Wanted for alternative ceremony: Arabs

Ha'aretz ^ | May 13, 2008 | Yoav Stern and Fadi Eyadat

[forkinsocket]

Only 20 of the 160 people who showed up to participate in the conference connecting Nakba Day and Independence Day were Arab

Unlike those who relate them, the Israeli-Jewish narrative and the Palestinian-Arab narratives usually share what seems to be a productive coexistence, a kind of strange mutual support system: the more one develops and grows, so its colleague-rival is reinforced and strengthened.

So just now there is a festival of narratives: the traditional torch-lighting on Mount Herzl was accompanied last week by a "Procession of Return" event, which is held annually on the Hebrew date of Independence Day, and was marked this year by a pilgrimage to the abandoned village of Saphoria (Tzipori); while Israeli Jews were lighting barbecues, internal refugees visited their destroyed villages, which were usually not far from their present homes; the President's Conference "Facing Tomorrow," which opens today and will host world leaders, will be followed by Nakba Day - literally, "the catastrophe," the Palestinians' term for what happened to them after 1948, which falls on May 15, the Gregorian date of the establishment of the State of Israel. Nakba Day is marked in Israel, the Palestinian territories, Arab states and even in Europe.

There was an unusual attempt to have the narratives not only coexist, but also actually be in the same place, over Memorial Day and Independence Day at the Givat Haviva hostel. This is the sixth time that "the experiment," as it is called by the organizers, has taken place. This year apparently there was a record number of participants: 160 adults and 20 children.

"Political-spiritual peace work" was the title of this encounter; "Jews and Palestinians, citizens of the State of Israel, together mark Memorial Day, Nakba Day and Independence Day," stated the invitation.

[forkinsocket]

Of the 160 people present, 140 were Jews, 20 were Arabs.

Arabs have more dignity than leftist Jews.

[Proud_USA_Republican]

Nakba day was awesome in Seattle. A bunch of non-jewish white liberals wearning palestinian head scarfs and black outfits protesting in front of the symphony hall with fake coffins and yelling about genocide.

How ironic that liberals are the first to be put under the sword in Islamic countries.

[MarkL]

Suicide Squad Leader: We are the Judean People's Front crack suicide squad! Suicide squad, attack!

[they all stab themselves]

Suicide Squad Leader: That showed 'em, huh?

Mark