Fatima’s Story

Ghina: So what do you hope this interview will have in the way of influence on people?

Fatima: By God, the decent people, like yourselves, with such consciences, when they hear such stories, of course, will be affected, strongly affected. And may God reward them; I mean, I wish them good fortune and everything good. Because, of course, by publicizing these happy memories, they’re showing the whole world what Palestine means, what her inhabitants suffered, what they accomplished…. Certainly, my dear. Maybe this year you’ll find me alive and next year gone, but it will be enough that you say, this illiterate woman, when you remember her, still, as much as she could she talked to us and made us happy with her memories of Palestine. That makes me proud for you more than it gives me pride in myself!

Ghina: Certainly, auntie, the memories that you and your companions tell about form a part of our history. Do you feel that when we are putting together this history, it’s our duty to write down only the good things from this past or should we also talk about the bad?

Fatima: How so?

Jaber: Well, there are things that are negative that happened along with good things…

Maybe this year you’ll find me alive and next year gone, but it will be enough that you say, this illiterate woman, when you remember her, still, as much as she could she talked to us and made us happy with her memories of Palestine.

Fatima: How do you mean not good?

Jaber: Well, the Palestinian people, for example, defended themselves, but there were also traitors who came out of them, we have to allow…

Fatima: Yes, we must allow that. We were rebels, people who got their food from their own purse, and weapons from their own purse. The person who didn’t have enough money to buy a gun would sell his wife’s gold, would sell his cow, the source of his milk and yogurt, and say, “So I can buy a gun and fight the jihad for my land and country.” And the rebels, bravo! [She tells of how the revolutionary groups worked until the Arab armies came and took over.] Here I will talk, and not be afraid; 100% I’ll tell you about it.

Jaber: Okay, Auntie Imm Hassan, there is that positive side that you now mentioned. There are other, negative aspects, too. Of course, there were betrayals; for example, Palestinians who sold their land. Do you think we should talk about those things, too?

Fatima: Yes, of course. The people who sold to the Jews, those we considered them traitors, even if [they sold] only a foot ground. The people who reported to the English that so-and-so is a resistance fighter, the rebels would get such people and kill them in a flash, nothing stopped them — even if he were someone’s brother. No matter. When it comes to land and the country….But God be praised we remained without selling a single foot of ground. Our people didn’t sell any….