zInesMalti

6/4/14
6thperiodEnglishII

WhatsinaName?

T
hreesyllables.
Najya
.Thisnamewascarefullychosenbyherfather,Baba,inthehopesit
1
wouldholdthesamemetaphoricresonanceforhisdaughterasitdidforhim.Najya
remembers

beingheldtoBabaswarmchest,hisstrongarmswrappedaroundher,astheywaitedforthe
airstrikeoverheadtopass,chantingsoftlyintoherthickravenhair:
Najya,Najyahabibti2

,your
namemeansfree,liberated...Iwantyoutoneverforgetthat.Alwaystreasureit.Promisemeone
dayyouwillfighttobefree,likeasunbirdleavingitscage,liberateyourgenerationfromthe
occupationmystronggirl,Iknowyoucan.
Najyawasremindedofherfatherswordsasshe
grewupinthecrowdedconfinesoftheBalataRefugeeCamp,justafewkilometersoutsidethe
PalestiniancityofNablus.Hisabsenceleftherfeelingtheimpossibleburdenweighingonher
shoulders,adebtsheowedtoBaba,whoseownlifewasrobbedbythestruggleforfreedom.

Thatday,exactlyfouryearsandtwelvedaysago,apoundingcameonthedooroftheir

crampedconcretehouse,followedbythecrushingnewsofherfathersdeathdeliveredbya
freedomfighter.Najyasmother,Rahma,wentintoadeepdepression.No,itcouldnotevenbe
calledadepression.ItwasanumbnessanemptinessthatresidedoverMamas

body.Najya
couldnotrememberthelasttimeshesawthetwinkleinMamaseyeswhenshesmiled,norhad
shefeltthecallousedworkerhandsthatwouldplaitNajyaslonglockswhenshewasayoung
girl.Ayoungwomannowofsixteenyears,Najyasawherowndespairinherreflectionaswell:
thedullnessofgreenflicksinherhazeleyes,thefeeblenessthatwasapparentinthemauvebags
1

andhersaggingshouldersandtiredlimbs.Gonewas
nar
,thefire,thatBabahadtoldNajyashe
hadpossessedasagirlamblingaroundthenarrowstreetsofBalatawhileplayingwiththeother
neighborhoodchildren.Shedominatedthegamesoftheirownversionofcopsandrobbersand
hopscotch,aformofescapismfromtheirharshreality,unawareofthestipulationsthatwouldbe
placedonherasshegotolderasagirlgrowingupinOccupiedPalestine.
FromthesqualidstreetsofBalata,theafternoonscentswafted,asthougharitual,from
thecommunal
taboun3

intoNajyaslungs.Shestoodoutsideinthesuffocatingheat,asignthat
summeranddroughtwerejustaroundthecorner.Awomanupstairsbeatadustymatwitha
broom,hanginglaundryouttodry.Anoldbeggarsmokedacigaretteonthecorner,little
childrenwithillfittingclothesandweatheredfaceskickedadeflatedballaroundthestreet,
stirringupsandandpebbles.Mamasshrillvoicecalledfrominside:
Najya!Quitdaydreaminggirlandgetinheretohelpmechopeggplantforthe
maqluba.
4

ScentsofcardamomandcinnamonandturmericdelightfullymetNajya.Thekitchenwasbathed
inthesmokeoflambsauteinginthepan.Mamacoughedwildlyandcursedunderherbreathif
theyhadaproperhomeinsteadofacrumblingconcreteboxtheycouldhaveachimneyandthere
wouldbeaplaceforthesmoketogoinsteadoflingeringlikeathickblackcloud.Their
oneroomshelterwasratherdesolate.Saveforthetwophotoshangingonthewall,therewere
fewvaluableassetsintheirhouse.ThefirstframewasofNajyasparentsontheirweddingday,
hermotherwithherelegantgownand
kohl
5

rimmedeyesandherfatherwithhishandsome
grin,grandparentsstandingproudbehindthem.Thesecondframewasofamodestlimestone
homesetbackonarockyterrain.Pomegranateandlushfigtreessurroundedthehouse,

honeysuckleandirissnakedaroundthesides.Najyahasheardthestories.Hergrandparentswere
drivenoutoftheirhomeinthevillageofBurinnearNablustheyearof1948.Theyhad22acres
ofproperty,olivegrovesandlemontreesandgoatsandsheep.Thespringwasabundantandthe
scarcityofhavingtogowithoutfoodorwaterneverarose.
WhentheJewsbeganemigratingtoPalestineaftertheBritishEmpiresfavoringofan
independentJewishhomeland,thePalestiniansweredrivenout.Itwas
their
homelandafterall.
TheIsraelimilitarycamein,usedforcetopushtheinhabitantsoutoftheirhomes.Theywere
shotattheirolivetreesuprootedalongwiththepeoplethemselves.Theirhomeandthousandsof
othersweredemolishedtosmithereens.ItwasthegreatestexodusinthehistoryofPalestinians.
AlNakba

theycalleditorTheCatastrophe.

Najyasfamilywereonlyafewofthehalfa
millionpeoplethatweredisplaced.Shehadbeenborninthecampandsohadherparents.A
generationofdispossession.Displacement.Disillusionmentinthefaceofadversity.Thesewere
theelementsthatmadeuptheirfragmentedhistory,acrackedlens.Thiswasthestoryofthe
thousandsofotherrefugeesinBalataandcintheWestBank.Theyallsharedsimilarafflictions
lostlovedonesandlivesshatteredtopieces.Theirstatelessexistencewaswrackedby
unemployment,economicdisparity,terrorandlackoffairrepresentation.Thebarrenwallsof
Balatahadbeenpaintedwiththequotesofresistance,andhope.Onebulletholewoundedwall
oppositeNajyasschoolreadExistenceisResistance.Another,afewblocksdown,Getfree
ordietrying.Najyadivulgedinthesewordseachdaywhenshewalkedthroughthepeagreen
metaldoorsofseverelyovercrowdedschool,areminderoftheirsubjugationandunwelcomed
presenceinIsraelisociety.Theyouthprotestswerefairlyregular.Settingtiresablaze.Throwing
rocksatIsraelimilitantofficers.TragedyhadstruckagainwhenNajyaselderbrother,Ali,was

shotintheheadbyanIsraelipoliceofficerduringaprotestthespringbefore.Hewasseventeen
atthetime.
Hehaddreams,thatboy
Najyaremembershermothersayingthroughshakysobs.

Hewasgoingtodogreatthings,Iknowit.Hewasafighterlikehisfather.Whoknewthey
wouldbestolenfromusinthesameway.
Itwasamuggysummerafternoonheavywithlangor.Najyahaddoneherchoresforthe
morningwashingtheclothesinthewellnearby,straininggoatsmilkandrollingsemolinainto
couscousforthe
maftoul6

andscrubbingtheconcretefloorsoftheirshackrenderingherfingers
rawandarmssore.Sheheardacommotionfromdownthestreet.Najyahastilythrewdownher
ragandrantopeekoutfromthealleyway.Ahoardofpeoplewerecrowdingasmalltelevision
boxinthehaphazardroad.ShecouldntmakeoutwhatwaselicitingtheirattentionfromtheTV
7
butfromwhatshecouldgather,therewasanotherrocketattackonGaza.
Onemansvoice,a

middleagedmanina
keffiyeh8

overpoweredthehushedmurmursofthecrowd.
Whenwillthiscarnageend?
YaAllah!9

ThirdairstrikeinGazathisyear.Twoteenage
boysshotinRamallahlastweek.IwenttomycousinsfuneralinJerusalemyesterday.Weve
beenoutofworkformorethanayear.InnocentchildrenlosinglimbstoIsraelirockets.My
brothersandsisters,wecantallowthistohappen!Wewillnotbowdowntothem...wehaveto
provetothemwearestronger!Themansgutturalvoiceroseinpitch.Najyaoverheardafew
otherderogatoryphrasesdirectedtowardstheIsraelis.Themanswordsincitedthecrowd,
evokinganuproarofcheersandsupport.Severalboys,onesthatNajyarecognizedfromschool,
joinedinontheinfuriatedcrowd.Theirfitspumping,chantingatthetopsoftheirlungs.Oneof
themwavedthegreen,redandblackflag.Najyarecognizedherbrotherintheseyoungmen.His
naivety,hiswillingnessfueledbyhisdeep,internalanguishtowardstheoccupation,togofight

despiteMamaspleasatthedangers.Thiswasntafullfledgedwar,Najyarecognized.Thiswas
thebattlebetweenthepeopleandtheoppressor,whichcouldwelldefineaswarforsome.Butif
thePalestinianskeptreboundingwithviolence,theIsraeliswouldnotrelinquish.Theywould
continuetocallthemterroristseventhoughtheywerejusttryingtolivetheirlives.Thiswasnt
thewaytogo,Najyathought.Somethingseemedtohavewokenupfromdeepinsideher,likethe
neighborhoodcatafteritawakensfromalongnapontheledgeoverlookingthehazyNablus
Valley.AquotecametoNajya,oneshehadlearnedlongagoinaclassoninfluentialfiguresin
history.Herhistoryteacher,ProfessorAbboud,wasadevotedpacifistandwouldoftenspend
classtimecondemningthePalestiniansusageofviolence,inparticulartheHamasandtheir
adherencetomilitarism,sometimesevenexposingsmallchildrentotheircruelworldof
bloodshedandkilling.ItwasDr.MartinLutherKingswordsthathadpreservedinNajyas
memoryViolencecannotdriveoutviolence.HerfatherswordsechoedinNajyasears,
Yournamemeansfree,liberated
Theweightthathernamecarriedfeltalittlelighteronher
shouldersnow.Itwasthe
nar
rekindlinginher.Herspiritswereenlivened,hereyesafew
shadesbrighter.Shewasgoingto
do
something.
Be
someone.Howmanywomenwere
representedinthegovernment?Onlyahandful,thatwasforsure.Najyathoughtfullyobserved
howthenewsfromGazaandthestreetsofJerusalembroughtthatfamiliarwaveofdespondency
andresentmenttothepeopleofBalataattheirseeminglyhopelesssituation.Herfatherdidnt
deserveit.Herbrotherdidntdeserveit.Hermotherdidnotdeservetobeanunemployed
widow,barelymanagingonthefewrationstheyweresentpermonth.Najyadidhaveabright
future,shebelieved.Shecouldfinishhereducation.Shecouldescape.Leavethiswretched
place.Butthenthatwouldbeselfish,wouldntit?Goingtouniversity,pursuingacareerina

foreignlandwhilehermotherandthousandsofotherswitheredawayintheepisodesofwoes
thatweretheirlife.Herthoughtswerescattered,unorganizedbutalivenonetheless.Shethought
oftheagreementstryingtobemadebetweentheIsraeligovernmentandthePalestiniansand
10
now,theHamasversustheFatah.
Thepeaceprocesshadbeenarelentlessturningincirclesand

hadvirtuallygottenthemnowhereinthelasttwentyyears.Thepeaceprocesscouldbecloser
thantheyimaginedifthetwosidesactuallyutilizedpeacetogetthere.Theirony,Najyamused...
Realizinghowmuchtimeshehadpassedcontemplatingafternoticingtheshadesofthe
skybeingpaintedcrimsonsandpalepinks,Najyaquicklywrappedher
hijab11
tighteraroundher
chinandreturnedtothehouseMamamostlikelylividfumingbecauseNajyadidntcomeback
earliertohelppreparetonightsmeal.
Najya,wherewere
NotimeMama.Illexplainlater.Najyaexchangedherblackshawlfortheblackand
white
keffiyeh,
thepatternresemblingthetwistedknotsofbarbedwire.
Wait!Comebackhere!IsaidNajyadidnthearthelastofMamascalls.As
sheranintothestreet,her
keffiyeh
and
abaya12

ripplinginthewind,shefeltasurgeoffreedom
rushfromhertoestoherfingertips,pumpinginherveins.Therewerestilldemonstrations
occurringinthestreets.Amassofpeoplemovedasone,someshouting,somesinging,others
cryingfromtherawemotionofitall.Somewerewavingliberationflagsbutallweredonning
thecheckeredprintscarfubiquitouswithPalestiniansolidarity.Nooneseemedtotakenoticeof
Najyaassheslippedintothemovingcrowd,appearingunassumingasshebegantomarchbeside
anothergirlormaybeshewasawoman,Najyacouldnttellbeneathherebony
abaya
andthe
swipeofgreen,redandblackherpeoplescolorsadorninghercheeks.Thecrowdwasnthuge

byanymeansnotincomparisontothoseprotestsheldinJerusalemandGaza,butnevertheless,
Najyahadneverfeltsoconnectedpeoplethatshesharedthiscampwith.
Shehadthoughtthecampwasherownlonelylittleislandofdestitute:runningerrands
forMamaandwhenshewasnt,checkingoutbooksfromtheschoollibrary(therewasarather
13
limitedchoice)andporingovertheworksofPalestinianpoetMahmoudDarwish
untilMama

scoldedhertoputherbookdownanddothechores.Najyacouldnthelpbutfeelthiswasthe
firststepinfleeingthecagelikeBabaoncedescribedtohermanyyearsago.
Familiessittingontheirbalconiesintheeveninglightshoutedtheirunanimityfrom
aboveastheypassed.Littleboyswithmatchingblackcroppedhairdroppedtheirmarblesfrom
thecornerwheretheywereplayingandjoinedinontheprocession,trailingbehind.Awoman
holdingaphotoframe,presumablyofherhusband,clutchingitaboveherhead,versesfromthe
Koranintermixingwiththesoftwailsthatescapedherthroat.Astheycoveredmoreblocks(to
Najyaithadonlyfeltlikeone),thenumberofdemonstratorshadgrownthreefold.Therehad
beennoIsraeliofficerspresentatthetime,butNajyadesperatelywishedtherehadnotsothey
couldgetpummeledwithrubberpelletsbutbecauseshewantedthemtowitnessthesheerbeauty
oftheirtriumph.
Her
triumph.
Whenshereturnedhomethatnight,nothingmayhavechanged.Theywouldstillbe
13
underoccupation,stillbecheckedatIsraelicheckpointsfortheirIsraeliIDs,
stillastateless

people,stillfightingfortheirrighttoreturntotheirvillagesandhomes.Butsomethingwould
havechangedinsideNajya,inherheart.Shewasafraidnolonger.Shehadapartofherfathers
lioncourageandherbrothersruthlessdetermination.AnditisthenthatNajyarealizedshe
didntneedtheidentitythathernamepossessedanylongerherstrengthwasenough.

InesMalti
6/4/14
6thperiodEnglishII

Footnotes

1.
Najya
ArabicgirlsnamemeaningFreeorLiberated
<
http://www.babynames.com/name/Najya
>.

2.
habibi
thefeminineformoftheArabictermofendearmentmeaningmydearormybeloved
<
http://www.islamicdictionary.com/index.php?word=habibti
>.

3.
taboun
anovenmadeoutofuncookedclaywherePalestinianbreadfromwheatflourisbaked
<
http://thisweekinpalestine.com/details.php?id=930&ed=88
>.

4.
maqluba
anupsidedowndishoftencookedwithrice,lambandvegetablesnativetotheWestBankofPalesetine
<
http://arabiczeal.com/maqlubathenationaldishofpalestine/
>.

5.
kohl
atraditionalcosmeticorblackpowderuseaseyelineroftenintheArabworld
<
http://www.hashmisurma.com/kohls.html
>.

6.
maftoul
aheartyPalestiniandishconsistingofcouscouswithchickenandchickpeas
<
http://www.kitchenofpalestine.com/palestiniancouscousmaftoul/
>.

7.PalestiniansrocketattacksaswellasIsraelisperpetratingviolenceonthePalestinians,thepeopleoftheGazaStrip,occupiedPalestinianterritoryhaveshot

manyrocketsattheIsraelis,630attacksin2011

<
http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2013/12/israellaunchesfreshairstrikesgaza2013122416215109682
>.

8.
keffiyeh
ascarf,mostcommonlyseeninblackandwhitepatternassociatedwiththePalestinianstruggleforfreedomandwornbyPalestiniansat
protests/demonstrationsandweddingsalike

<
http://palestinesolidarityproject.org/pspstore/
>.

9.
YaAllah!
anArabicphrasecallinguponGod,usedwheninpainordistress
<towardsfalah.wordpress.com/duaas/arabicphrases/>.

10.FatahHamasConflictthetwopoliticalfactionsofPalestine.Islamistfundamentalistorganization,Hamas,hasruledtheGazaStripsince2006.The

PalestinianLiberationOrganizationundertheFatahhasgovernedtheWestBank.Manydisputesbetweenthetwofactionsbecauseofmajordifferencesin

politicalbeliefsandhaveaimedtocreatepeacebetweenthetwogroups

11.
hijab
aheadcoveringwornbywomenoftheMuslimfaith
<
http://www.beliefnet.com/Faiths/Islam/Galleries/WhytheHijab.aspx
>.

12.
abaya
abayaalongblackcloakorrobewornbywomeninprimarilyMuslimcountriesforbothculturalandreligiouspurposes
13.MahmoudDarwishhighlycelebratedPalestinianpoetwholivedduringthe20thcenturyandhisworkswerecherishedbymanyPalestiniansbecauseofhis

writingofthesufferingofhiswartornpeople

<
http://www.mahmouddarwish.com/english/introduction.htm
>

14.IsraeliIDsIsraeliauthoritiescontrolthepopulationregistryforPalestinianslivinginEastJerusalemandPalestiniansmustcarrytheirIsraeliidentitycard

eachtimetheypassthroughIsraeliterritory.TheIsraeliauthorityrestrictsmovementandaccesstobasicservicessuchashealthcareandeducation

<
http://visualizingpalestine.org/infographic/IsraeliIDSystemPalestinianSegregation
>.

10