In an elementary school in Harris County , preparations for a International festival were underway, when a Palestinian-American mother volunteered to represent "Palestine." A few days later, the director of the festival (an Australian) notified her that the Israelis protested, since there is no "Palestine" in the United Nations. The Palestinian volunteer was given the number of a UN advisor on the Middle East to confirm. When she called the advisor, she was told that Palestine is referred to as "Occupied Palestinian Territories," given that resolution 181 was only partially implemented, and Israel occupied whatever territory that was given to Palestine. The volunteer went back to the director and gave her consent to represent the Palestinians under the name "Occupied Palestinians Territories" (OPT). The Israelis got more upset, since OPT is even more inflammatory then "Palestine" and would draw more attention. The issue was turned to the school principal, who tried to convince the volunteer to go under the name " Palestinian culture," when everyone else was representing their country. She refused. The issue was turned to the HISD superintendant, who referred the matter to the HISD lawyers. The lawyers and the superintendant came to the conclusion that we ought to be represented under the name "Palestine"!! So we did.

Our booth was the busiest. Not surprisingly, given that we lured the American audience with all sorts of Palestinian food items: Hummus, pita, kubbeh, grape leaves, manakeesh zaatar, fatayer, falafel ( made it clear that falafel is arabic food). Little sacs made of netted fabric contained a mix of almonds, raisins and walnuts were distributed with a card reading "Kisses from Palestine" on one side, and " My homeland is not a suitcase and i am not a traveler" on the other. We had under the the poster reading "Palestine" a huge picture of Jerusalem and a flag. We displayed books, embroideries, traditional coffee pots, durbakkeh (arabic drum), candles. Many Americans expressed pride and admiration of our courage, a South African black woman cried.

In short, make sure to represent "Palestine" or the "Occupied Palestinian Territories" in International festival is your neighborhood schools. You have justice and the UN on your side.