Witness in Palestine: A Jewish American Woman in the Occupied Territories |  | Author: Anna Baltzer
Publisher: Paradigm Publishers
Category: Book
List Price: $28.95
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Rating:  15 reviews
Media: Paperback
Edition: illustrated edition
Pages: 320
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.4
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 7.1 x 0.9
ISBN: 1594513074
Dewey Decimal Number: 327
EAN: 9781594513077
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Product Description
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.
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Showing reviews 1-5 of 15
 eye-opening and enlightening November 17, 2006
second time mom (San Jose, Ca, USA)
51 out of 54 found this review helpful
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.
An alternative perspective October 26, 2007
Baern (Austin, TX)
37 out of 40 found this review helpful
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.
If You Care About Israel or the USA, Then Read This Book! February 20, 2008
A Concerned American (Cincinnati, Ohio)
29 out of 32 found this review helpful
This book was an eye-opener for me. Like most Americans, I had heard all about Palestinian violence but had no idea how extensive and organized the Palestinian non-violent civil rights movement is. Also, though I had done enough reading to realize that Israel has been unnecessarily brutal to the Palestinians, I was not fully aware of the systematic and daily nature of the violence, extending into every facet of life in occupied Palestine. The ability of so many Palestinians to remain non-violent in the face of the arbitrary and capricious brutality Ms Baltzer has witnessed is remarkable and inspiring.
Ms Baltzer's lucid writing and eye witness perspective shows life under the occupation through a lens that is clear and sharp. She herself is in the middle of the events she chronicles and when she relies on secondary sources, most are people she interviews herself, often within minutes or hours of the events being described. The result is a book that is raw and powerful.
The book is organized chronologically into chapters of a few pages each, describing one day or one event, and illustrated with photos of actual participants on all sides in so much as is possible. Thus it is easy to dip in and out of the book if you please or even to start at the back and read forwards. VERY IMPORTANT: read the appendices! In just 20 pages of appendices, Baltzer packs more useful information about big-picture issues than many entire books on this subject and she articulates issues clearly and cogently (we are dealing with an exceptionally gifted writer here). I found Appendix IV: Myths & Frequently Asked Questions and Appendix V: Quotations from Prominent Figures to be particularly eye opening. If you have limited time or are leafing through the book in a book store, you might even start with these two appendices and then go to the first chapter.
If everyone in America and Israel were to read this book, lasting peace in Israel and Palestine would come a whole lot sooner.
(Note: Ms Baltzer has also put out a DVD which will get you through the basics of life in occupied Palestine in the space of an hour. The DVD is well done and also well worth having. The book, however, includes a lot more about life under the occupation as well as more useful big-picture info in the appendices.)
Witness in Palestine is a must read!!!! February 26, 2008
dddd
23 out of 26 found this review helpful
This is the best book I can think of and would highly recommend it to anyone interested in learning what it's like to live under occupation. It's definitely a must read especially for Americans whose tax money is supporting "Israel" unconditionally, so whether they like it or not they are directly involved in this conflict and hence ought to understand it. Also, Israelis should really read this because there is so much they don't know about Palestinians, and so much mistrust and hatred created by the governments that makes justice and peace look impossible or even threatening. Finally, as a Palestinian I think all Palestinians should read this so as to reflect on things and situations in our daily lives that we've started considering normal but need to be reminded that they are not, and to realize that there are some amazing international and Israeli activists out there who dared to take a stands against the brutal occupation. These grassroot bridges of trust and understanding between our peoples are really the only path for a just and lasting peace. Let us start this understanding now by reading Anna Baltzer's honest and genuine work "Witness in Palestine: A Jewish American Woman In The Occupied Territories".
Perhaps the most revealing book on the topic February 26, 2008
C. Morse (Seattle, WA USA)
20 out of 23 found this review helpful
This book blew me away. I've yet to come across another book on the Israel/Palestine conflict that takes such an intimate look at the day-to-day life of Palestinians under occupation. The humiliation, pain, and loss these people go through everyday is clear and undeniable. It's pretty difficult to get through this book without getting angry at least a couple of times. the subject matter is very troubling.
Baltzer also cuts through many of the myths that still dominate the context of debates in the United States on this issue.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 15
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