Being dafka

I am having an ongoing dialogue with my aunt about my blog. I have upset her. She feels I am badmouthing my own, providing fodder to feed the hatred against Israel. She says I am biased and only show sympathy for the Palestinians. I know she is not the only person who feels this way so I want to respond here.

First, I am incredibly grateful to everyone for sharing this journey with me. It is not an easy one. I appreciate your openness and honesty. That you are ready to engage counts enormously.

Second, there are many things I love about Israel. I love the food, I love the warmth of the people, I love the vibes in the cities. There are so many amazing Israelis who are trying to make things better and trying to reflect on what is happening here, the unspoken heroes of this conflict.

I am proud of being Jewish. My journey, while critical of the policies of the Israeli government, is deeply rooted in my love for my own people. One of the things I value most is our emphasis on asking questions, discussing and debating. Being dafka. I think it makes us strong. I think it makes us confront reality.

But I also understand, that because Israel receives so much criticism from the outside, most Jews believe it is their duty to be loyal, to stand by Israel.

I think a lot about my Bobba (my grandmother). She was not in Europe during the Holocaust, but she had to stand by and watch while Hitler tried to exterminate our people. How do you live with that? For me it is obvious that in her time, the most important cause was the creation of a homeland for the Jewish people. And she fought for it with a passion and determination that I deeply admire. She even bought an enormous apartment in Tel Aviv in the hope that her three children and their families would make aliyah, and that she would house all fifteen of us!

Israel is now a strong, independent, vibrant and thriving nation. It has proven its resilience time and again. But with power comes responsibility. And this means being accountable for your actions and respecting the rule of law. If it is our duty as Jews to support Israel, then are we not undermining the state by not holding it accountable for its actions? by not insisting that it upholds its own laws and international obligations?

I am not asking Jews to become the victim again. It stinks to be the victim. I would rather be strong and have enemies than be weak and extinct. So I am not asking us to be perfect, I am asking us to be better. Because I believe we can be, and because I believe it is in our interest to be better. For now. For tomorrow. And for the future.

24 days to go...

An Arab's Holocaust museum

OK, this is a second hand story, but I could not resist sharing it with you. A Swiss friend of mine met this incredible guy, a muslim, Arab-Israeli, who opened up a Holocaust museum in Nazareth in 2005 and in Ni'lin in the West Bank this year.

Hi name is Khaled Kasab Mahameed and he defies the norm. He believes that teaching Arabs about the Holocaust is vital to solve the Arab-Israeli conflict. He regularly goes to the West Bank to educate Palestinians about the Holocaust.

He is criticised by both sides. By the Arab side for focusing on the suffering of the Jews and abandoning the suffering of the Palestinians. And by the Jewish side for making links between the Holocaust and the suffering of the Palestinian people.

I have not met him yet, so it is too early to judge, but it sounds like an important initiative. Another building block to peace.

30 days to go...

Friend or foe?

It was with caution today that I met a representative from the Red Cross. I have always been skeptical of the Red Cross. I was taught that they turned a blind eye to the concentration camps and gas chambers across Europe, and did nothing while the Nazis killed six million Jews. To a large extent this was true, and the Red Cross has since apologised for its failure to act during the Holocaust. But I also learnt today that the story is more complex, that the Red Cross tried to intervene, in most cases unsuccessfully, and in other cases were forced to remain as bystanders while Jews were transported to death camps.

A big failure of internatonal humanitarian law at the time, was the absence of a convention to protect civilians during war. A direct consequence of the Holocaust was the creation of the Fourth Geneva Convention 1949 designed to protect civilians during times of war, armed conflict or under occupation. Since then, the Red Cross has become more effective, for example during the genocide in Rwanda and now in Darfur, Sudan.

The Red Cross also has a strong presence in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. They provide humanitarian assistance, visit Palestinian prisoners in Israeli and Palestinian prisons, and monitor the situation of Palestinians affected by mobility restrictions, Israeli settlements and the routing of the security barrier.

The Red Cross operates in a discreet and confidential manner. They enjoy good relations with the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) and other Israeli authorities. But many Israelis despise them: the Red Cross was nowhere to be seen when the Jews needed help, but for the Palestinians, they are everywhere.

This short-sightedness frustrates me. While the Red Cross has its limits, it remains the most important organisation protecting and providing assistance to victims of war, armed conflict or occupation. They are often the only ones who remain after all other organisations have been expelled or evacuated from conflict zones. They are able to play this role because of their perceived independence and neutrality.

I am thrilled that the Red Cross is here. I think it shows that we have learnt some of the lessons of history.

54 days to go...