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Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A18367-2003Oct13.html
Clans: The Backbone of Palestinian Society
(Washington Post) Karin Laub - At the root of Palestinian society is a tribal system that on one hand can stifle individuals' independence, discourage dissent, and greatly restrict women - but on the other has also helped Palestinians manage their lives during hundreds of years of Turkish, British, and Israeli rule. "The one thing that never breaks down is kinship," said Palestinian anthropologist Sharif Kanaana, who reports growing hostility by some Palestinians toward those who are not relatives or neighbors.