In Ramallah I Can Breathe
by Guy Martin
Ramallah, the de-facto capital of the Occupied Palestinian West Bank, is home to a growing, educated and secular youth. After years of economic stagnation, Israeli military incursions and poor infrastructure, this once occupied city is coming back to life.Ramallah's youthful population, that were too young or innocent to get involved in the iconic martyr's funerals, stone throwing or call to arms at the beginning of the new millennium, are now coming of age in a culture surrounded by Americana, tourism and relaxed western attitudes to a myriad of Islamic sins; alcohol, sex and relationships.Mona Ennab, a 24 year old Muslim woman and a Ramallah local, is one of those taking advantage of this city's new freedoms. She has become one of the famous faces on the West Bank's growing street-car racing scene, that stretches across the battle scarred towns of Jenin, Nablus and Hebron. Here she competes against macho Palestinian men and trains in the gaze of Israeli military watchtowers.The project focuses on Mona's daily life as she tries to live somewhere on the bridge between the Palestinian culture she and her family respects, and the modern, secular lifestyle she so loves and desires.
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7 Responses to “In Ramallah I Can Breathe”
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deep touching…
Although I dont really feel the series, I do love some of your pictures! Especially the one with the iron-wire. Its so poetic! Like it’s living its own life, people know how to handle such obstacles and dont really care. Its a perfect reflection of the situation if you ask me! Well done!
I like your series a lot. I shows an alternative point of view on an area and its people that is not always war and terror and different opinions. On the other hand the effect on daily life can be seen in an unadventurous way.
there seem to be some pics, which are not that much needed, so a stricter editing would have been good in my opinion.
Good Luck.
How ignorant…as if palestinians were never secular before.. if you knew anything you would know about the history of palestine and secularism in palestine even as late as the 70’s.. The only thing that made a big chunk of our society backwards is westernism (aka colonialism) .. Socializing, and drinking alcohol is not at all a western thing. Palestine was a home for christians, muslims, and jews until zionism came to conquer.
and by the way.. Ramallah is still occupied. It is surrounded by a zionist wall, checkpoints, and colonial settlements.
By the way its Deir Dibwan not Deir Diwan. And Almond’s is a horrible place. I think it closed down even.
It is sweet but a prize?
Thank you for your story!
To western eyes a world is revealed that is often hidden behind headlines, “history” and ignorance .
I found myself wanting more images, more of this voyeuristic view into her world.
Excellent work. cheers! - flood