““Returning to Returning to Haifa”Haifa”

Ghassan KanafaniGhassan Kanafani

SETTING: HAIFASETTING: HAIFA

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About HaifaAbout Haifa 33rdrd largest city in Israel; Largest city in northern Israel largest city in Israel; Largest city in northern Israel More than 264,000 peopleMore than 264,000 people Mixed Jewish and Arab populationMixed Jewish and Arab population Built on the hills of Mount CarmelBuilt on the hills of Mount Carmel A major seaport on Israel’s Mediterranean coastA major seaport on Israel’s Mediterranean coast

BACKGROUNDBACKGROUNDWhat do you already know?What do you already know? Palestine / Palestinian peoplePalestine / Palestinian people Zionism / Zionist movementZionism / Zionist movement 1948 Arab-Israeli War1948 Arab-Israeli War 1949 UN Armistice Line (Green line)1949 UN Armistice Line (Green line) 1967 Six-Day War1967 Six-Day War

Palestine / Palestinian Palestine / Palestinian PeoplePeople

Geography of PalestineGeography of Palestine– Generally, the region between Generally, the region between

the Mediterranean Sea and the the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan RiverJordan River

– Broadly, it includes contemporary Broadly, it includes contemporary Israel, Palestinian territories, Israel, Palestinian territories, parts of Jordan, and parts of parts of Jordan, and parts of Lebanon and SyriaLebanon and Syria

Palestinian peoplePalestinian people– the Arabic-speaking population the Arabic-speaking population

living in Palestineliving in Palestine– Predominantly Sunni Muslims, Predominantly Sunni Muslims,

with a small minority of Christians with a small minority of Christians

Zionism / Zionist MovementZionism / Zionist Movement

Jewish tradition of linking the Jewish Jewish tradition of linking the Jewish people and the Land of Israelpeople and the Land of Israel

International political movementInternational political movement Seeks to reestablish a homeland for Seeks to reestablish a homeland for

the Jewish People in Palestinethe Jewish People in Palestine Support for the modern state of Support for the modern state of

IsraelIsrael

1948 Arab-Israeli War1948 Arab-Israeli War Support for Zionism Support for Zionism

increased after WWII, increased after WWII, particularly among Jewish particularly among Jewish Holocaust survivors (consider Holocaust survivors (consider “The Name”)“The Name”)

The United Nations proposed The United Nations proposed dividing Palestine into dividing Palestine into separate Jewish, Arab, and separate Jewish, Arab, and international states.international states.

Arab population rejected the Arab population rejected the plan; fighting later erupted plan; fighting later erupted between Jewish and Arab between Jewish and Arab Palestinian forcesPalestinian forces

The fighting resulted in the The fighting resulted in the exodus of more than 700,000 exodus of more than 700,000 Arab PalestiniansArab Palestinians

1949 Armistice Line (Green 1949 Armistice Line (Green Line)Line)

Israel took control of the Israel took control of the western part of western part of Jerusalem, while Jordan Jerusalem, while Jordan took the eastern part, took the eastern part, including the old walled including the old walled city containing important city containing important Jewish, Muslim and Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious sites. Christian religious sites.

From 1948 to 1967, the From 1948 to 1967, the West Bank, including East West Bank, including East Jerusalem, was ruled by Jerusalem, was ruled by Jordan. Jordan.

Palestine remained Palestine remained divided in this way until divided in this way until the outbreak of the Six-the outbreak of the Six-Day War in 1967.Day War in 1967.

1967 Six-Day War1967 Six-Day War In addition to East Jerusalem,

Israeli forces captured the Sinai peninsula, the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and the Golan Heights.

Mandelbaum gate was the main passage between West Jerusalem (belonging to Israel) and East Jerusalem (belonging to Jordan)

The gate was torn down by Israeli forces, thus “reuniting” Jerusalem

Borders were thus “reopened”; those who had been previously exiled were allowed to return to see their homeland.

This is where the story “Returning to Haifa” begins.

About the story: “Returning to About the story: “Returning to Haifa”Haifa”

Explores the personal suffering behind the Explores the personal suffering behind the decades-old Middle East conflict, from both an decades-old Middle East conflict, from both an Israeli and Palestinian perspective. Israeli and Palestinian perspective.

The story opens with Said and Safiyya, an Arab The story opens with Said and Safiyya, an Arab couple, as they drive toward Haifa.couple, as they drive toward Haifa.

Through flashbacks, we learn that Said and Through flashbacks, we learn that Said and Safiyya fled from Haifa during the 1948 Arab-Safiyya fled from Haifa during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War; they settled in Ramallah in the Israeli War; they settled in Ramallah in the Jordanian-controlled West BankJordanian-controlled West Bank

After 20 years in exile, Said and Safiyya return to After 20 years in exile, Said and Safiyya return to Haifa in 1967 after the Six-Day war and the Haifa in 1967 after the Six-Day war and the reopening of Haifa’s borders.reopening of Haifa’s borders.

About the Author: Ghassan About the Author: Ghassan KanafaniKanafani

Palestinian writerPalestinian writer During the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, During the 1948 Arab-Israeli war,

his family was forced into exile; he his family was forced into exile; he was 12 years oldwas 12 years old

They fled to Lebanon, and then They fled to Lebanon, and then settled in Syria to live as settled in Syria to live as Palestinian refugeesPalestinian refugees

Educated and began writing while Educated and began writing while in Syriain Syria

Wrote short stories, novelsWrote short stories, novels Literary techniques: complex Literary techniques: complex

narrative structures, using narrative structures, using flashbacks and multiple narratorsflashbacks and multiple narrators

Published “Returning to Haifa” in Published “Returning to Haifa” in 19691969

Assassinated in 1972Assassinated in 1972

Return to Haifa: The PlayReturn to Haifa: The Play

The short story was adapted by an Israeli playwright Boaz Gaon

The play was performed in April 2008 in a theatre in Jaffa, south of central Tel Aviv.

Pictures taken April 14, 2008. REUTERS/Baz Ratner (ISRAEL)