Sahar Khalifeh's Analysis

From the mid-19th century to present, strong tensions have existed between the Jewish and Palestinian peoples of the middle east due to the existence of the Israeli state in the majority of the area that formerly consisted of Palestine. Historically, tensions have been centered around the displacement and perceived mistreatment of Palestinians, who have lived in masses as refugees throughout the Middle East since the War of 1948 ended with the formation of Israel. Sahar Khalifeh is a Palestinian writer who was educated in the United States at the University of Chapel Hill and the University of Iowa. Khalifeh’s works are noted for feminism and support for equality for women in Arab society as a well as for criticism of Western involvement in …show more content…
As Usama quickly discovers in his return to Palestine, many people have abandoned fighting or evening disapproving of Israeli occupation due to need for sustenance or sometimes potential for individual wealth. One example of this need is how, on what he believes may be his death bed due to his profuse bleeding from a factory accident, Abu Sabir reminds Adil that, “Israeli cash is better than starvation” (Khalifeh, 52). By insinuating that, if he had not left his old job to work at the factory in Israel, he and his family would have starve, Abu Sabir seeks to justify before he dies the fact that he took what some may view as an immoral path by working for the oppressive Israelis. In an example of clearer immorality, Shahada is described as having produced a wallet, “stuffed with banknotes,” and have given Muhammed money, “ostentatiously,” and is described as reacting, “like that of a fighting cock ready for battle,” when Adil attempts to prevent him from spending so lavishly (Khalifeh, 91-92). Shahada, who Usama had previously discovered had left his father’s business to work in Israel, has clearly profited greatly from his work and serves as a characterization of a young capitalist. In the views of Usama, and in his portrayal by Khalifeh, Shahada is materialistic and arrogantly cocky. Usama deeply criticizes Shahada, asking himself if he had, “forgotten …show more content…
Many ideological groups were present within Palestinian society which left a lack of clear government and little unity between Palestinians as a whole. Unified, the Palestinians drastically outnumbered the Israelis and likely would have been able to prevent their subjugation. However, operating as a disjoint unit, Palestinians fell prey to Israeli occupation. Sahar Khalifeh is clearly critical of these divisions in Palestinian society, in particular the division between the different age groups in Palestine and the division between those of different political ideologies in Palestine. Those of the older group in Palestine clearly felt more strongly about the corruption of submitting to Israel by taking actions such as working in Israel. An example of this is when Usama asks Adil, “What if your father found out that you’re working over there, in Israel, like a common laborer?” (Khalifeh, 95). To give in to economic pressures and work for the Israelis was viewed by the older generation as weak, immoral, and inherently childish. Expanding upon this belief, after being arrested for protesting the injustices of Israeli occupation, Basil rejoices at how, “I’ve become a man. No teacher will ever dare to call me ‘boy’ again” (Khalifeh, 114). Despite his youth, taking a concrete action against Israel allows Basil to