Returning to Haifa

Synopsis

You haven't asked, but yes, you both may stay in our house for the time being. And use our things. I figure it'll take a war to settle it all.

A compelling story of two families - one Palestinian, one Israeli - forced by history into an intimacy they didn't choose.

'[Returning to Haifa] offers a moving confrontation between two sets of displaced people and an utterly unsentimental exploration of the complexities of home, history and parenthood . . . its call for reciprocal awareness and acknowledgement of past injustice seems more necessary than ever.' Guardian

In 1948, Palestinian couple Said and Safiyya fled their home during the Nakba. Now, in the aftermath of the 1967 Six Day War, the borders are open for the first time in twenty years, and they dare to return to their home in Haifa. They are ready to find someone else living where they once did, but nothing can prepare them for the encounter they both desire and dread with the son they had to leave behind.

Ghassan Kanafani's classic novella Returning to Haifa has been adapted for the stage by Naomi Wallace and Ismail Khalidi. The play premiered at the Finborough Theatre, London, in February 2018 to coincide with the seventieth anniversaries of both the Nakba or 'catastrophe' - the mass dispossession of the Palestinians in 1948 - and the foundation of the State of Israel.

Summary

Chapter 1: The Journey

* *Huwaida Saadi,* a Palestinian, returns to Haifa after 50 years in exile. She had been forced to flee during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War.
* As she steps off the bus, she is overwhelmed by emotion and memories.
* She is met by her Israeli cousin, *Miral Badir,* who has arranged for her to stay with her.

Chapter 2: The House

* Huwaida visits her former home, now occupied by Miral's family.
* She reminisces about her childhood and the happy times she spent there.
* She feels a sense of loss and displacement as she realizes that her past is gone.

Chapter 3: The Family

* Huwaida meets Miral's husband, *Mustafa,* and their children.
* She is initially uncomfortable interacting with them but gradually warms up.
* She learns about their different perspectives on the conflict and their desire for peace.

Chapter 4: The City

* Huwaida explores Haifa and is shocked to find that it has become a modern city.
* She visits familiar landmarks, such as the beach and the market, but they trigger bittersweet memories.
* She encounters both friendly and hostile reactions from the locals.

Chapter 5: The Truth

* Huwaida discovers that her brother was killed in the war.
* Miral reveals that his body was secretly buried in their backyard.
* The revelation brings up unresolved grief and anger for Huwaida.

Chapter 6: The Reconciliation

* Huwaida and Miral confront their past and try to understand each other's experiences.
* They come to terms with the fact that their families were victims of the conflict.
* They resolve to work towards reconciliation and build a better future together.

Chapter 7: The Future

* Huwaida decides to stay in Haifa and help bridge the gap between Israelis and Palestinians.
* She establishes a community center where people from both sides can come together.
* Her story becomes a symbol of hope and reconciliation for a divided land.