A Surgeon Under Israeli Occupation

Book excerpt: Palestinians, wherever they travel or reside, and whenever they talk or write about anything, always center their discussion on the Palestinian issue. It is an intrinsic part of their existence. In A Surgeon under Israeli Occupation, author Dr. Shawki Harb chronicles his experiences about life, Palestine, and medicine that he’s witnessed throughout fifty years of a surgical practice. He offers a narrative of the life of a Palestinian surgeon who practiced medicine under Israeli occupation for more than a quarter of a century from 1975 to 2003. Harb also covers events that took place during his medical school and internship years in Germany from 1958 to 1967 and subsequent specialty training in the United States from 1967 to 1975. This memoir tells how he lived calmly and purposefully under Israeli military occupation, enduring harassment and overcoming challenges like having to perform heart surgery under the flickering light of flashlights during blackouts and the sound of gunfire. Giving a long-term perspective A Surgeon under Israeli Occupation shares unique insights into the nature of the conflict, providing stories of unusual medical events and personal experiences while reflecting on the social and political context in which they happened.