Victory For Us Is to See You Suffer: In the West Bank with the Palestinians and the Israelis

by Philip C. Winslow

During the second Palestinian intifada, Philip C. Winslow worked in the West Bank with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), driving up to 600 miles a week between almost every Palestinian town, village, and refugee camp and every Israeli checkpoint in the occupied territory. He returned just before the onset of the 2006 war between Israel and Hizbollah in Lebanon.

In this important new book Winslow captures the human aspects of the conflict during the years of suicide bombings and Israeli reprisals in the West Bank-the daily struggles, desperation, and anger of Palestinian farmers and teachers, the hostility of extremist settlers, the complex range of responses from Israeli soldiers, officials, and peace activists, and even the breathtaking beauty of nature in this embattled place. On this small patch of land, broken up by hundreds of heavily guarded roadblocks, nervous young Israeli soldiers who believe they are fighting terrorists tightly control the movement of Palestinians trying to make a life on their own land. A group of Israeli women, seeking to protect the rights of those same Palestinians and protest the decades of occupation, keeps a watchful eye on the checkpoints run by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). The Israeli soldiers are often fierce in their treatment of Palestinians, as revealed in an army video described here in detail, but some have exhibited extraordinary courage in defying the culture of cruelty and even their superior officers in order to act humanely. Former soldiers who oppose the occupation spoke candidly to Winslow about what they and their units did during their service.

Working with UNRWA, Winslow negotiated the delivery of humanitarian aid through military barriers, often finding himself the target of anger from both Palestinians and Israelis. He returned to the West Bank as a journalist, in the wake of the Hamas victory in Palestinian parliamentary elections, to interview people on both sides of the checkpoints and look at the decades-long destructive cycle through their eyes. From these unique multiple perspectives Winslow offers an uncensored view of the realities on the ground that have made a just political solution and enduring peace so difficult.

Genres: Middle East

240 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2007

Reviews

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good - often very shocking book.

He gets straight to the point and describes very well reality for palestinians and international workers in the Westbank under Israeli military occupation. Chapter 16, the one where he talked to israeli soldiers and they describe their heinous crimes from their own perspective made my blood freeze. Especially given that they are doing the exact same thing x100 in Gaza at the moment. Its utterly scary, shocking and immoral on a disturbing level.

Great read especially for people who might not know too much - or anything - about the Westbank and life under Israeli military occupation.

[liberal sprinkles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Victory For Us Is to See You Suffer is an informative, if depressing, read. Philip C. Winslow's is a detailed account of the human lives affected by the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. He presents the story not only from the point of view of the Palestinians but also that of the Israelis. He makes occasional personal judgments of what he witnesses but the book is mostly filled with straightforward reporting of events and people's experiences in the conflict. It is difficult not to feel sympathy for the oppressed Palestinians, who are subjected to mistreatment, humiliation and suffering on a daily basis. While I don't support suicide bombings or terrorism of any kind, I also find it hard to understand how anyone can justify inhumane treatment of other human beings, even in the name of security.

Winslow draws a graphic picture of the impact of the Israeli Occupation and the tensions between the two sides during the second intifada. I found especially enlightening his interviews and accounts of the psychology and experiences of young Israeli soldiers who man checkpoints or serve in the West Bank, some of whom are mere teenagers. How much of their actions is the result of orders from above, how much a reaction to fear, or the desire to "show them who's boss" or a desire to simply inflict pain on the other side? Perhaps it's a question none of us can answer unless we're in their shoes, facing the "enemy" every day. It's interesting how most of the anti-Occupation Israeli officials and soldiers Winslow quotes, who want or are pushing for an end to the harsh treatment of Palestinians, are ex-officials and ex-soldiers. It's as if one needs to step away from the immediate war zone to be able to take a clearer and more neutral look at the situation and to examine one's own actions, morality and beliefs. Unfortunately, the anti-Occupation activists don't have the authority to put an end to human rights violations and other demeaning acts that must surely themselves create a wish to retaliate, hurt and make the other side suffer as well. Winslow's storytelling makes it easy to get why some Palestinians may feel that victory for them is to see Israelis suffer. It's difficult to see how the vicious cycle can end.

[Cappy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There will no doubt be voices from all corners shouting down Philip Winslow's account of life in the West Bank. Accusations of bias will abound, but they will be mostly groundless. Winslow admits that, in his work for the United Nations' refugee services (UNRWA), the bulk of his time was spent with Palestinians, but there is no discernable political bend to his writing.

At bottom, _Victory for Us is to See You Suffer_ is merely a collection of stories, reports about what life has been like for Palestinians living with the many and varied challenges of the Israeli Occupation. If that means that much of Winslow's book is spent describing house demolitions, warrantless arrest and detention, and the gross inefficiencies of military checkpoints, the author can hardly be blamed. Israel's (more or less) official policies have made the West Bank what it is, and Philip Winslow is merely recording the consequences of those government actions.

What emerges, then, is a thoroughly personal account of life in the West Bank: a healthy mix of history, fact, interview, and some brief glimpses into the psychology on both sides of the conflict. For as sobering as his reporting is, the reader might like to think it is exaggerated or at least unique to someone who had such unfettered access the worst plights of a refugee population. But the truth is that there is nothing remarkable about Winslow's account. You'd notice the very same things if you visited Palestine.

[Justin · Rating 4 out of 5]

A slim volume recounting the author's experiences in the West Bank during the Second Intifada. Told from a balanced but very personal perspective I found it to be sincere in its analysis of the Palestinian problem. Winslow is not afraid to detail the nuances of the relationships between civilians and fighters on both sides. One is forced to understand points of view that are completely alien to "normality". The only group who do not receive sympathy are the militant settlers who seem to be somewhat of a fly in the ointment, violent to anyone who opposes them, even the IDF appear unable to work out how to deal with them. The rocket firing militants of Hamas are their mirror image. Between both groups lie a gulf that cannot be crossed.

[Jonathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Working for UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East), Winslow was able to see the impact of the occupation on everyday life. The occupation undermines Israeli security, its ostensible goal, by inspiring deep resentment (that which comes from being denied humanity or dignity) in Palestinian (some of whom will then turn to violence out of the belief that no other avenues are open for action) and corroding Israeli society from within, creating a militarized culture, antithetical to democracy and the freedom of self-realization. This is a very depressing read, but Winslow tries to highlight the glimmers of hope and humanity that exist.

[Christina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books on the Palestinian/Israeli conflict that I've read. The author lived and worked with the UN in the West Bank for three years, and this book is his record of encounters and observations. He doesn't waste a lot of time trying to interpret events, but rather just lets the data and evidence speak for itself. It's a complex issue, and I thought he did a fair job of showing both sides, although I think that his personal sympathy, like mine, lies with the Palestinians. An absolutely fascinating book, and I can't recommend it highly enough.

[Jenny Schmenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not half as unbiased as the author had hoped, but an interesting and open-minded account of the hardships West Bank Palestinians experience under Israeli occupation. Lots of focus on checkpoints and the limitations of travel.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eye-opening revelation of what the incessant and harrowing struggle it is for Palestinians to travel through the elaborate system of security checkpoints, and how this stranglehold continues to erode relations between Israelis and Palestinians.

[Foxglove · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, although he is entirely soft on the Palestinians, constantly defending actions he even admits as extremely immoral, such as raising children to throw stones and court death. I wish he would have met more Israelis, besides the most left wing ones.