“In a heartfelt letter, 17-year-old Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi tells the story of her arrest and eight months in an Israeli prison – and the struggles she faces as a symbol of resistance,” according to Vogue Arabia, the Middle East edition of Vogue magazine, which is distributed in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Lebanon.
To remind you, Tamimi became the poster girl of the anti-Israel world after she slapped and kicked two Israeli soldiers who were standing outside her home in Samaria. At the time, even a few Arab media sources expressed their astonishment at the fact that the nasty teen lived to tell about her experience – seeing as in none of the Arab countries could she expect such a fortunate outcome from hitting a soldier. But those needless facts have been largely swept aside in favor of the heroic image of a fearless Arab girl taking full advantage of the IDF rules of engagement, under which her two victims would likely have faced a jail term themselves had they slapped her across her face in return.
In her Vogue Arabia story, “Occupied Childhood: Ahed Tamimi Pens a Heartfelt Letter About Life in and After Prison,” the heroic bully related her eight months in Israeli prison following the unprovoked attack on two unsuspecting soldiers, describing her daily routine with all the horror that they entailed:
“Life behind bars was very hard. The guards woke us at 5.30am for the count and at 8am they returned to search the cells. Our doors opened at 10.30am, when we were let out for breakfast. Afterward, we would go to the other rooms, where I could talk to my fellow inmates. There were around 25 of us. We were not allowed outside and walked around in a big hall for exercise. Along with the other girls, I tried to make study groups, but the prison administration did not encourage this and broke up the class. Instead, we read books, and I managed to pass my final exams in prison. Only my immediate family was allowed to visit me, and that was limited to 45 minutes through a glass barrier every two months.”
Tamimi, who boasted that every single member of her family has been behind bars, also mused: “If I were permitted to be a regular teenager living in a normal country, I would play sports. I wanted to become a football player but I don’t play here because there is no time. Instead, I have been involved in demonstrations and confrontations with the Israeli army since I was a child.”
As long as she keeps in shape, go ahead, we say, joining the appeal of the blog Israellycool (What The Ahed Tamimi Vogue Cover SHOULD HAVE Looked Like) for a somewhat different cover page for the Vogue issue: “Ahed Tammi: Prison Killed My Diet.” Ouch.