Adnan Abu Alhaija, 72, has seen many a war. This one is no different. A free Palestine may not happen in his lifetime, but he lives in hope, and is even not averse to the option of living with Israelis if there is peace. Edited excerpts from an interview:
Q Do you think Hamas’s attack on Israel is a turning point for the Middle East?
A I wish this war did not happen. We had war in 2021, too. If you do not find a solution to the Palestinian cause, if the Palestinian people do not get their rights, we will see many wars. There are heavy casualties on both sides, especially now that the Israelis are bombing everything. Mass destruction to the infrastructure, to the buildings, to the people.
Q The attack by Hamas was different from the earlier ones. How do you look at what happened on October 7?
A It is important to ask why that happened. Why have Israel's crimes in the West Bank for a few years gone without any accountability?
This year, and before October 9, the Israelis killed 260 people in the West Bank. On October 9, they killed 16 people in the West Bank. I'm not talking about the death toll in Gaza. Settlers are going everywhere defended by the Israeli occupied forces.
Q Israel has said that these are human animals, and has cut off gas, electricity, water and food. How long can Gaza survive?
A This is a war crime. To describe 2.2 million people as human animals, only the Nazis can say that, or a fascist.
Denne historien er fra October 22, 2023-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra October 22, 2023-utgaven av THE WEEK India.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock