This accusation is superficially supported by video images of Palestinian women remaining defiant at their sons' funerals, seeming to refuse to mourn and, in some cases, seeming to 'celebrate' the death. The picture as it is painted, however, fails to consider all of the factors and makes no attempt to truly understand the local culture and what these mothers are going through - psychologically, emotionally or socially. The image is constructed to dehumanise and demonise Palestinian women, and fits into the broader propaganda campaign to portray the Palestinians as irrational, obstinate, vindictive and simply, inhuman. The fact is that Palestinian mothers are indeed human, and like all mothers, do not wish to see their children murdered. This proposition seems rather self-evident, but in the face of the rather insensitive statements of such prominent 'women' and 'mothers' as U.S. Secretary of State, Madeleine Albright and Her Majesty Sylvia Beatrice, Queen of Sweden, the point cannot be stressed enough.
Palestinian mothers grieve over the loss of their children.
They grieve even harder when they have to witness their child bleeding to death or lying stiff with a bullet in his head. How these women express their grief is not entirely important. Finding consolation in the idea that their child is safe in a better world, that he died for a cause, or even that his blood may be redeemed with the blood of the enemy may ease the pain for some, but can never fill the empty space in their home, or heal the gaping wound in their heart. In recent weeks, hundreds of Palestinian women have had to absorb the loss of children, brothers and fathers. The emotional and psychological trauma of this will carry with it effects well into the future.