Smitten: Beneath the Layers of the Holy Land

Beneath the layers of politics, religion, and history lies a social life often overlooked. Amidst the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict, people continue living their lives beneath the tumultuous surface.

Saba Salim finds herself living with the man she loves. However, the man she chose to be her husband and protector becomes her tormentor. The house she thought would be her sanctuary becomes her personal prison, where she endures physical abuse and constant verbal attacks.

Saba struggles to prove her abuse, facing interrogation by various men. Ultimately, she stands alone, presenting her case to the deciding elders of East Jerusalem.

The walls of Jerusalem feel suffocating, but they expand little by little as Saba gains her freedom. A feminist without realizing it, Saba discovers her strength and identity, breaking free from the chains of her oppressor and becoming her own person.

Aya Dunbar is a Palestinian author, born and raised in Jerusalem. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Rights and International Law and a minor in Literature and Society. Aya has a passion for writing. She spends most of her free time writing and turning feelings and ideas into stories. She started writing short paragraphs until she found herself with full chapters, and in the end, her chapters became a novel. She believes that all thoughts should be ink on paper so that the world does not miss out on the adventures of the mind.