Dual Homeland, Dual Exile

They come from the same country, indeed the same state: Israel. But one is an Israeli Palestinian, the other a Jewish Israeli. Alena Jabarine was born in Hamburg, Tomer Dotan-Dreyfus in Haifa. Both now live in Germany. Is the second home more important than the first? Why does one of them have a state in the Middle East that he can criticise? And the other doesn't? Where do you feel at home since 7 October 2023 and the war in Gaza? In conversation with Tessa Szyszkowitz, Alena Jabarine and Tomer Dotan-Dreyfus discuss what it's like to be perceived as a Palestinian or an Israeli in Germany today. And how difficult it is to be (not) really at home in two homelands.

Alena Jabarine, born 1985 in Hamburg, is German and Palestinian with German and Israeli citizenship. She worked as a journalist in Germany before moving to Ramallah in 2020, where she worked for a foundation for two years. Her book Der letzte Himmel was published by Ullstein in May 2025.

Tomer Dotan-Dreyfus, born 1987, grew up in Haifa, Israel. He has lived in Berlin as an author and translator since 2011. His articles appear in Sueddeutsche Zeitung and taz. His first novel Birobidschan was longlisted for the German Book Prize 2023. His new novel Keinheimisch was published by Ullstein in September 2025.

Tessa Szyszkowitz, born 1967, based in Stuttgart, is an Austrian author and journalist who lives in London. She works for Falter, and her articles also appear in Tagesspiegel and NZZamSonntag. Her most recent book: “Echte Engländer - Britain and Brexit” (2018). She received the British FPA Media Award for Best Story of the Year in November 2025.