Since April 2002 Israeli officials have attempted to conceal the conduct of the IDF (Israeli Defense Forces) in the invasion of the Jenin refugee camp. In mid-January, a compelling, detailed, and revealing account of the historic invasion will finally be available to the public.

The book entitled Searching Jenin, Eyewitness Accounts of the Israeli Invasion, 2002 is a must read for anyone interested in Middle East history, politics, and current events. This book includes an accounting of the “known dead,” a timeline of events, and details both human and material losses. It is by far the most comprehensive volume written on the issue.

Searching Jenin is a collective effort by nearly 60 scholars, reporters, and activists—including Palestinians, Israelis, and internationals. It was produced by Ramzy Baroud, editor-in-chief of PalestineChronicle.com, and includes a foreword by Noam Chomsky. The book is being published by Cune Press in Seattle as part of its Bridge between Cultures series.

“I owe my greatest thanks to our commissioned reporters in Palestine,” said Ramzy Baroud. “Many of them put their safety and in some cases their lives on the line. They collected account after tragic account for this book. Due to their integrity and professionalism, they were able to interview leaders within the Palestinian community who refused to grant interviews to news agencies.” 

“Searching Jenin” includes 42 accounts of residents who witnessed and survived the invasion. One interview is with the wife of Mahmud Tawalbe, the leader of the Jenin resistance. Tawalbe was shot and killed by Israeli forces. The book also includes a detailed interview with the only eyewitness to the extra-judicial execution of Abu Jandal, the second in command of the Palestinian resistance.

The Palestinian reporters who contributed to this volume showed exceptional courage in gathering interviews in the face of Israeli curfews and military intimidation. They interviewed medical personnel, resistance fighters, and even children. One child, an 8-year-old girl named Rund, complained that the army broke her only doll. Rund’s father was later shot and killed by the army. 

Another interview was with an elderly widow who explained how she begged for mercy from Israeli forces as they demolished her small home while her disabled son was caught inside. He was buried alive and his body was never recovered.

“We had many obstacles to overcome. The largest was the Israeli army’s refusal to allow me entry into Palestine,” stated Baroud. “For the past several months, the Israeli government has done everything in their power to cover-up their actions, including the barring of a UN investigative team to the area. Until now, the Palestinians are still unable to carry out their own official investigation due to the fact that the camp is under a strict curfew. Yet in spite of all these hurdles, and thanks to the hard work and contributions of many people, the truth is coming into the light.”

Baroud and Cune Press are ready for the anticipated controversy that Searching Jenin will stir. This book follows the recent release of the film documentary “Jenin, Jenin”—a film that was abruptly banned by the Israeli government. The author and publisher hop that Searching Jenin will prove to be the most revealing document to date regarding the atrocities last April that came to be a symbol of Palestinian resistance world-wide.

Ali Samoudi, the project facilitator in Jenin stressed, “The promotion of this important book is the collective responsibility of all who care about justice and truth. Searching Jenin is dear to the hearts off all refugees in Jenin, because for the first time, we are narrating our own story.”

--For further information or to order your copy of Searching Jenin contact Cune Press: info@cunepress.com. www.cunepress.com.

 
--If you are a reviewer at an established publication, request a review copy of Searching Jenin: reviews@cunepress.com (Please supply your street address and phone number plus other contact info.)

--For information on other titles in the Bridge between the Cultures series: bridge@cunepress.com

--For interviews with Editor Ramzy Baroud contact him directly: editor@PalestineChronicle.com