The great change since Netanyahu has assumed leadership in Israel is that he has transformed the dynamic of politics with the Palestinians from a process of reconciliation to one of confrontation. Like the bad old days. With Netanyahu, we have returned to the zero sum game – the more they get, the more we lose. How painfully obvious at the Wye Plantation these past few days. What a loss for both our peoples.
This past week, two joint Israeli-Palestinian activities were cancelled – both were planned for sharing the work and pleasure of the olive picking harvest in two Palestinian villages. These were pure co-existence activities, attempts to find our way back to each other, despite the political conflict around us. A day or two prior to the events, the Israelis were called by the Palestinians and told, with apologies, not to come. I believe that the reason we were disinvited was Hamas threats against those Palestinians who cooperate with Israelis. This is a direct product of the stalemate in the peace process. Palestinians who want to cooperate with Israelis now find it hard to justify the dialogue, not just to Hamas, but to moderate Palestinians as well. And the extremist Palestinians, with their bombs and grenades, gain in sympathy and support.
This past week also saw settlers squatting in more buildings in East Jerusalem (the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood). They took over a building they claimed was once a synagogue, and refused to leave. Peace Now called for a demonstration, and all the peace groups joined them, including Bat Shalom. The settlers moved into a building in the heart of a Palestinian neighborhood, flew big Israeli flags from the roof, and say they will stay forever. They were led by Knesset Member Benny Elon of the Moledet Party, a rabidly racist party. They have the protection of the Israeli Border Patrol. There were scuffles with Palestinians and peace protesters who tried to get them to leave, but the upshot, under this regime, is that they have political priority. Yesterday they staged a religious festival at the site to nail down the arrogant point they were making. We believe that until Jerusalem is shared – the sovereign capital of both Israel and Palestine – we will never have peace in this city.
One final discouraging word. Two weeks ago, several women from Mothers and Women for Peace were attacked for carrying signs that said, “We have no spare children for wars.” Their assailants were men who emerged from the Heikhal Shlomo Great Synagogue in Jerusalem. One woman had her nose and a tooth broken, and required stitches on several areas of her face. One of the chief rabbis who passed by the scene walked right on. Nor did he relate to the violence in any subsequent sermons. Women from Bat Shalom and Women from Black will be joining them in a solidarity demonstration this Friday.
If you live in this country, come to the following activities. We cannot afford the luxury of hopelessness, as my esteemed Palestinian colleague, Dr. Sumaya Farhat-Naser, always says.
Olive Picking Saturday, October 24
Come olive-picking at Mu’awiyyeh Village near Wadi ‘Ara on Saturday, the 24th of October. This is being organized by a group of independent Jewish and Palestinian peace activists, all Israelis.
The Mu’awiyyeh Village is one of the villages in which the Israeli government is attempting to confiscate 1,250 acres (5,000 dunam), in addition to the almost 9,000 acres (35,000 dunam) that have already been confiscated over the years.
This was the point of origin of the terrible events of 2 weeks ago that moved into Umm al-Fahim, in which hundreds of Arabs were wounded during the protest, and the police assaulted a school full of children. Come express your solidarity and lend a hand.
Mothers & Women For Peace Friday, 23 October
Join this organization this Friday to protest the violence against them and join their demand to prevent the next war from happening. Meet at Women in Black Square (Paris Square), beside Terra Sancta (how ironic), in Jerusalem.