This is an ordinary woman’s travel journal of her journey through Palestine and Israel.
I am embarking on this journey to gain a first hand understanding of the Palestinian Israeli conflict, by listening to the narratives of many people who live with the conflict every day. I want to see and hear, I want to understand, and maybe to challenge some deeply held beliefs, both my own and others’.
Who am I? Human, woman, mother, wife, concerned soul, a tiny voice among billions of voices on the planet, longing for peace.
Olivetreejourney's Blog 
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March 3, 2010 at 8:32 pm
anita
asak Sarah,
I just saw your email from Nadira and wanted to take a quick moment to comment on your blog. What an amazing opportunity you both have in front of you by the Grace of Allah. I wish you the best on your adventures to come which , inshallah, will be beneficial to both you and our Muslim ummah.
I will definitely be back to keep up on your blog, and in fact, look forward to it
at
March 5, 2010 at 5:49 pm
Sarah
Asalamalaikum Sara,
I got to know about your journey from Nadira’s email. I wish you many good tidings and a safe journey. I would be interested in learning more about your experiences after you return. Perhaps a presentation sharing insights from both the Israeli and Palestinian – civil and political side. Khudahafiz and a safe journey to you and your husband.
-Sarah
March 12, 2010 at 1:48 am
rubina husain
What an amazing opportunity! Thanks for taking the time to share you pictures and thoughts with us. I feel I can see and be there throught you. The area is infused with history and yet you see also the new realities and must focus on the not so comfortable aspects of life there. Your itinerary seems to be full and varied. Do you travel as a group or do you choose whom to visit and talk to? As a muslim do you ‘see’ diffirently from others in the group? There must be so much to absorbe and sort out. keep the blogs going. I for one will be anxiously awaiting to hear about your visits to jenin, ghaza and your meetings with the Israeli ‘officials’.
May 16, 2014 at 12:50 pm
Amna
Dear Sarah baji,
It was so uplifting to read your blog. It was also very impressive to know that you have been part of
Such a crucial purpose that we all muslims must ponder and try to be a part of knowing that it is not only a Palestinian conflict, it is a conflict of humanity. As I read in detail regarding the Israel and Palestine conflict, I feel very strongly moved by the Arab sufferings and struggles and i truly feel for them. Your blog awakened me and all of a sudden I remembered that during my 12th grade year when I was studying at Mayo High School, Minnesota, I was asked to do a project on nations that were in conflict and I had selected Palestine and Israel conflict and somehow I selected similar topics for my government and speech class. I thoroughly enjoyed the research, yet sad for Arabs as they repeatedly were forced to move out of their land and many families were homeless. Now as you see Palestine, it is invisible and it is very sad!!
I hope that justice prevails and Palestinians can one day get their rights and are able to live peacefully. Inshallah that day will come!! There is light at the end of the tunnel.
I am so happy to see my sister making attempts in instigating peace talks. I truly wish that your
Efforts, struggles and assistance in having peace talks can make huge difference. I love the name Olive Tree as in your blog the following verse was highlighted by your guide. It is just beautiful and truly very uplifting and so is your goal towards Olive Tree.
“Allah is the Light of the heavens and the earth. The example of His light is like a niche, within which is a lamp, the lamp is within glass, the glass as if it were a pearly white star lit from (the oil) of a blessed olive tree, neither of the east nor of the west, whose oil would would almost glow even if untouched by fire. Light upon light. Allah guides to his light whom He wills. And Allah presents examples for the people, and Allah is Knowing of all things.”
The Qur’an: Verses of the Light (Noor 24:35)
The following story of a Palestenian man raises questions in my mind. I wish I can also do something
For these people!
He was only 14-years old when Israeli soldiers attacked his village in the middle of the night. He remembers a time before 1948 when the Arab and Jewish populations coexisted peacefully in Beit Natif. “It was a really good relationship. Jewish, Christians and Muslims lived together peacefully.”
He remembered on October 21, 1948 when soldiers broke into homes in his village, shooting residents and bombing buildings. Three or four of his friends were killed in the initial attack but his family managed to escape alive into the hill above their village with just the clothes they were wearing.
Much like the Syrian refugees in camps on the border in Jordan, who begin their lives in flimsy canvas tents today, Abusur spent two years living in a tent in Aida refugee camp, beginning in the winter after October 1948.
His family were some of the first residents at Aida refugee camp, just north of Bethlehem. The land where the camp sits today was once lemon, olive and orange tree orchards but was leased to the refugees of the nakba.
The UN Relief and Works Agency was created to alleviate the refugee crisis in Palestine and supplied every family with a single green fabric tent, regardless of the number of family members.
“The tents weren’t very strong – they were destroyed in the wind and it was winter. It was a disaster, life was really hard, everything was hard. We had no work, no money. The only food we were given was milk for the babies from the Red Cross,” Abu Srur said.
Two years later permanent structures were built and it would take another 20 years before roads were paved in the camp, so residents would sink in mud up to their knees.
take care and keep it up
lots of love Yulluma!!
and faiz shair for you ” Yeh Haat Sallammat hein jub tu is khoun mein harrarat hay jub tukk! Is moun mein sadaqat hey jab tuk yey haat sallamat hein jub tuk!
Great Great Work!! Mashallah!
Samra
May 22, 2014 at 2:47 am
Amna
I have a comment on what Shoshana said regarding the emotion that most affected the geopolitics of the Arab Muslim and I disagree with her. For Palestinians the emotion that most affected the geopolitics of the Palestinian Muslims is the emotion which is a result coming from Patience or “Subbar” and Perseverance and as Your guide Ibrahim puts it
“This is their time as the Quran told us 1433 years ago. We Had Our time. Let them Enjoy Their Time, but it will not last forever. Inshallah tomorrow will be our time. Our Time will come “We are steadfast and patient” and Allah will help us.
July 6, 2014 at 3:12 pm
Amna
Your writing in this blog has been very very touching. It is very very sad to know that the Palestenian youths Mohammad, Nadeem, Eyal, Naftali and Gilad were shot in Ramallah while protesting for their rights awakening Yasir Arafat’s dream for an Arab land.
May Alaah (swt) gives subar to the families of these youth. They were eliminated by the IDF, however, their dreams and hopes will live amongst all of us. This cruel act is witnessed by Allah and everyone internationally. I am very sure that they will not get away with this horrific act.
It was a relief to know that that Obama acknowledges and announced that Israel is the cause of the failed negotiations. American public which values freedom, democracy and equal rights must be consistent with their believes internationally. “American Values” vs. “Strategic Interests”, The U.s support of strategic interests against American values, is showing the world a strong contradiction of their beliefs.
It is very easy for the U.S to solve the issue and if Obama agrees that Israel is responsible for what is going on……there is still hope. The U.S can easily pressurize Israel to return to the negotiating table. War against terror must take action.
It was so overwhelmingly touching to see the Arab children 4-6 years of age perform beautifully in the theater and was shocking to know that 7 who turned into peace protestors were shot by Israelis. What a disgusting, horrific and cruel act.
By seeing the Arab children just makes me go back to the time I was studying in yemen. I have a strong connection with Arabs. May be in another time I was an Arab. Having lived in yemen for a couple of years in my childhood times, I found the Arabic children, so pure, welcoming and warm hearted. I still clearly remember my friends, my sister and brother’s friends. My heart speaks out for them.
May Allah give them their rights back and let us all pray and recite these names of Allah (swt) requesting for a solution and end of conflict for Palestenians.
1. Assalam The one who creates peace
2. Al Fatah The one who gives success
3. Al Adal The one who gives justice ( Yallah pleace provide justice to the Palesternians)
4. Al hafeez The protector
5. Al hakam The decision maker for all
6. Al moemino The peace maker
May Allah gives Palestenians U.S support ending a conflict which has taken lives of thousands of innocent men, women and children. If U.S talks about war against terror, it must take action to eliminate terror.
July 23, 2014 at 8:36 pm
Susan Nabhan
Palestinians will never, ever have US support. You can count on it. America is 85% Christian, and as Christians we owe the Hebrews (Almighty God’s chosen and beloved people), the modern Jew and the God-created land of Israel our alligence, help and protection. Those who come against Hos land and His chosen will pay a mighty price one day. You may call on the 99 names the Koran has given Allah, but the name God Almighty granted directly to His chosen to know
will protect them.