Jerusalem Archives - Page 2 of 13

A Prisoner to Remember

marwan
August 26, 2026

On this day in August 1968, one of the most famous cases of attempted abortion of a pregnant prisoner in an Israeli detention center occurred. The story, widely reported in the press, involved the Palestinian activist and former prisoner, Abla Shafiq Taha, from Hebron, sister of the martyr Ali Taha, commander of the Sabena operation in 1972. She was assaulted by a group of Israeli women detained in the same cell, on the orders of the interrogators, to pressure her into confessing. The beating and kicking took place while guards watched. This crime occurred in the Al-Maskubiya prison in Jerusalem. Several women were present during the trial, including Fadwa Tuqan. She was subsequently sentenced to four years in prison and then deported to Jordan with her husband. Deportation did not deter her from continuing her activism. She continued her grassroots work in the Al-Wehdat refugee camp and later became a member of the Palestinian National Council in 1977.

Culture News

Khan al-Sultan Stands Proud in Jerusalem

marwan
August 22, 2026

Husnieh Ghanayem

Khan al-Sultan, also known as al-Wakalah, is a caravanserai located at the northern end of a covered alleyway leading north from Bab al-Silsila Street, near the eastern edge of the Goldsmiths’ Market Street, in the heart of Jerusalem’s Old City. It is only a few hundred meters from the Al-Aqsa Mosque. In the 20th century, the caravanserai’s facilities were converted into shoe factories. At the beginning of the 21st century, the first floor was occupied by shops, warehouses, and small workshops run by Jerusalemites, while the second floor became a residence for dozens of families, housing approximately 120 people. The caravanserai suffers from neglect and a lack of restoration of its houses and buildings. It also suffers from overcrowding, as the Israeli occupation authorities prevent any expansion or construction.

Culture

Hisham Sharabi: Embers and Ashes

CrossFireArabia
August 16, 2026

From Nur Masalha:

I first encountered the term “the opportunist” over 40 years ago, when I was a student in Jerusalem reading the books of the late Hisham Sharabi.

Including this book: “Embers and Ashes.”

In fact, I began reading Hisham’s books in Arabic long before I started reading his works in English or meeting him in person.

It’s likely that Hisham himself didn’t coin the term, but rather was influenced by its usage in our Arab popular culture and in the works of Hassan Hanafi and Sadiq Jalal al-Azm.

This term refers to students who consider themselves exceptionally intelligent and believe they can succeed in exams and in life without much effort.

Hisham (one of the most prominent modern Palestinian academics and thinkers) was right; there are no easy or quick ways to achieve true success, to produce great works of art, or to achieve groundbreaking scientific accomplishments.

It’s all about hard work, perseverance, and self-reliance.

And by the way, what applies to individuals also applies to the collective, and to our collective Palestinian national efforts.

Culture

To Evelyn: The Baramki Home in Jerusalem

Heba
August 13, 2026

CROSSFIREARABIA – This house belongs to Andoni Baramki whom he built in dedication to his beautiful wife Evelyn. Andoni was a prominent Jerusalemite architect and built the home in 1932. The couple lived in this beautiful house until the War of 1948. Its location became a border area between the eastern part of Jerusalem under Jordanian rule and the western part of the city which Israel occupied. The house was located next to the Mandelbaum Gate, so the building was confiscated by Israel under its so-called Absentee Law which it introduced in 1950 and became an Israeli military outpost. After the Six Days War of 1967, the owner of the house demanded his property be returned by the Israeli authorities but his request was denied. In 1999, an Israeli foundation transformed the house into a museum, calling it as the Museum on the Seam. From Palestine Remembered

News

Palestinian House, Palestinian Architecture

CrossFireArabia
August 13, 2026

CROSSFIREARABIA – This is a historic heritage house in the Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem. It is distinguished by its authentic Palestinian architecture dating back to Palestine in the pre-1948 period. The house used to belong to the Qassis family. It then has a distinct a architectural style, combining carved Palestinian stone, ornate balconies, architectural arches, and traditional green-shuttered windows. From Palestine Heritage