occupation and that it is a constant struggle. Mr. Shehadeh is admirable in his open-mindedness. If you would like to see the viewpoint from the other side, this book is perfect. It will help you open your mind and see the truth.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A Moving Story
Two stories interwoven into one poetic narrative. The story of the author's relationship with his father is enmeshed in the greater story of his people falling under Israeli... Read more

Published 8 months ago by Giant Panda

5.0 out of 5 stars An important perspective
This is an excellent look into occupation and the way it affects those under occupation. The Palestinian voice is one seldom heard by the West which is why this work is so very... Read more

Published 20 months ago by Matthew Smith

5.0 out of 5 stars It is a privilege and an honour to read this
I was at first taken aback by the way Palestinian lawyer and writer Raja Shehadeh chose to begin this book, his memoir. Read more

Published on September 5, 2005 by Maria �lvarez Folgado

4.0 out of 5 stars A Courageous Man
Shehadeh's book is perhaps the only one to lay out the multi-faceted nature of the Israeli-Palestinian-Arab conflict. Read more

Published on July 28, 2003 by I. Tysoe

5.0 out of 5 stars Required Reading
This book should be considered required reading for anyone seeking to understand the current Palestinian - Israeli conflict. Read more

Published on May 2, 2003 by Peter Lubetsky

4.0 out of 5 stars Author misunderstands real reason behind Palestinian rage
There is no doubt that Raja Shehaded is a well meaning and peaceful man. The Mid East would be a land of milk and honey if most of its inhabitants shared his noble aims... Read more

Published on June 17, 2002 by David Thomson

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!
An amazing reflection of the author's life in occupied Palestine. A non-bios and educational book of the daily life of Palestinians, and the oppression they face due to the... Read more

Published on March 5, 2002

5.0 out of 5 stars Smoke but no Fire...
A great book showing the struggles that the Palestinians go through in their every day life in Palestine. Read more

Published on March 3, 2002 by Space

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous -- a must-read
Like his earlier book "Samed," this is a fabulous book. Raja Shehadeh writes about life under occupation with great nuance and perception. Read more

Published on February 26, 2002

› See all 12 customer reviews...

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