Will iconic images recorded in the grooves of an ancient vase unite the Holy Land or rip it further apart?

THE VASE

A novel by Mark M. DeRobertis

Muhsin Muhabi is a Palestinian potter, descended from a long line of potters. His business is run from the same shop owned by his ancestors since the day his forebears moved to Nazareth. The region's conflict saw the death of his oldest son, and rogue terrorists are in the process of recruiting his youngest in their plot to assassinate the Pope and Israeli prime minister.

Professor Hiram Weiss is an art historian at Nazareth’s Bethel University. He is also a Shin Bet operative on special assignment. With the help of fellow agent, Captain Benny Mathias, he plans to destroy the gang responsible for the death of his wife and only child. He puts a bomb in the ancient vase he takes on loan from Muhsin’s Pottery Shop.

Mary Levin, the charming assistant to the director of Shin Bet, has lost a husband and most of her extended family to recurring wars and never-ending terrorism. She dedicates her life to the preservation of Israel, but to whom will she dedicate her heart? The brilliant professor from Bethel University? Or the gallant captain who now leads Kidon?

Harvey Holmes, the Sherlock of Haunted Houses, is a Hollywood TV host whose reality show just flopped. When a Lebanese restaurant owner requests his ghost-hunting services, he believes the opportunity will resurrect his career. All he has to do is exorcise the ghosts that are haunting the restaurant. It happens to be located right across the street from Muhsin’s Pottery Shop.




Thursday, April 28, 2011

Setting for THE VASE

THE VASE takes place in the Middle East. And the Middle East is a place that is always a hot topic. Recently, the populations of some Middle Eastern countries have been revolting against their governments. We know about Libya, because America has become involved in that one. But there was Egypt and Tunisia, too.

Now Syria is getting hot. My former next-door neighbors were immigrants from Syria. Real nice people. It’s one of the reasons I made one of my characters (Sanya Muhabi) a Syrian. But none of my conflict takes place in Syria, Egypt, Tunisia, or even Libya. It’s all in Israel. And the larger scale conflict is between the Israelis and the Palestinians.

I have known some Israelis and some Palestinians, nice people all. But the more direct conflict is between one man, (Hiram Weiss) and his feelings towards the people who were responsible for the death of his wife and son. They were extremists. Yes, terrorists. But I make it very clear that not all Palestinians are extremists and terrorists.

The main character, Muhsin Muhabi is a Palestinian merchant. He’s not a terrorist. He’s not an extremist. Heck, he’s not even religious. He’s a man who minds his own business. Even after his eldest son is killed in the conflict. All he wants is to raise his remaining son and sell his ceramic wares. He doesn’t believe in violence and treats everyone with good will.

Wouldn’t it be great if everyone could be like him?

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