1. “Returning to Haifa” Ghassan Kanafani

2. SETTING: HAIFA http://maps.google.com/maps?q=haifa&ie=UTF8&oe=UTF-8&ll=32.83164,34.979353&spn=0.015217,0.027466&t=h&z=15&iwloc=addr

3. About Haifa 3 rd largest city in Israel; Largest city in northern Israel 3 rd largest city in Israel; Largest city in northern Israel More than 264,000 people More than 264,000 people Mixed Jewish and Arab population Mixed Jewish and Arab population Built on the hills of Mount Carmel Built on the hills of Mount Carmel A major seaport on Israel’s Mediterranean coast A major seaport on Israel’s Mediterranean coast

4. BACKGROUND What do you already know? Palestine / Palestinian people Palestine / Palestinian people Zionism / Zionist movement Zionism / Zionist movement 1948 Arab-Israeli War 1948 Arab-Israeli War 1949 UN Armistice Line (Green line) 1949 UN Armistice Line (Green line) 1967 Six-Day War 1967 Six-Day War

5. Palestine / Palestinian People Geography of Palestine Geography of Palestine –Generally, the region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River –Broadly, it includes contemporary Israel, Palestinian territories, parts of Jordan, and parts of Lebanon and Syria Palestinian people Palestinian people –the Arabic-speaking population living in Palestine –Predominantly Sunni Muslims, with a small minority of Christians

6. Zionism / Zionist Movement Jewish tradition of linking the Jewish people and the Land of Israel Jewish tradition of linking the Jewish people and the Land of Israel International political movement International political movement Seeks to reestablish a homeland for the Jewish People in Palestine Seeks to reestablish a homeland for the Jewish People in Palestine Support for the modern state of Israel Support for the modern state of Israel

7. 1948 Arab-Israeli War Support for Zionism increased after WWII, particularly among Jewish Holocaust survivors (consider “The Name”) Support for Zionism increased after WWII, particularly among Jewish Holocaust survivors (consider “The Name”) The United Nations proposed dividing Palestine into separate Jewish, Arab, and international states. The United Nations proposed dividing Palestine into separate Jewish, Arab, and international states. Arab population rejected the plan; fighting later erupted between Jewish and Arab Palestinian forces Arab population rejected the plan; fighting later erupted between Jewish and Arab Palestinian forces The fighting resulted in the exodus of more than 700,000 Arab Palestinians The fighting resulted in the exodus of more than 700,000 Arab Palestinians

8. 1949 Armistice Line (Green Line) Israel took control of the western part of Jerusalem, while Jordan took the eastern part, including the old walled city containing important Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious sites. Israel took control of the western part of Jerusalem, while Jordan took the eastern part, including the old walled city containing important Jewish, Muslim and Christian religious sites. From 1948 to 1967, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, was ruled by Jordan. From 1948 to 1967, the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, was ruled by Jordan. Palestine remained divided in this way until the outbreak of the Six-Day War in 1967. Palestine remained divided in this way until the outbreak of the Six-Day War in 1967.

9. 1967 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.

10. About the story: “Returning to Haifa” Explores the personal suffering behind the decades-old Middle East conflict, from both an Israeli and Palestinian perspective. Explores the personal suffering behind the decades-old Middle East conflict, from both an Israeli and Palestinian perspective. The story opens with Said and Safiyya, an Arab couple, as they drive toward Haifa. The story opens with Said and Safiyya, an Arab couple, as they drive toward Haifa. Through flashbacks, we learn that Said and Safiyya fled from Haifa during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War; they settled in Ramallah in the Jordanian-controlled West Bank Through flashbacks, we learn that Said and Safiyya fled from Haifa during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War; they settled in Ramallah in the Jordanian-controlled West Bank After 20 years in exile, Said and Safiyya return to Haifa in 1967 after the Six-Day war and the reopening of Haifa’s borders. After 20 years in exile, Said and Safiyya return to Haifa in 1967 after the Six-Day war and the reopening of Haifa’s borders.

11. About the Author: Ghassan Kanafani Palestinian writer Palestinian writer During the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, his family was forced into exile; he was 12 years old During the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, his family was forced into exile; he was 12 years old They fled to Lebanon, and then settled in Syria to live as Palestinian refugees They fled to Lebanon, and then settled in Syria to live as Palestinian refugees Educated and began writing while in Syria Educated and began writing while in Syria Wrote short stories, novels Wrote short stories, novels Literary techniques: complex narrative structures, using flashbacks and multiple narrators Literary techniques: complex narrative structures, using flashbacks and multiple narrators Published “Returning to Haifa” in 1969 Published “Returning to Haifa” in 1969 Assassinated in 1972 Assassinated in 1972

12. Return 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)