LOVE
Palestinians, by nature, are loud and expressive. At funerals feelings are openly expressed. Love, solidarity and companionship are important values for Palestinians. Family and community are of highest importance. To drink a coffee, even in the middle of the night, with a friend is more important than reading a book at home. The doors are rarely closed in Palestine and everyone is warmly welcomed at anytime. It is not a custom to pre-arrange or announce visits beforehand.
“My Family is my life. They mean everything to me.”
“My family never lets me down. No matter what happens they will always stand behind me.”
“Usually it is loud and crowded. You have to fight to be heard. But you’re always welcome.”
“Mum, do you know how old I am?” “I think you are 10.”
“I could never leave Palestine without my family.”
“We cannot be sad now. Let’s play.”
“There are hardly any homeless people in Palestine. The solidarity in this country is amazing.”
“We love to celebrate, to get married, to grow our families. For a few hours we can forget the war around us.”
“Each of my six children have been imprisoned, one of them for 12 years.”
“So many families have someone imprisoned. And in so many families someone has died in the war.”
“I was seven years old, when I last saw my dad. He will never leave prison.”