A Bottle in the Gaza Sea

In her diary, Tal reflects on the strangeness of her emails with Naïm, unsure what she wants or why she has not told anyone about them. She thinks how she might be the only person in Israel having anonymous, personal contact with a Palestinian. She worries that anyone can hide behind a screen name on the internet. The inability to look him in the eye makes her jumpy and irritated, “a nasty, sour feeling” (62).

Tal’s father has been asked to make a documentary about Jerusalem, but the English television station wants a new angle, which Tal’s father believes Tal can provide. He says Jerusalem is her city, and she’ll need to tell the story of her home. Tal is honored and intimidated.

Tal shares the news about the documentary with Naïm and asks if he has been to Jerusalem. Naïm replies sarcastically about Tal seeing herself in Hollywood but admits to jealousy while ignoring her question. When he does not respond for several days, she writes again—she heard some activists were killed near the Khan Younes camp. The destruction in Gaza often seems very far away, but corresponding with Naïm brings it closer. Tal says she has begun filming the city and asks Naïm to let her know he is okay.