Palestine Speaks Narratives of Life Under Occupation

The occupation of the West Bank and Gaza has been one of the world’s most widely reported yet least understood human rights crises for over four decades. In this oral history collection, men and women from Palestine—including a fisherman, a settlement administrator, and a marathon runner—describe in their own words how their lives have been shaped by the historic crisis. Other narrators include:

ABEER, a young journalist from Gaza City who launched her career by covering bombing raids on the Gaza Strip.

IBTISAM, the director of a multi-faith children’s center in the West Bank whose dream of starting a similar center in Gaza has so far been hindered by border closures.

GHASSAN, an Arab-Christian physics professor and activist from Bethlehem who co-founded the International Solidarity Movement.

Cate Malek and Mateo Hoke began working together in 2001, spending eight months researching and writing a story about the daily lives of undocumented Mexican immigrants living in Colorado. Their story ran in multiple newspapers and was recognized with a writing award by the Center of the American West. Cate holds degrees in journalism and American studies. She currently teaches English at Bethlehem University and works as a freelance editor. Previously she worked as a reporter, receiving multiple Colorado Press Association awards. Since 2005, Mateo has held the title of senior editor at The Bear Deluxe Magazine, an environmental/art quarterly based in Portland, OR. He holds a degree in print journalism, focusing primarily on long-form interviews and environmental issues. His interview credits include Portland Mayor Sam Adams, as well as authors Katherine Dunn, Inga Muscio, Derrick Jensen, and Tom Spanbauer, among others. He is based in San Francisco.