I Shall Not Hate by Izzeldin Abuelaish

A Must Read.

I am a middle aged, suburban mother of 3 who has never paid much attention to the ongoing conflicts in the middle east. I have always been confused about who exactly the Palestinians, Israelies, Hamas, Gazans and PLO are. I don't pretend to be an expert on any of these groups, nor do I know more than the average Canadian citizen. To call me ignorant in this area would be complimentary. In fact, I would say that I know next to nothing about this topic, so here goes:

I attended public school in Ontario, Canada. Here, what I learned was straight from the standard curriculum with little to no diversion. Current affairs were seldom incorporated into the classroom, so I can confidently say that I never learned anything about the middle east. We certainly never learned about middle eastern conflicts. After having read I Shall Not Hate by Izzeldin Abeulaish, I would suggest that this book be mandatory reading for all high school students. It is a mémoire of hope, pain, loss and determination to change a small part of the world; one man's story to make a difference.


Here's an overview courtesy of Goodreads.com:

At the Tel Aviv hospital where his 3 Daughters Died.

"I Shall Not Hate is Izzeldin Abuelaish's account of an extraordinary life. A Harvard-trained Palestinian doctor who was born and raised in the Jabalia refugee camp in the Gaza Strip and "who has devoted his life to medicine and reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians" (New York Times), Abuelaish has been crossing the lines in the sand that divide Israelis and Palestinians for most of his life - as a physician who treats patients on both sides of the line, as a humanitarian who sees the need for improved health and education for women as the way forward in the Middle East. And, most recently, as the father whose daughters were killed by Israeli soldiers on January 16, 2009, during Israel's incursion into the Gaza Strip. His response to this tragedy made news and won him humanitarian awards around the world. Instead of seeking revenge or sinking into hatred, Abuelaish called for the people in the region to start talking to each other. His deepest hope is that his daughters will be "the last sacrifice on the road to peace between Palestinians and Israelis."

Izzeldin Abuelaish

Abuelaish is a Gazan doctor who is determined to work with Israel to improve the living conditions for the Palestinian people. He believes that the medical community has a central roll in improving the public health conditions of this war torn region. He explained that for years and years, Israel and Palestine have fought over the Gaza Strip. This tiny piece of land has been the centre of so much bloodshed and war.  This land's history is so complicated that it's hard to know who and what is justified, and what motivated each hostile action. He believes that rather than looking to lay blame, we need to acknowledge the personal costs and losses that both sides have suffered. We then need to settle this dispute and establishing peace for the next generations.

This book is a good starting point for anyone who has never taken a close look at the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I accept that Abulaish undoubtedly has his own politicized perspective to a certain extent, but I found his story very compelling, and informative. I was able to follow his overview of the issues, and I was able to understand the various factions.

I am open to learning other perspectives about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, so if anyone would like to make suggestions as to my next readings on this topic, I would be most receptive.

Palestinian child among the rubble

The imposed embargoes by Israel against Palestine  that have essentially choked the vitality from the majority of the population. I was staggered to learn that 70% of the population in Palestine live in abject poverty. I had no idea that running water and working filtration systems are a luxury that are threatened by the lack of parts needed to maintain these systems. How shameful.

Here are a few passages that I highlighted during my reading that I want to remember:

"One of the ways to alter the status quo is to look to the women and girls. It's easy to find a thousand men in favour of war; it's difficult to find five women who are inclined that way...The mother is the school. If you prepare this school with the right equipment, the students will be smarter and more successful and so will the nation...The evidence beyond doubt that investing in women and girls is the way forward out of poverty and conflict." page 118-119

Of the soldier in the tank that fired on and killed his 3 daughters and 1 niece: " 'What have I done?" And even if he doesn't think that now tomorrow he will be a father. He will suffer for his actions when he sees how precious is the life of his child...Hatred is an illness. It prevents healing and peace." page 167

Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca

Hajj is the pilgrimage to Mecca that takes place between the seventh and twelfth days of the month of Dhu al-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar. This is the largest annual pilgrimage in the world; every able bodied Muslim is required to make the trip at least once in his or her lifetime.

This novel has made me think.

I am left with the thought that armies do not resolve wars, individual people who decide not to fight resolve wars. Abuelaish has made me think about the Middle Eastern conflict for the first time, and I hope to learn more.  I am open to learning other perspectives about the ongoing conflict in the Middle East also, so if anyone would like to make suggestions as to my next readings on this topic, I would be most receptive.

I encourage  you to read this memorable book.