Occupation of Palestine

Zuhair Latif was born in Nablus, Palestine, where he had witnessed oppression growing up. In 1948 is when Jewish people all over the world had occupied territory, creating the state which is known today as Israel. Zuhair was one of nine, and some of his siblings live in Palestine, Jordan, and some here in America, him being one of them. He has five beautiful kids, and married a Lebanese lady, who didn’t exactly witness oppression in her home land, but had been in Lebanon at the time of war.

What was it like growing up in Palestine?
I was a happy kid, coming from a loving mother and father, with eight brothers and sisters. We were always working on the farm, making sure that all the animals were taken care of, and making sure that there was food on the table. What we were most proud of was our olive trees, because Palestine is rich with olive trees, and all kinds of fruit trees, like apple trees, fig trees, almonds, plums, peaches, etc…

What was Palestine mostly known for around the world?
They were known for their citrus products, like the oranges, and mostly the navel oranges, which were developed there. Palestine was also known for their landscape, and its mountains. It’s by the coastal plains, and it’s also very mountainous.

Did you try fighting for your land?
Yes I did, but there wasn’t much I could do, we were always surrounded by the Israeli military, always watching us. We were controlled.

How did you feel about Israel occupying your land?
I was growing up with little means, in a farming community, in a small rural town, of 300. Ever since I remember, I was always afraid of military attacks from Israel, and political alienation from the Jordanian government, where we were regarding as second citizens. We were denied freedom expressions, and we were also denied our access to our farms, and out fertile lands were also taken away from us. What people don’t see is that Palestine wasn’t rich economy wise, but the lands were rich in fruits, cultivation, farming, and everything that’s needed to survive. We were basically dying, because we weren’t able to use our own sources that we worked hard for.

What were you able to do, after Israel had struck Palestine?
We couldn’t do anything that involved the military, and the only thing that we could do was to get educated, and educated we did. That’s what brought me to the states, because I couldn’t be anybody in Palestine, and I knew it. I moved out of Palestine for the better of my future. I knew that I couldn’t raise my kids in a place knowing that they weren’t able to do anything.

Do you remember anything significant that had happened while the invasion occurred?
In 1956 there was a battle that my brother and my brother in law were soldiers in the battle front. They were telling us horror stories after the war was over. At that point I knew that I wouldn’t ever get my rights back. My brother had told us that there were many Palestinian soldiers who died fighting for our rights back, but to this day I will never forget my background, or where I came from, I know who I am, and I know about my country, Palestine.