Annapolis, Annapolis, that's all we've been hearing about for the past ten days. The media is obsessed: will they issue a joint statement, will the Arabs show, will they shake hands with us - endless conjecture that fills reams of newspapers and hours of airtime, day after day. The pundits' din is so loud that it's impossible to know what's really going to transpire there, although yesterday's cartoon in Haaretz said it all: Ehud Olmert and Abu Mazen stand before the gate in an imposing wall around the Naval Academy, where the conference will take place. The balloon reads, "Let's ring the bell and run away!" Amos Biderman is a genius.
Amidst all the hype, here are a few things that happened here this week, most of which were not reported by the press:
-'Avodah Aravit,' (Arab Labor), a new tv show, premiered on prime time last Saturday night. Written by the Arab journalist Sayed Kashua (whose weekly column in Haaretz I have enjoyed for a long time and whose book I loved), it protrays an Israeli Arab who works as a reporter for Jewish newspaper and who is continually conflicted about his dual identity. Politically incorrect stereotypes abound on both sides and their portrayal seems to ironically serve the noble cause of political correctness. For example, the journalist's father berates him for being seen wearing a seatbelt in the village but when he is interviewed for a radio program on the subject of the unusually high rate of Arabs in traffic accidents he blames the state for neglecting the road infrastructure in Arab villages. It's clever and thought-provoking and just might have a chance at bringing us closer together by forcing us to laugh at ourselves.
-M., A close friend of mine from Jerusalem, flew out to Brazil recently to be with her sister, who was diagnosed with cancer. By the time she was able to book a flight her nerves were completely frazzled, so when she missed her connecting flight in Madrid by moments, she fell apart in the aiport. Weeping miserably in a chair at the locked gate, she was approached by a man who offered to help her. Despite her refusal of his assistance he accompanied her to the ticket counter, took care of her bags, arranged for a flight the next day and drove with her to the hotel. "He was like an angel who was sent to take care of me," M. explained breathlessly. When she finally calmed down enough to have a friendly conversation with him she asked where he was from.
"The West Bank," he said.
Tell that to the guys in Annapolis...
-A., a Palestinian Moslem, regaled me with the following story: at work he happened to walk by the secretary's desk when she was out and the phone was ringing. He answered it and attempted to help the young woman on the line. After discovering that the person she was seeking wasn't in, they kept talking.
"You have such a nice voice," she said to him. "Why don't you come and visit me at work?"
Never one to turn down an opportunity for a romantic adventure, A took directions and promised to come the next day.
"But don't be intimidated by my headcovering. I wear it, but I'm not committed to being a religious Moslem."
"That's okay," A. assured her. "I have a beard but I'm not committed either."
"Is it scratchy?" she inquired.
"No," said A. "I use conditioner."
For all those of you that thought the Hamas takeover was complete: Don't lose hope!
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
What's New in Gaza?
Yesterday the media reported undeniable signs of the breakdown of Hamas rule in Gaza. Deep fissures have appeared in the organization's hierarchy, with extremist elements shoving aside Ismail Haniyeh and Hamas International to dictate a hard line. This military wing of the organization is planning a Hamas takeover of the West Bank as well, while the 'moderates' evidently have concluded that the coup in Gaza was a huge mistake. Amidst all this intrigue Hamas fired directly into a crowd of 200,000 Fatah supporters who came out to commemorate the three-year anniversary of Yasser Arafat's death, killing at least seven people and wounding fifty-five.
Not a few in Israel are rubbing their hands maliciously over the disintigrating violence amongst the Palestinian factions, victorious in yet more resounding proof of the barbarity of our enemies. When Lebanese Christian Phalangists murdered Palestinians in Sabra and Shatila Menahem Begin famously quipped, "Goyim kill goyim and the Jews get blamed." Although violent infighting is a deeply ingrained aspect of Palestinian political culture, in this case we can conclude that "goyim kill goyim and the Jews pay the price." The chaos and violence in the Palestinian camp is not beneficial to Israel - on the contrary. The Palestinian leadership vacuum and the apparent inablity of our neighbors to put aside tribal, sectarian interests for far-reaching nationalist aspirations means we are further from an agreement than ever.
Some pundits in Israel are still awaiting the White Knight of Palestinian national redemption, a charismatic, powerful and pragmatic leader who will claw his way to the top of the Palestinian political heap and create order from the chaos and a political horizon from the bickering. Some say that if Israel would just release Marwan Barghouti from prison, he could do the job. When I read these desperate pleas I'm reminded of a conversation I had not long ago with a Palestinian associate of mine from work.
"Tell me," I entreated him, "Which Palestinian political figure do you most identify with?"
"Not a single one of them," he snarled. "They're all corrupt. The really honest ones are either forced out or killed."
When I asked him what the future held he just shrugged. If Palestinians cannot be idealistic about their own leadership then Israel is downright foolish to search for a light at the end of the tunnel. Leading the Palestinians is as simple as herding a collection of street-wise tomcats.
But what can the Israeli politicians say to the people who want a peace process, who are tired of living at war and willing to make considerable concessions? That there's no one to talk to? It makes us look bad, so we'll fly to Annapolis and and go through the motions of the political process, knowing all the while that what we pretend to accomplish there might end up causing more damage than the controlled inertia we have managed until now.
It's hard not to be cynical but I still retain a glimmer of optimism. Olmert's political butt is in a sling and he needs a significant achievement to erase the damage of the second Lebanon War. In addition, the American political window is narrowing. The Bush administration has been the warmest and most understanding of Israel in the history of the two countries' relations. Our prime minister views the waning days of this presidency as the last chance to achieve significant progress with American backing. Perhaps we will yet be surprised...
Not a few in Israel are rubbing their hands maliciously over the disintigrating violence amongst the Palestinian factions, victorious in yet more resounding proof of the barbarity of our enemies. When Lebanese Christian Phalangists murdered Palestinians in Sabra and Shatila Menahem Begin famously quipped, "Goyim kill goyim and the Jews get blamed." Although violent infighting is a deeply ingrained aspect of Palestinian political culture, in this case we can conclude that "goyim kill goyim and the Jews pay the price." The chaos and violence in the Palestinian camp is not beneficial to Israel - on the contrary. The Palestinian leadership vacuum and the apparent inablity of our neighbors to put aside tribal, sectarian interests for far-reaching nationalist aspirations means we are further from an agreement than ever.
Some pundits in Israel are still awaiting the White Knight of Palestinian national redemption, a charismatic, powerful and pragmatic leader who will claw his way to the top of the Palestinian political heap and create order from the chaos and a political horizon from the bickering. Some say that if Israel would just release Marwan Barghouti from prison, he could do the job. When I read these desperate pleas I'm reminded of a conversation I had not long ago with a Palestinian associate of mine from work.
"Tell me," I entreated him, "Which Palestinian political figure do you most identify with?"
"Not a single one of them," he snarled. "They're all corrupt. The really honest ones are either forced out or killed."
When I asked him what the future held he just shrugged. If Palestinians cannot be idealistic about their own leadership then Israel is downright foolish to search for a light at the end of the tunnel. Leading the Palestinians is as simple as herding a collection of street-wise tomcats.
But what can the Israeli politicians say to the people who want a peace process, who are tired of living at war and willing to make considerable concessions? That there's no one to talk to? It makes us look bad, so we'll fly to Annapolis and and go through the motions of the political process, knowing all the while that what we pretend to accomplish there might end up causing more damage than the controlled inertia we have managed until now.
It's hard not to be cynical but I still retain a glimmer of optimism. Olmert's political butt is in a sling and he needs a significant achievement to erase the damage of the second Lebanon War. In addition, the American political window is narrowing. The Bush administration has been the warmest and most understanding of Israel in the history of the two countries' relations. Our prime minister views the waning days of this presidency as the last chance to achieve significant progress with American backing. Perhaps we will yet be surprised...
Monday, November 5, 2007
Sometimes the Light Flickers
It was hard to be a light unto the nations this week. Almost every day a new dilemma arises requiring difficult decisions to be made. A kassam rocket hit a main power line in Sderot and knocked out the town's electricity for several hours. How ironic that this accidental direct hit came in the midst of an ongoing discussion about retaliatory measures for the constant rocket fire coming from the Gaza Strip. The long-suffering residents of Sderot have advocated erasing the town of Bet Hanun from the map: if they're going to torture us, we'll make them even more miserable than we are. Base human instinct demands eye-for-an-eye justice but the rational, moral voice always takes the upper hand. It is at once laughable and commendable that while Hamas bombards us from schoolyards day after day our generals are knocking their heads against the wall trying to come up with another creative suggestion for punishing the Gazans because the lawyers have concluded that flipping the switch on Palestinian electricity doesn't comply with international law. Our uncompromising moral standards are a small comfort to a family whose house has absorbed a direct hit by a kassam rocket, but do we have a choice?
It's also the enemies from within that force us to agonize. Recently a court ruled that Yigal Amir, the man who assassinated Yitzhak Rabin twelve years ago, is entitled, like any other prisoner serving a life sentence, to hold the circumcision ceremony of his newborn son in jail. Appallingly, the ceremony took place on November 4th, the exact day that Amir murdered Rabin. On the news we saw the family arrive at the prison , the assassin's brother brandishing an arrogant smile and the 'v' for victory sign for the cameras. When Amir held that child in his arms, it was as if his deed had gone unpunished. The hunger for vengeance demands that the child should suffer, so his father will suffer in turn. The ultimate desire for true justice will never allow this to happen.
Everyone with an opinion is screaming at the top of his lungs to make his voice heard. The media are all over everything and the pundits always play the devil's advocate. What should we do? Which decision is the right one? What are the long-term implications?
Who in his right mind would ever choose to be prime minister of this country?
It's also the enemies from within that force us to agonize. Recently a court ruled that Yigal Amir, the man who assassinated Yitzhak Rabin twelve years ago, is entitled, like any other prisoner serving a life sentence, to hold the circumcision ceremony of his newborn son in jail. Appallingly, the ceremony took place on November 4th, the exact day that Amir murdered Rabin. On the news we saw the family arrive at the prison , the assassin's brother brandishing an arrogant smile and the 'v' for victory sign for the cameras. When Amir held that child in his arms, it was as if his deed had gone unpunished. The hunger for vengeance demands that the child should suffer, so his father will suffer in turn. The ultimate desire for true justice will never allow this to happen.
Everyone with an opinion is screaming at the top of his lungs to make his voice heard. The media are all over everything and the pundits always play the devil's advocate. What should we do? Which decision is the right one? What are the long-term implications?
Who in his right mind would ever choose to be prime minister of this country?
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