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THAT DAY in 2002, on the 28th of March (it was a Thursday), while I was a university student in Birzeit, there was a rumour that Israeli soldiers would invade [...]

Humour plays a substantial role in the dissemination of ideas, beliefs and practices. In particular, it can offer an alternative framework for addressing situations of struggle, stress and suffering, such as war, political strife and social upheaval. In Palestine, humour is manifested in many everyday interactions, functioning as a coping mechanism and offering a way to confront both the Israeli Occupation and the dire political and economic situation. This article engages with humour as it occurs in the everyday lives of Palestinians, looking at the role of humour in a specific context, in a time of political violence. One of the arguments I wish to make is that each new atrocity or each further erosion of rights is reflected in a new series of 'in-jokes', which enable Palestinians to refer to, make sense of and adapt to the painful realities they encounter in everyday life. The narratives of individuals' lives in Palestine are reflected upon via the exploration of humorous daily discourse which is displayed in jokes and humorous anecdotes. I explore what thoughts, desires and fears individuals and families in Palestine share within their social networks in the form of jokes. In addition, the article traces what kind of jokes are circulated and how people in various situations react to different kinds of jokes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Hepatitis C Virus infection is a major health problem causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. The oral cavity is one of the most frequently reported extra-hepatic disease site associated with it. It has been suggested that HCV is a possible triggering factor for precancerous and cancerous oral lesions. The aim of this study was to detect HCV core antigen in oral squamous cell carcinoma in comparison with normal mucosa tissues (control) using immunohistochemistry, to detect the possible relationship between HCV and OSCC. Material and Methods: A total of 50 archival paraffin embedded specimens were collected (25 OSCC specimens with 25 control specimens) and HCV core antigen was evaluated by immunohisto chemistry. The localization of HCV core antigen were evaluated in both groups. All cells displaying nuclear HCV core antigen immunostaining were counted. Results: Overall frequency of HCV in OSCC cases was higher than in controls, and a highly significant difference was observed between them (p < 0.01). Correlation of HCV positivity with the characteristics of OSCC cases were noncontributory. The greatest cell count was recorded in poorly-differentiated OSCC, whereas the lowest value was recorded in control (P<0.001). Conclusion: HCV core antigen was frequently detected in OSCC. HCV is suggested to be a potential risk factor for oral squamous cell carcinoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To obtain a deeper understanding about a society, it is important to look beyond the formal production of history and literature and consider fables, songs, folk poems, and proverbs which can reflect dimensions of the society that are usually neglected or forgotten about. Focusing on popular literature and folk art as a source of epistemological knowledge contributes to the construction of counter-narratives in Yemen. One of the major proponents of popular literature whose works serve as a key to understanding the conceptual worlds of the Yemeni people is the poet ʻAbd Allāh al-Baraddūnī (1929-1999). This blind scholar explored various types of popular literature and folk art in order to highlight the knowledge that generally is not documented but is an essential part of everyday life. Each of his genres has the ability to provide us with insights about Yemeni society such as forgotten historical events, the role of women in society, cultural beliefs, customs, practices, and historical events and circumstances that the society had to face. It is argued that, by focusing on the subaltern and marginal, al-Baraddūnī was anticipating trends in Western social science scholarship that have been apparent since the 1970s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]