"I am Jerusalem is dedicated to all those Palestinian refugees, including his parents, who died bitter and frustrated, hoping and waiting to return to their homes and lands in "our beloved Palestine".

The book is written in English because "it is the most widely read language," said Dr. John Tleel.

During and after the war of 1967, Tleel had written down many notes about the war as well as about the various events, personal and general, that he had lived and experienced.

"Much of what I said, wrote, and tackled then proved to be somewhat prophetic. Many of my experiences I had wanted to make known and share with others but I was reluctant and hesitant to do so. It is only during the beginning of this decade that I began feeling that the time has come to write, for most things were almost forgotten. I thought that if they would not see the light of day now, then they would be buried for good by the stones of Jerusalem, as both my generation and I are on the verge of extinction.

The book describes nostalgic Jerusalem and the Old City walls with the sudden changes and how the fighting was renewed.

Along with his personal journey, Tleel narrates the history of the UN partition resolution and how there was a violation of the truce.

After he started practicing his career in the medical field, he describes life in Jordanian Jerusalem and the election of the Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The details of the 1967 war takes the reader back to those horrible days.

Then Tleel moves on describing the beginning of the first changes and the Israeli rule with its perfect occupation.

The book examines local customs, leadership, Israeli rule and unfulfilled expectations.

"I am Jerusalem" is an excellent book for those who are interested in reading about the Christian Palestinian Arabs of Jerusalem.

This article was published by Joseph R. Haiek in The NEWS CIRCLE Magazine the oldest Arab-American independent magazine specializing in Arab-American affairs.