GAZA CITY — In Palestinian tradition, when people in the countryside visited each other, they brought along gifts arranged in traditional baskets that also contained a sachet of henna and flowers. The gift was called "talleh," and it inspired a Palestinian entrepreneur, Asmahan Ilian, to develop a successful business to help Palestinian women by providing them employment. Hence Talleh, an online gift platform, is this month one year old.
“The idea for the project was inspired by the longing of Palestinians abroad for something reminiscent of their homeland,” Ilian told Al-Monitor by phone from Jerusalem, where she lives. “I also wanted to use the Palestinian tradition of gift giving.”