Letters through the wall
by Fon Cortizo
During the war between Gaza and Israel in the summer of 2014, Basem and Tal write to each other every day. Him Palestinian, her Israeli. Both experience the conflict from different locations but share ideas about possible solutions.
During the war between Gaza and Israel in the summer of 2014, Basem and Tal write to each other every day. Him Palestinian, her Israeli. Both experience the conflict from different locations but share ideas about possible solutions.
An impotent Basem follows the news about the war from Barcelona, a city which has taken him in since he found himself forced to escape the refugee camp in Jan Yunis. His articles, voicing views against Islamic politics, have provoked hand grenade attacks on his home. Basem took the decision to leave his country and family in order to protect them. Tal Nitzan lives in Tel Aviv. Years ago she helped Basem find the
means to leave Gaza through a writer’s programme organised by the ‘Pen Club’ in Catalonia. Tal´s house shakes when the missiles fired from Gaza are repelled by the Israeli ‘Iron Dome’. She thinks of the horror that Basem´s family in Jan Yunis are living.
Tal, a small girl, lives in the Gazan refugee camp. Her name is Hebrew because her grandfather wanted to give thanks to the Israeli poet, Tal Nitzan, for the help that she gave him. Basem still hasn´t met his grand-daughter who was born shortly after his arrival in Spain. 4000km of Mediterranean Sea separates them.
