Naim Naif was born in the U.S. but spent part of his childhood in the West Bank. His <a href="index.php?page=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fireport.cnn.com%2Fdocs%2FDOC-1156751">Palestinian parents</a>, seen in the center, posed after getting engaged in 1985 in his father's hometown Sinjil, West Bank. Click through to see photos of his family through the years.
I used to live in the West Bank —
Naim Naif was born in the U.S. but spent part of his childhood in the West Bank. His Palestinian parents, seen in the center, posed after getting engaged in 1985 in his father's hometown Sinjil, West Bank. Click through to see photos of his family through the years.
Courtesy Naim Naif
Naif's parents, Suzy and Karim, met while they were both living in Michigan. The pair returned to the West Bank soon after getting engaged. In 1985, they tied the knot in their homeland and lived there for a few years.
Sinjil, West Bank, 1980s —
Naif's parents, Suzy and Karim, met while they were both living in Michigan. The pair returned to the West Bank soon after getting engaged. In 1985, they tied the knot in their homeland and lived there for a few years.
Courtesy Naim Naif
The Western styles of the '80s and '90s also reached the West Bank. Naif's aunt, wearing yellow in 1990, had never visited the States.
Sinjil, West Bank, 1990s —
The Western styles of the '80s and '90s also reached the West Bank. Naif's aunt, wearing yellow in 1990, had never visited the States.
Courtesy Naim Naif
Naim Naif's parents moved back to the United States in 1986 to start a family. His grandmother came to Tampa to visit in the '90s, as shown here with his oldest sister, Athar. His grandmother only wears traditional clothing, like this robe, called a thawb, said Naif.
Tampa, Florida, 1990s —
Naim Naif's parents moved back to the United States in 1986 to start a family. His grandmother came to Tampa to visit in the '90s, as shown here with his oldest sister, Athar. His grandmother only wears traditional clothing, like this robe, called a thawb, said Naif.
Courtesy Naim Naif
The Naif siblings sit outside the family's home in Tampa. From left to right, Atheer, Athar, Naim (the author) and Nayef.
Tampa, Florida, 1990s —
The Naif siblings sit outside the family's home in Tampa. From left to right, Atheer, Athar, Naim (the author) and Nayef.
Courtesy Naim Naif
The Naif family decided to move back to the West Bank in 1997, when Naim was just 3. Here, he gets a taste of adventure soon after arrival.
Sinjil, West Bank, 1990s —
The Naif family decided to move back to the West Bank in 1997, when Naim was just 3. Here, he gets a taste of adventure soon after arrival.
Courtesy Naim Naif
Naif remembers his grandparents having tons of animals on their property in the West Bank.
Sinjil, West Bank, 1990s —
Naif remembers his grandparents having tons of animals on their property in the West Bank.
Courtesy Naim Naif
Naim Naif's second oldest sister, Atheer, sits in front of the wall of the old city in Jerusalem in 1998.
Jerusalem, Israel, 1990s —
Naim Naif's second oldest sister, Atheer, sits in front of the wall of the old city in Jerusalem in 1998.
Courtesy Naim Naif
The Naif family works to expand his grandmother's patio in the '90s. When Israel built a new settlement after the second intifada, according to Naim Naif. "My grandmother lost a lot of land."
Sinjil, West Bank, 1990s —
The Naif family works to expand his grandmother's patio in the '90s. When Israel built a new settlement after the second intifada, according to Naim Naif. "My grandmother lost a lot of land."
Courtesy Naim Naif
Naim Naif's grandmother, sister and cousin sit outside on the patio of the family's Palestinian home in 2000.
Sinjil, West Bank, 2000s —
Naim Naif's grandmother, sister and cousin sit outside on the patio of the family's Palestinian home in 2000.
Courtesy Naim Naif
People leaving West Bank see the massive barrier as they're crossing into Jerusalem, says Naim Naif, who photographed it in 2012. "This is one of the most viewed parts of the wall because it's right before the checkpoint."
West Bank, 2010s —
People leaving West Bank see the massive barrier as they're crossing into Jerusalem, says Naim Naif, who photographed it in 2012. "This is one of the most viewed parts of the wall because it's right before the checkpoint."
Courtesy Naim Naif
Naim Naif's cousin clears the check point at the end of Ramadan in 2012. Residents of the West Bank aren't allowed to enter Jerusalem, except when the holiday of Eid comes around, Naif says.
Jerusalem, Israel, 2010s —
Naim Naif's cousin clears the check point at the end of Ramadan in 2012. Residents of the West Bank aren't allowed to enter Jerusalem, except when the holiday of Eid comes around, Naif says.
Courtesy Naim Naif
Remember the engagement photo of Naif's parents from the 1980s in Sinjil, West Bank? Naif snapped a view of the same vista, but 30-some years later in 2012.
Sinjil, West Bank, 2010s —
Remember the engagement photo of Naif's parents from the 1980s in Sinjil, West Bank? Naif snapped a view of the same vista, but 30-some years later in 2012.
Courtesy Naim Naif
Naim Naif and his cousins visit Nablus, a city in the north West Bank, in 2012. Naif says he tries to return to the country once every two years, as 70% of his family still lives there.
Nablus, West Bank, 2010s —
Naim Naif and his cousins visit Nablus, a city in the north West Bank, in 2012. Naif says he tries to return to the country once every two years, as 70% of his family still lives there.
Courtesy Naim Naif