Alena Jabarine: Der letzte Himmel. Meine Suche nach Palästina

In the organizer's words:

Colorful scoops of ice cream, sweet juices, balmy nights with her family in Umm al-Fahem, Haifa and Jaffa: this is how Alena Jabarine remembers the summers of her childhood. Less than 20 kilometers separate her grandparents' house in present-day Israel from the occupied Palestinian territories. As a child, she initially only vaguely sensed that a border divided this country into two worlds - with profound differences in rights and realities of life.

At the beginning of 2020, the journalist moved from Hamburg to Ramallah for several years to experience what lay beyond the ideas she had developed from afar and on visits: what remains of the carefree childhood memories? What does "Palestine" mean - for the people on both sides of these borders and for her own identity?

In her book, Alena Jabarine tells of everyday life in a place that is much talked about, but that few people really know. Her stories deal with violence and humanity, loss and solidarity, patience and resistance - and provide powerful insights into Palestinian life, which seems more fragile every day.

Today, Alena Jabarine is one of the few Palestinians to appear in public in Germany. She is currently bringing scenes from her book to the stage as a lecture performance at the Berliner Ensemble.

With:

Alena Jabarine, journalist and author

Moderation: Layla Al-Zubaidi, Head of International Affairs Heinrich Böll Foundation

Link to the book: Der letze Himmel. My search for Palestine