My Palestinian Story

Exploring the Palestinian side of my family

Remembering Saba Abdo

11 Feb 2026 / / 12 Comments

~ In Memoriam: 24 Aug 1930-16 Nov 2025 ~

They’re leaving us one by one. With every passing week, I feel they’re slipping through my fingers too quickly and I can’t hang on to them—to them and their memories. They’re the last generation that has happy memories of Jerusalem (and Palestine more generally).

They’re the last generation that remembers a multi-cultural, cosmopolitan Jerusalem. A kinder, warmer, more welcoming Jerusalem. They’re the last ones who experienced coexistence and intermingling. They’re the ones who went to school, played, shared meals, and started businesses with others, without religion, culture, or ethnic background becoming insurmountable obstacles. 

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The Greek Community of Jerusalem: A Presentation

28 Nov 2025 / / 8 Comments

On 18 September 2025, I gave a presentation entitled “The Greek Community of Jerusalem until 1948 (Nakba and Diaspora)” in Nicosia, Cyprus. 

The presentation was organised by the Cyprus Peace Council (Παγκύπριο Συμβούλιο Ειρήνης) and the Thursday Coffeeshop (Καφενείο της Πέμτης) (a discussion group for members of the Socialist Expression) along with the Centre of Visual Arts & Research (CVAR) which hosted the event. 

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My Jerusalem Redux

19 Oct 2024 / / 0 Comments

When Sani Meo asked me for a contribution to the October 2024 issue of This Week in Palestine (TWiP), I couldn’t refuse. I had explained to him in the past that I have a very hard time saying no to Palestinians. It’s particularly difficult saying no to TWiP, a remarkable monthly (and as such misnamed) publication which has been documenting all things Palestine for nearly twenty-six years, thus creating an invaluable archive of knowledge in words and imagery. And it’s all done on a shoestring. 

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The Kassotis family in Nicosia, Cyprus

An Unresolved Loss

1 Sep 2024 / / 10 Comments

~ The story of my grandfather Manolis Kassotis—Part 2/2 ~

(The story continues from Part 1: An Unrecorded Death)

Last Days in Jerusalem

The clouds of war that had been gathering over the land for years became darker and more ominous after the conclusion of World War II. When, on 29 November 1947, the United Nations voted to partition Palestine, the tempest was unleashed. Explosions, snipers, barbed wire—physical manifestations of fear and hate—became everyday fare in the life of Jerusalem.

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Manolis Kassotis - Jerusalem, 1946 (Still from Nando Schtakleff's film)

An Unrecorded Death

18 Aug 2024 / / 12 Comments

~ The story of my grandfather Manolis Kassotis—Part 1/2 ~

My grandfather’s death was never recorded officially. He died on 5 April 1971 in our home in Nicosia. He used to live with us while our grandmother, Yiayia Vitsa, lived with the Eftys (Efthyvoulou), their youngest daughter’s family. On that day, both grandparents were at our home as our parents had gone abroad for two weeks and had left my brother (age 12) and myself (10) in the care of the elders.

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