Most recent articles by Ylenia Gostoli
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Erdogan′s TurkeyEroding Ataturk's legacy
On 18 October, the Turkish parliament approved a controversial bill that in future will allow Islamic muftis to register weddings. Critics fear that this will erode the civil rights of women and expose more girls to the dangers of underage marriage. Ylenia Gostoli reports from Turkey
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Middle East peace processPlaying the Trump card?
Fond of boasting about his deal-making capabilities, U.S. president Donald Trump has oozed confidence in the run-up to his visit to Israel and the Occupied Territories. Whether he will prove a mediating or an alienating influence remains to be seen. By Ylenia Gostoli
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Democracy in PalestineHigh hopes, low expectations
Palestinians who hoped municipal elections would eventually pave the way to overdue national ones voice criticism about decisions that led to their postponement. By Ylenia Gostoli
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PalFest 2016: Interview with Palestinian poet Jehan BseisoBreaking the cultural siege on Palestine
From 21 – 26 May, the Palestine Festival of Literature toured cities in the West Bank and Israel. In attendance was Jehan Bseiso, a young Palestinian poet. With two anthologies to her name and online publications with ″Electronic Intifada″ and ″The Palestine Chronicle″, Jehan is currently working on a poetry collection called ″Conversations Continued″ – a compilation of real, misheard and misremembered conversations. Interview by Ylenia Gostoli
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Breaking the SilenceThe ″turncoat″ sons of Israel
Founded 11 years ago, Breaking the Silence has collected and published over 1,100 mostly anonymous testimonies from IDF (Israel Defence Forces) veterans that document army violations against Palestinians. Earlier this month, an Israeli court heard a petition filed by the state attorney to force the organisation to reveal the identity of some of the testifiers. Ylenia Gostoli caught up with Breaking the Silence′s co-founder Yehuda Shaul
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Jordan and the Syrian refugeesAcross a great divide
In mid-2013, Jordan stopped letting Syrian refugees freely through its borders and shut all but two of the 45 informal crossings. The current policy of only permitting the war-wounded to enter the country, while in itself commendable, is separating families and leaving people with disabilities and in need of constant care to fend for themselves in Jordan. By Ylenia Gostoli
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Druze conscriptionYouth reject ″sectarian″ recruitment to the Israeli army
Conscientious objection among the Druze community is gathering support, particularly among the young men who are expected to serve in the Israeli army. One organisation that seeks to support those fighting the call to join up is ″Urfod″ or ″Refuse: your people will protect you”. Ylenia Gostoli examines the issues confronting the religious minority
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Refugees in IsraelWaiting for Holot
Holot, Israel′s desert detention centre, recently released 1,200 asylum seekers. With the state dragging its feet over the processing of asylum applications, however, thousands more are likely to receive a summons. By Ylenia Gostoli
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Life in the West BankThe changing face of Ramallah
After the signing of the Oslo I Accord in 1993, Ramallah, the de-facto capital of the Palestinian Authority, became the biggest per-capita recipient of aid in the world. This, coupled with the influx of investment, turned the city into something of a boomtown. Ramallah's vibrant nightlife and work opportunities with international organisations have attracted many young people from the periphery of Palestine, but also criticism from those who ask how an occupied city can be so seemingly oblivious to what is happening just a few kilometres away or so willing to build over the city's heritage. By Ylenia Gostoli
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Druze in the Golan HeightsSqueezed between occupation and civil war
The Golan Heights were unilaterally annexed by Israel in 1981. At the time, many Syrian residents fled. Most of those who remained belong to the Druze community. In this article, Ylenia Gostoli takes a closer look at the situation for the Druze in the Golan Heights and shines a light on their relationship with both Syria and their co-religionists in Israel
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Young women and start-ups in GazaGetting down to business
Twelve months ago, Gaza was mired in a conflict that left 2,251 Palestinians dead and more than 100,000 homeless. The economy of the Gaza Strip has not even begun to make a recovery. Despite this bleak outlook, some young people – and some young women in particular – refuse to give in and are looking to launch start-up companies. By Ylenia Gostoli
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The Taybeh Vinfest, West BankTurning water into wine
Taybeh, the last Christian village in the West Bank, is well-known for its brewery and annual Oktoberfest. Late last year, the family that owns the brewery launched a winery. The first Taybeh wine festival (the Taybeh Vinfest) was held at the end of February. The Khoury family has always claimed that developing the local economy is their way of putting up peaceful resistance and encouraging Palestinians to stay in – or return to – their native home instead of going abroad in search of better opportunities. By Ylenia Gostoli