The Motherland

Palestine has a long, layered history that has included countless races, ethnicities, and religions. You can go to Old City Jerusalem and see it for yourself! Inside the old city walls are the 4 Quarters – Jewish, Christian, Muslim, and Armenian – which have been around for countless centuries. Arabs and non-Arabs of all religions have left a lasting mark on Palestine throughout the generations. Palestine has also seen its fair share of invasions (such as the Crusades) and occupations (including those by the Babylonians, Greeks, Romans, and the Ottoman Empire, to

name a few).

More specifically, Palestinians are known for their beautiful culture – clothing, embroidery (“tatreez”), music, dancing, art, and of course, their FOOD! Palestinian hospitality means you will be welcomed as a guest of honor and fed until your pants burst at the seam!

Sadly, in May 1948 with the creation of the state of Israel, an estimated 800,000 Palestinians were violently expelled from their ancestral homeland, and thousands of others were killed. Some 500 Palestinian villages were forever destroyed. Over the generations, Palestinians have been violently occupied by the Israeli government, which has also implemented an apartheid system (which is illegal under international law). Palestinians are restricted in every imaginable way – from where they live to which roads they can drive on to how much running water they get a day (to name a few). Many Israeli laws either exclude Palestinians completely or are made specifically for Palestinians to disadvantage them. Every single day they are subjected to violence, humiliation, and oppression by the Israeli military. But the Palestinian people persist

and remain steadfast in their determination to stand for what is their right – to exist.

And remember: We love to eat their food, so we should learn to love the Palestinians who make it.

More hummus, falafel, and knafeh, anyone? Don’t worry, you’ll burn off those calories with some dabke!