ICONIQUE Arabia sits down with Dubai-based Palestinian entrepreneur, author and publisher Nour Jarrar to discuss the global urgency of speaking up against injustice, and her bestselling coffee-table book, The State of Mind Palestine

How would you describe The State of Mind Palestine?
This powerful work is a visual time capsule, transporting readers through the rich history of Palestine. Featuring vintage photographs of Palestine and Palestinian families in their everyday lives — mostly taken before 1948 — the book preserves not only memories, but the soul of a homeland that lives on in the hearts of millions.

The State of Mind Palestine coffee-table book is more than a collection of images; it’s a tribute to resilience, identity, and the enduring connection between a people and their land. It captures the essence of Palestine — not just as a place, but as a living, breathing state of mind.

What do you hope to inspire in the world with this publication?

I hope to inspire others to take action — to contribute in their own unique way. Each and every one of us has the power to make a difference, no matter how small.

Never underestimate the power of your voice, especially in a world that is desperate for truth. For a glimpse of hope. For a flicker of light in these difficult times.

Above: Nour Jarrar. Image supplied

Tell us about the journey of compiling the photographs within the book. Who are these people and what are their stories?

Every single photo in this book tells a thousand stories. As I compiled them, I smiled, I laughed, I cried — swept away by a tide of emotions I never anticipated.

I fell in love with the people in these photographs — every single one of them. Through each captured moment, I felt their happiness, their joy, their simple normalness as they went about their days with families and loved ones.

But woven into that joy, I also felt their pain — the deep, unspeakable sorrow of being forced to flee their homes, leaving behind their land, never to return.

I cry for them. I pray for them. I carry their stories in my heart. I yearn for the Palestine they knew — their version of home, filled with life and love. And above all, I yearn for a free Palestine.

You wrote in the book, “They diminish the physical Palestine, but in doing so, they unknowingly enlarge its presence in our hearts to magnitudes that span across the entire universe” (p.5). How do you feel about this sentiment now with the current conflicts continuing?

This couldn’t be more true — now, more than ever. The efforts to continue to diminish the physical Palestine have only intensified.

But Palestine is no longer just a Palestinian cause. Today, Palestine is a global cause — a cause for every human being who carries even a shred of conscience, compassion and humanity.

Palestine now resides in the hearts of millions around the world. It echoes in their voices, in their prayers and in their unwavering solidarity.

The book is dedicated to your parents and Palestinian grandparents. What was one story of Palestine they told you about growing up?

One of my favourite stories is the story of how my grandfather met my grandmother in Jenin, Palestine. How he was — in his own words — the most handsome man in Jenin (according to him, but I believe him). How all the women of Jenin were in love with him. But he? He fell for the shy woman behind the window.

Every day, as he strolled through the streets of Jenin, she would shyly peek from behind her bedroom window, watching him pass by. And every time he told the story, he painted it so vividly that old Jenin would come to life before our eyes — its beautiful streets, its timeless stone houses, the warmth of friendly neighbours, the strength and grace of the women of Jenin, the charm of the men in their tailored three-piece suits, stitched by the local tailor.

It’s stories like these that make you long for a place you’ve never seen… and miss a home you’ve never been to.

If you could describe Palestine in a few words, what would they be?

A place where unwavering faith births unparalleled resilience…

And a home where its people possess the fiercest will to stay living in— even if it means not living at all.

Because their souls, above the ground, preserve its name — and beneath the ground, nourish the olive tree roots to grow ever firmer.

What has kept your faith strong during the past year?

I would be lying if I said that the past year wasn’t an emotional roller coaster for us Palestinians. I would be lying if I pretended that we maintained our strength and optimism throughout. Because in reality, there were many moments of pain, of despair, of helplessness.

But through it all, one thing remained constant — our faith. Our prayers. And our unwavering, everlasting longing for a free Palestine.

Amidst this emotional turbulence, this book became a lifeline for me. It gave me purpose in the midst of chaos — a way to channel the intense emotions, the heartbreak, the hope, into something tangible.

Creating this book, and striving to place it in as many homes and hands as possible, became a source of light in a very dark time. A positive outlet amidst a sea of negativity.

To order your copy of The State of Mind Palestine, click here.