Eliana Bannoura, 25, and Samer Jaraissa, 30, on their wedding day in Beit Sahour, in the occupied West Bank, June 20, 2026. (Credit: Amira Souilem/L’Orient-Le Jour)
Bursts of laughter echo through a hotel in Beit Sahour, on the outskirts of Bethlehem. Eliana Bannoura, 25, is about to say “I do” to her childhood sweetheart, Samer Jaraissa, 30. Surrounded by the women of her family and her friends, the bride poses for a photo shoot. “Eliana, go back by the window and open and close the curtains,” suggests Raed Abu Saada, the photographer, in a voice both gentle and firm. Glamor and occupation, however, do not mix well. “From the window, I see settlements. It’s not exactly pleasant. We can’t get in or out of the city because of this,” laments the bride. Journals from the enclave Diaries from Gaza: Waiting for baccalaureate results was a pleasant evening, until... Politics: An obstacle, but not a barrier to loveOn the big day, illegal settlements and Israeli checkpoints weigh on couples and their...
Bursts of laughter echo through a hotel in Beit Sahour, on the outskirts of Bethlehem. Eliana Bannoura, 25, is about to say “I do” to her childhood sweetheart, Samer Jaraissa, 30. Surrounded by the women of her family and her friends, the bride poses for a photo shoot. “Eliana, go back by the window and open and close the curtains,” suggests Raed Abu Saada, the photographer, in a voice both gentle and firm. Glamor and occupation, however, do not mix well. “From the window, I see settlements. It’s not exactly pleasant. We can’t get in or out of the city because of this,” laments the bride. Journals from the enclave Diaries from Gaza: Waiting for baccalaureate results was a pleasant evening, until... Politics: An obstacle, but not a barrier to loveOn the big day, illegal settlements and Israeli checkpoints weigh on...
