Acknowledgements

I would like to thank the families for offering the stories that brought the history of these dormant villages to life. Ahmad Sub Laban made many introductions, often traveling with me to interpret, following the thread of memory from the villages across the distance to the families in the Occupied Territories. Talia Rosin’s willingness to consider the past and to help research the villages was an integral part of my investigation. Often, it was their friendship that allowed me to continue. The work of Noga Kadman, who helps raise awareness regarding the events of ’48, was a source of inspiration. Miki Kratsman introduced me to the issues and freely shared his knowledge and impressions. Said Abu Shakra, the Director of the Umm el-Faḥem Gallery, offered me his guidance, arranging for visits in the community and taking time to accompany me on several occasions. Ashraf Mahajni and Mohammed Hani also offered kind assistance. Without the invitation of Frédéric Brenner and the support of Matt Brogan I would never have known the region.
I am fortunate in having a committed and caring pair of interlocutors in my editors, Liz Jobey and Shela Sheikh, both close confidants who offered this work their considered attention. I would also like to thank my publisher, Gerhard Steidl, for supporting this work, as well as my collaborators Eduardo Cadava and Eyal Weizman, who kindly devoted their time to author their own essays in response to The Erasure Trilogy.

In memory of Fatima ‛Abdallah, Ahmed Abdul Rahman Mohammed al-Azi, and Na‛ima Muhammad Isma‛īl