“As the rest of the media pulled out of Gaza after operation “Pillar of Defence”, Patrick Keddie and photographer David Shaw stayed to record the effects of the eight-day bombardment. They found a territory that was threatened by a much bigger problem than the Israeli Defence Force’s rocket attacks: the near-total collapse of its water supplies and sewage infrastructure.” Read the article published in Delayed … Continue reading Troubled Waters
Jews of Egypt, Amir Ramses’s new documentary, begins by asking ordinary Egyptians on the street what they think of Jewish people. The answers are mostly negative; “damned” says one, “enemies of Islam” says another, “doomed by God.” Whilst talking to Ramses, one man remarks that the Egyptian singer Leila Mourad was “good.” Then his eyebrows shoot up as he realises something, “What? She was also … Continue reading ‘Jews of Egypt’: An Interview with Director Amir Ramses
It was an unprecedented assault. Starting on Sunday and lasting throughout the night, unknown assailants besieged St Mark’s Coptic Orthodox cathedral in Cairo; hurling petrol bombs and stones over the walls. The police stood and watched, or took their turn in the assault by firing volleys of tear gas into the cathedral’s grounds. Men brandished handguns and scaled nearby buildings to fire into the compound. … Continue reading Solidarity amid sectarianism in Egypt
The guard on the other side of the wrought iron gate was suspicious and gruff; “It’s closed” he informed me. I persevered. “No, not possible” came the reply, “are you from Israel?” ‘No, I’m from Britain.’ I persisted some more. The guard’s colleague entered through the gate, went into the sentry box, and slung the strap of a small submachine gun over his shoulder. They … Continue reading Visiting Eliyahu Hanavi Synagogue – Alexandria
Writing by Patrick Keddie 