Online Shop in Palestine Spreads Local Culture While Raising Political Awareness

It's one way you can support Palestine while receiving great products at a reasonable cost.

Products from Palestine-Shop.com. Photos by Austin King

(JERUSALEM/SALEM) - Millions of Americans support the people of Palestine in their struggle to survive under the iron hand of Israeli occupation and oppression, but the question, "How do you directly support the Palestinian effort?" is asked far too frequently.

I recently discovered the "Made in Palestine" shop online and found the coveted and sought after "Free Palestine" sticker that I have been searching for without success in Oregon, for a long time.

I ordered a few things from this shop's online store to gauge the turnaround time, and also so I'd have a chance to assess the quality of the items.

After corresponding with Ameer Qaimari, who is associated with both Palestine-Shop.com and Jerusalem-Gate.com, I made the decision to write about this unique shop's products after I had received them.

My order included a black Free Palestine t-shirt, a scarf, bracelets, stickers that I ordered, (already free) and many that I didn't order, but was happy to receive.

I think the order was $33, and I feel like I received several times that value when I opened the package from Ameer.

The t-shirt's tag reads, "Made in Jerusalem" and I was immediately encouraged. While there is a 'Via Israel' postmark, the postmark is 'Jerusalem'.

Stickers from The Palestine Shop in Jerusalem

Ameer explained to me that Made in Palestine was founded in 2004, coincidentally the same year Salem-News.com was founded. He says over these last six years, Palestine Shop has become a trusted name with a good amount of recognition on the Web.

Along with his brother, Ameer is marketing products from this family business located in Palestine, on a worldwide level.

"Why we do that?" Ameer asked.

"To Support and defend the Palestinian cause, and to provide fundamental support for hundreds of women and families who are surviving the hard living in Palestine."

He says another big reason is simply to introduce the Palestinian culture and folklore into each and every home world wide.

I don't do this very often, but I hope people reading this story dial up their site and make even a small purchase, you get a lot for your money and you are helping Palestinians without question.

Visit these sites to learn more:

Palestine-Shop.com

Jerusalem-Gate.com

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Tim King is a former U.S. Marine with twenty years of experience on the west coast as a television news producer, photojournalist, reporter and assignment editor. In addition to his role as a war correspondent, this Los Angeles native serves as Salem-News.com's Executive News Editor. Tim spent the winter of 2006/07 covering the war in Afghanistan, and he was in Iraq over the summer of 2008, reporting from the war while embedded with both the U.S. Army and the Marines. Tim holds numerous awards for reporting, photography, writing and editing, including the Oregon AP Award for Spot News Photographer of the Year (2004), first place Electronic Media Award in Spot News, Las Vegas, (1998), Oregon AP Cooperation Award (1991); and several others including the 2005 Red Cross Good Neighborhood Award for reporting. Serving the community in very real terms, Salem-News.com is the nation's only truly independent high traffic news Website. You can send Tim an email at this address: newsroom@salem-news.com