Stranger in My Own Land

After the 1993 Oslo Accords, a handful of Palestinians were allowed to return to their hometowns in Israel. Fida Jiryis and her family were among them.

This beautifully written memoir tells the story of their journey, which is also the story of Palestine, from the Nakba to the present a seventy-five-year tale of conflict, exodus, occupation, return and search for belonging, seen through the eyes of one writer and her family. Jiryis reveals how her father, Sabri, a PLO leader and advisor to Yasser Arafat, chose exile in 1970 because of his work. Her own childhood in Beirut was shaped by regional tensions, the Lebanese Civil War and the 1982 Israeli invasion, which led to her mother's death. Thirteen years later, the family made an unexpected return to Fassouta, their village of origin in the Galilee. But Fida, twenty-two years old and full of love for her country, had no idea what she was getting into.

Stranger in My Own Land chronicles a desperate, at times surreal, search for a homeland between the Galilee, the West Bank and the diaspora, asking difficult questions about what the right of return would mean for the millions of Palestinians waiting to come 'home'.

'Jiryis's account of the travails of the Palestinian cause celebrates the power of resilience and endurance.' Times Literary Supplement

'[A] tour de force...beautifully written...this book eloquently conveys the urgency of transforming the toxic status quo into conditions that allow everyone to thrive as equals.' The Palestine Chronicle

'Jiryis paints a vivid portrait of life for Palestinians in Israel in the 1950s and 1960s.' Middle East Eye

“"This wrenching and inspiring tale of violence and courageous resistance, told through the eyes of a remarkable Palestinian family, vividly portrays a living example of what Adam Smith memorably called "the savage injustice of the Europeans"." -- Noam Chomsky "Fida Jiryis's story, which at times reads like a thriller, has a unique trajectory which she negotiates with intelligence and eloquence, simultaneously illuminating profound and painful subjects about home and belonging." -- Raja Shehadeh, author of Going Home: A Walk Through Fifty Years of Occupation "This is a beautiful and searing book. The inhuman interrogations, the torment of the vulnerable, the "slow eviction" of an entire people should be understood by all in whose name the impunity of Israel and Zionism is given, year after year. I salute you, Fida Jiryis." -- John Pilger, award-winning journalist, scholar, and documentary filmmaker "An impressive account of an important period in Palestine's recent history. Part history, part personal narrative, the author skillfully entwines the details of her life with that of her eminent father, and shows the power of Palestinians writing about their own lived experience. Highly recommended." -- Ghada Karmi, author of Return: A Palestinian Memoir "A tale of resilience and incredible courage, this powerful memoir fuses Jiryis's personal recollections with the narrative of her homeland and its people. This is a frank and moving story of humanity and steadfastness, giving real content to the sacred Palestinian right of return." -- Ilan Papp”

‘Returning to her homeland, Jiryis saw the facts of her dispossession everywhere. ...But there is some comfort to be found here . . . remind[s] us that we can strive to be worthy custodians of the precious inheritance our forebears have passed on to succeeding generations, until the day that justice can be claimed on their behalf.’

Fida Jiryis is a Palestinian writer and editor who has written on life as a Palestinian in Israel and the West Bank. She contributed to Kingdom of Olives and Ash, a Washington Post bestseller on fifty years of Israeli occupation, and Amputated Tongue, a Hebrew-language anthology of Palestinian literature.

After the 1993 Oslo Accords, a handful of Palestinians were allowed to return to their hometowns in Israel. Fida Jiryis and her family were among them. This beautifully written memoir tells the story of their journey, which is also the story of Palestine, from the Nakba to the present -- a seventy-five-year tale of conflict, exodus, occupation, return and search for belonging, seen through the eyes of one writer and her family. Jiryis reveals how her father, Sabri, a PLO leader and advisor to Yasser Arafat, chose exile in 1970 because of his work. Her own childhood in Beirut was shaped by regional tensions, the Lebanese Civil War and the 1982 Israeli invasion, which led to her mother's death. Thirteen years later, the family made an unexpected return to Fassouta, their village of origin in the Galilee. But Fida, twenty-two years old and full of love for her country, had no idea what she was getting into. Stranger in My Own Land chronicles a desperate, at times surreal, search for a homeland between the Galilee, the West Bank and the diaspora, asking difficult questions about what the right of return would mean for the millions of Palestinians waiting to come 'home'.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.