On the way from Sinjel to another clinic in Arora, we passed this memorial stone. Raised by Fatah, it glorifies “the great martyr Saddam Hussein”. On the other side of it is a portrait of “the other great martyr, Chairman Arafat”.

For a westerner, it seems very weird to glorify a cruel dictator. But for some Palestinians, he is a hero. Not only did he dare to challenge the US, a country widely unpopular in the region, Iraq also provided free university education and well paid jobs to many Palestinians. Nevertheless, I find it rather tasteless.