Digital Archive of the Middle East

Items

• 'Flowers and Onions' collection of poetry
  Collection of typed poems, entitled 'Flowers and Onions', including some of those used for 'The Call of the Earth', event at the East Jerusalem YMCA on 30 June 1971.
• "Reader's Opinions": Letter from Elias Qarnfol to Aziz Shehadeh
  A "Reader's Opinions" column published in Al-Hoda, the New York-based Arabic-language daily founded in 1898 by Naoum Mokarzel. The item consists of a cover note from Elias Qarnfol, writing from Laredo, Texas, asking the editors to publish an enclosed letter he had sent to the Ramallah lawyer Aziz Shehadeh. In the enclosed letter, addressed "My brother Aziz," Qarnfol praises Shehadeh's advocacy for understanding with Jewish leaders as a continuation of the position taken more than thirty years earlier by the National Defense Party, led by the late Raghib al-Nashashibi, then mayor of Jerusalem, whose associates included Bulus Shehadeh, publisher of the newspaper Al-Sharq. The letter states that had the Palestinian public followed that party's policy, the displacement following 1948 would have been avoided, and references the 1938 British Royal Commission's recommendation of partition.
• "Talk of the Closed Mouths": Symposium with the Participation of Lawyer Aziz Shehadeh and Mr. Hamdi Kan'an
  A report in Al-Mirsad, the Arabic-language weekly published by the Mapam party in Israel since 1952, covering a political symposium held at the Safed Club in Haifa. Participants named are Aziz Shehadeh; Hamdi Kan'an, former mayor of Nablus; Dov Zakin, member of the Knesset; Muhammad Wattad, representing the Mapam bloc; and a member of Al-Mirsad's editorial board serving as head of its Arab desk, who moderated the session. The moderator's opening question addressed who speaks for and represents the Palestinians. On the refugee question, Hamdi Kan'an stated that refugees live on the hope of returning to their homes, that they have endured harsh camp conditions rather than relinquish that hope, and that Israeli measures such as road-building through camps and relocating families do not solve the refugee problem but complicate it, arguing that the only solution is to permit return. Muhammad Wattad responded that while it is understandable for people in the refugees' circumstances to live on hope, building an entire population's future on that hope alone is untenable, and stated his own position in favor of establishing a Palestinian Arab state within the borders of Palestine alongside Israel, not in its place. Aziz Shehadeh stated that he is convinced the Palestinian people, if given the same opportunity as other Middle Eastern peoples to negotiate on a basis of equality rather than victor and vanquished, would arrive at a solution. A second segment addresses who benefits and who loses from the employment of tens of thousands of West Bank workers in Israel: Hamdi Kan'an argued the Israeli economy is the long-term beneficiary despite rising West Bank worker incomes, while Dov Zakin disputed that Israeli society benefits from this labor, citing roughly 75,000 Arab workers from the West Bank in Israel as a source of social strain, and called for developing a modern economy within the West Bank to absorb its own labor force.
• A Discussion for History Only
  Political commentary reflecting on Palestinian and Arab political debates and recording arguments concerning responsibility, leadership and the development of the Palestinian question. Written under the pseudonym “Ibn al-Jalil,” the article treats contemporary political controversy as part of the historical record and critically examines positions taken by political actors during the Arab-Israeli conflict.
• A Political Dialogue between an Israeli Thinker and a Palestinian Thinker
  Newspaper report of a public political discussion between an Israeli intellectual and a Palestinian intellectual concerning Palestine, Zionism, the Palestinian right of return, the establishment of a Palestinian state, relations between Palestinians and Israelis, and possible political solutions to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
• A Political Entity and Not a Palestinian State — Part 2
  A newspaper page featuring two political analyses regarding Palestinian identity and representation. The first, "A Political Entity, Not a Palestinian State" (Part 2) by Ghassan Tahboub, reviews a book by Abu Shilbaya, critiquing the historical ideological foundations of Palestinian political factions, their disconnection from the masses, and their reactionary rejection of the Rogers Plan. The second article, "The Regime, the Organizations, and the Palestinians!!" by Yousef 'Abd al-Majid, examines the bloody conflict between the Jordanian government and armed Palestinian organizations over the right to represent the Palestinian people. The author argues that the majority of Palestinians in the West Bank reject Jordanian guardianship but also refuse to be blindly led by disorganized armed factions, concluding that neither side genuinely speaks for the Palestinian public.
• A Reminder to the Palestinians: The Unwelcome Guests
  An opinion piece by Ibrahim Daibis published in Al-Anba analyzing the outbreak of armed conflict involving Palestinian factions in Lebanon, drawing direct parallels to the Black September massacres in Jordan. Daibis rejects superficial sectarian (Christian vs. Muslim) explanations for the Lebanese violence, instead framing it as a socio-economic struggle and a clash over Lebanon's reluctance to participate in the Arab-Israeli conflict. The author argues that the rhetoric accusing Palestinians of forming a "state within a state" is merely a pretext used by Arab regimes—from Amman to Beirut—to liquidate the Palestinian resistance, which often embarrasses these governments. The article concludes with a bitter reminder that Palestinians are ultimately treated as "unwelcome guests" across the Arab world and must realize that their only true salvation is establishing an independent state in Palestine.
• A Resolution for Memory and History!!
  An opinion column discussing United Nations General Assembly resolutions concerning Palestine and the limitations of international diplomacy in resolving the conflict.
• A State… at the Right Time!
  Newspaper article by Suna al-Bitar discussing political developments in Jordan and the Arab world, including the rule of King Hussein, the Palestinian question, political repression, and calls for democratic reform and popular participation. The article criticises authoritarian governance and argues for political change based on public rights and representation.
• A statement to our Brothers in the West Bank and Gaza Strip
  A handwritten statement addressed to the Palestinian people in the West Bank and Gaza Strip (1967)
• A statement to the Palestinian people and the Arab World
  A handwritten statement to the Palestinian people and the Arab World (1967)
• A Whisper to Professors Al-Sharif and Al-Taji / Free Word: Nizar Qabbani Poem
  A message from Hebron Mayor Sheikh Muhammad Ali al-Ja'bari urging writers Abdul Rahim Al-Sharif and Hamdi al-Taji to halt side debates over unity and focus on solving the primary national crisis, accompanied by a poem by Nizar Qabbani.
• Active Consciousness
  An opinion article discussing the core elements of national and political consciousness, addressing the Palestinian situation, Arab indifference, and calling for the selection of true representatives through democratic means under UN supervision.
• After the Withdrawal, We Will Decide Our Destiny Ourselves
  An interview published in Al-Anba with 'Abd al-Jawad Saleh, the 39-year-old Mayor of Al-Bireh. Saleh discusses the severe economic impact of the 1967 war on his city, which relied heavily on remittances and summer tourism from Gulf expatriates. The mayor outlines his administration's primary struggles with the Israeli military government, notably demanding the expansion of the family reunification program for widows and unemployed former civil servants. Politically, Saleh rejects Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Dayan's proposals for "self-rule," firmly opposes returning to Jordanian Hashemite rule (citing the Black September massacres), and asserts that the Palestinian people must achieve full self-determination following an Israeli withdrawal.
• Agreement for the Transfer of the Palestine Archaeological Museum to the Jordanian Government
  Agreement between the Board of Trustees of the Palestine Archaeological Museum and the Jordanian Government transferring ownership, collections, movable and immovable property, financial assets, and administrative responsibility for the Palestine Archaeological Museum to the Jordanian Government. The agreement reviews the legal history of the Museum from the British Mandate through Jordanian legislation and sets out the assets and responsibilities transferred. The document is presented in parallel English and Arabic texts.
• Al-Bashir Reveals Dangerous Details About Tunisia's Role in Paving the Way for King Hussein's Project
  A news report published in Al-Basheer uncovering secret diplomatic efforts by the Tunisian government to facilitate Jordanian King Hussein's "United Arab Kingdom" federation plan for the West Bank. The article details meetings between a Tunisian envoy, Dr. Muhammad Fayyad, and West Bank notables to promote the scheme, noting that internal Tunisian political struggles over Habib Bourguiba's succession inadvertently exposed these backdoor channels. The report states that while Amman is eager to implement the plan and appoint West Bank representatives, the primary obstacle remains the Israeli government (under Golda Meir), which insists on maintaining full control over Jerusalem and regional settlements regardless of King Hussein's concessions.
• Al-Quds Newspaper's question
  Aziz Shehadeh Addresses Some of the Questions Raised by Al-Quds Newspaper
• Al-Quds Talk: Plowing the Seas
  An editorial published in Al-Quds newspaper expressing profound cynicism toward the upcoming United Nations General Assembly session regarding the Palestinian cause. The author argues that relying on the UN is equivalent to "plowing the seas," as the international body has proven itself to be nothing more than a "deaf tool" controlled by the United States. The piece criticizes Arab politicians who generate false hope and excitement over UN resolutions, asserting that any decision contrary to Washington's interests will simply be shelved, serving only as a temporary anesthetic that allows great powers to implement their own agendas while the powerless shed tears over lost opportunities.
• Al-Quds Talk: Shlomo Hillel
  An editorial published in Al-Quds newspaper sharply criticizing Shlomo Hillel, the Israeli Minister of Police, for his administration of political affairs in the West Bank. The author condemns Hillel's policy of actively preventing any organized political activity or democratic expression among the one million Palestinians living under occupation. The editorial points out the hypocrisy of Israeli claims to democracy while Hillel simultaneously threatens local notables who engage in political discourse with government retaliation. The piece argues that denying basic human and political rights to the occupied population contradicts the historical reality that democratic freedom creates more stable security than suppression.
• Al-Quds Talk: Without Prejudice!
  An editorial in Al-Quds newspaper severely criticizing appointed municipal councils and chambers of commerce in the occupied territories for neglecting the severe daily economic and administrative struggles of Palestinian citizens. The author notes that public frustration is boiling over due to crushing taxes, internal disputes, and arbitrary travel restrictions imposed by Amman, leaving the population feeling like a "wandering flock without a shepherd". The piece urges local institutions to proactively solve these civic problems rather than using political paralysis as an excuse, suggesting they simply stamp their actions with "Without prejudice to political rights!" to avoid accusations of political compromise while still fulfilling their basic administrative duties.
• Al-Shiyoukhi Confirms Lawyer Aziz Shehadeh Is Not Affiliated with His Movement
  A report in Al-Quds by a special correspondent, following up on the statement issued by lawyer Aziz Shehadeh described in Item 5. Lawyer Hussein al-Shiyoukhi states that Aziz Shehadeh has no role in the new movement opposing the Palestine Liberation Organization, and that Shehadeh has never contacted the movement at all. Al-Shiyoukhi states that radio stations broadcasting from Cairo repeatedly named Shehadeh in connection with the movement, and links this to reports that Shehadeh had met several times with US Secretary of State Cyrus Vance at a reception hosted by Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan at his residence. Al-Shiyoukhi states that the new movement remains open to accepting Shehadeh as a member only if he agrees fully to its aims without reservation. The same clipping carries a separate, unrelated item reporting on Lebanese Druze leader Walid Jumblatt addressing recent events in the Chouf region after returning from a European trip, and his meeting with Lebanese President Elias Sarkis.
• Al-Shuyoukh Confirms Aziz Shehadeh's Non-Affiliation with His Movement
  A newspaper clipping reporting a statement by lawyer Hussein al-Shuyukhi denying that lawyer Aziz Shehadeh is affiliated with or helped form a new political movement opposing the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO). The article notes that Shehadeh recognizes the PLO as the legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and mentions a hostile radio campaign from Cairo attacking Shehadeh following his meeting with US Secretary of State Cyrus Vance at the home of Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan. The page also includes a brief, unrelated news item regarding Lebanese politician Walid Jumblatt addressing incidents in the Chouf region.
• Al-Wahdat... Sound Feminine Plural for Unity / The Dust of Our Shoes is a Patriotism Upon Which Wasfi and His Gang Commit Suicide
  A fiercely anti-Hashemite opinion piece by Jamil Hamad published in Al-Basheer, written in response to reports that Jordanian Prime Minister Wasfi al-Tal had prepared a list of West Bank Palestinian figures targeted for arrest. Hamad violently condemns the Jordanian government's rhetoric surrounding "Arab unity," arguing that the regime has operated as an inherently separatist force throughout its history, explicitly citing its purging of Palestinians from the army, its suppression of pan-Arab movements, and its devastating military assault on the Al-Wahdat refugee camp. The article mocks the Jordanian state's delusion that it maintains popular support in the West Bank, declaring that the dust on Palestinian shoes holds more patriotism than the entirety of al-Tal's government.
• Al-Wahdat... Sound Feminine Plural for Unity / The Dust of Our Shoes is a Patriotism Upon Which Wasfi and His Gang Commit Suicide
  An anti-Hashemite opinion piece by Jamil Hamad published in Al-Basheer, written in response to reports that Jordanian Prime Minister Wasfi al-Tal had prepared a list of West Bank Palestinian figures targeted for arrest. Hamad condemns the Jordanian government's rhetoric surrounding "Arab unity," arguing that the regime has operated as an inherently separatist force throughout its history, explicitly citing its purging of Palestinians from the army, its suppression of pan-Arab movements, and its devastating military assault on the Al-Wahdat refugee camp during Black September. The article mocks the Jordanian state's delusion that it maintains popular support in the West Bank, declaring that the dust on Palestinian shoes holds more patriotism than the entirety of al-Tal's government.
• Al-Wihdat… the Sound Feminine Plural of Unity
  Multi-page political newspaper article centred on al-Wihdat and Palestinian-Jordanian relations. Through commentary on events in Jordan and the West Bank, it discusses Palestinian unity, Jordanian government policy, repression and arrests, Arab nationalism, regionalism, and the political consequences of divisions between Palestinians and Jordanians.