Generosity in Hebron

We’ve been in Palestine for a week now. Every day has brought new people and experiences but at the same time, much that is not new. This is my fourth trip to Palestine, and I still find the preceding statement to hold true but reinforced with each trip.

Two qualities of the Palestinian people which particularly impress me is the quality of “sumud”, meaning “stalwart” or “steadfast”. They remain steadfastly determined to cling to their land regardless of what inconvenience, threat, or act of violence the Israeli authorities inflict upon them.

I am not original in my thinking of the Palestinians as akin to the olive trees they revere and cultivate so lovingly. The roots of the olive trees, some of which are two or three thousand years old, anchor them to the land. Such is the determination of these people that they SHALL survive and thrive. I genuinely believe that sooner or later “inshallah” they will and must prevail.

This visit has also reinforced my love for the Palestinians for their amazing generosity, warmth, friendliness, consideration, and solicitude. All of these were shown by our hosts for our two home stays in Hebron, both with the same family. They insisted, brooking no argument, on giving up their bed to me. I am certain that if I happened to admire an object in their home they would insist on giving me that item, such is their enormous generosity.

It seems unutterably cruel that the Palestinian people should be so misrepresented by those who know little about them which hurts me deeply.