Date: Tue, 02 Dec 2003 10:31:11 -0700
Subject: Interview with a young Palestinian woman, Jenin

Hi. This interview is with my good friend's daughter, she is a really
nice person and works in the radio station near our apartment. She is a
particularly sweet and intelligent person, and very interested in
politics and the larger world. You would like her. The interview was
frequently spattered with her questioning me about my home, what i do for a living
etc,
i left that stuff out.
Sabah lheer, Noor. "Good morning, Ben."
Tell everybody your name. "Noor xxxxxxxxxxxx."
How old are you? "Twenty."
Where are you from? "Jenin City."
What do you do? "Studying in Al-Quds Open University, here in Jenin."
And you also have a job? "I am presenter on radio."
What do you do here at the radio staion? "I have a program from 10:30
until 12, different subjects from songs, news, about authors, many very
important people in this life like singers, writers. And also very different
things, beautiful things in this world, on this program."
Do you like your job here in the radio station? "Yes."
Why? "Because its very good job, I can speak to listeners thru the
micro, its very beautiful. And I have many friends in radio, and i like to
see my friends from ISM."
What are you studying at the University? "I am study to teach the
small children in the future, like history, math, science."
Why do you want to be a teacher? "Really, its not alot of subjects in
our university, i really don't want to be a teacher. But I will try to be a
very good teacher."
So, you have few choices at school? "Yes! Many other people like me
too."
If you had many choices, what would you study? "In the past at Arab
American University, I study management of hospitals, but this i don't
like. When I was small girl, I like to be a lawyer. Nowadays, when i
become big, I don't like to be a lawyer."
Noor, what do you think about the Occupation of Palestine? "There is
no speaking how I feel because the Israeli soldiers don't know anything
but killing people, and always lie about it. And they don't want us to
live. And they don't see the good things in life."
Why are the Israelis here in the West Bank? "You have to ask them!!
They thought this land for Israelis, that its their land, but its a very
wrong idea. Everyone in this life know this is our land."
Why do they think this is their land? "Because they haven't any land
of their own."
How does the Occupation affect your life? "Its alot of effects, we
can't go always to University, to work, to other city like Nablus or Al-Quds
{Jerusalem}, even to villages near here! Everything thats beautiful in
this life, the Israelis take it. And why??!! What we do to them??!! Did
we ask him to come here?"
What do you think about the Israeli government? "Its not really a
strong government like America, just America government give them tanks and
the weapons, and money, to help kill us. I don't know why."
So, is there a difference between Israeli government and Israeli
people? "I think not much because the Jewish people wasn't very big people, they
all around the world, no have land, they think we should go. So, in Israel
case, government and people is mostly the same. There are a little people
that are good in Israel, but no have power. There are very good, but not
many. I think some is very good."
What is it like to be a young woman in Palestine today? "Its difficult
for a young woman in this situation, but we try to be good people. Thru
studying and working....and to live with this situation. Thru good
things we can do it in our own country."
So, how do think people in America and Europa see Palestinian people?
"I think its a good idea about us, like you and your friends, because you
can go home and speak about us. ..... Right??"
Yes, we will.
How do you see the American people, not the government, the people?
"Look, Ben, around the world there is alot of people, rich or poor, anything.
I think they are good people if they are good to other people. Every
place in the world there is good people and bad."
When will Palestine be free? "When the Israelis soldiers end here we
will be free people, free country. When Arabic countries help us, like
Jordan, Syria. And when American government stop giving weapons to Israel."
How would you feel if Palestine was free? "I think its a very
beautiful feeling!! We, the Palestinian people, know the word free, only the
meaning, we don't live in it. We will enjoy life when we are free, but its in
the far future, I think."
Can you send a message to the Israeli people? "What can i speak?? We
say push on your government to stop killing us, and get out of our land."
What about a return to the pre '67 borders? "We deserve all of it, but
we know we are not strong with army. What if someone take half America,
you want to make happy deal?"
And a message to Sharon? {mutual laughter}...."Sharon, take your
people and go out and let us live our life in peace. We not believe you, anything
you say, we know you hate us and want us to dying. We will hit you with
our stones, we will not leave our land."
So, what are your future plans, after University? "To be a teacher and
learn the children what I learned. To be a good citizen, do my best
for this country, to live freely."
Will you marry? "In the future, I think yes. In our culture, the girl
always marry."
Any final message for anyone who will read this? "I wish my message a
good message, and go to everyone around the world. And that the people who
read this will understand it very well. And I thank the person who made it,
Ben from New Mexico."
Shukron {thanks}, Noor. "Afwon {you're welcome}, Ben."