israel Archives

3 Books about Palestine I’ve Read this Year

July 6, 2024July 28, 2024Rebekah Kohlhepp

Book reviews have been my focus for a couple of years, but this year I haven’t had the time or energy to read, and when I do, I definitely don’t have the time or energy to write reviews. The books I’ve been reading are largely about Palestine, or socialism—both of which I’m new to and find politically dense and hard to read. (Most of what I read is usually new to me, because I can never stick with one topic for very long before I find another new and exciting hyperfixation. Such is life.)

For example, I’ve actually read three books about Palestine beyond just Light in Gaza in 2024.

A hand holding the book Light in Gaza against a background of bright blue sky with a few bright white clouds.

Gaza’s Dreams: A Review of Light in Gaza

February 18, 2024February 17, 2024Rebekah Kohlhepp

Light in Gaza: Writings Born of Fire, edited by Jehad Abusalim, Jennifer Bing, and Mike Merryman-Lotze, is the hardest-hitting book I’ve read on Palestine so far. I wish I’d started with it, rather than Palestine: A Socialist Introduction and Except for Palestine. Unlike those, Light in Gaza didn’t wade through the political history of the region, which can be overwhelming for uninitiated readers like me. Instead, 15 authors each spend a chapter telling their own stories. How has the occupation impacted them? How have their families survived? What do they want readers around the world to take away from their stories?

Why Christian Nationalists Love Israel

January 17, 2024May 11, 2024Rebekah Kohlhepp

I spend my waking days fighting against the Christian Nationalist movement that plagues the United States. Christian Nationalists weaponize the idea of religious freedom to justify stripping away the rights of Black, queer, disabled, and poor people, as well as women and anyone who is capable of pregnancy. Their attempt to overturn the 2020 election is the clearest indicator that they intend to put an end to our world-famous democracy.

The Total Beginner’s Book Review of Palestine: A Socialist Introduction

December 21, 2023December 21, 2023Rebekah Kohlhepp

Palestine: A Socialist Introduction by Sumaya Awad and Brian Bean was an easy choice for me when looking to begin reading about Palestine and the Israeli settler occupation. I’m new to both Palestine and socialism, and the road of social justice seems to lead inevitably to both.