• fr Français
  • en English
  • ar العربية
About us
  • In-depth
    • All
    • Features
    • Files
    Double Violence: Tunisian Women Are Victims of Their Husbands…and of the Police, Too

    Double Violence: Tunisian Women Are Victims of Their Husbands…and of the Police, Too

    Female employment in Algeria: burial in the informal market

    Female employment in Algeria: burial in the informal market

    “Capitalism doesn’t give vulnerable women the opportunity to escape it”

    “Capitalism doesn’t give vulnerable women the opportunity to escape it”

    Interview with Feriel Lalami, political scientist and PhD in sociology

    Interview with Feriel Lalami, political scientist and PhD in sociology

    Migrant women in France. New law, new discrimination?

    Migrant women in France. New law, new discrimination?

    Trending Tags

    • Women Living at the Margins
    • Press Freedom from the Perspective of Women Journalists
    • Period poverty
    • Gynecological violence
    • Women and prison
    • Safe spaces
    • Abortion and SRHR
    • Transgenderism
    • Women in rural areas
  • On the move
    On everyday sexism: an interview with feminist philosopher Lorenzo Gasparrini (2/2)

    On everyday sexism: an interview with feminist philosopher Lorenzo Gasparrini (2/2)

    On everyday sexism: an interview with feminist philosopher Lorenzo Gasparrini (1/2)

    On everyday sexism: an interview with feminist philosopher Lorenzo Gasparrini (1/2)

    The story of MedFemiNiswiya: a feminist response from the Mediterranean

    The story of MedFemiNiswiya: a feminist response from the Mediterranean

    Interview with queer activist Marianne Chbat: “Our presence in academic settings is a militant act”

  • Portraits

    Interview with queer activist Marianne Chbat: “Our presence in academic settings is a militant act”

    Hela Ouardi « Le corps féminin était perçu comme un avatar du territoire ennemi »

    Hela Ouardi: “The female body perceived as an avatar of enemy territory”

    Ons Jabeur: A Tunisian dream come true

    A personal testimony by Shireen Abu Aqleh

    A personal testimony by Shireen Abu Aqleh

  • Creations
    • All
    • Reviews
    • Visual Arts
    Under the Control of the Egyptian Regime

    Under the Control of the Egyptian Regime

    Remarkable Women of Montenegro – Open Call for Artists

    Remarkable Women of Montenegro – Open Call for Artists

    Barbie vs. Oppenheimer: The Cinematic Battle with Deeper Stakes than Pink and White

    Barbie vs. Oppenheimer: The Cinematic Battle with Deeper Stakes than Pink and White

    Revenge of the Blondes

    Revenge of the Blondes

  • Opinion
    Berlusconi and women, a heavy legacy

    Berlusconi and women, a heavy legacy

    Heated battles over the hijab in Algerian universities

    Heated battles over the hijab in Algerian universities

    Palestine, the country with the highest media sources per capita

    Palestine, the country with the highest media sources per capita

    What is fear? What is hope?  On the meaning of “public space” in women’s lives

    What is fear? What is hope? On the meaning of “public space” in women’s lives

  • Multimedia
    "I hope it doesn’t go viral: Journalism and sexist attacks in digital age". A video investigation by Çiçek Tahaoğlu

    "I hope it doesn’t go viral: Journalism and sexist attacks in digital age". A video investigation by Çiçek Tahaoğlu

    Period poverty in Montenegro

    Period poverty in Montenegro

    Period poverty in France (1)

    Period poverty in France (1)

    Period Poverty in Italy

    Period Poverty in Italy

  • Country context
No Result
View All Result
BLOGS
Medfeminiswiya
  • In-depth
    • All
    • Features
    • Files
    Double Violence: Tunisian Women Are Victims of Their Husbands…and of the Police, Too

    Double Violence: Tunisian Women Are Victims of Their Husbands…and of the Police, Too

    Female employment in Algeria: burial in the informal market

    Female employment in Algeria: burial in the informal market

    “Capitalism doesn’t give vulnerable women the opportunity to escape it”

    “Capitalism doesn’t give vulnerable women the opportunity to escape it”

    Interview with Feriel Lalami, political scientist and PhD in sociology

    Interview with Feriel Lalami, political scientist and PhD in sociology

    Migrant women in France. New law, new discrimination?

    Migrant women in France. New law, new discrimination?

    Trending Tags

    • Women Living at the Margins
    • Press Freedom from the Perspective of Women Journalists
    • Period poverty
    • Gynecological violence
    • Women and prison
    • Safe spaces
    • Abortion and SRHR
    • Transgenderism
    • Women in rural areas
  • On the move
    On everyday sexism: an interview with feminist philosopher Lorenzo Gasparrini (2/2)

    On everyday sexism: an interview with feminist philosopher Lorenzo Gasparrini (2/2)

    On everyday sexism: an interview with feminist philosopher Lorenzo Gasparrini (1/2)

    On everyday sexism: an interview with feminist philosopher Lorenzo Gasparrini (1/2)

    The story of MedFemiNiswiya: a feminist response from the Mediterranean

    The story of MedFemiNiswiya: a feminist response from the Mediterranean

    Interview with queer activist Marianne Chbat: “Our presence in academic settings is a militant act”

  • Portraits

    Interview with queer activist Marianne Chbat: “Our presence in academic settings is a militant act”

    Hela Ouardi « Le corps féminin était perçu comme un avatar du territoire ennemi »

    Hela Ouardi: “The female body perceived as an avatar of enemy territory”

    Ons Jabeur: A Tunisian dream come true

    A personal testimony by Shireen Abu Aqleh

    A personal testimony by Shireen Abu Aqleh

  • Creations
    • All
    • Reviews
    • Visual Arts
    Under the Control of the Egyptian Regime

    Under the Control of the Egyptian Regime

    Remarkable Women of Montenegro – Open Call for Artists

    Remarkable Women of Montenegro – Open Call for Artists

    Barbie vs. Oppenheimer: The Cinematic Battle with Deeper Stakes than Pink and White

    Barbie vs. Oppenheimer: The Cinematic Battle with Deeper Stakes than Pink and White

    Revenge of the Blondes

    Revenge of the Blondes

  • Opinion
    Berlusconi and women, a heavy legacy

    Berlusconi and women, a heavy legacy

    Heated battles over the hijab in Algerian universities

    Heated battles over the hijab in Algerian universities

    Palestine, the country with the highest media sources per capita

    Palestine, the country with the highest media sources per capita

    What is fear? What is hope?  On the meaning of “public space” in women’s lives

    What is fear? What is hope? On the meaning of “public space” in women’s lives

  • Multimedia
    "I hope it doesn’t go viral: Journalism and sexist attacks in digital age". A video investigation by Çiçek Tahaoğlu

    "I hope it doesn’t go viral: Journalism and sexist attacks in digital age". A video investigation by Çiçek Tahaoğlu

    Period poverty in Montenegro

    Period poverty in Montenegro

    Period poverty in France (1)

    Period poverty in France (1)

    Period Poverty in Italy

    Period Poverty in Italy

  • Country context
About us
Medfeminiswiya
About us

A personal testimony by Shireen Abu Aqleh

“To me, Jenin is not a one ephemeral story in my career or even in my personal life. It is the city that can raise my morale and help me fly. It embodies the Palestinian spirit that sometimes trembles and falls but, beyond all expectations, rises to pursue its flights and dreams.”

Contributor with Medfeminiswiya by Contributor with Medfeminiswiya
16 May 2022
in On the move, Portraits
13 1
0
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

This post is also available in: Français (French) العربية (Arabic)

Written by Shireen Abu Aqleh for “This Week in Palestine” in October 2021.

It was probably a coincidence that brought me back twenty years. When I arrived in Jenin in September, I did not expect to relive this overwhelming feeling. Jenin is still the same inextinguishable flame that is home to fearless young men who are not intimidated by any potential Israeli invasion.

The success of the escape from Jalbou’ Prison was the reason I spent a number of days and nights in the city. It was like going back to 2002 when Jenin lived something unique, unlike any other city in the West Bank. Towards the end of Al-Aqsa Intifada, armed citizens spread out all over the city and publicly dared the occupation forces to raid the camp.

In 2002, Jenin became a legend in the minds of many. The battle in the camp against the occupation forces that April is still powerfully present in the minds of its inhabitants, even those who were not yet born when it happened.

Returning to Jenin now, 20 years later, I encountered many familiar faces. In a restaurant, I met Mahmoud who greeted me with the question, “Do you remember me?” “Yes,” I replied, “I remember you.” It is difficult to forget that face and those eyes. He continued, “I was released from jail a few months ago.” Mahmoud was wanted by the Israelis when I met him during the years of the Intifada.

I relived those feelings of anxiety and horror that we experienced every time we met an armed person in the camp. Mahmoud is one of the lucky ones; he was imprisoned and released, but the faces of many others have been turned into symbols or mere memories for the inhabitants of Jenin and for Palestinians in general.

During this visit, we did not face any difficulties in finding a place to stay, unlike ten years ago when we had to stay in the homes of people we did not know. At that time, people opened their homes to us since there were no hotels.

At first sight, life in Jenin may appear normal, with restaurants, hotels, and shops that open their doors every morning. But in Jenin we have the feeling that we are in a small village that monitors every stranger that comes in. On every street, people ask the crew, “Are you from the Israeli press?” “No, we are from Al-Jazeera.” The yellow Israeli vehicle plates raise suspicion and fear. The car was photographed and the photograph was circulated several times before our movement in the city became familiar to inhabitants.

In Jenin, we met people who have never given up hope; they have not allowed fear to infiltrate their hearts and have not been broken by the Israeli occupation forces. It is probably not a coincidence that the six prisoners who managed to escape are all from the vicinity of Jenin and the camp.

To me, Jenin is not a one ephemeral story in my career or even in my personal life. It is the city that can raise my morale and help me fly. It embodies the Palestinian spirit that sometimes trembles and falls but, beyond all expectations, rises to pursue its flights and dreams.

And this has been my experience as a journalist; the moment I’m physically exhausted and mentally drained, I’m faced with a new, surprising legend. It might emerge from a small opening, or from a tunnel dug underground.

Shireen Abu Aqleh’s bio, in her words:

“For 24 years I have been covering the Palestinian-Israeli conflict for Al Jazeera. In addition to the political issue, my concern has been and will always be the human story and the daily suffering of my people under occupation. Before joining my current channel, I was a co-founder of Sawt Falasteen Radio. Throughout my career, I have covered four wars against the Gaza Strip and the Israeli war on Lebanon in 2006, in addition to the incursions into the West Bank. Furthermore, I have covered events in the United States, the United Kingdom, Turkey and Egypt.”

Contributor with Medfeminiswiya

Contributor with Medfeminiswiya

Share your content with us- Partagez vos contenus avec nous- ِشاركونا المواد الخاصة بكم/ن. راسلونا: info@medfeminiswiya.net

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

J'accepte les termes et conditions et la Politique de confidentialité .

Medfeminiswiya

Medfeminiswiya is a feminist network that brings together women journalists working in the fields of media and content production in the Mediterranean region.

Newsletter


    Follow us

    Browse topics


    • In-depth
    • Files
    • Features
    • On the move
    • Portraits
    • Opinion

    • Creations
    • Visual Arts
    • Reviews
    • Multimedia
    • Country Context
    • Blogs
    • About us
    • Our community
    • Our partners
    • Become a member
    • Editorial charter
    • Disclaimer

    © 2023 Medfeminiswiya - Mediterranean Network for Feminist Information

    • fr Français
    • en English
    • ar العربية
    • In-depth
    • On the move
    • Portraits
    • Creations
    • Opinion
    • Multimedia
    • Blogs
    No Result
    View All Result

    © 2023 Medfeminiswiya - Mediterranean Network for Feminist Information

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password?

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In

    Add New Playlist

    Ce site n'utilise pas de cookies. This website does not use cookies. هذا الموقع لا يستخدم ملفات تعريف الارتباط.