A land without borders : my journey around East Jerusalem and the West Bank

Award-winning journalist and author Nir Baram spent a year and a half traveling around the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In this fascinating recount of that journey, Baram navigates the conflict-ridden regions and hostile terrain to speak with a wide range of people, among them Palestinian-Israeli citizens trapped behind the separation wall in Jerusalem and Jewish settlers determined to forge new lives on the West Bank. Baram also talks to children on Kibbutz Nirim who lived through the war in Gaza, and ex-prisoners from Fatah who, after spending years detained in Israeli jails, are now promoting a peace initiative. And he returns again and again to Jerusalem, city of his birth, where a hushed civil war is in full swing. A Land Without Borders is a clear-eyed, compassionate and essential guide to understanding a complex reality; a perceptive and sensitive exploration of a labyrinthine conflict and the experiences of the people ensnared in it, by one of the most distinctive writers working in Israel today.;They Yelled Allahu Akbar: Balata Refugee Camp -- Yes, We're in a Post-Two-State Era: El Matan Outpost and Ma'ale Shomron Settlement -- You're the First Jew He's Ever Seen: Ramallah -- I See Gaza from My Window: Kibbutz Nirim -- I Feel Al-Aqsa in All My Body: East Jerusalem -- Do You Want to be a King or a Prophet?: Kedumim and Elon Moreh -- The Closest Thing to Hell: Palestinian Jerusalem beyond the Separation Wall -- You Cant Sweep a Tiger Under the Rug: Otniel Yeshiva, Gush Etzion -- Us Here, Them Here: Beit Jala, Bethlehem -- Where are the Arabs Here, Anyway?: The Itamar Outposts and Yanun -- One State, Five States-As Long as There's Free Passage: Barta'a -- One Day There'll be a Very Big Noise: Jabel Mukaber and Ras al-Amud, East Jerusalem. 'Written with great talent, momentum and ingenuity...it expands the borders of literature to reveal new landscapes.' Amos Oz Award-winning journalist and author Nir Baram spent a year and a half travelling around the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In this fascinating recount of that journey, Baram navigates the conflict-ridden regions and hostile terrain to speak with a wide range of people, among them Palestinian–Israeli citizens trapped behind the separation wall in Jerusalem and Jewish settlers determined to forge new lives on the West Bank. Baram also talks to children on Kibbutz Nirim who lived through the war in Gaza, and ex-prisoners from Fatah who, after spending years detained in Israeli jails, are now promoting a peace initiative. And he returns again and again to Jerusalem, city of his birth, where a hushed civil war is in full swing. A Land Without Borders is a clear-eyed, compassionate and essential guide to understanding a complex reality; a perceptive and sensitive exploration of a labyrinthine conflict and the experiences of the people ensnared in it, by one of the most distinctive writers working in Israel today. Nir Baram was born into a political family in Jerusalem in 1976. His grandfather and father were both ministers in Israeli Labor Party governments. He has worked as a journalist and an editor, and as an advocate for equal rights for Palestinians. He is the author of five novels, including Good People , which was translated into English for the first time in 2016. His novels have been translated into more than ten languages and received critical acclaim around the world. He has been shortlisted several times for the Sapir Prize and in 2010 received the Prime Minister's Award for Hebrew Literature. 'An honest and troubling snapshot of Israel...From horror to fatigue to indifference, an important look forward and back that provides a grass-roots sense that one state needs to satisfy sovereignty for all.' STARRED Review, Kirkus Reviews 'One of the most intriguing writers in Israeli literature today.' Haaretz 'Quite possibly, Dostoyevsky would write like this if he lived in Israel today.' Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Good People 'An engaging, fast-paced odyssey that conveys an intimate understanding of why peace remains so elusive...Nir Baram does what more people in the region should undertake: a grand listening tour that encompasses all sides of the conflict. The author is a good listener, too, albeit one who isn't afraid to ask hard questions.' Christian Science Monitor 'Baram brings an open heart and mind to exploring the difficulties of coexistence where physical and emotional walls do harm on both sides, reaching beyond headline to explore the lives of Palestinians and Jews of different generations.' Booklist 'For all outside of the land who bandy Israel/Palestine talking points about—indeed, for those in it who rarely interact with those on the other side—these raw perspectives are a necessary introduction to the incredibly complex nature of the current divide.' Foreword Reviews [4 stars] 'Nir Baram is an Israeli novelist, a highly respected journalist and an accomplished editor. So it is hardly surprising that his description of his journey around East Jerusalem and the West Bank is eminently readable, although much of what he recounts is worrying enough to give the reader many sleepless nights despite the shafts of optimism that occasionally shine through the text.' Arts Hub 'An essential guide to the human elements of... 'Written with great talent, momentum and ingenuity ... it expands the borders of literature to reveal new landscapes.' Amos Oz Award-winning journalist and author Nir Baram spent a year and a half travelling around the West Bank and East Jerusalem. In this fascinating recount of that journey, Baram navigates the conflict-ridden regions and hostile terrain to speak with a wide range of people, among them Palestinian-Israeli citizens trapped behind the separation wall in Jerusalem and Jewish settlers determined to forge new lives on the West Bank. Baram also talks to children on Kibbutz Nirim who lived through the war in Gaza, and ex-prisoners from Fatah who, after spending years detained in Israeli jails, are now promoting a peace initiative. And he returns again and again to Jerusalem, city of his birth, where a hushed civil war is in full swing. A Land Without Borders is a clear-eyed, compassionate and essential guide to understanding a complex reality; a perceptive and sensitive exploration of a labyrinthine conflict and the experiences of the people ensnared in it, by one of the most distinctive writers working in Israel today. Nir Baram was born into a political family in Jerusalem in 1976. His grandfather and father were both ministers in Israeli Labor Party governments. He has worked as a journalist and an editor, and as an advocate for equal rights for Palestinians. He is the author of five novels, including Good People, which was translated into English for the first time in 2016. His novels have been translated into more than ten languages and received critical acclaim around the world. He has been shortlisted several times for the Sapir Prize and in 2010 received the Prime Minister's Award for Hebrew Literature. 'An honest and troubling snapshot of Israel ... From horror to fatigue to indifference, an important look forward and back that provides a grass-roots sense that one state needs to satisfy sovereignty for all.' Kirkus Review, starred review 'One of the most intriguing writers in Israeli literature today.' Haaretz 'Quite possibly, Dostoyevsky would write like this if he lived in Israel today.' Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on Good People 'An engaging, fast-paced odyssey that conveys an intimate understanding of why peace remains so elusive ... Nir Baram does what more people in the region should undertake: a grand listening tour that encompasses all sides of the conflict. The author is a good listener, too, albeit one who isn't afraid to ask hard questions.' Christian Science Monitor 'Baram brings an open heart and mind to exploring the difficulties of coexistence where physical and emotional walls do harm on both sides, reaching beyond headline to explore the lives of Palestinians and Jews of different generations.' Booklist 'For all outside of the land who bandy Israel/Palestine talking points about--indeed, for those in it who rarely interact with those on the other side--these raw perspectives are a necessary introduction to the incredibly complex nature of the current divide.' Foreword Reviews [4 stars] 'Nir Baram is an Israeli novelist, a highly respected journalist and an accomplished editor. So it is hardly surprising that his description of his journey around East Jerusalem and the West Bank is eminently readable, although much of what he recounts is worrying enough to give the reader many sleepless nights despite the shafts of optimism that occasionally shine through the text.' Arts Hub 'An essential .. "From horror to fatigue to indifference, an important look forward and back that provides a grass-roots sense... An honest and troubling snapshot of Israelboth Palestinian and Israelithat reveals the creeping realization that a two-state solution may no longer be possible." Kirkus (starred review) Throughout their youth Nir Barams generation were bombarded with news about the Israeli-Palestinian conflictthe injustices, the wrongdoings, the killings. Over the decades, the horror and despair had become habithe noticed people had begun to give up on the possibility of resolution. Yet, as Baram notes, the vast majority of Israelisas well as international onlookers know next to nothing about life on the West Bank, the area at the heart of the conflict they have spent their adult lives dissecting. Most have never visited the occupied territories, and thus the debate revolves around a theoretical, ill-defined area sketched out in our political imagination. This book of reportage emerged from the authors realization that Israel is separated from the West Bank not only by checkpoints but also, more significantly, by a cognitive barrier. And so began his quest to understand the occupation from both sides. The result is an essential and nuanced journey through places and experiences that receive little coverage. Baram, widely considered one of the most important intellectual voices in Israel today, faces painful challenges to his personal political views and his hopes for a more peaceful future. Nir Baram has worked as a journalist, editor, and advocate for Palestinian rights. He is the author of five novels in Hebrew. In 2010 he received the Prime Ministers Award for Hebrew Literature. Award-winning Journalist And Author Nir Baram Spent A Year And A Half Travelling Around The West Bank And East Jerusalem. In This Fascinating Recount Of That Journey, Baram Navigates The Conflict-ridden Regions And Hostile Terrain To Speak With A Wide Range Of People, Among Them Palestinian-israeli Citizens Trapped Behind The Separation Wall In Jerusalem And Jewish Settlers Determined To Forge New Lives On The West Bank. Baram Also Talks To Children On Kibbutz Nirim Who Lived Through The War In Gaza, And Ex-prisoners From Fatah Who, After Spending Years Detained In Israeli Jails, Are Now Promoting A Peace Initiative. And He Returns Again And Again To Jerusalem, City Of His Birth, Where A Hushed Civil War Is In Full Swing. A Land Without Borders Is A Clear-eyed, Compassionate And Essential Guide To Understanding A Complex Reality; A Perceptive And Sensitive Exploration Of A Labyrinthine Conflict And The Experiences Of The People Ensnared In It, By One Of The Most Distinctive Writers Working In Israel Today. By Nir Baram; Translated From The Hebrew By Jessica Cohen. In English, Translated From Hebrew. Jessica Cohen was born in England, raised in Israel, & now lives in the United States. She translates contemporary Israeli fiction, nonfiction, & other creative works, among them David Grossman’s critically acclaimed To the End of the Land. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Financial Times, Tablet, Words Without Borders, & Two Lines.