"What Did We Do to Deserve This?"

Two years ago, author and documentary photographer Mark Howell, who was shortlisted for the Ian Parry scholarship in 2006, set out to document the day-to-day experiences of ordinary Palestinians through photographs and interviews.

The resulting book – What Did We Do To Deserve This?: Palestinian Life under Occupation in the West Bank – has now been published to coincide with the 40th Anniversary of the Six Day War and Israel’s occupation of the West Bank.

UK-based Howell, a former lawyer who retrained as a photographer, set out to convey the day-to-day realities of Palestinians experiences through their experiences and words, and examines many aspects ofdaily life in the West Bank , including freedom of movement, religion, business and the development of democracy, and how these are affected by Israel’s policies.

Howell’s work shuns melodrama for vignettes of the everyday, and shows a deep affinity with his subjects.

Top photograph shows Palestinian cafe in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, East Jerusalem © Mark Howell 2007. Image taken from “What Did We Do to Deserve This? Palestinian Life under Occupation in the West Bank” by Mark Howell (Garnet Publishing, 2007)