- I am proud to say I painted this very banner. - AnomalousNYC
Israel Salute Day - New York Shame Day
The Story (a bit of narration this time):
Coming out of a subway station in New York City in June, I saw a nice
blue poster announcing the Israel Salute Day Parade on 5th avenue
which I took as a personal invitation. I went to the rendezvous
expecting wonderful encounters and amazing discoveries. Apart from a
few small groups of Arab and Jewish anti-Zionist protesters, the 5th
avenue, and for as long as I could see, was loaded with horrific 'hate' posters, racism and provocation ruled! A treasure trove for peace and
love mongers…. I did not post these photos at the time (only this one), for I didn't want to politicize my stream... The situation now
obliges…
These photos are a testimony to the pure humanistic refinement and philanthropy of the Zionist culture. My comments, from top to bottom, left to right:
1- Expel the arab not the jews: Yep, it's a flat ass racist-hate message right on the 5th avenue in front of a million people and it's the whole point of any Israel actions. One of the finest Zionist traditions, the real code word for it being “population transfer”, it was practiced all over Palestine from 1880 to 1948 the date of the creation of the state of Israel, then with special variations since 1967 on Gaza, the West Bank and the Syrian Golan.
2 and 3- Signs carrying random American family names that immigrated to Israel and the slogan "Israel - Nobody blongs here more than you": Exactly, invite American Jewish families -who are under no danger whatsoever- to immigrate to Israel, give them subsidies, land and money – that’s why they would go anyway… Steal Palestinian land to provide them for illegal settlements, while at the same time, forbidding Palestinian refugees from returning to their land under the pretext there’s no place for them... and think of creative criminal ways to drive out more Palestinians in the future, yep we said it in -1- Expel arabs!
4- If not you then who? If not now, then when?: Uncle Olmert wants you!!! Come on you slacker!!! Get down to it! Go to the promised land of empty promises, go now! We need fuel for future wars, we need soldiers and we need people that want to die and people that want to vote… Go! Become a proud Israeli and make Israel proud of you.... Turn off that TV you Israel-unlover… You can do it! You just have to believe in yourself strong enough!!
5- Israel fights the battle against world terror on the front lines: Hey you US citizens, don't you get it?!?! And you dare ask about your tax money, shame! Come on? Do you wanna fight terror yourself? No need to! Outsource to Israel, it’s cheaper... What Israel is for anti-terror is like what India is fo IT... We get a 1st class job done, ISO standards and all, and cheaper! All you need is to vote! (… and to pay)
6- Israel = Peace & Democracy, Palestinians = Death & Destruction: Somehow there's a man and a woman that were made to believe that the world’s biggest apartheid regime is about peace and democracy (and luv)... For that kind of brainwash, I bow in front of the US media in awe... standing ovation... bravo!
The last sign deserves a special hint:
Israel is our future: All right, future for who ezactly sinior? US citizens, Eskimo, Jews? Actually, I believe it's our sad future here in the Middle East all religions inclusive and that includes the Jews duly invited to become the fuel of the Zionist wars to come… With such good US government support, Zionism will have the power to dispense on us as many joyful surprises as it has done in the past 120 years... It's our future and in our future, and we shall be congratulating ourselves for having such a merit and for being born so close to where it decided to “Aliyah” itself, for generations to come. Amen!
I Apologize for being late, and Happy f***** Salute day to you and see you next year with bigger signs and more out in the sun bigotry
Comments and faves
FlickrJunkie (71 months ago | reply)
footnote:
(For those who don’t know, Aliyah is the rise to mount Zion in Jerusalem, and one of the most romantic expressions in the Zionist dictionary… What it means in simple english is the biggest refugee case in modern history)
maco (71 months ago | reply)
The link in the first paragraph is not working.... i think it should be www.flickr.com/photos/rabih/163924971/
FlickrJunkie (71 months ago | reply)
@maco: thanks
lifeflaw (71 months ago | reply)
Rabih, thank you, very informative post. I am amazed that some people can be brainwashed to this extent.
Or Hiltch (71 months ago | reply)
@FlickrJunkie, the first point you made here ("1.") is sadly one of the the biggest manipulation you have used thus far.
That radical American-Jew (who could very well be racist) that has nothing to do with Israeli policy is holding that sign as following a certain event you forgot to mention. The Disengagement plan Israel did, when it pulled the IDF out of Gaza and expelled Jews from their homes near Gaza in order for that to be possible.
Israel ruined hundreds of Jewish families houses and transported them forcefully out of the area near Gaza. And for what reason? for people like yourself to twist around the words of one Jewish radical and sell it to people as what's going on?
Other than that, the rest of the complaints are legitimate to say if you hate Israel and the US. But against that there isn't allot I can say that will change your mind.
FlickrJunkie (71 months ago | reply)
@orca man: Duuuude... DON'T USE THE WORD 'HATE' with me, I said that before to others... LET'S KEEP A GOOD EXCHANGE BETWEEN ME AND YOU. AND I CERTAINLY DON'T HATE THE US, DON'T SAY THAT WORD, DON'T REPEAT IT, DON'T THINK OF IT. Actually I love the US, some of my best friends are Americans, and American jews so don't you accuse me of hate if you run out of arguments!!
We people of the middle east, and regardless of the current state of events still look at the US to help us gain justice and peace!! Peace will never happen without US support. The US public has had its share of pure Zionist control over the media so far... The vast majority of American citizens, given half a chance to see these messages for what they really are would NOT ACCEPT THIS TO HAPPEN IN THEIR COUNTRY.
Regadless of the creative context you're trying to put that 1st sign into... IT'S A HATE MESSAGE... What?? you want to drive the 1 million palestinians out of Gaza for your illegal 9000 winers that got a 150K$ compensation each for returning land they don't own anyway! That doesn't sound like ruining lives exactly...
THIS posting is about a shameful day in New York City... Shameful because the guy you describe as a racist could do in the open air, in the world's 1st democracy... so don't hijack the conversation and turn in into something else...
Do you approve that message, clearly you don't, so why the BS?
Do you approve that more people living in the worlds 1st democracy and strongest economy and protected by laws are drafted to come to Palestine to steal more land out of people that have nothing left?
FlickrJunkie (71 months ago | reply)
"Now, Israel’s rampage against a defenseless Lebanon – smashing airport runways, fuel tanks, power plants, gas stations, lighthouses, bridges, roads and the occasional refugee convoy – has exposed Bush’s folly in subcontracting U.S. policy out to Tel Aviv, thus making Israel the custodian of our reputation and interests in the Middle East.
The Lebanon that Israel, with Bush’s blessing, is smashing up has a pro-American government, heretofore considered a shining example of his democracy crusade. Yet, asked in St. Petersburg if he would urge Israel to use restraint in its airstrikes, Bush sounded less like the leader of the Free World than some bellicose city councilman from Brooklyn Heights."
Pat Buchanan
Or Hiltch (71 months ago | reply)
1. "DON'T USE THE WORD 'HATE' with me"
-- OK, I won't.
2. "The vast majority of American citizens, given half a chance to see these messages for what they really are would NOT ACCEPT THIS TO HAPPEN IN THEIR COUNTRY.".
-- The thing is, Israel and US policy has NOTHING to do with hate messages and weirdos like that guy over there.
3. "...you want to drive the 1 million Palestinians out of Gaza..."
-- No, for all I care, all Palestinians could stay in Gaza. Israel's policy is to work with the Palestinians for a free Palestinian state. But it's a bit hard to talk to these guys when they are sending their kids to blow up in buses.
4. "THIS posting is about a shameful day in New York City... Shameful because the guy you describe as a racist could do in the open air, in the world's 1st democracy... so don't hijack the conversation and turn in into something else..."
-- ROFL. You are aware of the fact that the US allows just about every man and woman to protest about every subject, are you? Moreover, there is an official American Nazi Party (with a nice loving website too). In America there are Noe-Nazi, anti-bath, and pro-fruit salad protests. There is nothing unusual about radical ugly protests in a democracy.
By the way, Pat Buchanan, is considered to be a rather racist politician in regard to the African American population, Gay rights, Immigrants, and Abortions, so check who you are quoting next time. Having his kind of people "on your side" should not be very comforting to you.
KliX (71 months ago | reply)
Rabih, more important than the debates here that seem to never end here I would like to know your people in Lebanon are doing? It seems that Lebanon is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe (if it has not already begun). Is there enough food and water? Are the fleeing people finding any refuge? How is life functioning in Beirut? Do you have water? Food? Electricity? How are the roads? I think that the heat now is unbearable and this would complicate things even more.
I find it horrible that the Lebanese are watching the foreigners from mighty nations are being evacuated before their eyes while they are stuck in this unjust war while the rest of the world is watching and doing nothing. I read today that Syria absorbed in the last days more that more than100000 Lebanese refugees and other Arab and foreign citizens while trying to send humanitarian help. When are the tragedies are coming to end? First at lest 2 waves of Palestinian refugees, then refugees from Iraq and now the Lebanese. Who is next?
*~Yogini~Astra~* (71 months ago | reply)
I have to agree with oRcA Man regarding Pat Buchanan, he is not someone I would want on my side, he makes me shudder everytime I see him on TV.
Last night I watched Larry King on CNN and it's sad to realize there is still no end in sight of this horrible conflict. It's sad to see beautiful Lebanon being destroyed once again, sad to hear about all the suffering and nobody puts a stop to it. I saw the families of the kidnapped soldiers on TV and I feel for them too. Why is nobody getting Israel to stop the bombing? Enough people have died! This is madness and has to stop! There needs to be a truthful dialogue between all people involved and that should lead to peace not war.
cocolinda (71 months ago | reply)
yogiandastra: thank you for your voice... we need more people like you!! x
peace peace peace... there's no point in bringing anyone down anymore... the issue is that civilian lives are being taken away from them... when will people stop and see what they are doing to their own people????? when? when? when??
ms4jah (71 months ago | reply)
I just got off the phone a few minutes ago with my good Lebanese/American friend Nissrine. (Nice photo of her here: www.flickr.com/photos/hotair2112/115755250/ )
She is here in San Diego, but her parents are there, her 2 sisters, (one is scheduled to give birth on the 25th of July), grandparents and many relatives, they are all just getting by, stuck in Beruit, no where to go, only the one young sister has a visa for the U.S. but no one else. One (the grandmother) barely made it out of the south alive. She said the south is where people like to be now, it is a beautiful area, cooler, green countryside, but instead they all have to crowd into the safer parts of the city. One sister was living near a hezbollah base and she could see the bombing from her balcony; finally she was able to escape to a better part of the city. She said the city is in ruins, they have trouble getting gas or food. They have to go to the more Christian area in the north side to get food. But it is not a humanitarian crisis yet. Mostly it seems very morally depressing is the impression I got. A feeling of powerlessness. The bombing is continuous.
Nissrine says she can't sleep at night. Out of worry for her family.
ms4jah (71 months ago | reply)
Artist: Jackie DeShannon.
Song: What the World Needs Now Is Love.
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It's the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
No not just for some but for everyone.
Lord, we don't need another mountain,
There are mountains and hillsides enough to climb
There are oceans and rivers enough to cross,
Enough to last till the end of time.
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It's the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
No, not just for some but for everyone.
Lord, we don't need another meadow
There are cornfields and wheat fields enough to grow
There are sunbeams and moonbeams enough to shine
Oh listen, lord, if you want to know.
What the world needs now is love, sweet love
It's the only thing that there's just too little of
What the world needs now is love, sweet love,
No, not just for some but for everyone.
No, not just for some, oh, but just for everyone.
FlickrJunkie (71 months ago | reply)
@Klix: the situation is in deep shit as you guess. Most lebanese having lived between 15-30 years in a state of war makes it manageable... We'll survive! Yep the foreigners are leaving so the Insdicriminatory Destruction Forces can have more freedom in cherrypicking their carefully selected targets such as residential houses with 20 women and children... It's allll the fault of Khizbollah as they say.
Yep thank you Syria, we curse it one day then we flee there another, if that's what you mean... ha!? ;) (not the time for those discussions my friend)
FlickrJunkie (71 months ago | reply)
@yogiansandara: I would really like to know what you as an american think about the 'hate' procession I'm showing above?
Maybe it wasn't politically correct to quote Pat Buchanan (my knowledge of him is quite limited anyway), but if there's a yearly hate procession on 5th avenue and George Bush is the leader of the free world... It shouldn't be that dramatic to quote 2 quite accurate paragraphs even if they were written by mephistopheles.
Thank you for all your postings, please keep commenting.
FlickrJunkie (71 months ago | reply)
@MS4JAH: Same question as from yogiansandara (thanks for posting, please keep doing it).
What you describe on the humanitarian side is quite accurate. Just a minor adjustment, the Hizbollah base you refer to in Beirut, is a dense (lower middle class) residential quarter where Hizbollah had their TV station, central command building and a few other buildings where they run their other social organization... In any case few buildings could be tagged as hizbollah... the rest are -i tend to stress- residential buildings (they finally ran something about it yesterday on CNN). this shows a small example of the collective punsihment the Indiscriminatory Destruction Forces have inflicted on the people living there.
.jpg)
*~Yogini~Astra~* (71 months ago | reply)
FlickrJunkie, I am actually from Germany but my husband is American and I currently live in the US.The media here in the US is not covering this conflict in a fair way, the suffering of the Lebanese people definetly gets downplayed, I am tired of hearing words like collateral damage. But you know I did not expect the Bush administration to do anything better, Bush is doing nothing to stop the destruction of Lebanon, actually it seems that the world leaders are just sitting there watching Lebanon being bombed to pieces, all this is fueling more hatred on both sides. A truthful dialogue is needed and hopefully justice and peace will follow. Regarding the pictures above, they are very shameful and horrible but I can assure you not every american feels that way. My husband's uncle Bill who lives in Eugene Oregon is a member of a middle east peace group there and actively involved in working towards Peace in the middle east, he used to live in Lebanon and still has many close friends there, the time he spent in your country was the best of his life. I have a picture of him titled Peace Worker on my flickr page along with one of his emails regarding the war.
KliX (71 months ago | reply)
Rabih, I am very sorry for what is happening in Beirut. What is even more sad is that the country thought that it god rid of war and Beirut was almost completely rebuilt and now what is going on? I am also sorry for the genration that was born after the war and enjoyed a more or less peaceful time but times have changed now.
I did not say the thing about Syria in order to say any political statement. Regardless of all what the state (of both Syria and Lebanon) have done and are doing and despite of all the hard feelings from both people still they are brothers any they must help each other. If I look to my family tree something like 20% of my ancestors (4 generations) are from Lebanon of today. So don't say neither thank you nor anything else. I only hope that this hard time will come soon to an end and that the mentioned help would help appease some of the hard feelings in the future.
FlickrJunkie (71 months ago | reply)
@yogiandastra: Thank you I saw the image and regards to your husband's uncle (i'm reading the email now)
@klix: amen x 1000
Vapileh ♥♠♦♣ added this photo to his favorites. (71 months ago)
Bel Vezer (71 months ago | reply)
Thank you for this image. It's powerful and disturbing. And at the risk of being accused of sounding anit-semitic, I must say that I am sick of the Jewish slanted media here. Thanks again.
AnomalousNYC (71 months ago | reply)
see that big yellow banner in the background that says "FREE PALESTINE" - ?
I made that!
This parade is the darkest day fo the year for me. It is profoundly depressing, To me there actually is plenty to be proud of in Israeli culture - but none of that is celebrated here. This is a salute ot the most obnoxious, hideous, militantly racist elements in Israel and America. Several hundred thousand people come out for this putrid event and the signs people carry - well, decent people would not believe how revolting it is.
The most depressing part is that it is about 80% children who are bussed in from all over the region carrying these horrid nazi-type messages of ethnic triumphalism.
FlickrJunkie (71 months ago | reply)
@Bel Vezer: Thank you
@AnomalousNYC: yep that was a revolting event, unbelievable
robbroccoli added this photo to his favorites. (71 months ago)
`Mark&Manna Photography (71 months ago | reply)
Might I remind everone that Israel agreed to EVERYTHING Arafat demanded for a peace settlement,and a free Palestinian state? Yet The Arab hate-mongers made sure it was never finalized.........Look at your history....it's all there in black and white.
There is no peace because many THRIVE on this conflict! They don't want peace...
Compromise is the answer...not genocide
Kristina J. [deleted] (71 months ago | reply)
Bloody hell. :O :O
.Amir (71 months ago | reply)
I dont give a rat ASS about the politic behind all these...All i see is that bunch of innocent people are dying and most of them kids....so much injustice, so much pain....this is a shamful section in the worlds history...
Thanks for sharing these pictures with us
Elad Sharon (71 months ago | reply)
i smell a bit of nazi shit from your works
FlickrJunkie (71 months ago | reply)
@Sharon: aren't you the smart one who can't read nor make a decent argument besides throwing keywords you've been taught when you have nothing intelligent to say...
FlickrJunkie (71 months ago | reply)
@one old cat: I just checked your profile, you have no photos nor any story, nor any favourites even... nor visibly any business to be on flickr BUT to be anothe zionist boring Loudspeaker... If you don't understand the relationship between this and the problems of the Middle East then go do some research, and come back when you get wiser.
Your last few sentences are pure hypocrisy and a lame attempt at turning this debate into what it's not... The zionist deeds to our region have been plenty for 100 years much before Najad... I would rather like to read your indignation on those clear hate messages above rather than this verbal stupid acrobacy...
I have no interest to have someone like you on my stream, anymore comments and i'll block you and delete all the crap you've been posting around.
maxwell4224 (71 months ago | reply)
FlickrJunkie (70 months ago | reply)
courtesy of AnomalousNYC stream:
elkrusty and khalid added this photo to their favorites.
Simon bar Giora [deleted] (58 months ago | reply)
flickrjunkie: The Israeli day parade reflects a full range of people, viewpoints, and participants. You will find those non-Jew and Jew alike holding varying view points.
1) This sign could be taken or be put into different context. I know you ask how? I am saying that he is saying that if you had a choice don't expel the Jews. He is not saying to expel the Arabs or he would simply write "expel the Arab". Trust me on this, he might even be an Arab that is there is to provoke people into thinking Jews would say this? We don't know. But he does not represent anyone but himself.
2-3) No, it did not say that! It just says that those Jews, American or Mongolian have a right to live in Israel on the basis they are Jews. That's all Most Jews from the US are not running to have Palestinian neighbors who may or may not be terrorist. The land you speak of was purchased from Arab landowners who lived in Beirut, Damascus and Cairo these Arab Land owners sold land to the Jewish settlers who later because residents of the land of Israel. The Arabs who were illegally squatting on the land were even allowed to stay but now Arabs want the land that was sold handed back to them for free when it was never theirs and they were allowed to remain as illegal squatters. One can argue otherwise of course...
4) Um, why should Jews not go to Israel to settle? are you saying that there should be no Jewish state? Is that not an extreme point of view considering Israel does exists? what would you do with all the Jews there? woluld you ethnically cleanse them like in Gaza and Poland? Would Arabs commit pro-Arab genocide like in Sudan, Darfur in Israel too?
5 Israel is the front line to fighting terror. In the US and Europe the citiizens there are safer from Arab/Islamic terror while in the Mideast Jew and Arab alike are murdered by Hamas, Hizbollah, Al-Quada, Sunni,, Shiite, or Sudanese Arab and so on that being killed by an Muslim is in the name of Allah is standard these days and hardly note worthy. A hundred women and children are killed all around Iraq daily by Arab terrorist a day and this is ignored by Arabs world wide and if a Palestinian gets stuck in traffic due to a security check it's world news! What an insult to decency and justice in the world.
You pro-Palestinians are just like Republicans and especially this Gay Senator from Idaho. He is a perfect pro- Palestinian in his hypocrysy. Did Carl Rove work for Arafat before Bush?
6) Um, yes Jews promote peace, understanding to their own people and to their Arab neighbors but this message of peace and good will is shouted down by the voice of Hamas and Islamic extremism and whats worse with violence. Israel wants peace and always has wanted peace but peace is not what the Arabs want , they seem to have a culture of war OR is a war of cultures?
Israel is peaceful, we will go there together and you will enjoy it. I will introduce you to REAL Palestinians not posers like abnormalnyc, Edward Said and Yasser Arafat. You will see the REAL Palestinians are very pro-Israel. They think Fatah and Hamas are evil and they wish Israel would gain control of all the territories so jobs will come back, no more terror and the economy will improve. Palestinians want to go back to pre-Intifada when the Palestinians were once again hijacked by Mafia groups operating under the false auspice of Palestinian Liberationa and later falsely claiming to make peace during OSLO. Meanwhile Fatah and Suha Arafat stole billions of dollars and for what? for who? is it Israel's fault that Sunni hates Shiite too oh no that's they US's fault!
Simon bar Giora [deleted] (58 months ago | reply)
this is not out of context, nor ambiguous like the comments made above!
Just_Jane (57 months ago | reply)
If you want the Palestineans to be independent don't send money but teachers to teach them a profession because the money ends up in their leaders pocket. Yasser Arafats widow sit somewhere in Europe with 18 bilion Dollars of money stolen from their own people...STOP FEELING PITTY FOR THEM< BUT TEACH THEM TO MOVE THEIR LAZY BUMS and teach their children reading and writing instaid playing with a gun
Lebanese Bella (51 months ago | reply)
Just jane their children feel no will to live with the constant terror caused by the Israelis. Did u know that 95% of Palestinian children feel that there is no point in living because of the way they are forced to live. Why dont u send those teachers to Israel and teach them basic elementry rules that we teach children in preschool: "Treat people the way u want to be treated". The Palestinian children try to learn but whats the point when children get shot in the head by the IDF while in the class room?? If their leaders are bums then dont make them suffer for it, while the leader of Israel is busy with his sex scandal and then u claim oh God gave us this land...I dont see anything religious in the actions of Israelis especially the ones of European Jewish background...no justice no peace ;) remember that.
Dispatches fromt the Killing Zone
youtube.com/watch?v=gssGg8Mnu5U
(most people dont realize that 10% of Israeli attacks are directed at Palestinian Christians as well) and then watch this its a GREAT doc.
Occupation 101
youtube.com/watch?v=CU753cxpZBw
Lebanese Bella (51 months ago | reply)
Simon bar givoa nothing gets worse than the picture of the Israeli girls signing the bombs that were sent to kill Lebanese children and how did they Israeli children sign them, what did they write?? With love...go watch the videos on youtube of Israeli children harrassing Palestinian children and international peacekeepers by throwing rocks at them.
Israeli Taunting Caged Palestinians
youtube.com/watch?v=STdPE5y0xLQ
Manhattan Observer (49 months ago | reply)
Lebanese Bella,
That photo of the girls signing the artillery shells was sweet and harmless. You can see how naive the act was in the young girls faces unlike the twisted hatred you see in young Shaheeds in training.
I do not need to see more of youtube I have seen all this in person. I do not care for extremist on either sides but what the youtube videos do not show is context. The context often being that the Jews shown have been terrorized, insulted, bullied, robbed and murdered daily to bring themselves to this point of anger.
Israelis have no problem with Arabs. Israelis want peace. If Arab governments did not threaten constant jihad there would be peace.
FlickrJunkie (49 months ago | reply)
Unclaimed property?
What would you do if you were to find out your house used to belong to Arabs expelled in 1948?
Yehuda Litani
Published: 03.27.08, 22:13 / Israel Opinion/ YNET
My grocer was baffled: "Why are you returning the organic eggs? They're fresh; I only got them this morning."
"I discovered that they come from a settlement in the West Bank," I replied.
"So, what's the problem? They're not Jewish?" he asked.
"Yes, they are," I said, "but I don't buy products made in settlements."
"Since when?" asked the grocer. "Since always," I responded,
He looked at me as if I have lost my mind and concluded, "Everyone has his limits."
Later that day, at a supermarket known for its cheap prices, I realized as I was a approaching the cash register that a few salads I have placed in my shopping cart originate in a factory in Samaria. It was hard to tell by the name of the factory, but the Chief Rabbinate's kashrut certificate enabled me to identify the production location.
When I went back to the salad stand to return the salads, I found out that almost half of the brands sold in this supermarket were made in settlements.
And, it's always a bit embarrassing to have guests coming to my house bearing a fine bottle of wine from a vineyard in Mount Hebron, the Golan Heights or Samaria. I usually smile and thank them, knowing in my heart I would never open these bottles.
I'm frustrated enough by the government's failure to dismantle the illegal outposts or to stop the so-called spontaneous expansion of the settlements. Thankfully I still have the choice whether or not to purchase their products, even if that makes me part of an ever-shrinking minority.
I have always made sure not to buy a house that used to belong to Arabs who were forced to leave or were expelled from Israel.
Whose land is this anyway?
Last month, I invited to my house a locksmith from east Jerusalem named Salah, to do some work for me. He asked whether he could bring along his father, who came from abroad to visit. The elderly man sat in the yard while Salah was busy erecting a fence, and every once in a while I approached him with a drink or refreshments.
On one of these occasions, the father turned to me and told me he very much enjoyed sitting in my yard, after so many years have passed since he last visited the area. How do you know this area, I asked.
"I grew up here," he replied. "In the village nearby, which we had to leave in 1948. Everything here used to belong to us. Here, in your yard, olive trees used to grow and we would harvest them every year. In between harvests we would cultivate the orchard and sometimes play among the trees.
"Down there, near the big Eucalyptus tree, the house of our village head used to stand. He also left shortly after we did."
I was astonished. I told Salah that all these years I was certain that my house had been built on land purchased from the Greek-Orthodox Church. The father, who was listening to our conversation, said, "No, no, those were our lands, or actually, our neighbors'."
Salah, who noticed my distress, quickly said: "Never mind, all of this happened a long time ago. Sixty years. I wasn't even born then. For peace between our two nations, we are willing to give up our property in the village, the houses and the land, right father?"
The father reluctantly nodded his head, but his face conveyed deep sadness.
Lebanese Bella (48 months ago | reply)
Manhattan observer: Jihadists today are not the Jihadists of yesteryear. Today's Jihadists are naive young men who have often been oppressed by the Israeli government who are pawns of the Arab world. You must understand young Jihadists are fighting out of oppression the majority of the time they have lost family members or their homes. Religion is just an excuse, it makes suicide a bit more appealing but please don't let this block reality. The reality is Jihadists are just simple lost souls who are so depressed and oppressed beyond measure that they feel there is no way out except through death. I live in the U.S how many young depressed people commit suicide each year? Its the same concept except that these Arab boys are oppressed by Israel.
The young and naive girls will grow up to join the IDF one day they will be used to kill and oppress innocent Palestinians. Is this what you want to teach these young girls, sign bombs that will be used to kill innocent children in Lebanon?? Is that the message you trying to send out? How do you think these girls will grow up, what kind of message do you think they are getting? What if a young Arab man lets say a Palestinian saw a picture like this and he has maybe lost a sister or a daughter?? What do you think he will do? You dont think he would try to get his revenge? That is your so called Jihadist...
Israelis have a problem with everyone...10% of Israeli aggression is directed towards CHRISTIAN PALESTINIANS. Now tell me what do these Christian Palestinians do to the Israelis?? How have they attacked the Israelis? By refusing to give up their identities as Palestinians?? Israel illegally occupied Lebanon for 22 years as a result Hezballah was formed and you say it is us Arabs?!!!! If Israel stops building illegal settlements in Palestine and it learns to respect its neighbors borders and stops violating Lebanese airspace till this day! Hezballah has respected the new UN resolution yet Israel a "sovereign" country cannot respect a simple UN resolution?? Why tell me?? Why does Israel continue to violate Lebanese natural resources such as Lebanese rivers!!?
I will not deny that Jews have not suffered in the past, but not from the hands of Arabs! But from the hands of Europeans...There is a saying treat people the way you want to be treated. Arabs dont hate Jews, Arabs hate Zionism... And if Zionists stopped oppressing our people then we can talk about peace. Jews in Israel protest against Zionism and as a result they are arrested and targeted at, when international peace keepers are killed in Israel by Israelis you know there is something wrong! Because TODAY in 2008 Palestinians are suffering from Israelis, today Palestinian children are dying, today Palestinians are being denied basic human rights. Today Israel is building illegal settlements, today young children and their mothers are in Israeli prisons. Today Lebanese civilians are dying from Israel's dropping of a million cluster bombs and refusing to give the UN the locations of these bombs! Even though the majority effected by cluster bombs today are LEBANESE CHILDREN! Today Israel is violating Lebanese airspace and water...today Israel is violating UN resolutions...not the Arabs. Today Israel has the highest UN violations WORLD WIDE not the Arabs! You will allow this to happen and what, 50 years from now u will remember ur mistakes?
This is racism! If someone were to put pictures of people saying expel the Zionists everyone would say OMG they are Anti Semitic! Movies today depict Arabs as terrorists they stereotype stop feeding into this, it seems like George Bush's fear tactic has rubbed off on u. By placing fear into someone he is getting ur submission. The Arabs are merely RESPONDING to Israeli aggression, its not vice versa. The numbers and statistics prove this... Racism isnt exceptable for anyone else, why is it acceptable for people to be racist against Arabs? In fact European Jews with a high majority of them being Zionists are racist against their own fellow Middle Eastern/Arab Jews... Middle Eastern Jews of Middle Eastern decent belong in that land, but what are a bunch of Europeans and Americans doing in the Middle East and expelling the real inhabitants the Palestinians? What gives them that right?? You think you have some birth right over someone else? That is supremacy and Zionism is an ideology based on supremacy...that is racism! Sounds a bit like the NAZIS...
Bush is the creator of terrorism for the person who spoke of Sunni vs Shia,...everyone knows Al Queda works for the CIA! This is a proxy war, everyone knows the Nahr el Barid terrorists in Lebanon were created by the Americans...why for what purpose, to turn us Arabs against each other...DIVIDE AND CONQUER so u can implement ur NWO...The world will wake up and realize what u are doing to us! Hezballah is a result of Israel's illegal occupation of LEBANON! Israelis crossed the border FIRST, they know how to spin the story, real slick...
Not all Arabs are Muslim and not all Muslims are Arab
Treat people the way you want to be treated...NO JUSTICE NO PEACE, its that simple. You would expect them to be the most compassionate people, the most humane after what they have been through instead Zionism is the new form of Nazism.
Lebanese Bella (48 months ago | reply)
flickerjunkie what a sad story about the man and the father. I always hear stories like this... But I would like to tell you I really appreciate the fact that , that guy refuses to buy grocery products that have been taken or grown in illegal settlements. What a great message and surely if there were more people like you there would be peace in no time.
Manhattan Observer (48 months ago | reply)
Wow, Lebanese Bella.
You deserve a reply better than the one I will give now which is that I intend to read what you wrote and reply in kind. I will say in short that I know how Israelis think and I know how randomly and innocuous those girls writing on the shells occurred. I do not have a problem with the Lebanese people or Arab people. I have a problem with it's extremist and those who are in control of these various terrorist factions.
I do not think the issue is only a Israeli v.s (add random Arab faction here) problem. The problem is that Lebanon regardless of Israel has civil problems and there are other problems in the Arab world that cannot be (reasonably) blamed on Israel and the Jews.
I will not debate the right or wrong of the Jews v.s Arabs cause it's 5 am and I am tired but I will say that Israel does exists, the conflict exists, and it's not (in my opinion) so simple as you write that it's all because of Israel's aggression. I am not pro-Bush. I have suffered every moment since he has ran for office. Nothing has gone well. I think for example how many people seem to think that those who are Pro-Israel must be right wing Bush supporters. This is not the case. I will not defend American foreign policy. I will have to assume that someone, somewhere benefits from it even if its just a few people on a private island somewhere. It all disgusts me. Maybe try making friends with Israel instead of hating her? Maybe they are not the Nazis you imagine? It always amazes me how Arabs play the victim when the have this giant land stretching from Morocco to Iran, have oil, multiple armies, hundreds of millions of people, and there is little tiny Israel in the middle. Boo!
I think Israel would be the best neighbors the moment they did not feel surrounded by hostile enemies bent on Israel's destruction. Is Israel really paranoid while Iran's leaders and Imam's world wide in Mosques world wide call for the destroying of Israel and the killing of Jews? Have you thought how you might feel if you felt everyone around you wanted you dead? It's not a good feeling. Don't tell me Jews are paranoid with the history they have. You say "No Justice No Peace" but what about all the honor killings in the Arab world? The rampant abuse of women and children who are not protected in sharia law? Just those two human rights violation are far more serious daily than the entire sixty years of a Modern Israel. Lets put things in perspective.
Ever heard of a place called Darfour? Yes thats where there is an Arab sponsored genocide of non-Arab blacks. All in the name of Allah and in the spirit of Pan-Arab unity. Is not Sudan a member of the Arab League? Yes, I believe Sudancurrently holds the Council Seat.
So, I guess millions of indigenous Africans killed by Arabs is ok for that is the right of Islam and the Arabs no?
p.s I am aware that not all Arabs are Muslim. Who would Christian Arabs hire to clean their toilets?
Manhattan Observer (48 months ago | reply)
flickrjunkie:
Nice story about the boycotting writer, shame about the guy though for the best eggs come from Judea. I guess he wanted to make a point but instead takes jobs from Arabs who work on those farms he boycotts. I got to look up the boycott guy when I am back in Israel so I can relieve him off all those bottles of wine from the Golan. I really wonder if he does not drink them? If not I claim them!
As for the older guy reminiscing that is sad of course. It oddly reminds me of people in New York being pushed out through gentrification. However, again that guy who stole Arab land sounds annoying. Let me tell you these people like the boycotter guy are not the ones that will make a lasting peace. These are the type who like the idea as long as they can have their lattes, and muse in Cafe's in Tel Aviv about it. All this self serving melodrama is not what both sides need. It's bourgeoisie wannabe Civil rights people like that poor guy who does not drink Wine from the Golan that is part of the problem. I am so sure he felt bad for taking the olive grove from the poor Arab man. I am sure the Old Arab man would eat the eggs from Judah, he is not an arrogant elitist like Yehuda with his "organic" egg yoke on his face.
Mr.FoxTalbot added this photo to his favorites. (47 months ago)
SteelersUK [deleted] (44 months ago | reply)
Israel has claims to the Holy lands for over 3000 years,They themselves were kicked out and off their lands by the earliest of terrorists The Romans,Assyrians,Babylonians etc.What Israel is doing is simply defending it,s lands and it is being threatend by Palestinian terrorists such as Hamas,Islamic Jihad and the Lebanese Hizbollah!!
Who is it who bombs Israeli buses killing women and babies? Who is it who bombs Jewish schools Al Qassam Brigade ring a bell? A country has a right to defend it,s self.Israel has given the Palestinians Gaza for their Palestinian state but what people do not get is this,Arabs and Islamic fundementalists HATE JEWISH people period!!!
If Israel gave up all it,s land the trouble would,nt stop!! They have openly admitted to wanting the Jewish Religion wiped off the face of the earth.That is why Israel and Zionists are so set on defending their honour and right to exist!!
HAPPY 60TH BIRTHDAY ISRAEL
unclealfred (42 months ago | reply)
zionists are so fucked up in the head that they should basically be parking in the handicapped areas.
-FЦЯΚΛП- [deleted] (42 months ago | reply)
Un-happy 60th birthday israel !!
Qamar* (41 months ago | reply)
Thanks for a great post! Zionists Suck!
AnomalousNYC and Mert Nuhoglu added this photo to their favorites.
hangaaable_auto (41 months ago | reply)
www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jan/07/gaza-isr ael-palestine
have a read and note who its written by huh!
AnomalousNYC (41 months ago | reply)
Not sure what you are pointing to there. Were you a student of his or something at Oxford?
I know the work of Avi Shlaim well but haven't seen this article. I've always found him to be a refreshing and honest commentator, and I always read his work with some excitement - this article, in general, is fantastic and in line with his past work as well as my own views. Thanks so much for linking to it!
hangaaable_auto (41 months ago | reply)
i just found it very interesting and honest,especially as the author is an oxford professor of international relations and had served in the isreali army,it certainly opened my eyes.
hangaaable_auto (41 months ago | reply)
p.s. i had never read or heard of the author before finding this article, i had a vague idea what was going on in the region and am not ashamed to admit i like many others are pretty ignorant with regards to the troubles faced,i found this article to be an education and was hoping others may too.
Qamar* (41 months ago | reply)
[http://www.flickr.com/photos/34185421@N04/31 83096836/]
The only thing is the lion should be replaced by a hyena! That suits the zionists better than a lion!