The Daily 'The Interview': Raja Shehadeh Believes Israelis and Palestinians Can Still Find Peace
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Dec 20, 2025 
Raja Shehadeh, a writer and human rights activist from Ramallah, shares his insights on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with unwavering hope. He discusses the impact of his family's exile from Jaffa and the importance of understanding differing narratives. Raja critiques the consequences of settlements and militarism while advocating for mutual self-determination. He emphasizes the need for empathy and connection, urging a shift in media coverage to better reflect Palestinian voices. With a vision for peace, he sees potential in international support for Palestinian rights.
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Family Exile From Jaffa
- Raja Shehadeh describes his family leaving Jaffa in April 1948 and never returning after violence made the city unsafe.
- He explains growing up in Ramallah with an "exile's consciousness" that made the town feel temporary rather than home.
Documenting Erases Colonization's Mystique
- Raja argues that documenting the landscape and legal history undoes colonization's mystification and preserves memory for younger generations.
- He says describing the pre-settlement land helps people see the deliberate, slow process that produced the current legal situation.
Isolation Fuels Distorted Perceptions
- Raja notes a generation of Palestinians now have never met a non-settler Israeli because of walls and checkpoints.
- He warns this isolation distorts mutual perceptions and fuels dangerous collective myths.