What Did We Do to Deserve This?: Palestinian Life Under Occupation in the West Bank

Released to coincide with the fortieth anniversary of Israel s occupation of the West Bank (June1967), this timely book exposes the realities of daily life for Palestinians in the West Bank in the twenty-first century. Based around photographs of, and interviews with, ordinary Palestinian people, it looks at all aspects of daily life ranging from restrictions on movement and imprisonment to the effects of the occupation on business, the practicing of religion and the development of democracy. By providing the reader with a comprehensive understanding of how Israel s policies in the West Bank affect the lives of real people on the ground, the book cuts through the smokescreens and political correctness that pervade coverage of the issue and offers the reader a new platform from which to form his or her own opinions.REVIEWS "Of the numerous images in Western media that depict the Israeli occupation, only a handful manage to provide a glimpse of the Palestinians reality, and only a fraction come with appropriate analysis. This lack of honest and searching reflection on the socio-economic conditions of the Palestinians has been accurately and brilliantly addressed by Mark Howell in his book, What Did We Do to Deserve This: Palestinian Life Under Occupation in the West Bank. This book combines powerful photographic images of the daily lives of the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, with detailed commentary and analysis based on historical information, testimonies, and political and economic reports. The juxtaposition of scenes is staggering and alarming, yet all express the tenacity of these Palestinians human will. Howell excellently analyses Palestine s political, economic and social landscapes, which are effectively shaped by Israel s policies policies that prevent people from reaching their work, patients and pregnant women from reaching hospitals, that impose strictures on movement, split families from each other, and that terrorize people into leaving their homes through, what Howell calls, quiet transfer . Several crucial themes are tackled in this book, both through powerful images and informative commentaries. One is the concept of transfer in Zionist ideology the forced migration of Palestinians from Palestine to neighboring Arab lands which Howell infers has not left Israeli politics but is indeed alive and well in the policies implemented by the Israeli government in the West Bank. Howell highlights the dramatic and far-reaching consequences of Israel s policies on the Palestinians daily lives. He points out that the policies of subjugation and occupation are carried out with impunity and the acquiescence of international powers, despite obvious contradictions in international la and these powers apparent high regard for human rights and democracy. The book s moving testimonies tell the story of a people denied basic rights and freedoms; some have lost loved ones or suffer from injuries and imprisonment, while others struggle in courts to regain land confiscated by Israeli settlers. These testimonies indicate the scale of Israel s domination over all aspects of Palestinian life. What Did We Do to Deserve This? is a remarkable book in both content and style. "Atef Alshaer is a PhD candidate at SOAS, University of London., The Middle East in London Magazine, 2008/05/01"