27/04/2024
Life. Lately. List format
1. It's been over 6 months since October 10 when I fled my homeland --where I had lived again, for the past 6.5 years.
Tel Aviv, Istanbul, Paris, NYC. 24 hours of what felt like running for my life.
I've been a displaced war refugee since then. Yes, i know, I'm a privileged American citizen as well, and I'm not homeless so not desperate like a typical war refugee. But I am. Neither here nor there...suspended. Engrossed in deep unrelenting sorrow.
2. What happened to Israeli citizens on October 7 is etched in my soul like a tattoo, so big and bold except I did not want it...
Like many Jewish, Christian, Muslim and Druze Israelis, I have fought my whole life for peace and a two state solution for Palestinians and Israelis; since I can remember myself as a young adult. So many false hopes along the way...Palestinian leaders never willing to go the extra mile for their people.
3. What transpired in the west Bank, Gaza and around the world after the Oct 7 massacre --- cheers and celebrations by Palestinians and pro palestinians for said massacre --- broke my heart and broke my deep belief that peace is possible. When I learned that Vivian Silver-co founder of Women Wage Peace-- was brutally murdered by Hamas soldiers.terrorists-- I felt my heart sink.
4. The war that is happening in Gaza now is horrific. Israel's response is harsh, counterproductive and unnecessary in my view. B u t----it is legitimate if we believe in a peaceful world order of some sort; terrorist states must be eradicated of terrorists. Gaza is a terrorist ruled entity.
So many innocents are dying because Hamas won't surrender the 133 remaining abducted civilians--from so many nationalities, not just Israelis, and because it uses its own civilians as hostages and human shields. (90% of whom support Hammas, which was elected in 2006 by democratic elections, btw)
5. Protests for are good. All war is bad. What isn't good is that according to liberal woke students, my daughter included, and faculty--- Israel is the only bad guy here. Not one sign in the protests asking to divest money.charity.donations from Hamas, which for years used such donations to build the underground tunnels that are allowing them to hide while their population is used as human shields above ground. Not one sign and call for two states solution. Instead in many protests one sees folks wearing headbands and flags of Hammas and Hezbolla---two terrorist organizations bordering Israel on the north and east, and supported by Iran-- who call for the annihilation of the Jews and the Jewish state. Intifadah all the way and from the river to the sea Palestine will be free (as opposed to everyone will be free) is what we hear. Antisemitism is on the rise. I stopped talking Hebrew on phone in public or reading Hebrew literature or wearing my necklace on the subway.
6. Bibi and his rotten messianic government need to go now. The failure to protect our citizens on October 7 is in my view worthy of jail time for life. There are hundreds of thousands Israeli citizens protesting in Israel now and have been for almost 2 years!! Now the protests call to end the war and return all hostages home now. We value life and are willing to say we were defeated in this war by Hamas terrorists and the failure of our army and government.
7. When will we see Palestinian and pro-palestinian voices as well as liberal American and European voices demanding that Hamas give up its terror, return hostages and let Palestinians re write their own narrative as a people seeking freedom and justice for all ? As people seeking a bright future for their children? Including lgbtq and secular women?!
Don't talk to me about different power scales because Israel has a bigger army. Talk to me about the will of Palestinians to live side by side with israelis. In a smallish area of land. Until I see that I will not believe that there is anyone to have peace with.
8. I'm 6th generation Israeli born on my mother's side. My 100 yr old grandma who died a year ago actually had a Palestinian ID from the days of British mandate. I was born in 1967. Don't call me a white colonizer; I'm half Ashkenazi and half sepharadi.mizrahi. My grandfather Nahum came from Kurdistan--an Arab, Muslim country bordering on Iraq where Jews were kicked out if not murdered when the UN voted for Israel to officially exist in 1948. I'm brown skinned. This land is my land just like it is Palestinian arab land. Unless we recognize that we both have rights to this land---sadly there will not b peace in the middle east----or the world.
9. I am tired. I want to close my eyes and go elsewhere.
10. I wish for
