Reading Response #?: March 18th: Suad Amiry

Galit Hasan-Rokem's discussion of Jerusalem as a feminine entity brought the conflict into a new light. From Karen Armstrong's historical account of Jerusalem, we saw the number of times various groups attempted to seize Jerusalem and claim it as their own. How many times people today try to take city by force, and just like the treatment of a woman, specifically women in the Middle East, the situation requires more gentility and respect than ever. Jerusalem has been given feminine attributes since biblical times, but what Jerusalem as a woman of strength. Cities and countries of all kinds are often referred to with feminine adjectives and qualities. Hasan-Rokem removes some of the poetics surrounding Jerusalem as a city. It sort of reminded me of Issam Nassar's argument that people attempt to pigeonhole Jerusalem as a biblical city trapped in time. She reminds us that Jerusalem is a living entity just like any other.
It is was incredible to read a firsthand account of what it was like to be a Palestinian under lockdown. After reading so many dense articles about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, it is easy to lose the reality of the situation. These are real people with families, fears, and daily lives that are interrupted during each attack or threat on their homes. Regardless of the biases people may have or opinions regarding which side is "correct" or has a claim to the land, you cannot help but sympathize with Suad Amiry's fear and the fear of those around them. Reading about their removal from Nazareth and how easily the group on the bus joked about the "transfer". Her accounts about the bus and her experiences with her dog add a sense of humor to living in Ramallah as an area of dispute. Her descriptions make situations such as the attempt to distribute gas masks, while Palestinians were still technically under curfew and were not supposed to leave their homes, even more absurd than they already were.
The fact that her dog's papers allowed her to gain entry through a checkpoint had my jaw on the floor.  I understand the dog does not pose as much of a threat as a person, but it is nearly as innocent as the children that were unable to gain Jerusalem visas that she discussed. A dog. The visa meant absolutely nothing to the dog and it continued to be happy and playful as ever, completely unaffected by the situation. I found it incredible that the Palestinian veterinarian was so sexist towards a puppy. I realize that she was a symbol for sexism within the larger community, but it shows how deep the issue really runs.