A. E. Hayoun | Avigail is the author of The Camel in the Forest a collection of poems about life in Israel and other Jewish stories from the Negev Desert.

The Camel in the Forest:
A Memoir from the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

A. E. Hayoun's debut book, The Camel in the Forest is now available in paperback and ebook format everywhere books are sold.

The Camel in the Forest is an eye-opening account of immigrating to and building a new life in Israel. In a lyrical voice that weaves together authentic experience, historical narrative, and the colorful tapestry of Jewish expression, this courageous collection of true stories brings to life the Jewish homeland of rich history, complex politics, and intricate relationships between cultures that are an unavoidable part of everyday life in Israel and the Middle East.

The Camel in the Forest takes place before and during Operation Guardian of the Walls, the 12-day war against Hamas and the Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip in 2021 and is a remarkable short history of the Middle East conflict.

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Israeli author Avigail Hayoun sitting in her library in the Negev Desert Israel

My Story

A.E. Hayoun is a writer, an Israeli activist, and the author of The Camel in the Forest, a memoir about moving to Israel and making a home in one of the world’s most misunderstood countries. Avigail writes about the complex and often times humorous aspects of life in Israel from the perspective of an American expat and a passionate Zionist. If you can’t find her at her writing desk, she’ll be out wandering in the desert, collecting ancient pottery, and photographing camels. Avigail lives in the Negev desert with her family.