Racing Palestinian girls speed into record book
Eight Palestinian women are participating in the popular car race called 'Speed Test' in the West Bank.
By The Associated Press Tags: Israel news West Bank PalestiniansPalestinian women are speeding into the record books by competing on an all-female car racing team - the Speed Sisters.
Along the way, they're crashing through another gender barrier in this conservative Muslim society.
The eight women have entered a popular race called "Speed Test." Souped-up cars race around a track, weaving their way around obstacles and spinning circles around others. The all-female team is a first for the event.
"I love sports that are tough and dangerous, because I am a dangerous woman," said Nour Dawood, 20, after a race this week outside the West Bank city of Ramallah.
She wore a yellow-and-black racing suit, sunglasses and a helmet as she leaned against her car, her curly hair pushed back into a ponytail. Around her, drivers revved their engines.
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Palestinian Mona Ennab, center, a race car driver, awaits her turn to race in the West Bank town of Ramallah on June 25, 2010. |
| Photo by: AP |
Arabic music pounded out of loudspeakers. A group of fans crowded around the track to watch, including a small contingent of women with large sunglasses.
It is another step for Palestinian women who have been claiming more positions of influence in a still very much male-dominated society. This year, the first female Palestinian governor was appointed to oversee the West Bank district of Ramallah. The mayor of the district's main city is a woman, as are four ministers in the Palestinian Cabinet.
Speed Test began in the West Bank in 2005, as violence between Israel and the Palestinians began petering out. Races take place throughout the territory that is ruled by Israel, with Palestinians administering parts of it. Palestinians want the land - about the size of Connecticut - as part of a future state.
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Palestinian Mona Ennab, center, a car racer, walks through racing cars before a rally to promote a car race in the West Bank town of Ramallah on June 25, 2010. |
| Photo by: AP |
In 2005, only one woman participated - the Speed Sisters' coach, 39-year-old Suna Awedia.
Fast forward five years and eight women are in the race.
As a team, the women get to pool trainers and share a car.
The British Consulate paid for a two-day driving workshop and repaired a banged-up car donated by the Palestinian Union for Race Car Drivers. The union also waived the $70 entry fee.
On the field, the Speed Sisters still need to prove their mettle. Only one woman so far reached the top 10 in this year's three rounds. They've got two rounds to go.
Awedia, their captain, says her drivers, who are mostly in their 20s, need more training, practice and better cars. She's searching for sponsors.
But Dawood says they are already champions.
"Look at us," she said proudly. "We are really into it. We are one team. And we are all winners".
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Great story. Reminds us that there are normal, decent men and women on both sides of this conflict. Let's hope that they decide the future of this region and not the religious extremists and ultra-nationalists. I dream of a future where the only rallies that Israelis and Palestinians go to are the motorsport variety. And where Israel gets to compete in the (much easier) Middle East qualifying group for the World Cup.
As of this writing, there are eleven responses. Six of them seem to find this rather innocuous story profoundly upsetting. Only one actually offers congratulations. I think this relates to something. Israel supporters consistently seem to find any story that humanizes Palestinians profoundly upsetting. For obvious reasons.
by people too ignorant to realize that 'Hamas' is a tiny segment of the Palestinian population, and that Muslim or not, the Palestinians tend to be more secular than Israelis - and judging by the trends in both societies - they'll achieve complete equality of gender before Israelis as well.
Anywhere where women can advance, the whole society advances. Good on you, women of the car race!!
and deems it un-islamic which 100% will happen...... any sports in Gaza where girls can play alongside boys ?
it's the west bank. the PA mostly controls the west bank--not hamas. but i can see how you'd confuse the two. all 'dem brown folk look the same, right? anyway regarding the ladies in the post, good for them. car racing is male dominated pretty much everywhere in the world, as far as i know, so it's doubly awesome that they're doing this.
Of course boys and girls in Gaza can both play the game of suicide bombers and become martyrs.
For God's sake, why is the British Government promoting Bogan-Chav-Yobbo culture among Palestinian girls?! Are there no better, more uplifting British cultural exports than the kind that get boy/girl racers an ASBO when done in any home county?
They can still afford to organize car races, I never heard of those in Somalia, but hey, the palestinians are poor and starving because of Israel, it's true because the lefties say so :)
Reading comprehension in your case? NO.
Don't the left distinguish between the situation in the West Bank and that in Gaza? I think that within the West Bank there's a distinction between refugees and others, right? Besides 'people do not live by bread alone', says the Torah.
How fantastic for you to achieve these moments of greatness. I am so proud of you. It takes great courage to stand up and change the world no matter what path you take. Right now you are thinking I am race car driver breaking limits achieving my personal goals or I am just a driver. To a little girl or younger woman you are showing them what they can become in the future without boundaries and how to harness that warrior lust all woman of the Middle East have in a positive manner. Remember we are from the people who had rebellious daughters who took her horse in the midnight full moon and rode for days to save her people with her brothers blades on. They still talk of her with awe for her great heroism the sand pits the fight to survive the capture the walks alone with no food and all to achieve the dream of freedom. Bemi Rankoo Nowar ... Karoon 5th
Is it important? Do I need to catch up here? Isn't it just couragous that women move onto sports? Do I really have to find it in the Karron 5th, whatever that is? Catch me up to speed, please.
Good to hear but I wonder how that will be accepted by Hamas who is making their women cover up.
This is in the WEST BANK. You may have missed the news of a blockade in GAZA (where Hamas are), which is where cars are now luxury items, and usually several decades old. Incidentally, you'll notice in the picture that the women aren't wearing face coverings in the West Bank. The West Bank is the area to the east of Israel, which is a country in the Middle-East.
actually west bank is an invented name it is an english name for a part of the m.east...might as well ne called citi bank or natwest bank.... if u look at areas that have "bank" associated with the name then they run alongside the waterway. the plains of samaria and hills of judea are termed the west bank to de-judaize them.
You mean to colonize it, not de-judanize it.
You Torah is not a history book, its fiction so people shouldn't be believing it. Its not called West Bank to de-judaize it, its because your fiction books have no value in the international world.
Don't have a clue what you mean, it seems all major religions are sexist in practice if not in original doctrine. What is any emphasis on female chastity and modesty other than male control of females bodies, unless you really believe that men will ejaculate unctrollably at the sight of a womans elbow.
Can all you bigots now read this and stop relating your own hatred on other people and religions.
When the Haredi aren't ok?
And Judism isn't ? In fact following recent events in Isreal Judism seems to support racism as well .
...judaism being the worst offender, going by the texts alone. islam is probably next in line, then christianity. none are very "women-friendly", stop deluding yourself. she'lo'asani isha...
haredim are not the majority of jews. Islam has not changed and will not, In fact with Iran, Saoudi Arabia, Turkey, they are going back to a more fundamentalist Islam.
haredim are not the majority of jews. Islam has not changed and will not, In fact with Iran, Saoudi Arabia, Turkey, they are going back to a more fundamentalist Islam.