Saʾid Al Mutashaʿil, the Palestinian hero of Emil Ḥabibi's novel The Pessopsimist (1974), has a troubled, tragic life. A native of Haifa who fled to Lebanon during the 1948 war, the young Saʾid crosses the border back to his homeland when the hostilities are over and is quickly found out and apprehended by the Israeli authorities. To escape expulsion, win legitimate status, make a living and keep alive the fantasy of reunification with his schooldays’ sweetheart whom Israel had chased to Jordan, Said becomes a collaborator. The omnipresent agents of the government assign to him the hopeless task of spying on the communist party, depicted in the book as the only option available to Palestinian citizens of Israel who wish to avoid total loss of honour and integrity under the new regime.

Saʾid works for the government for twenty years. He develops perfect identification with his new role, coupled with complete submission to his ungrateful supervisors. At one point his years of faithful service are all forgotten; a white flag he hoists on top of his house in Haifa as a sign of loyalty to Israel is interpreted as incitement to a Palestinian rebellion. He is thrown in jail, where, to begin with, he is beaten and humiliated. Then his old resourcefulness saves the day again; he expresses gratitude and admiration to his oppressors for their generosity and care and is immediately promoted to become the warden's chief informer.