Fishing Boats at Sunset

Palestinian fishing boats dock at the port in Gaza City, on 28 October 2008.

Which is the end of another day, which may never come again as it passes in to the sunset of time; for it is said, one may only get one chance in life and it is important to seize the day (Carpe diem).

Palestine Date Palm Harvest Abundant

Palestinian women work as they harvest the dates from the top of date palm trees.

A Palestinian woman smile as she harvests the dates.
Palestinian’s harvest the dates from the top of date palm trees (Phoenix dactylifera), on 16 October 2008; in the Deir el-Balah.

A Whale of a Fish

A young Palestinian man smiles, as he carries a very big fish that apparently he caught; at the Gaza seaport in Gaza City, on 20 October 2008.

By the looks of the fish, fishing must be very good at this time, very nice to see; hope it keeps going.

A Palestinian fisherman walks along the seaport in Gaza city.

Palestinian Pottery Goes Global

A Palestinian boy carries freshly made clay bowls at a workshop in Gaza City, on 18 October 2008.

Gaza, known for its traditional pottery, which has seen recent boost in its production; due to a global export demand for items such as pottery, from Palestine.

A Palestinian boy places freshly made clay pots to dry at a workshop in Gaza City, along with the following photographs.

Some of the finest most sought after pottery throughout history always came from Palestine, as well as other items; such as clothing, Jewel boxes among other things.

Some of these historical prized items, can still be found in some of the most famous museums and private collections; in some cases past down through generations.

A Palestinian Balloons Seller

A Palestinian balloons seller walks past a mural in the city of Jenin, on 22 September 2008.

200 Palestinians Wed

A Palestinian man rides a horse as he lights a sign during a mass wedding party organized by Islamic charity organizations for 200 young couples, on 31 July 2008, in Khan Younis, Gaza Strip.

The brides have a separate ceremony in private.

Palestinian bridesmaids hold flowers as they attend the mass wedding party.

Palestinian grooms wearing traditional clothes (Abaya) gather during a mass wedding party.

A traditional dancing band plays a popular piece of music (Dabka) while Palestinian grooms wearing traditional clothes dance during the mass wedding party.

Sending many blessings to the young couples, that they have a very long and happy marriage; with many beautiful children.
- HRM Deborah

Wittenberg House's New Chapter

The entrance door of the apartment that belongs to former Jewish Prime Minister Ariel Sharon at the Wittenberg House in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City, as seen on 15 July 2008.

The Wittenberg house used to be a place of Palestinian cultural gatherings at the end of the 1800s. U.S. writer Mark Twain used to stay in one of its apartments during his trips to Jerusalem.

The building belonged to a Jewish right-wing organization, but it was reported confiscated to be returned to the Palestine Legal government, with their gratitude.

The Marriage of a Queen

14 July 2005-14 July 2008

Numerous people have asked me about my husband which I will admit he is a very nice man; but he is also my second cousin.

We first met when we where very young children at my grandmother’s, when him and his father would visit on occasion. Our marriage was actually arranged between his father and my mother when we where those mere children.

While over the years he was learning much about me, but because of my situation, I did not learn of the intended marriage until years later.

As a royal and would be the future Queen of Palestine at that time, a husband is always chosen in this manner from one particular family and it has been this way for thousands of years.

What is kind of sad because of my hardships which was linked to the war and my husband had somewhat similar circumstances, we would loose track of each other for an extended period of time and not meet again until 2005; when we where married in less then 24 hours.

Under normal circumstance’s we would of course been in the same country and married in our early twenties.

While this may seem like a great love story, where it is assured many books have been written, even to say my husband and I had loved each other from the time we where those mere children; this particular situation is completely true.

Furthermore, while I tried to find a picture to do justice to what my marriage is really like, I do not think this is possible.

Something I neglected to mention, is the Queen's wedding Anniversary has always been a holiday in Palestine, especially in peace time and I say this with a smile.

-HRM Deborah

Hot Day in Gaza

Palestinian children enjoy swimming on a hot day in Gaza City, on 10 July 2008.

While everyone should keep track of the water level because of the drought, it is so nice to see children having fun.

This also reminds me of all the media propaganda innuendo, that Arab Palestinians where being mistreated and that they where running or had ran out of water; which as the picture above clearly shows, this is not so.

Personally, I never believed the propaganda to begin with, for very obvious reason’s, especially do to the fact of the population in Palestine and about every seven years there is naturally a drought season; where people have to be very watchful of the water situation being a semi-arid country.

Man Quaintly Rides Donkey Cart

A Palestinian man quaintly rides his donkey cart, in front of the controversial separation barrier; by the village of Qalqilya, on 9 July 2008.

Cat on the Beach

A Palestinian youth holds his cat on the beach, on 20 June 2008, in Rafah.

Under the Pale Blue Sky

A Palestinian musician throws a tambourine in the air during a traditional wedding celebration at the beach in Rafah, Gaza Strip on 20 June 2008.

Families and young men with towels over their shoulders headed to the beaches of Gaza City where children flew kites in the stiff breeze and young men played volleyball under a pale blue sky.
A Palestinian groom (C) celebrates with wedding guests during a traditional wedding celebration at the beach in Rafah.
Palestinian newly-weds, flanked by traditional musicians, stand together at the beach in Rafah, Gaza Strip, during a traditional wedding celebration.

An Invitation to Happiness

Palestinians relax and enjoy a day at the beach, in Gaza city on 20 June 2008.

Dancing with Diamonds

A Palestinian rides there horse along the beach in Gaza city, on 20 June 2008; with the shimmering beauty of the ocean that dances with the sun’s rays as diamonds; behind the rider.

Let's Go Fly a Kite

Palestinian children sit on a camel, as others fly kites at the beach in Gaza city on 20 June 2008.

For a time when I was a child, I use to make a kite and this was done for a few years. It was not just the joy of making it and my mother helping get the tail just right; but the amazing things the kite would do as it glided here and there upon the wind.

Palestinians fly kites and relax at the beach in Gaza city.

Palestine Okra Harvesting

A Palestinian farmer works on her okra field near the border between the Jewish sector and the Gaza Strip on 19 June 2008.
Palestinian farmers work on their okra field.

Okra is the one vegetable that is very hard to pick, because as you see in the pictures you need long sleeves and gloves. Picking okra is as though you are picking something from a nettle bush; one can itch, suffer certain types of pain or gain a type of rash trying to pick this vegetable with bare arms and hands.

With okra, one usually picks it at a certain stage of development because it is still tender. If one picks okra after it gets rather large, it is tough and stringy.

There is many variety of dishes that has the ingredient of okra, along with several ways to prepare okra by itself, that is very delightful.

These farmers look as though they have a bumper crop this year, like so may other’s in Palestine has been overjoyed this year with such a good harvest.

A Bounty of Cucumbers

Palestinian farmer showing how beautiful his cucumbers are looking this year.
Palestinian farmers work at a cucumber field on 16 June 2008 in Beit Lahia village, Gaza Strip.
A Palestinian farmer prays next to a cucumber field. It is just a thought, that the farmer is thanking Allah for the good harvest.

Palestinian farmers working at a cucumber field, showing the abundance of their crop this year.

Farmer’s are doing outstanding this year with there crops far better then years past, they have much to be happy about with such beautiful crops; that look so delicious, that even I got hungry looking at them.

A Harvest of Corn

A young Palestinian farmer shows how beautiful his corn is looking this year.
A Palestinian farmer shows corncobs picked at a cornfield on 16 June 2008 in Beit Lahia village, Gaza Strip.

Palestinian farmers working in a cornfield.

Gaza Beach Day

13 June 2008

In Gaza City, Palestinians relax and play in the water at the beach, even some youth’s (not pictured)where able to ride there donkey into the sea along the beach; so the donkey also got a refreshing day at the beach.

Fishing at Sunrise

Palestinian fishermen putting out there nets at sunrise in Gaza City on 26 May 2008.

A smart fisherman always starts their day at sunrise, because many the world over knows that fish tend to bite more at this time of day and the end of the day for a fisherman, is usually at sunset, when the nets come in, so the fisherman can go to prayers or home to their families.