Jews and Arabs refuse to be enemies, the placard reads.
An anti-war march, Saturday, through the streets of Tel Aviv. Pro-war shouters collect like flies along the side of the route - the Magav keeps them surrounded, but sometimes they're a nose-distance away, fist-thrashing and enraged. We move from Rabin Square along Ibn Gvirol to the Cinemateque, Arab and Jewish Israelis, side-by-side. Stop the killing. We want a different future for our peoples - a future of peace, we chant.
Sometimes an Arab teenager has to be restrained by friends as the mob on the sidelines provokes, with a Death to the Arabs! or Your mother is a whore! Hadash party stewards stand between the groups, trying to keep them apart.
By the Cinemateque square, crowds of pro-war demonstrators are baying to be let in. But the Magav won't allow them near us. They're not even letting the residents through - 'I have to go, I live there,' argues a woman in a black winter coat.
Two teenage girls who've been sitting on the Cinemateque steps suddenly burst into a chant: It's our country! It's our country! Somehow, they managed to slip through. Within seconds, a group of Arab boys confronts them, only feet away. Police hustle the girls, modesty protected by skirts over trousers, out of the square.
It's dark. It's getting late. People are standing around, and a crowd wrapped in Israeli flags has gathered at the top of the street. It feels ugly but the police hold them at bay.
'What's going to happen now?' I ask Uri. 'Oh probably a few beatings and then everyone will go home,' he says.
We walk through the side streets, away from the march. Men are running towards it, shouting, leaping and waving Israeli flags. Uri zips up his jacket, covering the Hadash logo on his vest. A bald-headed guy in a white T-shirt comes at us, punching the air. 'We have only one country!' he shouts.
Leila, thanks for the important and great video and for your beautiful text, dorit
Posted by: dorit | January 05, 2009 at 06:25 PM
beautiful words. distressing. lots of love leila. kyna x
Posted by: kyna | January 05, 2009 at 06:26 PM
nice to hear that there are voices in Israel opposing the current escalation in violence. I pray that this voice becomes louder with time, and is heard over the official rhetoric.
Posted by: Salman Siddiqui | January 05, 2009 at 06:31 PM
Wow, that's amazing.
I really want to go tomorrow but I'm scared of the counterprotesters. I'll see if I can get a buddy to go with me...
Posted by: May | January 05, 2009 at 07:13 PM
I have been watching the news throughout the last few days, feeling helpless and full of despair on what's going on - and then I read your latest piece 'we refuse to be enemies' which at least gave a glimmer of hope - thank you, Leila!
Posted by: Madeleine Strindberg | January 05, 2009 at 07:30 PM
May - don't worry, I don't think it will be violent. I can go with you if you like...
Posted by: Leila | January 05, 2009 at 07:34 PM
Thanks, Madeleine, I'm glad it's made a difference - L
Posted by: Leila | January 05, 2009 at 07:35 PM
8-)
Posted by: Uri ZACKHEM | January 06, 2009 at 09:56 AM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjh9YQHvg4w
The Stranger within my gate,
He may be true or kind,
But he does not talk my talk—
I cannot feel his mind.
The men of my own stock
They may do ill or well,
But they tell the lies I am wonted to,
They are used to the lies I tell.
This was my father's belief
and this is also mine
let the corn be all of one sheaf
and the grapes be all of one vine
The Stranger within my gates,
He may be evil or good,
But I cannot tell what powers control—
What reasons sway his mood;
The men of my own stock,
Bitter bad they may be,
But, at least, they hear the things I hear,
And see the things I see;
This was my father's belief
and this is also mine
let the corn be all of one sheaf
and the grapes be all of one vine
Posted by: Dale | January 06, 2009 at 09:58 AM
In response to this post about two Semitic peoples, Dale quotes lyrics from a song by 'white nationalist' band, Prussian Blue.
An extract from the band biography: "Prussian Blue is a White Pride band. The songs they the girls sing reflect their White Nationalist beliefs. ... The music that Prussian Blue performs is intended for White people."
See: 'Young singers spread racist hate' http://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=1231684&page=1
Posted by: Leila | January 06, 2009 at 01:03 PM
Aren't the lyrics a Kipling poem?
Posted by: Steve | January 06, 2009 at 10:33 PM
Yes, the lyrics from the song is a poem by Rudyard Kipling (1865-1936).
http://www.famous-poems.org/poems/rudyard-kipling/the-stranger
Posted by: Kris | January 07, 2009 at 02:33 AM