Product Description

The first Israeli journalist to voluntarily live in Gaza, the much-maligned Palestinian enclave, offers her insights and reflections on what she saw and learned, the joys, and the sudden fears, and gives a moving portrait of the resilient Palestinian people.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #245101 in Books
• Published on: 2000-06
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 400 pages

Customer Reviews

Amira Hass CapturesThe True Spirit of Gaza
Amira Hass is a correspondent for Haaretz a daily newspaper in Israel who was honoured by the World Press in May 2000 as a Freedom hero. Hass understands Gaza and its people because she shared the every day reality their lives. As an Israeli who took the momentous step to live in the Gaza Strip, her account of the people and the life in Gaza is based upon respect and insightful journalism. Hass discovered what most expatriate workers find, that in the midst of human suffering and poverty there is a solidarity and dignity birthed through injustice that typifies the people. Drinking The Sea At Gaza is unique in that not least, it is written by an Israeli and a woman. Feeling at home with the people, Hass had their confidence and provides personal accounts of how the politics of the State of Israel and the Palestinian Intifada has affected their lives. In demythologising the popular held media image of the Gaza Strip as a small patch of anarchy where Islamic fundamentalism and terrorism rules, Amira Hass shows us the true spirit of Gaza, a gentle enduring warm family spirit. Statistics and social commentary is one aspect, however, more importantly we see a portrait of Gazans as human beings, ordinary people reacting to the 1993 Oslo Peace Accords that heralded the post Intifada period and the 1994 return of Yasser Arafat. There are moments when the book sings with poignancy, frustration and humour as the people who confided in Hass leap from the pages. Some material whilst familiar takes on a new dimension through the eyes of the people. In terms of rating it is a five star book, especially for its portrayal of the true spirit of the people living in the Gaza Strip.

A remarkable book
Amira Hass I consider one of the best journalists of the Middle East. Especially when it comes to this dreadful subject of the relationship/non-relationship between Israel and Palestine. Having lived and worked in Gaza for a couple of months I really appreciate every word Amira Hass is writing, be it in a newspaper, a journal or in her books. I especially treasure her writing because she knows excactly what she is writing about. In this book she describes her experiences sharing life with the Palestinians in Gaza. This gives a vivid picture of all the problems Palestinians are facing day by day and how they are dealing with these problems and how they are struggling to solve them as well as they can.

This book gives 'a view behind', it rounds the picture, makes one more understanding. It can enable one to be more compassionate.

I highly recommend this Title and all other books by Amira Hass. One gets first hand and honest information about the situation there.