Closest to God: A Female Journalist's Middle Eastern Stories

Author: Zhou Yijun
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-04-01
Features: The Middle East, this sensitive land in the world, is not only a battleground for military powers but also a competition ground for international media. Life and faith are tested by blood and fire here, and the integrity and professionalism of the media are severely challenged. Zhou Yijun is stationed in a sensitive country. She has walked on bomb explosion sites and bloodstains left by Israeli missile strikes. She has witnessed various war scenes. Her keen journalistic instincts bring readers both written and photographic reports, allowing them to experience firsthand the cruelty of war. This is a great book. Zhou Yijun, a woman from Shanghai, graduated from Beijing Second Foreign Languages University in 1998. In June 2002, she became the only international journalist permanently stationed in Gaza as a reporter for Xinhua News Agency. She has interviewed key Middle Eastern figures such as Yasser Arafat, Mahmoud Abbas, and Sheikh Ahmed Yassin multiple times. She was a recipient of the Second CCTV "China Journalist Star." Her work, Closer to God—A Female Journalist's Middle Eastern Stories, is being launched as the first anniversary masterpiece of Shanghai Wenhui Publishing House. During her two-year stay in Gaza, Zhou Yijun interacted with many local people and immersed herself in the local culture, having direct contact with figures like Yasser Arafat, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, and Mahmoud Abbas. She shared her observations and experiences with everyone through her blog, attracting widespread attention. These fragments have been compiled into this book, documenting her entire journey from entering Gaza to leaving it over more than 700 days. Throughout this time, death, hatred, genuine emotions, and conflicts intertwined, creating a fascinating and stimulating reading experience.