Ang Swee Chai, co-founder of Medical Aid for Palestinians speaks to crowd during the demonstration demanding ceasefire, showing solidarity with Palestinians in London, United Kingdom on December 16, 2023. [Rasid Necati Aslim/Anadolu via Getty Images]
This article sets out to rectify a long-standing wrong done to a co-founder of Medical Aid for Palestinians, Dr Swee Ang and to call out the cynical and malicious abuse of accusations of antisemitism, and the moral panic they can engender, to defame and above all cancel advocates of the Palestinians.
In 2014 the Daily Telegraph published an article accusing her of antisemitism for forwarding to a small group of friends and colleagues a troubling video which unbeknownst to her was published by a notorious antisemite. As soon as she discovered her mistake, she withdrew the post and apologised, though her apology was not included in the Telegraph article.
Nevertheless, the accusation stuck and has dogged her over the years, resulting in the last-minute can- cellation, in April 2025, of a prestigious invitation from the British Medical Association to speak about her work for Palestinians. This article documents the sequence of events leading up to the cancellation of the BMA invitation. We go on to question the use of allegations of this kind, and the role of organisations like UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) in creating a climate of impunity for the state of Israel, and in triggering unpleasant reprisals against British citizens who support the Palestinians. Swee’s de-platforming
In April 2025, Dr Swee Ang, co-founder of the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, was due to give a keynote lecture to 300 medical student leaders, drawn from all the medical schools in UK under the auspices of the British Medical Association, the BMA. Two days before the date of the lecture, she received a letter from the BMA announcing that they had withdrawn the invitation. No explanation was made public, but CAMPAIN learned, through conversations with the BMA, that the cancellation was due to an item mentioned on her Wikipedia page, that eleven years earlier she had forwarded a link to a video by the US white supremacist and antisemite David Duke. CAMPAIN wrote the BMA an open letter, pointing out that at the time Swee did not know who Duke was and that there has never been a pattern of antisemitic statements or behaviour on her part. From the open letter:
The question the BMA must answer is whether it believes it is reasonable, in the light of these facts, to conclude that Dr Ang’s decades-long humanitarian work is merely a cover for a sinister antisemitic agenda. This is what those calling for Dr Swee’s cancellation are suggesting and your decision to disinvite her implies that you consider this a legitimate point of view. And yet it is absurd for any thinking and rational person to believe that her compassionate concern for Palestinians is not genuine, but rather a proxy for hatred of Jews.
The letter urged the BMA to recognise its mistake, and to commit to treating Swee with respect and fairness in the future. It garnered 3,600 signatures, among them many distinguished names.
On 2nd October 2025 Swee, together with CAMPAIN Secretary Jonathan Coulter and Chair Adam Waterhouse, delivered the letter to the BMA, and spoke with the BMA’s Director of Policy and Communications Greg Beales. Mr Beales made it clear that this decision was made by the temporary committee organis- ing the Medical Students Conference for 2025, and that the BMA had not banned Swee from speaking at BMA events. He said that the decision was likely made in order to not to distract attention from the wider issue of what was happening in Gaza, and the BMA’s own response to it.
The issue wasn’t simply the fact that forwarding Duke’s video was mentioned on her Wikipedia page but also that there didn’t appear to be any publicly published explanation or apology from Swee. He emphasised the importance of having a response on the public record. Unfortunately the lack of an apology in the public record has created a space within which smears and innuendos can continue to damage her reputation and hinder the work of MAP.
In fact this particular smear campaign had already resulted in withdrawal of dozens of invitations as speaker and participation in mainstream media interviews. The cancellation by BMA was preceded a month earlier by the cancellation of an invitation to speak at Harvard University. But the BMA cancellation was unique as Swee has been a member of the BMA for 49 years and some of the medical students were from her own NHS hospital, Barts (Saint Bartholomew’s). This article, based upon interviews with Swee, has been written to redress this, and to recount the background to the case and the ongoing consequences of Swee Ang’s 2014 misstep. Swee’s background, from Singapore to the UK and the Middle East
Swee Ang is ethnically Chinese, but grew up in Singapore in the 1950s and 60s, and came to England in 1977 with her husband, the human rights lawyer Francis Khoo, when the political climate in Singapore became too threatening. She had trained as a doctor in Singapore; in London she completed her training as an orthopaedic surgeon, and in 1996 became the first woman consultant orthopedic surgeon at Barts Hospital in London.
Singapore, a tiny island state only twice the area of Greater London, is mainly ethnically Chinese, and its location in the midst of much larger Muslim states is something of an anomaly. Swee says this naturally inclined her towards sympathy for Israel, which she saw as David to the Arab Goliath. Her adoption of radical Christian belief in her teens accentuated her support for Israel. However this sympathy was severely tested when, in 1982, she answered an appeal from Christian Aid for doctors to help the injured in the Lebanese civil war. She left her job and travelled to work in the Gaza hospital in Beirut, situated in the Sabra Palestinian refugee camp.
Her initial sympathy for Israel became tinged with doubt when for the first time she met Palestinians, who up till then she had always thought of only as terrorists. And it turned into fierce criticism when she saw the results of Israeli military action against the Palestinians in Lebanon. Besides the systematic targeting of hospitals [1], she witnessed and also treated survivors of what was possibly the most dramatic and horrifying event of the war, when in 1982 Lebanese Christian militias were given the green light by Israel to enter the Palestinian refugee camps of Sabra and Shatila. They murdered somewhere between two and three thousand people, many of them the dependents of the PLO fighters who had just departed for Tripoli in Libya under an agreement with the UK- and US-backed Multinational Force in Lebanon. As became clear in the subsequent (Israeli) Kahan Commission of Enquiry, the Israeli army had opened the camps to the Christian militias, prevented their inhabitants from fleeing, and illuminated the scene with flares all night long, facilitating the massacre. The enquiry, at which Swee testified, concluded that Ariel Sharon should be removed from his post as Defence Minister. At the time, the report was celebrated as “a tribute to the vitality of Israeli democracy and to the country’s moral character” (the Washington Post), and as “giving the world a new lesson in democracy” (French Minister of the Interior Gaston Deferre) [2]. In fact in 2001 Sharon was elected Prime Minister of Israel, and held the position until disabled by a stroke in 2006.
Swee and her husband, together with Major Derek Cooper and his wife, founded the charity Medical Aid for Palestinians, MAP, in 1982, in the wake of the Sabra and Shatila massacre. From 2002 it has had special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council. Today it is the principal UK-based charity providing medical aid to the Palestinians of Gaza, the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and Lebanon [3]. Its current president is the Conservative peer Baroness Morris of Bolton, who succeeded Chris Patten and Baroness Helena Kennedy. Swee’s encounter with Duke’s video
In 2014, shortly after Israel had for the third time attacked Gaza’s largely unprotected inhabitants, using American weaponry to carry out an aerial bombardment and a ground invasion, Swee was sent, by a colleague, a link to a video which alleged that what Duke called “Zionist Jews” were in control of the United States government, banks and media. She was shocked but also intrigued. She shared the link with a colleague and with some family members in a private e-mail group, with a covering note that said “Dear Friends, This is shocking video please watch. This is not about Palestine – it is about all of us!”. The video, CNN Goldman Sachs and the Zio Matrix was by David Duke, one-time Grand Wizard of the Ku Klux Klan, though in the video he is introduced (correctly) as a former member of the US congress, and there is no reference to the KKK [4]. Swee had never heard of him.
However, as will be shown below, this naive mistake was seized upon by people with an interest in pro- tecting Israel’s reputation (and defaming supporters of Palestinian rights), and it was this that later led to the BMA’s withdrawal of her invitation in 2025. The sequence of events is described below.
The July 2014 issue of the medical journal The Lancet had carried an open letter for the people ofGaza, written by Swee and four other doctors and medical scientists, denouncing the Israeli attacks on the population of Gaza and documenting some of its consequences, and calling on colleagues to join in condemning the Israeli actions. From the open letter:
We are appalled by the military onslaught on civilians in Gaza under the guise of punishing terrorists. This is the third large scale military assault on Gaza since 2008. Each time the death toll is borne mainly by innocent people in Gaza, especially women and children, under the unacceptable pretext of Israel eradicating political parties and resistance to the occupa- tion and siege they impose.[. . . ] Our condemnation and disgust are further compounded by the denial and prohibition for Gaza to receive external help and supplies to alleviate the dire circumstances.
In August of that year, Dr Gerald Steinberg, president of the Israeli pressure group NGO Monitor, wrote to Elsevier, the publishers of The Lancet, demanding that they withdraw the open letter, on the grounds that Swee and one of the other authors “traded in anti-semitic conspiracy theories”, though his letter does not dispute the letter’s description of the situation in Gaza. The Lancet held its ground, with the support of the publishers – the editor described Steinberg’s allegations as “a witch hunt, pure and simple” – and did not withdraw the open letter, which is still available on its website. Steinberg’s allegation that Swee “traded in anti-semitic conspiracy theories” can only be based on her having shared the link to Duke’s video with a small number of close contacts.
In September 2014, Jake Wallis-Simons, a Daily Telegraph journalist (and editor of the Jewish Chronicle from 2021 to 2025) interviewed Swee about the allegations from Gerald Steinberg. She explained what had happened, and expressed her regret that she had unwittingly forwarded a video by a white supremacist and antisemite, as she now understood David Duke to be. She wrote to him:
Following the conversation last evening with you, I thought about the situation and if it is not too late, please would you kindly include my regret for circulating Dr Duke’s lecture and my apology for the offence I have caused to many of my friends, both Jewish and non-Jewish in doing this. I have done this out of shock at the contents and my ignorance of the undercurrents, and will be more discerning in future about these kind of allegations.
Please let me know if there is time to include this.
Wallis-Simons did not include Swee’s apology in the article he wrote for the Telegraph, Lancet hijackedin anti-Israel campaign. His article began with a photo of Duke captioned “Two of the authors of the open letter, Dr Paola Manduca and Dr Swee Ang, have sympathies with the views of David Duke, pictured, a white supremacist and former Ku Klux Klan Grand Wizard”. By the time he wrote this, he had already spo- ken to Swee and knew her views on David Duke. He posted her apology instead on his Facebook page, where it attracted many abusive responses. Swee also publicly apologised at a meeting at University College London, about which she wrote to Aimée Shalan, Director of MAP:
Regarding the UCL meeting, I have ample witnesses including video evidence that when they attacked me, I explained that I was really sorry to have forwarded the video, and if I knew who Duke was I would have deleted it. But they continued shouting and would not accept my apology. I hope the same lot will not come to Parliament to harass you. Maybe you should warn the security and tell your host if they start to be uncivilise, they should be removed.
In June 2018, the pressure group UK Lawyers for Israel, UKLFI, filed a complaint against MAP to theCharity Commission, alleging that MAP spread political propaganda, promoted antisemitism, and had connections with organisations linked to the Palestinian terrorist organisation, the PFLP. Once again, the complaint of antisemitism was based on Swee’s having forwarded the link to the video of David Duke. The Charity Commission investigation exonerated MAP.
The various complaints against her have all been based on one leaked email sent to a private email group, which she immediately regretted deeply, as her apologies have made clear. The worst that can reasonably be said about Swee is that she was momentarily taken in by an antisemitic conspiracy theory. And her whole history speaks of unswerving devotion to the well-being of her fellow humans, whatever their religion or ethnic origin.
To be deemed antisemitic is to be placed in a special category, to which a singular stigma is attached, so powerful that it apparently outweighs the virtue of every good act, and prompts the cancellation of the person concerned. And the stigma is permanent: Swee’s single misstep in 2014 led to her cancellation in 2025. During the 2nd October 2025 meeting with Swee and CAMPAIN, the BMA’s Director of Policy and Communications, Greg Beales, made clear that they did not regard Swee as antisemitic, but simply that the committee had acted to avoid distraction and public controversy. He emphasised that the absence of any publicly available response from Swee to the original allegation had left a gap that would have made any decision to invite her hard to defend. In other words, she had not been found guilty of anything; she had been quietly set aside because a smear based on a mistake, left unanswered, had been allowed to do its work.
The BMA’s deplatforming of Swee, even if it was done without animus and merely to avoid controversy, contrasts sharply with its treatment of the Israeli Medical Association, the IMA. Until 2025 it maintained cordial relations with the IMA, some of whose members oversee the torture of Palestinian prisoners, and which has uttered no word of protest at the bombing of hospitals and the killing of Palestinian healthcare workers. A conference vote in 2025 obliged the BMA to sever relations with the IMA, but its long delay in doing this makes clear that it believed that it would damage its reputation more to invite Swee to give a talk than to maintain relations with a medical association that had acquiesced in the systematic destruction of healthcare facilities during a genocide [5]. The fact that they may well be right underlines the singular power of allegations of antisemitism.
The same disproportion may be seen in the international response to two events in January 2024. The first was the release of an interim ruling by the International Court of Justice on the case, launched by the government of South Africa, that Israel was committing genocide in Gaza. The interim ruling stated that the charge, which was supported by copious evidence, was indeed plausible. Under the UN genocide convention, this should have triggered the immediate suspension of all arms sales to Israel, as well as a range of other sanctions. None of this ensued.
The second event was the charge, made by Israel later the same day, that twelve (out of approximately 13,000) employees of UNWRA, the United Nations Works and Reconstruction Agency, had participated in the Hamas atrocity of October 7th 2023. Israel provided no evidence for this charge, and none has since emerged. Nevertheless, the UK government, along with the governments of the US, Germany, Canada and France, immediately suspended support for UNWRA, thereby allowing Israel to starve the people of Gaza.
To repeat: a copiously documented accusation of genocide, ruled plausible by the ICJ, had no conse- quence. An unsupported allegation that a tiny proportion of the workforce of UNWRA had participated in an attack on Israel led to the suspension of aid to the starving. That this double standard was apparently acceptable to the UK political class and commentariat shows once again the disproportionate power of accusations of antisemitism. It is time to question the power and the purpose of allegations of antisemitism
Swee was momentarily deceived by a video whose deeply unreliable source she was not aware of, and immediately apologised when she was informed about who David Duke was. She has many Jewish friends and there is no record of her ever expressing dislike or prejudice against Jews. Nevertheless, in his Telegraph article Jake Wallis-Simons turned her into a supporter of David Duke who had “hi-jacked” The Lancet; and the hostile audience at the UCL meeting where Swee attempted to apologise, refused even to hear her apology. The unwillingness to receive or transmit an apology speaks to the purpose of the accusation: it is to discredit the accused in order to delegitimise their message.
Under these circumstances, accusations of antisemitism against critics of Israel must not be allowed immediately to cancel their criticism. The criticisms which prompted the accusations must be examined on their merits, just as must the accusation. Too often, the accusation becomes the focus, and the criticism is ignored. Statements are either true or false, not true, false or antisemitic.
In recent years such accusations have been deployed in the UK and the US to achieve political aims which have little to do with the welfare of Jews and much to do with defending Israel. And by shielding Israel from criticism, they have helped to generate a climate of impunity which has allowed its leaders to order atrocious acts and its citizens and supporters elsewhere to view them with approval.
In August 2025 the UK’s Public Interest Law Centre and the European Legal Support Center (ELSC) filed a complaint against UK Lawyers for Israel. Their 114-page report, which has been sent to the Solicitors Regulation Authority, says UKLFI is using the law improperly to threaten civil society groups and is operating as an unregulated legal firm. ELSC’s Monitor Officer in Britain warned:
UKLFI is actively suppressing solidarity with Palestine. Our research documents how UKLFI’s threatening letters to organisations have triggered concrete reprisals, including workers dis- ciplined or fired for Palestine solidarity, reputations smeared through coordinated campaigns, and events cancelled under pressure. This is a systematic strategy to criminalise solidarity with Palestine and shield genocide complicity. This complaint is a demand for accountability.
Swee Ang has devoted her life to the relief of suffering, and has done so at considerable personal cost. The attempt to characterise her as an antisemite rests on a single incident, more than a decade ago, in which she was briefly deceived and for which she promptly apologised. The fact that the mere existence of this smear was enough to prompt a BMA committee and others to disinvite her from speaking illustrates the importance of the work of CAMPAIN in addressing this type of politically motivated misrepresentation. ===
[3] Since the start of this year, the Israeli government refuses MAP-affiliated doctors admission to the OPT. In common with Médecins Sans Frontières and 35 other aid organisations, its license to operate in Gaza and the OPT was revoked in January2026, on the grounds that they had failed to provide the Israeli authorities with complete details of their staff. The aid organisations were unwilling to do so, as large numbers of aid workers and health workers (around 1750) have been killed by the Israelis in military action following the Hamas attack of October 2023, with evidence that many have been deliberately targeted.
[4] Although Duke’s video concludes with lurid allegations of Zionist control, what he said about Israeli treatment of the Pales- tinians was largely correct, and tallied with Swee’s experience. And there is a strong case that much of what he said about the influence of the Israeli lobby on US foreign policy is also true: the well known 2007 book The Israel Lobby and U.S. Foreign Policy, by John Mearsheimer (Professor of Political Science at the University of Chicago) and Stephen Walt (Professor of Inter- national Relations at University of Harvard’s Kennedy School) makes persuasive arguments that US support for Israel has not been motivated by US interests but by the power of the Israel Lobby.
The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor. 10 Comments
==
What do you think?
2 Responses
Upvote
Upvote
Funny
Funny
Love
Love
Surprised
Surprised
Angry
Angry
Sad
Sad
10 comments
Sejin Pak
Avatar for Sejin Pak
Join the discussion…
Share
Best
Newest
Oldest
−
J
John Davis
13 hours ago
Another good news day:
The IDF has eliminated senior Hamas terrorist Ihab Karazim, in Khan Yunis, a key financial operative responsible for transferring millions to Hamas’ military wing. Hamas weapons production official Muhammad Alhabash was also eliminated in the strike.
Boom, boom, boom, boom - another two bite the dust.
2Press the down arrow key to see users who liked this
0Press the down arrow key to see users who disliked this
Reply
Share ›
−
Avatar for Jonathan Coulter
Jonathan Coulter
13 hours ago
Few people have lived out their Christian convictions like Swee Ang. When she first went to the Middle East they gave her very strong sympathy with the Israelis, but most of this evaporated when she witnessed at first hand the carnage of Sabra and Shatila refugee camps in Lebanon.
1Press the down arrow key to see users who liked this
0Press the down arrow key to see users who disliked this
Reply
Share ›
−
T
tzatz Jonathan Coulter
2 hours ago
Sabra and Shatila was perpetrated by Maronite Christian Phalange soldiers as payback for the bombing / murder of their LEADER Bashir Gemayel … believed to have been perpetrated by palestinians
Fahrshteist?
0Press the down arrow key to see users who liked this
0Press the down arrow key to see users who disliked this
Reply
Share ›
−
Avatar for G1S1944
G1S1944 Jonathan Coulter
7 hours ago
Bull Manure at its finest.
0Press the down arrow key to see users who liked this
0Press the down arrow key to see users who disliked this
Reply
Share ›
−
P
peepsqueek
16 hours ago
Misplaced sympathy as the good Doctor was born in Malaysia, and Malaysia’s public healthcare system is grappling with a severe doctor shortage, particularly regarding specialists and medical officers in rural areas. The crisis is characterized by chronic talent drain. --- What is she trying to prove by not taking care of her own people first?
1Press the down arrow key to see users who liked this
0Press the down arrow key to see users who disliked this
Reply
Share ›
−
D
Double Oaks peepsqueek
4 hours ago
She is not malaysian but singaporean.
0Press the down arrow key to see users who liked this
0Press the down arrow key to see users who disliked this
Reply
Share ›
−
Avatar for Heybarn
Heybarn
15 hours ago
One needs to be Semitic for antisemitism to be an issue for them.
That the foreigner israeli aren’t.
0Press the down arrow key to see users who liked this
0Press the down arrow key to see users who disliked this
Reply
Share ›
−
J
John Davis Heybarn
13 hours ago
Really quite silly. Not much chance you'll adopt reality soon I suppose.
Jews are historically, linguistically, and genetically a Semitic people with ancient roots in the Levant. Claims denying this are typically rooted in political or antisemitic narratives rather than evidence.
2Press the down arrow key to see users who liked this
0Press the down arrow key to see users who disliked this
Reply
Share ›
−
P
peepsqueek John Davis
4 hours ago
The reality is that the entire Mediterranean is filled with mixed blood from centuries of Babylonians, Assyrians, Kurds, Armenians, Berbers, Egyptians, Persians, Hebrews, Greeks, Romans, Hispanic, Arabs, Ottoman Turks, modern Europeans, etc.
Look at Israel's neighbors-- President Assad of Syria, was a tall, white skinned, blue eyed gentlemen, and look at King Abdullah of Jordan who is half British. Look at the Lebanese people who are blend of both indigenous Phoenician elements and the foreign cultures that have come to rule the land and its people over the course of thousands of years.
1Press the down arrow key to see users who liked this
0Press the down arrow key to see users who disliked this
Reply
Share ›
−
P
peepsqueek Heybarn
4 hours ago
Jews are not a specific race and what is the Jewish connection to that land? ---Thousands of years of maintaining traditions, rituals, a language, an ancient text, holy sites, a continuous Jewish presence in ancient times, the biblical birth place of David, Solomon, Jesus, John the Baptist and other Jewish prophets. The other connection is that they have come from all over the world and broke their backs under difficult conditions to build a viable nation that has gained respect around the world for their science and technology.
1Press the down arrow key to see users who liked this
0Press the down arrow key to see users who disliked this
Reply
Share ›
==
책이 나온 후로 친 이스라엘 측의 앙 박사 비판이 있었을텐데, 어떤 것이 있었나 알려주세요.
15s 동안 생각함
===
세진님, 책 <베이루트에서 예루살렘까지>가 출간된 이후 친이스라엘 측이나 저자의 서사에 반대하는 진영에서 제기했던 주요 비판과 반론들입니다.
제공해 주신 아마존·굿리즈 독자 리뷰 데이터와 팟캐스트 인터뷰 내용을 바탕으로, 친이스라엘 측 및 비판적 시각을 가진 이들이 주로 지적했던 논점들을 하라체로 정리했습니다.
친이스라엘 측 및 비판 진영의 주요 비판 논점
1. 학살의 일차적 주체에 대한 책임 희석과 프레임 왜곡
친이스라엘 측 독자들과 역사적 맥락을 강조하는 비판자들은 사브라·샤틸라 학살의 직접적인 실행 주체가 이스라엘 군(IDF)이 아닌 레바논의 기독교 팔랑헤 민병대였다는 점을 강력히 지적한다.
민병대의 보복 범죄성: 이 학살은 당시 레바논의 대통령으로 선출되었던 기독교계 지도자 바希르 제마옐(Bashir Gemayel)이 암살당한 것에 대한 레바논 기독교 민병대의 잔혹한 보복 작전이었다.
이스라엘 책임론의 과잉: 비판 측은 앙 박사가 이스라엘 군의 방조나 협조를 넘어 이스라엘 자체를 학살의 직접적인 기획자나 주범으로 몰아세우는 이분법적 구도를 취하고 있으며, 이는 레바논 내전의 복잡한 종파적·정치적 역학 관계를 단순화하고 왜곡한 결과라고 주장한다. 이스라엘 군이 사태를 파악했을 때는 이미 민병대의 폭주를 막기에 너무 늦은 시점이었다는 반론도 존재한다.
2. 팔레스타인 해방기구(PLO) 및 하마스(Hamas)에 대한 편향성과 테러리즘 옹호
앙 박사가 팔레스타인 주민들과 맺은 정서적 유대로 인해, 그들의 정치·군사 조직이 저지른 폭력 행위에는 눈을 감았다는 비판이 제기된다.
테러 서사의 미화: 이스라엘 지지자들은 PLO가 이스라엘 민간인을 대상으로 수많은 테러와 공격을 감행해 온 조직임에도 불구하고, 앙 박사가 이들을 단순한 <가족이 있는 평범한 홈랜드의 수호자>나 <피해자>로 미화하여 묘사했다고 비판한다.
정치적 도구화: 앙 박사가 설립한 팔레스타인 의료 지원 회(MAP)가 공식적으로는 하마스 등 무장 단체와 선을 긋고 유일한 구호 기구인 유엔(UN)의 통계를 인용한다고 주장하지만 , 반대 진영에서는 이러한 의료 구호 활동과 저술 행위가 결과적으로 팔레스타인 무장 세력의 정치적 프로파간다에 정당성을 부여하는 도구로 쓰이고 있다고 비난한다.
3. 출판 및 활동에 대한 조직적 반발과 <반유대주의> 낙인
책이 가진 강렬한 친팔레스타인 성향으로 인해 서구권 내 친이스라엘 로비 단체와 미디어의 거센 비판과 물리적 제재가 뒤따랐다.
미국 내 출간 중단: 이 책은 1989년 영국에서 처음 출간된 이후 1996년 미국에서 발행되었으나, 친이스라엘 단체들의 격렬한 항의와 보이콧 프로테스트에 직면했다. 이로 인해 미국 내 출판과 유통이 한동안 전면 중단되는 사태를 겪었다.
<자기 혐오적 유대인> 및 반유대주의 낙인: 앙 박사와 함께 이스라엘 카한 위원회에서 증언하고자 했던 미국인 유대인 간호사 엘런 시걸(Ellen Siegel) 등 연대자들을 향해 친이스라엘 진영은 <자기 혐오적 유대인(Self-hating Jew)>, <반시온주의자(Anti-Zionist)>, <반유대주의자(Anti-semitic)>라는 극단적인 언어적 공격을 퍼부으며 그들의 증언 가치를 깎아내리려 했다.
기독교 내부에서의 파문과 비난: 독실한 기독교 신자였던 앙 박사를 향해 기존의 친이스라엘 성향 기독교 커뮤니티와 동료들은 성경 구절을 인용하며 "이스라엘을 저주하는 자는 신의 저주를 받을 것"이라는 종교적 경고와 함께 절교 선언을 하는 등 강한 심리적·사회적 압박을 가했다.
4. 정보의 신뢰성과 감정적 선동에 대한 지적
이스라엘 지지 측은 앙 박사의 저술이 냉철한 객관성을 유지해야 하는 의사의 기록이라기보다, 감정 과잉과 선동적 서사로 가득 찬 정치적 팸플릿에 가깝다고 비판한다. 역사적 사실(Fact)을 검증하기보다는 자신이 목격한 단편적인 참상을 확장하여 이스라엘 전체를 도덕적으로 파산한 국가로 몰아가려 한다는 비판이다. 실제로 미디어와 인터뷰를 진행한 언론인들이 친이스라엘 진영의 압박으로 해고를 당하는 등 , 앙 박사의 메시지가 가진 인과관계의 단순성과 호소 방식이 서구 사회 내에서 격렬한 정치적 갈등의 도화선이 되었음을 비판적으로 보는 시각이 존재한다.
앙 박사의 서사가 워낙 현장 목격에 기반한 강력한 힘을 지니고 있다 보니, 친이스라엘 측에서는 주로 역사적 거시 맥락의 부족함이나 테러 조직 옹호 프레임을 전면에 내세워 책의 신뢰성을 떨어뜨리려는 전략을 취해 왔음을 알 수 있습니다. 혹시 이 중 특정 논쟁이나 당시 이스라엘 내부 위원회의 조사 결과 등에 대해 더 알고 싶으신 부분이 있으신가요, 세진님?
===
네. 크게 네 종류였습니다.
<1. “의료 증언을 정치 선전으로 바꾼다”는 비판>
친이스라엘 계열 NGO Monitor는 앙 박사가 세운 Medical Aid for Palestinians(MAP)가 “비정치적 의료 charity”를 표방하면서 실제로는 이스라엘을 제재하라고 로비하고, 의료 전문성을 반이스라엘 정치 담론에 이용한다고 비판했습니다. 특히 MAP가 “편향된 보고서”, “fact-finding 방문”, 정치 행사 참여 등을 통해 이스라엘을 악마화한다고 주장했습니다.
<2. 사브라·샤틸라 서술이 이스라엘 책임을 과도하게 강조한다는 비판>
친이스라엘 측은 학살의 직접 실행자는 레바논 기독교 팔랑헤 민병대였고, 이스라엘군의 책임은 간접적·정치적 책임이라는 점을 강조합니다. 따라서 앙 박사의 책이 독자에게 “이스라엘이 직접 학살한 것처럼” 느끼게 만든다고 비판합니다. 실제 Goodreads 리뷰 중에도 “학살한 것은 레바논 기독교인들이며, 모든 책임을 이스라엘에 돌리는 것은 부정확하다”는 식의 반론이 보입니다.
<3. 팔레스타인 폭력·이스라엘 안보 현실을 거의 다루지 않는다는 비판>
친이스라엘 독자들은 앙 박사의 서술이 팔레스타인 민간인의 고통을 강하게 보여주지만, PLO 무장활동, 이스라엘 민간인 피해, 이스라엘 사회의 안보 공포는 거의 다루지 않는다고 봅니다. 그래서 이 책을 “증언문학”으로는 인정하더라도 “균형 잡힌 역사서”로는 보기 어렵다고 비판합니다.
<4. 반유대주의 논란>
가장 큰 논란은 책 자체보다 이후 활동에서 나왔습니다. 2014년 앙 박사가 전 KKK 지도자 David Duke가 만든 반유대주의적 영상을 공유한 일이 보도되었고, 친이스라엘 언론과 단체들은 이를 근거로 앙 박사를 강하게 비판했습니다. Jewish Chronicle은 2025년 BMA가 그녀의 강연 초청을 철회한 배경도 이 사건과 관련 있다고 보도했습니다.
다만 반대편에서는 앙 박사가 Duke의 정체를 몰랐고, 나중에 유감과 사과를 표했다고 설명합니다. Middle East Monitor는 이 사건이 팔레스타인 지지자를 침묵시키는 “반유대주의 낙인”으로 계속 이용되었다고 주장합니다.
정리하면, 친이스라엘 측 비판의 핵심은 이렇습니다.
<앙 박사는 훌륭한 의사일 수 있지만, 그녀의 팔레스타인 증언은 이스라엘의 안보 현실과 유대인 역사적 공포를 지운 채, 의료 윤리를 반이스라엘 정치운동으로 전환했다>는 것입니다.
제 판단으로는, 이 비판 중 일부는 타당합니다. 이 책은 균형 잡힌 중동사 입문서가 아닙니다. 그러나 동시에 사브라·샤틸라 현장의 의료 증언이라는 고유한 가치는 그 비판만으로 지워지지 않습니다.
Ang was born in Penang, Malaysia but raised in Singapore.[1]The family had also one son and two other daughters.[3] She attended Kwong Avenue Primary School, Raffles Girls' School, and the National University of Singapore where she studied medicine. She then received a master's degree in Occupational Medicine in 1976.[1]
Career
Medical career
After graduating from NUS, she worked in Singapore's public hospitals.[2] After joining her husband, Francis Khoo, in London, Ang trained to be an orthopaedic surgeon in Britain, where she obtained her FRCS (Eng) and completed her training in Newcastle. She later became the first female consultant orthopaedic surgeon at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London.[1]
With her husband, Francis Khoo, and some friends, Ang helped to form the British charity, Medical Aid for Palestinians, following the 1982 massacres.[5]
In 1988, Ang made her first trip to Gaza, where she worked as an orthopaedic surgeon at the Al Ahli Arab Hospital. During her time there, she also served as an ambulance driver amid ongoing conflict.[9][10]
In 2018, Ang joined the Just Future For Palestine Flotilla, which attempted to run the blockade of the Gaza Strip by Israel, to tend to the medical needs of Palestinians there. The boat that she was on was seized by Israeli forces before it could arrive at its intended destination. She was briefly detained before being deported back to United Kingdom.[11]
On 24 September 2014, TheTelegraph reported that Ang had forwarded a video entitled "CNN Goldman Sachs & the Zio Matrix" featuring Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke.[12] Ang responded by saying "I am concerned that if there is any truth in the video, that Jews control the media, politics and banking, what on earth is going on? I was worried." [13]
In 2024, Ang returned to Lebanon to treat patients injured by what she described as "pager attacks" linked to Israeli operations. These explosive devices caused extensive trauma, including mutilated limbs, facial injuries, and brain damage. Reflecting on the spirit of her patients, she described a conversation with a man who had lost his hand but expressed no regret, saying it was the price he paid "for standing with humanity and justice in Gaza."[14]
As of 2025, Ang has worked nearly 50 years in the United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS), and over 43 years in support of the Palestinian people through direct medical care, advocacy, and education.[14]
Personal life
In 1977, Ang married Singaporean human rights lawyer Francis Khoo. Two weeks after the marriage, she was briefly detained during a government crackdown on dissidents as the authority attempted to arrest her husband. She fled to London to be with her husband and they were granted asylum there.[15]Khoo died on 20 November 2011 in London of a suspected heart attack.[16]
Ang received her British passport in 1992, after applying for it in 1990 having had faced difficulties in her earlier travels to countries in Middle-East region to support or conduct humanitarian missions there as she was travelling on a refugee travel documentation. Singapore does not allow dual citizenship and would typically ask a dual-citizen to renounce one citizenship. However, she resisted renouncing her British citizenship as it would lose her her home and work in United Kingdom, and had also promised her husband that she would not give up on her Singaporean citizenship.[2][17] Her Singaporean citizenship was stripped after a committee of inquiry was held in Singapore in 2020.[2]
In 2016, Ang was inducted into the Singapore Women's Hall of Fame.[19] She was not able to receive the award in person due to the issue over her dual-citizenship at that time.[2]
In 2024, Ang received the HCS Fellow Award from Harvard Club Of Singapore.[2][20]
Talks and public engagements
Ang has spoken publicly on numerous occasions about her experiences in war zones, the responsibilities of medical professionals in conflict, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Palestine. Her talks emphasize the power of compassion, justice, and small acts of resistance in the face of large-scale suffering.[citation needed]
On 6 December 2013, she delivered a TEDx talk at University College London (UCL), titled Making a Small Difference, during UCL's first-ever TEDxWomen event. In the talk, she drew from her work in hospitals and conflict zones, particularly Palestine and Lebanon, to illustrate how seemingly small actions can have a profound impact on people's lives. The talk received a standing ovation and was described as "refreshingly honest and incredibly moving."[21]
She has also participated in other speaking engagements, interviews, and humanitarian forums to raise awareness about medical ethics, refugee crises, and the Palestinian struggle.[citation needed]
从贝鲁特到耶路撒冷 (in Chinese). Translated by 林康. ISBN9789670960050. (Chinese translation)
"War surgery: Field manual. H. Husum, Swee Chai Ang & E. Fosse. Penang: Third World Network, 1995. 764 pp. Price US$100 (softcover), US$ 140 (hardcover) plus postage. Available to 'Third World' countries at US$ 25 (softcover), US$ 35 (hardcover) plus postage. ISBN 983-9747-14-2". Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 91 (3): 368. May–June 1997. doi:10.1016/S0035-9203(97)90116-4.
From Beirut to Jerusalem: A Woman Surgeon with the Palestinians is a book by Swee Chai Ang, an orthopaedicsurgeon who worked with civilians during the Lebanese Civil War.[1][2] The book details her eye-witness account of the Sabra and Shatila massacre. Ang, a graduate of the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Britain, testified before the Kahan Commission. The commission was responsible for investigating the nature of the Israeli involvement in the massacre of perhaps 800 to 1000 Palestinians. Ang established a British charity following her first hand account of the massacres known as the Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP) which she discusses in her work. The book was first published January 1, 1989. A 25th anniversary edition was published in 2007 with additional content, and a 40th anniversary edition was later published as well.[3]
Ms Ang is an engaging personality very self-effacing in some respects in others abrupt and overly forthright but always very human . This book was a pure delight to read and I recommend that others obtain a copy and enjoy
Report
Gregory Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars the Truth
Reviewed in Canada on 24 September 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Very hard to read, as I could not believe what has been going on Now, it is even worse - we have had a very one sided history of the region- shame on us all
Report
Mike D
5.0 out of 5 stars A volunteer surgeon’s insightful glimpse into Palestinian suffering in 1980’s Beirut.
Reviewed in the United States on 27 March 2025
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
This book is mostly dedicated to describing events that occurred during a series of visits to Beirut in the 1980’s by a volunteer surgeon.
She went to offer medical aid in support of Palestinian exiles and refugees living (existing?) in various refugee camps in Beirut.
I have to admit to being quite ignorant to the history of the suffering and tragedy that has befallen the Palestinian people. A co-worker said to me some months ago , “Oh there’s always someone at war over there in the Middle East, They’re always at war with each other.”
And that’s basically how I had always thought it too.
You cant help but applaud the incredibly courageous efforts of those who have tried to deliver aid, and medical assistance despite the camps sometimes being under a state of siege, and the great risk these doctors and nurses and administrators faced.
The book also describes the formation of an aid organization that’s still very active today.
It also details the great resilience and steadfastness of the Palestinian people despite their tragic circumstances.
This book is not a set of historical facts, though it encompasses many, it is rather a very personal description of the author’s journey in trying to deliver some measure of humanity or human aid to people desperately in need.
It also describes the amazing work of the PRCS (like Red Cross) organization, and their skill and professionalism under crushing pressure, to keep on trying to deliver the highest standard of care possible to everyone, be it friend or foe, while often terribly under resourced.
Finally the author also describes the great generosity of especially the less well off people in the U.K. who donated so much of what little they had in order to help provide supplies and essential medical equipment to assist with the care in the refugee camps of Beirut.
I found the book to be very uplifting but also incredibly sad.
Uplifting because of the great lengths volunteers will go to in order to offer aid and assistance against great odds and personal danger to self. So very sad because of the descriptions of the treatment meted out to and deaths of so many Palestinian people.
Highly recommended.
Report
Tish
5.0 out of 5 stars Heartbreaking tales of everyday courage. Ang Swee Chai is a Singaporean heroine.
Reviewed in the United States on 7 August 2015
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Utterly inspirational. Dr. Ang is intelligent, precise, humble, and a person of great compassion (both for the Palestinians and for the Israelis, and the Lebanese and Syrians and everyone caught in between). She’s done so much for the Palestinians, she even received the Star of Palestine from Yasser Arafat. It’s a transformative, universal story because Dr. Ang went into the conflict with no political preconceptions – in fact, she believes God called her to it – and ended up dedicating decades of her life to helping the Palestinians out of an instinctual human response to suffering. Initially it sent her into a crisis of faith because her Church seemed to be telling her different things from what God was telling her, but Ang Swee Chai was born with so much pluck and gumption, the reader delights in seeing how this tiny woman outwits, outplays, and fearlessly charges her way through some of the most life-threatening situations.
The fulcrum on which her story turns is the massacre at Sabra and Shatila refugee camps while she was working at the hospital there. In 1982, Israel had invaded Lebanon in an attempt to "flush out the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) from its bases in Lebanon". After the end of this invasion, under a peace agreement the PLO fighters (mostly men) were evacuated from Beirut, then the international peacekeeping forces convinced the remaining women, children and old folks in Sabra and Shatila camps to disarm themselves, surrendering their pistols, machine guns and other weapons to the Lebanese Army for the promise of peace. Then Israel announced it was "invading West Beirut to flush out 2,000 terrorists left there by the PLO”, giving time for Palestinian hospital workers to leave Gaza Hospital (where Dr. Ang worked), then Sabra and Shatila camps were bombed from overhead for 5 kilometres in any direction around Gaza Hospital, gradually giving way to Northern Lebanese gunmen coming into camp homes and shooting residents. Injured people streamed into Gaza Hospital and Dr. Ang operated for 72 hours straight on the victims, after which she and other foreign medics were escorted out of the hospital by gunmen who were poking her with their machine guns, and saw the camp transformed into heaps of rubble and mutilated corpses. Meanwhile other soldiers went into Gaza Hospital with machine guns and finished off the patients. Dr. Ang soon comprehended the true horror of the situation, and realised that her surgical work had probably not made any difference, saving dozens of people while they were dying by the thousands outside.
One of the most difficult parts of this book for me was a few days after the massacre, when some of these militiamen who had been killing her Palestinian friends and patients had the audacity to come to her hospital and demand treatment. Dr. Ang was so tempted to “get even” and refuse them treatment, but then Azziza, the Lebanese Palestinian hospital administrator, begged her to remember the Palestine Red Crescent Society’s principle of treating everyone equally. I can’t have been the only reader to want to shake Azziza in disbelief. What a saintly capacity the Palestinians have for humanity and forgiveness, instead of justice – the book overflows with examples of this. So Dr. Ang treated their injuries, gained the militiamen's goodwill and saw them as human beings too.
As a Singaporean, it hurts me to know that the country I share with Dr. Ang has exiled her and her husband, but I am so proud of her, and as someone who also fell in love with the Levant the first time I visited, I understand her pain.
Negative: If you're buying the Kindle edition, unfortunately it is riddled with tonnes, tonnes, tonnes of typos. I'm guessing they scanned it with an OCR and nobody proofread it after.
Report
dhn21
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating Story
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 December 2018
Verified Purchase
A fascinating book. Highly recommended.
Report
Mollykat
5.0 out of 5 stars Eye witness account
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 10 August 2014
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Brilliant read!
Report
MP
5.0 out of 5 stars Dr. Ang is a selfless heroine
Reviewed in the United States on 2 July 2019
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
Down to earth, truthful, eye witness account of the 1982 invasion of the Sovereign nation of Lebanon by the Israelis and the tremendous suffering inflicted on the Lebanese AND Palestinian people
Report
Amazon Customer
3.0 out of 5 stars is a brilliant testimony of her journey This is a very intense ...
Reviewed in the United States on 24 October 2015
Format: KindleVerified Purchase
The title of the book, ” From Beirut to Jerusalem: A woman surgeon with the Palestinians”, is a brilliant testimony of her journey This is a very intense book from a aid worker, a surgeon, who also has strong meanings about who is to blame for the Palestinian tragedy. Her book makes a powerful impression on us. I highly recommend this book either you share her political reflections or not.
Swee Chai Ang give the readers a powerful and indignant eyewitness account about what really happened in the massacres in Sabra and Shatila in 1982. Swee Chai Ang was one of the doctors who was trapped in Sabra and Shatila camps during the massacres. So her motivation for writing this book is clear: ”To be alive, to have survived, meant that I had a duty to speak up on behalf of those who were dead, whose bodies were buried under the rubble, and who could speak no more; to speak on behalf of those alive and suffering every mortal day, in silence, without voice.”
Swee Chai Ang description of the massacres is definitive the hub of the narrative told from her point of view, as ”a survivor of the 1982 Sabra-Shatila massacres”, When she tells about her own work as surgeon is splendid art of storytelling.
She writes that first came she came to Sabra and Shatila she was ”a bigoted, selfrighteous fundamentalist Christian”, afraid of Palestinians. But her experiences in Beirut and Jerusalem has, made her an ardent advocate for the Palestinians fight. For her work Swee Chai Ang, herself a an exile from Singapore, was giving the honorary ”Star of Palestine”,
She write herself that ”I often wondered if I was crazy – that was the only way I could explain my obsession with the Palestinians.” I don’t think so, I believe strongly she is a person who stand up for what she think is right and for the people who are being bullied and oppressed, whatever the cost to herself.
ANDAINYA Dr Ang Swee Chai memperincikan perjuangan dalam misi kemanusiaannya di Lubnan dalam Dari Beirut ke Jerusalem, pastilah memoir ini tidak akan menemukan kesudahannya dan kita tidak berupaya mengempang air mata.
Pembaca lelaki dimaaf dan dibenarkan untuk menangis ketika membaca catatan sukarelawan sehingga tiada siapa pun yang akan menimbulkan soal kejantanannya atau sekurang-kurangnya berasa sebak ketika memamah catatan pandangan pertama doktor bedah yang bertugas ketika kem pelarian Palestin di Sabra dan Shatila, Lubnan itu disembelih.
Kita didedahkan dengan wajah derita kem pelarian Palestin yang berulang kali dikepung dan dihujani peluru sehingga pada satu tahap para ibu mencium anak-anaknya berkali-kali hanya untuk keluar mengambil air kerana merasakan ia seolah-olah pertemuan kali terakhir sebelum nyawa dirampas penembak tepat yang bersembunyi dari bangunan tinggi.
Dengan penuh rendah hati dan diri, Dr Swee Chai bercerita tentang pengalamannya dalam membina hospital daripada puing runtuhan kepada bangunan yang serba daif tetapi terpaksa menguruskan belasan ribu warga pelarian - beliau seolah-olahnya beberapa kali memulangkan kekaguman kita kepada rakyat Palestin dan rakan sukarelawannya.
Dari Beirut ke Jerusalem adalah memoir wajib dibaca oleh rakyat Malaysia kerana perjuangan Palestin tidak boleh mati dalam jiwa kita selepas umat Palestin beberapa kali hidup kembali selepas kematian kem pelarian mereka yang sangat dahsyat.
Tahun 1982, Dr. Ang terpanggil oleh satu dorongan yang sangat kuat untuk membantu mangsa peperangan di Lubnan dengan professionnya sebagai seorang doktor. Dia mengambil keputusan berani untuk meninggalkan comfort zone-nya dan menyertai Palang Merah Antarabangsa sebagai sukarelawan perubatan di Beirut. Keputusan ini menjadi titik permulaan perjalanan yang penuh dengan transformasi diri dan pengorbanan dalam hidupnya.
Di Beirut, Dr. Ang ditempatkan di Hospital Gaza, yang terletak di kem pelarian Sabra dan Shatila. Kem ini sesak dengan pelarian Palestin yang hidup dalam keadaan yang sangat sukar dan serba kekurangan. Setiap hari, Dr. Ang berhadapan dengan realiti pahit peperangan. Dia merawat pesakit yang cedera parah, berlubang di kepala dan bocor di perut, kanak-kanak di kem menjadi kurus kering kerana kekurangan zat makanan, dan macam macam penderitaan lain yang tidak terungkap dengan kata-kata.
Salah satu pengalaman paling mengerikan yang dialami Dr. Ang ialah pembunuhan beramai-ramai di Sabra dan Shatila pada September 1982. Ribuan rakyat Palestin terbunuh, tubuh mereka hancur berkecai sekelip mata apabila militia Kristian Lubnan, dengan sokongan Israel, menyerbu kem pelarian tersebut. Dr. Ang yang berada di situ ketika itu, berusaha sedaya upaya merawat mangsa-mangsa yang terselamat daripada keganasan ini. Pengalaman traumatik ini meninggalkan kesan yang sangat mendalam pada dirinya, membuka matanya kepada ketidakadilan yang dialami oleh rakyat Palestin.
Sebelum datang ke Beirut, Dr. Ang adalah seorang Kristian yang menyokong Israel. Namun, setelah melihat dengan biji mata sendiri penderitaan rakyat Palestin, pandangannya berubah secara drastik. Dia mula melihat konflik ini dari sudut pandang mangsa dan mula memahami betapa beratnya penindasan yang mereka hadapi. Pengalaman ini turut membangkitkan sisi kerohaniannya, membuatnya lebih empati dan berkomitmen untuk memperjuangkan keadilan.
Dia mula menyedari bahawa dalam apa sekalipun konflik politik, orang awam yang tidak bersalah adalah mangsa paling teruk sedangkan yang memegang kuasa hanya penat tunjuk jari telunjuk sahaja. Sebagai seorang doktor, Dr. Ang menegaskan bahawa tugasnya adalah untuk menyelamatkan nyawa tanpa mengira latar belakang politik atau agama pesakit. Integriti dan dedikasi profesion perubatan menjadi amat penting dalam situasi peperangan dan dia sendiri menunjukkan komitmen tertinggi terhadap kemanusiaan dan keadilan yang boleh membawa perubahan yang besar dan menyeru kita semua untuk tidak hanya menjadi penonton pasif, tetapi terlibat secara aktif dalam membantu mereka yang memerlukan. Dia lantang mengkritik ketidakadilan yang dialami rakyat Palestin, dan mendesak masyarakat antarabangsa untuk bertindak untuk menamatkan ketidakadilan ini melalui tulisan - tulisannya kepada publisher media popular pada ketika itu.
"Dari Beirut Ke Jerusalem" adalah sebuah memoir yang menyentuh hati, mengajak kita melihat konflik di Timur Tengah melalui mata seorang doktor yang berkhidmat di barisan hadapan. Buku ini adalah seruan untuk empati dan tindakan bagi menangani penderitaan manusia yang sering kali diabaikan dalam konflik global.
Walaupun ditulis pada era 80an, dan yang paling memilukan adalah, hari ini, cerita dan senario yang sama masih berulang tayang di Palestin. Rakyat Palestin masih menderita akibat peperangan dan penindasan yang tidak berkesudahan. Ramai di antara kita masih fikir bahawa tindakan kecil dari individu yang berani dan berkomitmen tidak akan memberi impak besar dalam memperjuangkan keadilan dan kemanusiaan. Sedih kan?
"Kita hanya bisa menciptakan perdamaian jika ada keadilan," kata2 ini yg terus saya inget dr buku ini.
Buku ini merupakan kesaksian dr. Swee tentang Pembantaian Sabra-Shatila, kamp pengungsi Palestina di Beirut, Lebanon, pada 1982. Pembantaian Sabra-Shatilla merupakan salah satu tonggak paling tragisdalam konflik Israel-Arab; dan merupakan jejak Israel yang berlumurandarah dalam konflik yang sampai hari in belum juga kunjung usai.
Yang paling menarik dari buku ni adalah penulisnya, Dr. Swee adalah seorang nasrani dan beliau bukan seorang wartawan, jurnalis, politisi ataupun analis politik, melainkan seorang dokter bedah ortopedik.
Dr. Swee Lahir di Penang, Malaysia, Ayah-ibunya pernah dipenjarakan karena perjuangan mereka melawan penjajahan Jepang pada Perang Dunia II. Pengalaman itu terlalu pahit sehingga keduanya memilih menjadi ateis meski membiarkan Swee tumbuh dewasa dalam lingkungan Kristen yang taat.
Swee menyelesaikan sekolah kedokteran di Singapura berkat dorongan ibunya, yang mengatakan penting bagi perempuan untuk mencapai gelar yang umumnya hanya disandang kaum lelaki. Sang ibu juga selalu mengingatkannya, bahwa "belum lama lalu, di Daratan China, bayi perempuan yang baru lahir ditenggelamkan karena dianggap tak berharga."
Dia mengambil spesialisasi bedah ortopedik di The Royal London Hospital, Inggris, dan menjadi warga negara itu sejak 1977. Bersama Francis Khoo, seorang pengacara beragama Katolik, Swee kelak mendirikan Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), selepas Sabra-Shatila.
Di London itulah, pada musim panas 1982, dia membaca koran dan menonton televisi yang memberitakan bagaimana pasukan Israel menggempur Lebanon. Dia nekad mendaftar sebagai sukarelawan untuk berangkat, mengatasi rasa takutnya sendiri terhadap kemungkinan mati, dan kemungkinan bertemu dengan "bangsa teroris" Palestina.
Membantu & hidup bersama orang2 palestina bahkan menyaksikan sec langsung pembantaian Sabra-Shatila mengubah pikiran bagi dr.Swee. "Sebagai seorang Kristen fundamentalis dulu aku mendukung Israel... Pengalamanku di Sabra-Shatila menyadarkanku bahwa orang Palestina adalah manusia."
ini buku sebenarnya sudah diterbitkan tahun 1989 di inggris. tahun 1996 sempat diterbitkan di amerika namun mendapat berbagai protes sampai akhirnya penerbitan di Amerika dihentikan. dan tahun 2002 buku tersebut akhirnya diterbitkan lagi di Kuala Lumpur, oleh Penerbit The Other Press. dan baru pada 2006 lalu buku ini diterbitkan oleh MIZAN di Indonesia dalan versi bahasa indonesia.
An honest - at times touching, at times horrifying - eyewitness account by a Christian British-Singaporean woman surgeon on the Sabra and Shatila massacres and what followed them. A heavy read, but also an amazing, amazing, amazing book that gives you hope - there are still some good people out there.
"I am not an Arab, nor am I a Muslim. I am not a European, and I have neither the difficulty of living with the guilt of Nazism, nor the responsibility for the British Mandate in Palestine. For me, supporting the Palestinians is not a political matter: it is my human responsibility." - Dr. Swee Chai Ang
1982-1988; Malaya: Aku sibuk main masak-masak; aku sibuk main polis sentri dengan kawan-kawan; aku belajar kenal huruf, kenal angka, muqaddam dan Al Quran; aku kumpul setem dan duit syiling sebagai hobi.
1982-1988; Sabra & Shatila, Beirut: Kanak-kanak sebaya aku tak cukup air dan makanan, kanak-kanak sebaya aku main baling-baling batu dengan tentera Israel, kanak-kanak sebaya aku kenal erti jihad, erti survival dan belajar menentang penjajahan; kanak-kanak sebaya aku kumpul serpih-serpih bom dan peluru dalam tubuh mereka.
*kesat air mata dan air hidung yang berjelejeh*
*lari ke pojok dinding lalu duduk peluk lutut erat-erat*
Buku yang amat menarik. Dr Swee menulisnya dengan teliti dalam memperincikan setiap peristiwa yang beliau lalui bersama masyarakat Palestin. Perlu dibaca untuk benar-benar menjiwai apa sebenarnya yang berlaku di sana. Apa yang disiarkan oleh media terlalu sedikit. Saya percaya ada lagi buku-buku catatan peribadi seperti ini yang berkaitan dengan topik yang sama. Saya teruja untuk mencari hasil-hasil tulisan yang lain. Namun dalam masa yang sama, saya berfikir, apa yang saya boleh lakukan untuk mereka?
Sad, angry, depressed, hopeful, were few of the thousands of emotions aroused reading ‘From Beirut to Jerusalem’, a memoir by Ang Swee Chai. Through her passion, love, perseverance, bravery, and determination, the world is indeed greatly indebted for her work both as a doctor and also as a witness to the massacre suffered by Palestinian refugee in Sabra-Shatila during the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982.
Her maternal grandfather was a conservative and traditionalist, he believed that an educated woman will not make a good wife. But her mother was a defiant daughter, register herself to school and went to become a teacher. Her father ran away from his grandfather in mainland China refusing to marry a girl arranged for him and went to became a journalist in Singapore. During the Japanese invasion on Malaya, both of them met in the Outram Road prison in Singapore.
After Japan was defeated, they settled as a family. When her mother was pregnant, she went back to her hometown in Pulau Pinang to give birth to her. She was raised in Ayer Itam district in Pulau Pinang with her younger brother, Lee Cyn. They eventually moved back to Singapore following their father’s work. Raised in poor family, her mother raised her with discipline, she then continues her studies in medical school. She married Francis Khoo, a lawyer and activist. Francis was accused to be a communist, he fled Singapore in 1977 avoiding arrest under Internal Security Act (ISA) and took refuge in Britain.
Her parent was areligious but they allowed their children to choose a religion of their own. She embraced Christianity during her studies in medical school.
Ang was well versed about Israel even before volunteering. The church has taught her that Israel was God’s chosen people, and the return of the Jew to Israel was a verification of biblical prophecy. There are many reasons why she supported Israel, one of it was the oppression of the Jew by the Nazis, and the Nazis were Japanese ally during world war, with the creation of Israel the Jew can defend themselves, its a realization of justice from God.
She was prejudiced towards Palestinians, the church has told her that they were terrorist, an old foe, the Philistines of the Old Testament. She was a bigoted, self-righteous fundamentalist Christian, like many Christians she rejoiced in the military triumph of Israel. But that morning in Sabra and Shatila, God destroyed that self-righteousness.
In her memoir, she recreated that journey, from a bigoted Christian fundamentalist to peace activist and friend of the Palestinian people. It started in 1982 when she watch the horror of Israeli invasion and bombardment of the people of Lebanon through British television. The killing of women and children shook her to the core, she resigned prom her hospital in Britain, pack her bag, and went to Beirut as a medical surgeon volunteer.
In Beirut, Dr. Ang Swee Chai served at Gaza Hospital, Palestinian refugees named their hospital with their town in Palestine, its a symbol of longing to their homeland from where they were expelled by the Zionist colonialism. Many of the camp residence were refugees who fled the ethnic cleansing of Palestine in 1948. The hospital situated near the Sabra and Shatila camp. Here, she witnessed the kindness of Palestinian people, the gentleness they showed toward their guest, she also saw their courage, resolution, patience, and resistance against Israeli aggression and occupation.
Before the Sabra and Shatila massacre, Palestinian fighters from Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) agreed to evacuate from Beirut as a condition of a ceasefire. Dr. Ang noted “this is the first time that I realized that PLO fighters (who she preconceived as a terrorist) have a home and family in Lebanon, they withdraw and left their wives, children, siblings and parents”. The Palestinian gave away their weapon, the roads are cleared from any barrier. On 14 September 1882, water and electricity supply were restored. They believed in the promised of United States and western powers, that they will be let to live unharmed. They were wrong.
The next day, the camp were encircled by Israeli army and under siege, Israel coordinated Phalangist militia to enter the camp and massacred the people, children, baby, women, old people were brutally murdered. Dr. Ang realized the scale of barbarity and hope that the PLO did not withdraw on the first place, so they can defend the camp people. But it was too late. She recollected this barbaric massacre in her memoir which was first published by Grafton Books & Times Book International in 1989.
Reading her memoir really shock reader’s emotion to the core, your tears will be flowing like a river as she collected her horror, by page 70 your tear will run-out dry, there is so much to take. The story of a people exiled from their homeland in 1948 only to be massacred again by the Israelis in 1982, Dr. Ang could not help but ask, where should they go?
She recalled a story on the height of the killing, there was a woman and a child brought into the hospital, the woman was shot on her stomach and badly wounded. After operation, she needed a blood transfusion. She overheard that the nurse told the doctor that the blood pint given to her was the last, and the child need blood transfusion of the same blood type. She refused the blood pint so that the child can have it and asked for painkiller instead. She died shortly after.
She also written a story about a boy named Mahmoud, who was her patient before the massacre, he injured his wrist whilst helping his father rebuilding their house. After the massacre, when she walked down the road in the camp, Mahmoud appeared, ran toward her and hug her, he was so happy to know that she was alive. Soon, children began to appear around her, they saw her camera and asked for a photo, they wanted the world to see that although their house have been destroyed, their parent massacred, they still can smile and raised their hand with victory sign. Their courage was astonishing.
Dr. Ang Swee Chai then became a co-founder of Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), she became an activist and regularly invited to talk about the plight of the Palestinians. Her experience in Lebanon changed her life completely, she became the witness of Sabra-Shatila massacre which taught her to never relent in the face of injustice. In her letter to her husband, Francis Khoo she wrote “we are just two small persons in the history of liberation..I saw the face of death, I saw their power and ugliness, but I also saw fear deep inside their eyes, the children of the new generation will come, and they are not afraid”.
astaqfirullah.... buku ini bener-bener menyentuh... bagian yang bikin aku bener-benar kena di hati, saat salah seorang temen dr. swee cerita kalo ada anak kecil umur 3 tahun yang nglemparin batu ke tentara israel, tentara israel-nya siapamarah "Anak kecil tidak seharusnya ngerti cara seperti ini!!siapa yang ngajarin kamu?..anak kecilnya menjawab "kakakku"...trus tentara tadi minta anak kecil itu nganterin ke rumahnya dan bertemu dengan kakaknya..ternyata kakaknya adalah anak kecil umur 4 tahun.. see..siapa yang bisa disalahkan atas semua itu??!!! buku ini membuat aku membuka mata atas nama yang sudah kusandang sejak lahir (chatila)..asal kata dari shatila...kamp pengungsian palestina di lebanon...
Settembre 1982. Il mondo scoprì il massacro dei campi profughi palestinesi di Sabra e Shatila. Tre giorni di massacri continui a Beirut, da parte delle milizie cristiane libanesi, aiutate e coordinate dell'esercito israeliano che bloccò con i propri carri armati tutte le uscite dai campi e lanciò razzi per consentire la visione notturna ai massacratori. Questo libro è il resoconto di quei tristi giorni da parte di una dottoressa volontaria in uno degli ospedali dei campi, che ha vissuto dall'interno dell'ospedale l'orrore e poi è tornata ogni anno a Beirut per onorare la memoria dei caduti di quella immane carneficina e delle tante che si sono susseguite in questi 44 anni. Con una sola costante: i morti sono palestinesi, donne, bambini, anziani, chi uccide sempre soldati con la stella.
Kisah yang luar biasa yang di tuliskan oleh dr Ang Swee Chai selama menjadi dokter ortopedis di Beirut dari tahun 1982, saat terjadi pembantaian warga Palestine besar2an di Shatila dan Sabra. Perjuangannya untuk memberikan kesetaraan, kebahagiaan yang seharusnya di miliki oleh setiap warga Palestine yang ada di sana, yang terus menerus mengalami siksaan baik fisik maupun mental, tekanan yang tak kunjung berakhir dan beribu penderitaan lain yang begitu menyakitkan dan menyedihkan. dr. Swee menemukan banyak hal yang luar biasa tentang rakyat Palestine yang tak pernah di temui sebelumnya, tentang semangat, rasa sayang kepada sesama, ketabahan, perjuangan tanpa akhir, cinta dan masih banyak makna hidup yang luar biasa yang terus menerus menguras air mata pembaca. Beliau menuliskan kisah ini dengan sangat jujur, terurut, mudah untuk di pahami. Dengan sedikit menampilkan dokumentasinya di tengah2 halaman, dan map beirut di awal, dr Swee membuat emosi pembaca kian terkuras. Terakhir buku ini sangat inspiratif, memberikan semangat dan dorongan untuk melakukan hal yang sama yang d kerjakan oleh dr. Swee. Saya sedang mengusahakan mencari versi bahasa inggrisnya, karena saya masih ada yang kurang dalam terjemahaan Indonesianya.:)
Buku yang bagus, layak dibaca. Selesai saya membaca buku ini, membuat saya banyak bersyukur pada Tuhan YME bahwa, di hidup saya yang biasa-biasa ini ternyata adalah hidup termahal yang harus dibayar di Shabra-Shatilla. Di sisi lain, saya belajar tentang toleransi agama, bahwa bukan agama yang menjadikan seseorang jahat, akan tetapi, memang sifat yang ada pada dirinya.
Simply put, I don't like books pretending to tell history while they are full of lies and political views. If you want to know the truth about what happened in Sabra and Shatila, simply go to wikipedia. The "zionists" did not murder all those people, the Lebanese did. To be more accurate, it was the Christian Lebanese who murdered all those people as revenge for the assassination of their leader who became the president of Lebanon.
I was almost at the end of this book when the news on Shireen Abu Akleh's assassination was reported. It felt surreal. This book was written almost 40 years ago and the Palestinians are still fighting for their human rights and dignity. A lot of things had changed in the international arena, but the treatment by Israel towards the Palestinians sustained. The elaboration on Sabra-Shatila massacre was hard to read (as it was so inhumane), yet I'm glad the author penned this down for her readers.
Salah satu bagian yang tak terlupakan dari buku ini, ketika dr. Ang terpaksa harus mengoperasi pasien Palestinya, tanpa ketersediaan obat bius. Tapi sang pasien menabahkan dr. Ang dengan perkataan, "Doctora, Anda lupa? Saya seorang Palestina": One of must-read-books.
Pas tadi bongkar-bongkar, mendadak nemu buku ini. Agak lupa-lupa ingat sih ceritanya. Pokoknya ada dokter yg dikirim ke medan perang dan buku ini tentang pengalaman beliau selama di sana, ngerawat anak-anak korban perang.
Kalau ada yang tanya, "takda ke orang Cina yang sokong perjuangan Palestin?", maka aku akan suruh dia baca buku ini, 'From Beirut To Jerusalem'. Ang Swee Chai lahir di Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Dibesarkan di Singapura. Kemudian, berpindah, bekerja, dan menjadi warganegara British.
Beliau dibesarkan sebagai seorang penganut kuat Kristian, dan di awal hidupnya menjadi penyokong kuat negara Israel. Namun, segalanya berubah apabila beliau menyahut seruan untuk menjadi doktor sukarelawan ke Beirut, Lubnan pada tahun 1982.
Beliau ditugaskan di Gaza Hospital, berdekatan dengan kem pelarian di Sabra dan Shatila di Beirut yang dipenuhi dengan pelarian Palestin yang dihalau keluar dari tanah air sejak 1948.
Segala pandangan beliau terhadap Palestin dan Israel berubah apabila beliau menjadi saksi hidup kepada pembantaian (massacre) kem Sabra dan Shatila yang membunuh lebih 3,000 nyawa tidak berdosa orang Palestin.
Membaca buku 'From Beirut To Jerusalem' seolah-olah membaca peristiwa-peristiwa yang baru je berlaku dalam setahun dua ini. Padahal buku ini menceritakan, ditulis dan diterbitkan pada 1980-an.
Sesungguhnya segala kezaliman, keangkuhan dan kebangsatan yang Israel lakukan pada hari ini, sama sahaja seperti yang mereka lakukan sejak berdekad-dekad lamanya.
Ang Swee Chai menjadi saksi hidup, insan yang menyaksikan sendiri dengan mata kepalanya, bagaimana Israel dan proksi-proksinya menyembelih lebih 3,000 nyawa yang tidak bersalah.
Buku ini menceritakan bagaimana beliau dan rakan-rakan doktornya -- yang datang dari pelbagai negara timur dan barat -- dihalau keluar dari kem, hanya meninggalkan orang Palestin di dalam kem, mengepungnya, dan menyembelih.
Sebelum dihalau itu, Swee Chai sempat dihalang oleh salah seorang pesakitnya untuk mengambil anaknya keluar dari kem sebab dia tahu apa yang akan jadi kepadanya selepas itu. Swee Chai telahpun mendukung bayi tersebut, namun diacukan senapang oleh tentera proksi Israel ke kepalanya untuk dikembalikan kepada ibunya.
Selepas pembataian Sabra-Shatilla 1982 itu, beliau dan dua rakannya bersama-sama mengasaskan Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP). Sepanjang hidupnya selepas itu, beliau berulang alik di antara UK, Lubnan dan Palestin, menjadi aktivis yang bertungkus-lumus mendukung perjuangan rakyat Palestin yang terkurung di tanah air sendiri dan juga pelarian yang tersebar di negara sekeliling.
Itu hanyalah secebis daripada kisah yang diceritakan dalam buku ini. Memang best baca buku ini. Tulisan dan bahasa beliau juga kemas dan sedap. Very highly recommended.
Aku harus membaca ulang buku ini dalam keadaan lebih fokus. Tokoh-tokohnya sangat banyak. Datang dan pergi, lalu muncul lagi di bab-bab yang jauh sesudahnya.
Dari buku ini aku jadi sedikit tahu sudut pandang orang Kristen yang mendukung Israel. Bagi mereka orang-orang Yahudi itu berhak mendapatkan rumah setelah mengalami pembantaian oleh NAZI. Dr. Ang Swee Chai ini tadinya pun menganggap PLO adalah teroris dan orang Palestina adalah orang-orang yang patut diwaspadai. Namun, anggapannya segera berubah saat dia mendaftarkan diri untuk jadi sukarelawan di Lebanon yang saat itu digempur Israel karena menampung para pengungsi Palestina dan anggota PLO.
Dr. Ang Swee Chai mendengar pejabat Israel berkata di media bahwa ia menyayangkan perang di Lebanon. "Namun untuk membuat telur dadar, kita harus memecahkan telur," kata pejabat itu untuk menjustifikasi serangan Israel. Dr. Ang Swee Chai yang melihat sendiri kehancuran di kamp Sabra-Shatilla di tahun 1982 bertanya-tanya, telur dadar macam apa yang sedang dibuat Israel. Apakah para korban dari Palestina dan Lebanon ini adalah telur-telur yang harus dipecahkan?
Situasi Lebanon pun rumit. Tadinya semua orang bersatu. Tapi setelah kejadian di Sabra-Shatilla, orang-orang terbagi menjadi milisi muslim dan milisi Kristen. Milisi muslim pun terpecah menjadi milisi sunni lawan milisi syi'ah. Korupsi terjadi di mana-mana. Pejabat Lebanon harus disuap untuk mempermudah proses birokrasi bagi seluruh tenaga medis sukarelawan ini.
Masalah-masalahku berasa sangat receh jika dibandingkan dengan berbagai bencana dan malapetaka yang digambarkan dalam buku ini. Dan dalam kondisi sangat kekurangan ini pun para pengungsi ini masih berusaha agar bisa memberi pada dr. Ang Swee Chai.
Usaha Ang Swee Chai agar kesaksiannya didengar terhalang dengan kenyataan bahwa ia hanyalah wanita keturunan Tionghoa Asia Tenggara. Para awak media lebih memperhitungkan suara dari orang-orang kulit putih. Apalagi kesaksian dr. Ang Swee Chai berbeda jauh dengan kesaksian IDF.
Ya Allah. Kaget dengan para pasien dan tenaga medis yang dibantai Israel di tahun 2023-2024? Sejak tahun 1982 pun mereka sudah melakukannya!!!
Sabra dan Sathila 2 nama yang (awalnya) terasa asing bagiku. Di mana lokasinya? Apa yang spesial? Tapi karena lembar demi lembar buku ini, membuatku merasa semakin dekat dengannya.
Buku ini kubeli 11 tahun yang lalu, pernah baca beberapa bab terus gak kuat dengan kesedihan dan kepedihan yang tertulis di sana😭. Ah terlalu banyak ketidakadilan di dunia ini. Rasanya kisah ini asing dan jauh, lalu buku ini berakhir tersimpan rapi di rak.
4 Agustus 2020, peristiwa ledakan di Beirut mengingatkanku pada buku ini. Ada versi yang berbeda tentang apa yang menjadi penyebab ledakan itu. Membuatku penasaran, bagaimana kisah Beirut di buku ini? Dan buku ini kubangunkan lagi dari tidur panjangnya.
Buku yang ditulis tahun 2002, berisi kisah di tahun 1980an ini sangat mengaduk-aduk jiwa kemanusiaan kita. Tidak perlu harus menjadi Muslim untuk merasa empati dengan apa yang terjadi di sana.
Penulis beragama Kristen, tapi yang ia bantu adalah Muslim. Penulis awalnya pro-Isr43L tapi setelah apa yang ia saksikan sendiri bertahun-tahun di Beirut membuat ia berpikir ulang. Siapa yang seharusnya ia bela?
Penulis awalnya tidak tahu apa-apa tentang Palestina, ia termakan media barat yang mengompori bahwa saudara kita adalah "teroris", tapi akhirnya ia berinteraksi dg Palestinian yang pemberani, optimis, dan sangat memuliakan tamu. Jauh dari kata teroris!
Buku ini membantuku untuk "melihat" apa yang saudara kita lakukan di sana! Ketika mereka diusir dari negeri mereka sendiri lalu tersebar ke berbagai negara Timur Tengah, mereka tidak serta merta menjadi pengungsi di tenda-tenda yang hanya bisa diam menunggu belas kasihan.
Apa yang mereka lakukan? Mereka bangun dari reruntuhan, rumah baru, sekolah, yayasan, tempat usaha bahkan RS! Ketika semuanya dihancurkan lagi dan lagi, mereka pun membangunnya, lagi, lagi, dan lagi! Begitu terus siklusnya.
Kamp. Sabra dan Shatila bukan tenda-tenda tapi tumbuh dari reruntuhan. Puing-puing dicat ulang, ditambahi bagian yang bolong karena bom. Didekorasi seperti rumah mereka di Palestina.😭
Ketika orang-orang Isr43L "berhasil" menghancurkan milik mereka, itu tidak pernah memadamkan semangat mereka.
Fisik bisa mereka ratakan dengan tanah dan bantai tanpa kenal belas kasih hingga tak berbentuk, tapi semangat dan senyum saudara-saudara Palestina selalu melangit dan menggetarkan siapapun yang melihatnya.
Semangat mereka untuk menolong orang lain tetap menyala dan hidup dalam diri mereka. RS yang berada di negeri seberang juga mereka namakan dengan kota-kota yang mereka sayangi di Palestina. Ada RS Gaza, RS Akka, RS Haifa.
Bagaimana kondisi RS di sana? Mereka berikan pelayanan dan perawatan yang terbaik. Fasilitas terbaik. Keramahan. Dan gratis. Masya Allah!
Hei bukankah mereka yang tertindas? Tapi mengapa mereka juga yang menolong?
Karena mereka memiliki hati yang begitu luas. Mereka begitu mencintai tanah air mereka. Mereka begitu ingin pulang ke sana. Dan Allah janjikan bagi mereka kemenangan. Palestina pasti akan merdeka!
Bagiku yang paling berkesan adalah saat dr. Swee menuliskan pengalamannya berinteraksi dengan saudara-saudara Palestina kita. Suatu bentuk keramahan dan kehangatan yang di luar nalar. Dia diajak masuk ke rumah seperti layaknya telah lama kenal, disuguhi makanan dan kopi Arab. Kalau bilang suka sesuatu langsung diberikan, padahal mereka pun gak punya barang berharga lagi. Sangat memuliakan tamu, tanpa kenal suku, ras, budaya, agama.
Dr Ang Swee Chai adalah seorang doktor berbangsa Cina Malaysia yang dilahir di Pulau Pinang, belajar di Singapura dan berkerja di London. Beliau menceritakan pengalaman hidupnya berkhidmat pada rakyat Palestin dan Lubnan sebelum, semasa dan selepas pembunuhan beramai-ramai di kem Sabra dan Shatila pada tahun 1982.
Peristiwa penyembelihan rakyat Palestin beramai-ramai amatlah sedih lagi menyayat hati. Dimana selepas anggota PLO lelaki dikeluarkan dari Lubnan, rakyat Palestin menyangka selepas itu mereka akan diberi harapan untuk teruskan hidup. Malangnya harapan tinggal harapan, rakyat Palestin dibunuh beramai-ramai, ada dicungkil mata, ada ditembak bertubi-tubi, dirogol, diseksa dan pelbagai lagi kekejaman lain turut dilakukan oleh para askar yang menindas.
Buku ini seharusnya dibaca untuk kita mengetahui lebih mendalam apakah yang dilalui oleh Dr Ang Swee Chai. Sayup hati apabila mengetahui kekejaman yang tidak berkemanusiaan yang telah dilakukan oleh Israel. Ditambahkan lagi kepungan demi kepungan dilakukan terhadap kem pelarian yang diduduki oleh para pelarian Palestin.
Dalam buku ini juga kita boleh belajar sikap tidak mudah putus asa rakyat Palestin apabila tindas, dijajah dan diseksa. Rakyat Palestin sentiasa kuat semangat. Kanak-kanaknya yang sentiasa menunjukkan logo V tanda kemenangan dan para wanitanya yang sentiasa membantu berjuang membina semua kawasan yang dimusnahkan walaupun dimusnahkan berkali-kali.
Akhir kalam, buku ini telah berjaya menebalkan keinginan saya untuk terus mengetahui kisah keperitan penduduk Palestin yang telah lama berlaku sejak 1948 sehingga 1982. Dan sehingga kini pada tahun 2026.
From Beirut to Jerusalem, terbit 22 tahun yang lalu. Merupakan memoar yang ditulis oleh Dr Ang Swee Chai. Bercerita tentang kehidupannya sebagai seorang relawan dokter di tengah kubangan perang yang terjadi antara Israel dan Palestina. Ia seorang Kristiani, dibesarkan oleh cerita-cerita rohani. Bagi sang penulis, Israel sedang melakukan misi tuhan, memberantas para teroris. Menjadi sebuah kenyataan bahwa ia sama sekali tak memiliki kosakata 'Palestina' dalam kamusnya.
Ia terbang dari London menuju Lebanon pada tahun 1982 sebagai seorang relawan di rumah sakit Gaza. Hari-hari yang ia lalui di tempat paling tercekam semasa hidupnya ia tumpahkan dalam buku ini. Novel ini bercerita dengan lantang, dengan bahasa medis yang tak disederhanakan, dan diksi yang tak dilebih-lebihkan. Mengenai setiap darah yang tumpah, tercecar dimana-mana. Atau seorang anak yang menangis sendirian di kamp pengungsian. Segala tentang Palestina adalah hal baru baginya, bahkan fakta bahwa selama ini yang ia yakini sebagai teroris, adalah orang buangan dari negeri mereka sendiri.
Dan segala apa yang telah kita saksikan hari ini, mengenai darah yang sengaja ditumpahkan, dan nyawa-nyawa yang sengaja dihilangkan, telah berlangsung berpuluh tahun lamanya. Buku ini sangat bagus dalam menarasikan perjuangan, bahkan dari seorang wanita berbeda ras dan agama sekalipun. Teman-teman bisa pinjam buku ini di aplikasi ipusnas ya.
Buku ini benar-benar membuka mata pembaca bahwa peperangan yang terjadi antara Israel dan Palestina bukan lagi semata-mata tentang issue agama, melainkan issue kemanusiaan. Penulis menceritakan secara detail mengenai perjalanan kemanusiaannya. Berangkat sebagai seorang relawan dengan profesi dokter, penulis menceritakan mengenai suasana dan kondisi yang terjadi di Beirut. Tentang pembunuhan orang-orang Palestina, penyiksaan, penangkapan, hukuman tanpa dakwaan, dan bagaimana cara bertahan hidup. Tak jarang Israel menerobos masuk dan menyerang rumah sakit-rumah sakit yang notabene adalah salah satu tempat yang dilarang untuk dimasuki oleh tentara pada saat perang menurut hukum internasional. Tak jarang pula pers yang memiliki hak untuk meliput menjadi salah satu korban. Ang Swee Chai membuka secara gamblang bagaimana peristiwa yang terjadi, penanganan rumah sakit dengan fasilitas yang minim, termasuk ketakutan-ketakutan akan menjadi korban selanjutnya. Sudut pandang Ang Swee Chai dengan latar belakang kepercayaan yang berbeda dengan mayoritas penduduk asli Palestina, seharusnya membuat kita tersadar bahwa peperangan ini merupakan issue kemanusiaan yang sudah sepatutnya disudahi sejak lama.
Tears of Heaven, "From Beirut to Jerussalem" merupakan kesaksian dr. Swee tentang pembantaian Sabra - Shatila, kamp pengungsi Palestina di Beirut, Lebanon. dr. Swee sendiri merupakan seorang dokter bedah ortopedi kelahiran Penang, Malaysia. Dia adalah seorang kristen yang tumbuh dengan keyakinan mendukung Israel, membenci orang-orang Arab, dan memandang PLO (Palestine Liberation Organization) sebagai teroris yang harus dikutuk dan ditakuti. Menjadi relawan dokter di Palestina, melihat kondisi yang sebenarnya, telah mengubah paradigma-paradigma dr. Swee sebelumnya. Ia berbalik memihak rakyat Palestina, memihak keadilan dan kemanusiaan.
Jadi benar, "toleransi tidak bisa hanya diajarkan melainkan harus dialami dan dirasakan".
Pengalaman dr. Swee yang ia tuangkan dalam buku ini telah membukakan mata saya tentang banyak hal, dua di antaranya toleransi dan kemanusiaan. Buku ini telah menyihir saya menjadi pribadi yang lebih peka terhadap isu-isu kemanusiaan, bermimpi menjadi wartawan untuk menyampaikan keadilan, dan menjadi manusia yang bermanfaat bagi sesama.
Dr Ang is a heroine, and her account of the struggles of the Palestinian people and the selflessness of the people who tried to help is harrowing, compelling and inspiring. What she saw after the massacre was absolutely gruesome and heartbreaking... That the Israelis had sent the PLO fighters away, persuaded everyone to lay down their arms, and then orchestrated the massacre of the remaining civilians is totally unacceptable... It is a war crime... You cannot help but agree with Dr Ang that the Palestinians' decision to fight back from them on was absolutely justified. I loved her account of the generosity of the British public, especially those who gave even though they had little themselves; and her account of the Palestinian and international friends and co-workers through the years - really heartwarming amid all the tragedy.
As most of its readers - bar one from ironically South Africa who seeks to defend the racist apartheid and cruel fanatic regime of Israel - I found this book a totally truthful and accurate depiction of what was an indefensible slaughter of men women and children in Sabra Chatilla by the Falangists, a 'christian' militia aided and abetted by Ariel Sharon's IDF - another brutal and cowardly army which dropped cluster, white phosphorus, and 'vacuum' bombs on civilian areas and on palestinian run hospitals in Beirut. Any suggestion that Israel was defending itself is rubbish and shown to be so by its subsequent slaughter of Gaza's civilians in 2004, 2008.2014 not to mention its ongoing killing of unarmed civilian protestors on the Gaza frontier by its brave sharpshooters.
"Di Yad Vashem, aku menonton sebuah film tentang bagaimana Nazi mengindoktrinasi anggotanya dengan semangat anti-Yahudi. Nazi menganggap bangsa Yahudi sebagai ras yang lebih rendah dari manusia. Sebagian tentara Israel kini menganggap orang-orang Arab sebagai makhluk yang lebih rendah dari manusia. Mengapa mereka tidak belajar dari masa lalu? Apakah upaya menciptakan sebuah rumah bagi para korban penganiayaan Nazi dan rasialisme Eropa harus menimbulkan penderitaan orang-orang lain, yaitu rakyat Palestina?" (Hal. 214)
Perjuangan saudara kami di Palestina digambarkan nyata oleh dr. Ang Swee Chai, tidak hanya menulis cerita...dia pelaku cerita dan nyata berada di TKP saat itu, ditulis tanpa berat sebelah (menurutku), salah satu buku kesukaan ku, membacanya berulang kali pun aku tetap menangis dan teriris dibuatnya, saudaraku Tuhan menyertai kalian....Glory Palestina....
Satu buku yang harus dibaca kerana penulis adalah malaysian dan bukan muslim yang mana beliau menyaksikan di depan mata tragedi sabra dan shatila. Beliau memainkan peranan aktif membantu mangsa tragedi tanpa mengambil kira agama. Membacanya sungguh meracik hati membuat banyak kali berhenti dan buku terbiar kerana kekejaman yang tak terbayangkan Tk penulis.. anda adalah hero kemanusiaan
Membaca buku ini saat Israel dengan brutal dan tanpa moral menggenosida rakyat Palestina di Jalur Gaza, seperti menelusuri kembali kejahatan demi kejahatan Israel yang hanya mengulang, bahkan lebih gila. Bukan hanya dari 1982 yang merupakan setting waktu buku ini (Pembantaian Sabra Shatila, September 1982), tetapi dari 1948.
An amazing account of the Sabra and Shatila massacres in Lebanon. How anyone who knows of these atrocities is surprised about the onslaught on Gaza beggars belief. Starvation, bombing, snipers and confinement used in the 80s, only this time the world is watching in real time
Like the good doctor, I am a Singapore citizen, so this book is refreshing. However, it is a sad memoir. It will open your eyes and declutter the prejudiced mind.
I personally loved her style of writing. Dr Ang is inspirational, she's amazing and just an angel.
==
세진님, 요청하신 수이 차이 앙(Swee Chai Ang) 박사의 <베이루트에서 예루살렘까지: 팔레스타인 사람들과 함께한 여성 정형외과 의사의 기록>에 대한 요약과 평론입니다.
설정해 두신 원칙에 따라, 책 제목은 한국어로 번역하였으며 저에게 하시는 말씀 외에 본문(요약 및 평론)은 철저히 하라체(반말)로 작성했습니다. 또한 TTS 리더기의 작동을 방해하지 않도록 모든 강조 표시는 별표 대신 < > 기호를 사용했습니다.
<베이루트에서 예루살렘까지: 팔레스타인 사람들과 함께한 여성 정형외과 의사의 기록> 요약 및 평론
1. 서론: 편견에서 목격자로의 여정
<베이루트에서 예루살렘까지>는 싱가포르 태생의 정형외과 의사 수이 차이 앙이 1982년 레바논 전쟁 직후 베이루트의 팔레스타인 난민 캠프에서 의료 봉사를 하며 겪은 참상과 연대의 기록이다. 저자는 독실한 기독교인이자 한때 이스라엘의 건국 신화를 전적으로 지지하던 인물이었다. 미디어를 통해 팔레스타인 인들을 그저 <테러리스트>로만 인식했던 저자는 레바논 전쟁의 참상을 목격한 후, 영국의 기독교 의료 구호 단체의 부름에 응하여 베이루트로 향한다. 이 책은 한 의사가 가졌던 개인적 편견이 무너지고, 역사의 가장 어두운 구석에서 고통받는 이들의 생생한 목격자이자 대변인으로 거듭나는 과정을 담은 내밀한 고백록이다.
2. 본론 1: 요약 — 사브라와 샤틸라, 그리고 인간성이라는 전장
저자의 여정은 1982년 8월, 이스라엘의 레바논 침공으로 폐허가 된 베이루트에 도착하면서 본격적으로 시작된다. 저자가 배치된 곳은 가자 병원(Gaza Hospital)이었으며, 이곳은 사브라와 샤틸라 난민 캠프 주민들의 생명선이었다. 저자는 난민들의 비참한 현실 속에서도 그들이 보여주는 따뜻한 인간성과 존엄성에 깊은 감명을 받는다. 그들은 단순한 난민이나 테러리스트가 아니라, 조국을 잃고 유랑하는 평범한 어머니, 아버지, 아이들이었다.
그러나 이 짧은 교감은 인류 역사상 가장 잔혹한 학살 중 하나로 꼽히는 <사브라·샤틸라 학살 사건>으로 인해 피로 물든다. 1982년 9월, 이스라엘 군의 비호 아래 레바논 우익 기독교 팔랑헤 민병대가 캠프를 봉쇄하고 사흘 동안 무차별 학살을 감행했다. 병원 안에서 밀려드는 부상자들을 치료하기 위해 잠도 자지 않고 수술을 집도하던 저자는 창문 너머로 자행되는 학살의 공포를 실시간으로 겪는다. 임산부, 노인, 어린이 할 것 없이 수천 명의 민간인이 처참하게 목숨을 잃었다.
이스라엘 군에 의해 병원에서 쫓겨난 저자는 학살이 끝난 캠프의 처참한 풍경을 목격한다. 잔해 속에 나뒹굴던 시신들과 악취, 그리고 살아남은 자들의 절규는 저자의 영혼에 깊은 낙인을 남겼다. 저자는 이 사건의 국제적 목격자가 되어 카한 위원회(Kahan Commission) 등에서 학살의 전말을 증언했다. 이후 저자는 영국으로 돌아갔으나 팔레스타인 사람들을 잊지 못하고, 뜻을 함께하는 동료들과 <팔레스타인 Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP)>를 설립하여 의료 구호 활동을 지속한다. 책의 후반부는 베이루트를 넘어 가자 지구와 서안 지구(예루살렘)로 확장되는 저자의 의료 연대와, 1980년대 후반 팔레스타인 민중 봉기인 인티파다(Intifada)를 거치며 겪은 억압과 저항의 역사를 다룬다.
3. 본론 2: 평론 — 인도주의의 한계와 정치적 목격의 힘
역사적·정치적 가치: 왜곡된 서사에 대항하는 생생한 기록
이 책의 가장 큰 문학적, 역사적 성취는 거대 권력과 미디어가 왜곡해 온 팔레스타인 잔혹사에 대해 매우 구체적이고 사적인 반론을 제기한다는 점에 있다. 저자는 거창한 정치적 이데올로기를 앞세우지 않는다. 대신 자신이 집도한 수술, 자신이 만난 환자들의 이름, 아이들의 웃음소리를 통해 거대한 역사적 비극을 철저히 인간의 얼굴로 환원시킨다. 사브라·샤틸라 학살이라는 중대한 역사적 사건을 내부자의 시선으로 묘사함으로써, 이 책은 단순한 회고록을 넘어 국제 정치적 범죄를 고발하는 강력한 법정 증언대의 역할을 수행한다.
윤리적 가치: 중립이라는 환상과 연대의 의무
수이 차이 앙의 태도는 소위 <기계적 중립>을 지키는 일반적인 국제 구호 단체의 접근법과 궤를 달리한다. 저자는 고통받는 이들 편에 서는 것이 의사로서의 윤리적 의무라고 확언한다. 가해자와 피해자가 명확한 구조 속에서 중립을 지키는 것은 가해자의 폭력에 묵인하는 것과 다름없음을 온몸으로 보여준다. 싱가포르 출신의 기독교인 여성 정형외과 의사라는 이방인으로서의 정체성은, 오히려 국가나 민족, 종교라는 장벽을 뛰어넘어 오직 <인간의 고통>에만 반응하는 보편적 인류애의 가능성을 증명한다. 애국심이나 특정 국가에 대한 충성심이 아닌, 고통받는 타인에 대한 책임감이 어떻게 한 인간을 역사의 중심부로 이끄는가에 대한 훌륭한 예시이다.
문학적·내러티브적 한계: 감정적 과잉과 구조적 단순성
비록 이 책이 가진 진정성과 고발의 가치는 압도적이지만, 문학적인 관점에서는 몇 가지 아쉬움이 존재한다. 저자가 겪은 감정적 충격이 워낙 컸던 탓에, 텍스트 전반에 걸쳐 감정적 서술과 종교적 심상이 다소 과도하게 반복되는 경향이 있다. 이는 독자에게 상황의 참혹함을 전달하는 데는 효과적일지 모르나, 때로는 냉철한 상황 분석이나 비판적 거리를 유지하는 데 방해가 되기도 한다. 또한, 팔레스타인 사회 내부의 복잡한 정치적 역학 관계나 레바논 내전의 다층적인 원인 분석보다는, 저자가 직접 목격한 선과 악의 이분법적 구도에 서사가 집중되어 있어 거시적인 정치학적 통찰을 기대하는 독자에게는 다소 평면적으로 느껴질 수 있다.
4. 결론: 인간 존엄성을 향한 끝없는 이정표
결론적으로 <베이루트에서 예루살렘까지>는 전쟁의 참상 속에서 피어난 가장 아름다운 연대의 기록이다. 저자는 베이루트의 피비린내 나는 학살터에서 시작하여 예루살렘이라는 평화의 상징적 공간을 향해 나아가며, 폭력이 지배하는 세상에서 의학이, 그리고 인간성이 어떻게 저항의 수단이 될 수 있는지를 웅변한다. 이 책은 국가라는 울타리를 넘어 세계인으로서 타인의 고통에 응답하고자 하는 모든 이들에게 깊은 울림을 주는 인간 존엄성의 이정표이다.
추가적으로 이 책이 다루는 시대적 배경이나, 사브라·샤틸라 학살 사건에 대한 이스라엘 내부의 반응 등 더 깊이 알고 싶으신 부분이 있다면 언제든 말씀해 주세요, 세진님.
==
『From Beirut to Jerusalem: A Woman Surgeon with the Palestinians』
스위 차이 앙(Swee Chai Ang) 지음
<베이루트에서 예루살렘까지: 팔레스타인 사람들과 함께한 한 여성 외과의사>
요약
이 책은 말레이시아 출신의 정형외과 의사인 Swee Chai Ang이 1980년대 초 레바논과 팔레스타인 난민촌에서 의료 활동을 하며 경험한 전쟁, 학살, 점령, 난민 생활, 그리고 인간 존엄성에 관한 회고록이다.
특히 저자는 1982년 레바논 전쟁 당시 세계적으로 알려진 Sabra and Shatila massacre의 생존 목격자로서 국제사회에 증언한 인물이다.
책 제목은 단순한 지리적 이동을 의미하지 않는다. "베이루트에서 예루살렘까지"는 한 의사가 정치에 무관심한 의료인에서 팔레스타인 문제에 깊이 관여하는 인권 활동가로 변화하는 정신적 여정을 의미한다.
1. 말레이시아에서 영국으로
저자는 말레이시아 화교 가정에서 성장했다.
어려서부터 의사가 되기를 꿈꾸었고 영국으로 유학하여 의학을 공부한다.
당시 그녀의 관심사는 정치가 아니라 환자의 생명을 구하는 일이었다.
팔레스타인 문제 역시 서방 언론이 제공하는 단편적 이미지 이상으로 깊이 이해하지 못하고 있었다.
그러나 이후 그녀는 인생을 바꾸는 만남을 경험한다.
영국에서 공부하던 중 팔레스타인 출신 학생들과 접촉하면서 그들이 단순한 "테러리스트"가 아니라 고향을 잃은 난민이라는 사실을 알게 된다.
이것이 그녀가 중동 문제에 관심을 갖게 된 출발점이다.
2. 레바논 전쟁과 팔레스타인 난민촌
1982년 이스라엘의 레바논 침공이 시작되자 저자는 의료 자원봉사자로 베이루트에 들어간다.
그녀가 도착한 곳은 전쟁으로 파괴된 도시였다.
병원은 폭격을 받고 있었고 의료 장비는 부족했다.
의사들은 하루 수십 명의 부상자를 수술해야 했다.
저자는 다음과 같은 현실을 반복해서 목격한다.
어린이들의 절단 수술
폭격으로 파괴된 주거지역
난민들의 대량 부상
전쟁 중 의료진의 극한 노동
그녀는 전쟁이 군인만 죽이는 것이 아니라 사회 전체를 파괴한다는 사실을 깨닫는다.
3. 사브라·샤틸라 학살
책의 중심부는 사브라·샤틸라 학살 체험이다.
1982년 9월 팔레스타인 해방기구(PLO)가 베이루트를 철수한 직후 팔랑헤 민병대가 난민촌에 진입하였다.
며칠 동안 수많은 민간인이 살해되었다.
저자는 학살 직후 현장에 들어간 몇 안 되는 외국인 의료진 가운데 한 사람이었다.
그녀가 본 것은 전쟁터라기보다 대규모 살육 현장이었다.
거리에는 시신이 널려 있었고 가족 전체가 사라진 집들도 있었다.
여성과 노인, 어린이들도 포함되어 있었다.
저자는 당시 경험을 통해 의료 활동과 인권 증언이 분리될 수 없다고 느끼게 된다.
그녀의 증언은 이후 국제조사와 언론 보도에 중요한 자료가 되었다.
4. 난민들의 일상
이 책은 학살만을 다루지 않는다.
오히려 저자가 강조하는 것은 난민들의 평범한 삶이다.
팔레스타인 난민들은 단순한 피해자가 아니었다.
그들은
결혼하고
아이를 키우고
공부하고
농담하고
미래를 꿈꾸었다.
저자는 서방 언론이 보여주는 "총을 든 전사" 이미지 뒤에 존재하는 인간적인 얼굴을 보여주고자 한다.
이 부분은 책 전체에서 가장 감동적인 대목 중 하나이다.
저자는 환자들의 이름과 가족사를 구체적으로 기록하면서 독자가 그들을 통계가 아닌 인간으로 보게 만든다.
5. 예루살렘과 점령의 현실
이후 저자는 팔레스타인 지역을 방문하면서 점령 체제를 직접 목격한다.
그녀가 본 현실은 단순한 국경 분쟁이 아니었다.
체크포인트와 이동 제한, 토지 문제, 정착촌 확대, 군사 통제 등이 일상생활 깊숙이 영향을 미치고 있었다.
그녀는 이것이 단순한 군사 문제가 아니라 인간 존엄성의 문제라고 본다.
특히 의료 접근권이 제한되는 현실에 깊은 충격을 받는다.
환자가 병원에 가는 과정 자체가 정치적 문제가 되는 상황을 반복해서 목격한다.
6. 연대와 희망
그럼에도 불구하고 책은 절망으로 끝나지 않는다.
저자는 팔레스타인 사회의 강한 생명력에 주목한다.
난민촌 사람들은
공동체를 유지하고
서로를 돌보고
교육을 중시하고
미래를 포기하지 않는다.
저자는 이러한 모습을 통해 인간 정신의 회복력을 본다.
이것은 단순한 정치적 연대가 아니라 인간에 대한 신뢰의 표현이다.
평론
1. 의료인의 눈으로 본 팔레스타인
이 책의 가장 큰 특징은 역사학자나 정치학자가 아니라 외과의사가 썼다는 점이다.
저자는 국가 전략이나 외교정책보다 인간의 몸을 통해 전쟁을 본다.
그녀가 보는 전쟁은
잘린 팔다리
화상
고아가 된 아이
가족을 잃은 부모
의 현실이다.
이 때문에 책은 매우 강한 도덕적 설득력을 가진다.
2. 피해자의 얼굴을 복원한다
팔레스타인 문제를 다룬 많은 정치서와 달리 이 책은 개별 인간의 삶을 중심에 둔다.
세진님께서 관심을 가져오신 위안부 증언, 제주 4·3 구술사, 형제복지원 생존자 기록과 비교하면 비슷한 특징을 발견할 수 있다.
거대한 역사 서사보다 개인의 목소리를 통해 역사를 이해하려는 접근이다.
이 점에서 이 책은 일종의 "팔레스타인 구술사"라고도 볼 수 있다.
3. 한계
반면 한계도 존재한다.
저자는 명백히 팔레스타인 연대 활동가의 입장에서 글을 쓴다.
따라서
이스라엘 사회 내부의 다양한 시각
이스라엘 시민들의 불안과 역사적 경험
팔레스타인 내부 정치의 문제
등은 상대적으로 적게 다뤄진다.
즉, 이 책은 균형 잡힌 중동사 입문서라기보다 "현장 증언록"에 가깝다.
그러나 그것은 약점이면서 동시에 이 책의 본질이기도 하다.
4. 오늘날의 의미
1982년에 쓰인 경험담이지만 현재에도 놀라울 정도로 현실성을 유지한다.
가자 전쟁, 난민 문제, 국제인도법 논쟁, 의료시설 공격 논란 등을 이해하는 데 중요한 역사적 배경을 제공한다.
특히 "전쟁은 누구를 가장 먼저 파괴하는가?"라는 질문에 대해 이 책은 명확한 답을 준다.
전쟁은 언제나 가장 약한 사람들을 먼저 파괴한다.
종합 평가
『베이루트에서 예루살렘까지』는 단순한 전쟁 회고록이 아니다.
이 책은 한 외과의사가 팔레스타인 난민들과 함께 살아가며 기록한 인간 존엄성의 증언서이다.
역사적 분석의 균형성에서는 한계가 있을 수 있지만, 전쟁과 점령이 인간의 삶에 남기는 상처를 이해하는 데 있어서는 매우 강력한 힘을 가진다.
<한 줄 평가>
<"팔레스타인 문제를 국가와 이념이 아니라 인간의 얼굴로 바라보게 만드는 가장 영향력 있는 의료 증언록 가운데 하나이다.">
Medical Aid for Palestinians' stated aim is to meet the humanitarian needs of the Palestinian people. The organization and its programmes have been supported by the British public, the UK Government (DfID), the European Union and international aid organizations. They deliver basic health and medical care to Palestinian refugees and they strive to establish permanent medical infrastructure in Palestinian communities by training health care practitioners, teaching medical vocational skills and addressing the requirements of particularly vulnerable groups such as people with disabilities.
In July 2023, due to a reported increase in "attacks on healthcare workers and ambulances by Israeli forces and settlers", MAP diverted from its usual strategy of providing healthcare to supplying bulletproof vests and helmets for the protection of Palestinian health workers.[6] Later that year, in response to the Gaza war, the organisation launched an emergency appeal to provide essential healthcare and medical aid in Gaza.[7] The appeal was supported by London mayor Sadiq Khan.[8][9]
MAP actively campaigns in the UK to raise awareness about violations of the Palestinian right to health,[14] which is threatened by ongoing conflict, prolonged occupation and displacement. Working in coalition with other NGOs, the scope of MAP's advocacy programme ranges from raising public awareness to advocating on salient issues with governments and policy makers.
수이 차이 앙(Swee Chai Ang) 박사의 <베이루트에서 예루살렘까지>는 출간 이후 수십 년 동안 전 세계 독자들에게 강렬한 감정적 충격과 윤리적 각성을 안겨주었다. 제공된 독자 리뷰 데이터는 아마존과 굿리즈를 아우르며, 특히 인도네시아와 말레이시아를 비롯한 동남아시아권 독자들의 뜨거운 반응을 담고 있다. 이 리뷰들은 단순히 책에 대한 문학적 평가를 넘어, 이방인의 눈을 통해 드러난 팔레스타인의 비극이 어떻게 전 세계 평범한 대중의 보편적 인도주의와 연대감으로 확장되었는지를 보여주는 생생한 증거이다.
2. 리뷰 내용 요약: 독자들이 찾아낸 핵심 서사와 감정
가. 변화와 각성의 여정: <근본주의 기독교인>에서 <행동하는 의사>로
많은 독자는 저자의 극적인 사상적 변화에 깊은 인상과 매력을 느꼈다. 수이 차이 앙은 원래 이스라엘의 건국을 성서적 예언의 성취로 믿고 팔레스타인 인들을 <테러리스트>로 여기던 완고한 기독교 근본주의자였다. 그러나 1982년 베이루트 가자 병원에서 목격한 참상과 사브라·샤틸라 학살 사건은 저자의 편견을 완전히 무너뜨렸다. 독자들은 저자가 자신의 오류를 솔직하게 인정하고, 종교적·정치적 경계를 넘어 고통받는 인간을 위해 헌신하는 <진정한 영웅>으로 거듭나는 과정에 큰 감동을 표현했다.
나. 사브라·샤틸라 학살의 끔찍한 현장성
리뷰어들은 책에 묘사된 1982년 9월의 학살 사건을 읽으며 큰 정신적 충격과 슬픔을 토로했다. 이스라엘 군의 봉쇄와 방조 아래 레바논 우익 기독교 민병대에 의해 저질러진 무차별적인 살육, 임산부와 아이들을 향한 잔혹 행위는 독자들을 분노케 했다. 72시간 동안 쉬지 않고 수술을 집도했던 저자의 시선으로 묘사된 무너진 캠프와 훼손된 시신들의 기록은, 독자들에게 단순한 역사가 아닌 <피할 수 없는 진실>로 다가갔다.
다. 팔레스타인 민중의 품격과 일상적 용기
독자들은 비극 속에서도 빛나는 팔레스타인 인들의 존엄성과 환대 문화에 주목했다. 자녀를 치료해 준 의사에게 다정하게 아랍 커피를 대접하고 없는 살림에도 선물을 건네는 따뜻함, 마취제도 없는 극한의 상황에서 수술을 견뎌내는 인내심, 그리고 무너진 잔해 속에서도 카메라를 향해 승리의 자를 그리며 웃는 아이들의 모습은 많은 독자의 눈시울을 붉혔다.
라. 동남아시아(인도네시아·말레이시아) 독자들의 연대감
리뷰의 상당수를 차지하는 인도네시아 및 말레이시아 독자들은 저자의 배경에 강한 유대감을 느꼈다. 저자가 말레이시아 페낭 태생이며 싱가포르와 영국을 거친 인물이라는 점은 이 지역 독자들에게 남다른 자부심과 친근감을 주었다. 이들은 무슬림이 아닌 기독교인 아시아 여성 의사가 이슬람교도가 다수인 팔레스타인 인들을 위해 목숨을 걸고 싸웠다는 사실에서, 이 갈등이 단순한 종교 전쟁이 아닌 <보편적 인humanitarian 비극>임을 깊이 깨달았다고 고백했다.
3. 독자 리뷰에 기반한 평론: 기억의 투쟁과 지속되는 비극
가. <비선점된 목격자>가 가지는 서사의 힘
이 책이 전 세계 독자들에게 수십 년간 생명력을 유지하는 비결은 저자의 <탈정치적 시작점>에 있다. 저자는 중동의 역사적 이해관계나 Nazism에 대한 부채감이 없는 동남아시아 출신의 의사였다. 그렇기에 이스라엘과 서방 언론이 구축한 <테러 대 방어>라는 프레임에 갇히지 않고, 오직 현장에서 훼손되는 인간성과 생명의 가치만을 올곧게 증언할 수 있었다. 독자들은 이러한 저자의 순수한 인도주의적 헌신 덕분에 텍스트의 <진실성>을 전적으로 신뢰하게 된다.
나. 과거의 기록과 현재의 거울: 2020년대 독자들의 현재적 공명
리뷰 중에서 특히 주목할 점은 2023년에서 2026년에 이르는 최근 독자들의 반응이다. 많은 이들이 1980년대 베이루트 난민 캠프에서 자행된 봉쇄, 굶주림, 의료 시설 폭격, 민간인 학살이 오늘날 가자 지구에서 벌어지는 현실과 무서울 정도로 똑같다고 지적했다. 책은 단순한 과거의 회고록이 아니라, 수십 년간 묵인되어 온 국제 사회의 직무유기와 폭력의 구조를 폭로하는 <지속되는 고발장>의 역할을 하고 있다.
다. 비판적 시각: 서사의 주관성과 편집의 한계
드물게 나타나는 부정적 의견이나 한계점 역시 존재한다. 어떤 독자는 이 책이 객관적인 역사적 사실보다는 저자의 강한 주관적 Blame(책임 공방)과 정치적 견해에 치우쳐 있다고 비판하며, 학살의 일차적 주체인 레바논 기독교 민병대의 역사적 맥락이 이스라엘 책임론에 비해 가려져 있다고 주장하기도 했다. 또한, 킨들(Kindle) 전자책 버전의 경우 오타와 오인식(OCR) 오류가 너무 많아 훌륭한 텍스트의 몰입도를 해친다는 실무적인 아쉬움도 제기되었다.
라. 동남아시아 수용 맥락의 다층성
인도네시아와 말레이시아 독자들이 보인 폭발적인 공감은 종교적 연대감(움마, Ummah)과 식민지 경험이라는 두 가지 층위에서 이해할 수 있다. 비록 저자는 기독교인이지만, 억압에 저항하는 팔레스타인의 서사는 과거 제국주의 세력(일본 등)에 맞서 싸웠던 동남아시아 민중의 역사적 기억을 자극한다. 이 지역 독자들은 저자가 책을 통해 던진 "우리는 무엇을 할 수 있는가?"라는 질문에 직면하며, 자신들의 일상적인 평화에 감사하는 동시에 국제적 연대의 책임감을 느끼는 윤리적 주체로 확장되는 경험을 보고하고 있다.
4. 결론: 침묵을 깨는 목격의 영속성
<베이루트에서 예루살렘까지>의 독자 리뷰들은 이 책이 단순한 종이 위의 기록이 아니라, 독자의 마음속에서 끊임없이 재해석되는 하나의 <살아있는 유기체>임을 보여준다. 싱가포르와 영국의 경계에 선 이방인 의사가 남긴 고백은, 특히 동남아시아 독자들의 뜨거운 심장과 연결되면서 종교와 국경을 초월한 인류 보편의 연대 전선을 형성했다. "살아남은 자에게는 죽은 자를 대신해 말해야 할 의무가 있다"라는 저자의 집필 동기는, 이제 책을 읽고 함께 눈물 흘린 전 세계 독자들의 마음에 지울 수 없는 <목격자의 의무>로 이어지고 있다.
리뷰 원문을 분석해 보니, 세진님께서 말씀하신 대로 인도네시아나 말레이시아 독자분들이 남긴 감동적인 개인적 소회와 종교·민족을 초월한 연대의 메시지가 아주 뚜렷하게 드러나 있었습니다. 분석 내용과 관련해 더 궁금한 점이 있으시다면 편하게 말씀해 주세요
==
『From Beirut to Jerusalem』 독자서평 자료 요약+평론
자료: Amazon/Goodreads 리뷰 모음
이 리뷰 모음의 특징은 분명합니다. Amazon 리뷰는 주로 영어권 독자들이 “전쟁 현장 의료 증언”으로 이 책을 평가하는 반면, Goodreads 리뷰는 말레이시아·인도네시아 독자가 많아 보이며, 그들은 이 책을 더 강하게 <팔레스타인 연대의 증언>, <무슬림 세계의 상처>, <식민주의와 전쟁폭력의 기억>으로 읽습니다.
내용 요약
리뷰들이 공통적으로 강조하는 책의 핵심은 세 가지입니다.
첫째, 스위 차이 앙은 원래 팔레스타인 문제에 깊이 관여한 사람이 아니었다. 싱가포르/말레이시아계 기독교인 여성 의사로서, 처음에는 서방 언론과 기독교권 담론의 영향을 받아 이스라엘 쪽에 더 호의적이었다고 여러 리뷰가 설명한다. 그러나 1982년 레바논 전쟁과 베이루트, 사브라·샤틸라 난민촌 경험이 그녀의 세계관을 바꾸었다.
둘째, 책의 중심은 사브라·샤틸라 학살이다. 여러 리뷰는 이 책을 “목격 증언”, “가슴 찢어지는 기록”, “팔레스타인 고통의 생생한 현장 보고”라고 부른다. 특히 독자들은 어린이, 여성, 노인, 부상자, 병원, 시신, 난민촌의 장면을 가장 강하게 기억한다. 이 책은 전쟁을 전략이나 외교의 언어가 아니라 부상당한 몸과 죽은 민간인의 얼굴로 보여준다.
셋째, 책은 단순한 비극 기록이 아니라 저자의 변화 이야기다. Goodreads의 말레이/인도네시아어 리뷰들은 특히 이 점을 강하게 읽는다. “나는 아랍인도 무슬림도 아니지만 팔레스타인을 지지하는 것은 정치가 아니라 인간적 책임”이라는 저자의 태도가 반복적으로 인용된다. 독자들은 이 책을 읽고 “팔레스타인을 새롭게 보게 되었다”, “눈물이 났다”, “침묵할 수 없게 되었다”고 말한다.
리뷰들의 특징
Amazon 리뷰는 비교적 차분합니다. “훌륭한 증언”, “강력한 책”, “추천한다”, “의료인의 용기” 같은 표현이 많습니다. 일부는 책의 편집 상태나 OCR 오류 같은 실무적 문제도 지적합니다.
Goodreads 리뷰는 훨씬 감정적이고 정치적입니다. 특히 말레이시아·인도네시아 독자들은 이 책을 단순한 회고록이 아니라 <팔레스타인 고난을 세계 무슬림/제3세계 독자가 받아들이는 통로>로 읽습니다. 여기에는 종교적 공감, 반식민주의 감각, 이스라엘 군사행동에 대한 분노, 서방 언론에 대한 불신이 함께 들어 있습니다.
흥미로운 점은, 이 독자들이 스위 차이 앙이 무슬림도 아랍인도 아니라는 사실을 오히려 중요하게 본다는 점입니다. 즉, 팔레스타인 연대가 “무슬림 편들기”가 아니라 보편적 인간 양심의 문제라는 증거로 읽는 것입니다.
평론
이 리뷰 자료를 통해 보면, 『From Beirut to Jerusalem』은 일반적인 중동 정치 입문서가 아닙니다. 이 책의 힘은 균형 잡힌 외교 분석이 아니라 <목격자의 윤리>에 있습니다. 한 외과의사가 죽어가는 사람들 곁에서 본 것을 기록했고, 독자들은 바로 그 직접성 때문에 책을 신뢰합니다.
그러나 동시에 이 책은 강한 편향성을 가진 증언문학입니다. 이스라엘 사회 내부의 공포, 레바논 내전의 복잡성, 팔레스타인 내부 정치의 문제는 상대적으로 적게 보입니다. 한 Goodreads 독자는 이런 점을 비판하며 “역사를 말하면서 정치적 관점이 너무 강하다”고 지적합니다. 이 비판은 무시할 수 없습니다.
하지만 증언문학을 평가할 때 “중립성 부족”만을 기준으로 삼으면 핵심을 놓칩니다. 사브라·샤틸라 같은 사건 앞에서 증언자는 완전한 중립자가 되기 어렵습니다. 오히려 이 책은 “전쟁의 피해자가 누구인가”라는 질문에 집중합니다. 그 점에서 이 책은 역사학보다 구술사, 정치학보다 인권문학에 가깝습니다.
인도네시아·말레이시아 독자들의 열렬한 반응은 이 책의 수용사를 보여줍니다. 팔레스타인 문제는 그들에게 먼 중동 문제가 아니라, 식민주의·종교·정의·서방 권력에 대한 기억과 연결된 세계적 도덕 문제입니다. 그래서 이 책은 영어권에서는 “훌륭한 전쟁 의료 회고록”으로, 동남아 무슬림권 독자들에게는 “팔레스타인 양심의 증언서”로 읽히는 차이가 생깁니다.
결론적으로 이 리뷰 모음은 책 자체만큼이나 중요합니다. 그것은 한 책이 서로 다른 독자 공동체에서 어떻게 다르게 살아나는지를 보여줍니다.
<한 줄 평가>
<이 책은 팔레스타인 문제를 설명하는 책이라기보다, 팔레스타인 사람들의 고통을 외면할 수 없게 만드는 증언의 책이다.>
==
No comments:
Post a Comment