Words of My Father

YOUSEF BASHIR is a Palestinian from the Gaza Strip, the son of a respected educator. After moving to the USA he earned a BA in International Affairs from Northeastern University and an MA in Co-existence and Conflict from Brandeis University. Now living in Washington DC, Bashir is a public speaker, author, and a peace advocate. He previously worked for the Palestinian Diplomatic Delegation to the United States.

"To experience love and humanity on many levels, read this story. Beautifully told by a young man whose voice deserves to be heard - even if the world is not yet ready to listen." - Diana Darke, author of The Merchant of Syria "Yousef Khalil Bashir has written a work of profound spiritual beauty, one of the great memoirs to emerge from this terrible conflict. For Israelis like myself, reading Bashir's story is a deeply wrenching experience. And yet, while I strongly disagree with some of his premises, I found myself feeling grateful to Bashir for his open heart and mind. "The Words of My Father" offers all of us hope that this seemingly intractable conflict can find a solution that is just to both sides."-Yossi Klein Halevi, author of Letters to My Palestinian Neighbor

• 1Before I Start // Part One: Paradise // 21 1. Our Land, Our Neighbours // 29 2. My Family // 29 3. The School // Part Two: Inferno // 37 4. Intifada // 49 5. The Soldiers // 63 6. House Guests // 77 7. Occupation // 87 8. Ramadan // 95 9. The Bullet // Part Three: Angels // 107 10. Tel Aviv // 115 11. The Sheekum // 123 12. The Miracle // Part Four: The Journey // 133 13. Escape // 147 14. Seeds of Peace // 157 15. Return // 165 16. Ramallah // 173 17. Desparation // 181 18. "Forward, Yousef!"// Part Five: Legacy // 197 19. America // 205 20. My Father // 213 A Letter // 215 Afterword // 219 The Words of My Father // 223 Glossary // 227 Acknowledgements