Comments on: The Missing http://semitism.net/2007/07/11/the-missing/ Pro-Jewish, Pro-Arab, Pro-Peace Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:19:47 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: The Heretical Jew http://semitism.net/2007/07/11/the-missing/#comment-29581 The Heretical Jew Thu, 12 Jul 2007 16:18:57 +0000 http://semitism.net/2007/07/11/the-missing/#comment-29581 What an incredible piece! It is the division between Palestinian Arab and Jew, caused by the leadership of both, that allows the perpetuation of ignorance, and hatred between the two people. One only need look back less than a hundred years when Palestinian Arab and Jew lived side by side in peace. However, due to the clash between the Zionist movement and the likes of al Husseini, the Arabs and Jews found themselves on different sides of a battle. It was a division that neither of them wanted or desired, but was imposed upon them by their leaderships. Once divided, the leadership was able to feed the people propaganda and threats that bolstered the division and fostered hatred of the other in the people. How sad it is that we have gone to a people who loved their neighbor to a people who are zenophobic and bigoted. What an incredible piece! It is the division between Palestinian Arab and Jew, caused by the leadership of both, that allows the perpetuation of ignorance, and hatred between the two people. One only need look back less than a hundred years when Palestinian Arab and Jew lived side by side in peace. However, due to the clash between the Zionist movement and the likes of al Husseini, the Arabs and Jews found themselves on different sides of a battle. It was a division that neither of them wanted or desired, but was imposed upon them by their leaderships. Once divided, the leadership was able to feed the people propaganda and threats that bolstered the division and fostered hatred of the other in the people.

How sad it is that we have gone to a people who loved their neighbor to a people who are zenophobic and bigoted.

]]> By: Steffi http://semitism.net/2007/07/11/the-missing/#comment-29614 Steffi Thu, 12 Jul 2007 19:13:12 +0000 http://semitism.net/2007/07/11/the-missing/#comment-29614 Hebron really epitomizes the tragedy of Jewish/Palestinian relationships. In 1929, the Arabs massacred over 60 Jews there. When, after 1967, a small group of Jewish settlers decided that they had the "right of return," they arrived in Hebron apparently bringing with them a level of hatred and vengeance that has continued unabated. When I was in Israel with my husband and kids in 1978, some Israeli friends of ours took us to Hebron to buy some of the lovely hand-blown glass that the area was famous for. We also visited King Solomon's pools. Although it was possible for tourists to visit Hebron easily at that point, the atmosphere was nonetheless very tense, more so than in Jerusalem or other parts of the country where Jews and Palestinians still lived in some proximity and, if not good friendship, at least in civility. In writing about what has become of Hebron now, Brad, you have captured beautifully and in a most moving way the tragedy of the situation for all concerned, a tragedy that reaches beyond politics, beyond blame and enters into our souls. And on a lighter note -- I'm quite impressed that Eli can count to 40 in Hebrew! I don't know of many 2&1/2 yr. old American kids who can count to 40 in English! He sounds like such a bright, sensitive and delightful little boy. Hebron really epitomizes the tragedy of Jewish/Palestinian relationships. In 1929, the Arabs massacred over 60 Jews there. When, after 1967, a small group of Jewish settlers decided that they had the “right of return,” they arrived in Hebron apparently bringing with them a level of hatred and vengeance that has continued unabated. When I was in Israel with my husband and kids in 1978, some Israeli friends of ours took us to Hebron to buy some of the lovely hand-blown glass that the area was famous for. We also visited King Solomon’s pools. Although it was possible for tourists to visit Hebron easily at that point, the atmosphere was nonetheless very tense, more so than in Jerusalem or other parts of the country where Jews and Palestinians still lived in some proximity and, if not good friendship, at least in civility.
In writing about what has become of Hebron now, Brad, you have captured beautifully and in a most moving way the tragedy of the situation for all concerned, a tragedy that reaches beyond politics, beyond blame and enters into our souls.
And on a lighter note — I’m quite impressed that Eli can count to 40 in Hebrew! I don’t know of many 2&1/2 yr. old American kids who can count to 40 in English! He sounds like such a bright, sensitive and delightful little boy.

]]> By: Andrew Schamess http://semitism.net/2007/07/11/the-missing/#comment-29786 Andrew Schamess Fri, 13 Jul 2007 17:11:14 +0000 http://semitism.net/2007/07/11/the-missing/#comment-29786 Yes a very sad and beautifully written piece. Here's one more small example of how the separation of peoples plays out. There's a major hospital in Hebron, not in the old city, but on the outskirts (aside from the old city, most of Hebron is still Arab). It's a well equipped facility, built, I think, largely with Saudi funds. The staff is very competent, well-trained and professional, and the level of care is comparable to that of any Israeli tertiary care facility. When I was there in 2004, I asked the chief of surgery if they ever took care of the Israeli settlers. He said they used to see them pretty often in the emergency room, but not any more. Now they have helicopters, and fly to the hospitals in Jerusalem; or they drive on the fast settler-only roads that bypass checkpoints etc. He also made a point of saying that there was no discrimination against Israelis - they got the same care as Palestinians, and they were generally satisfied. He said they would still be cared for if they came now. Their disappearance is another example of the separation you're talking about. Now there are no Jewish settlers with stories to tell about how their wound was sewn up by an Arab doctor (who, maybe, wasn't such a bad fellow at all). A footnote: the Hebron hospital is one of the two major teaching sites for medical students at Al Quds University, the only Palestinian medical school. Israel is now restricting Palestinian movement between Jerusalem and the West Bank - it's very hard to get an ID that will allow you to travel freely between the two. One effect has been to keep West Bank medical students from getting to their classes at Al Quds hospital in Jerusalem; and the Jerusalem students can't go to their clinical rotations in Hebron. The separation of Jerusalem from the West Bank may ultimately mean the end of the medical school. This would be a tragedy for the faculty, who've made tremendous sacrifices to keep the school open under strenuous conditions. It would also close off one avenue of professional development for talented young Palestinian men and women, and create a physician shortage in the Palestinian territories. Yes a very sad and beautifully written piece.

Here’s one more small example of how the separation of peoples plays out.

There’s a major hospital in Hebron, not in the old city, but on the outskirts (aside from the old city, most of Hebron is still Arab). It’s a well equipped facility, built, I think, largely with Saudi funds. The staff is very competent, well-trained and professional, and the level of care is comparable to that of any Israeli tertiary care facility.

When I was there in 2004, I asked the chief of surgery if they ever took care of the Israeli settlers. He said they used to see them pretty often in the emergency room, but not any more. Now they have helicopters, and fly to the hospitals in Jerusalem; or they drive on the fast settler-only roads that bypass checkpoints etc.

He also made a point of saying that there was no discrimination against Israelis - they got the same care as Palestinians, and they were generally satisfied. He said they would still be cared for if they came now.

Their disappearance is another example of the separation you’re talking about. Now there are no Jewish settlers with stories to tell about how their wound was sewn up by an Arab doctor (who, maybe, wasn’t such a bad fellow at all).

A footnote: the Hebron hospital is one of the two major teaching sites for medical students at Al Quds University, the only Palestinian medical school. Israel is now restricting Palestinian movement between Jerusalem and the West Bank - it’s very hard to get an ID that will allow you to travel freely between the two.

One effect has been to keep West Bank medical students from getting to their classes at Al Quds hospital in Jerusalem; and the Jerusalem students can’t go to their clinical rotations in Hebron.

The separation of Jerusalem from the West Bank may ultimately mean the end of the medical school. This would be a tragedy for the faculty, who’ve made tremendous sacrifices to keep the school open under strenuous conditions. It would also close off one avenue of professional development for talented young Palestinian men and women, and create a physician shortage in the Palestinian territories.

]]> By: tribalecho.com http://semitism.net/2007/07/11/the-missing/#comment-29830 tribalecho.com Sat, 14 Jul 2007 06:20:31 +0000 http://semitism.net/2007/07/11/the-missing/#comment-29830 I couldn't even read your post, though I'm grateful to put you in my bookmarks. Lately I've been hanging out on ME blogs. It's very depressing. I know that sounds dumb since I live in the US, I really am not complaining, but...... It seems that every time I try to express some sympathy for what is happening to the Iraqi people, someone says that they are all crazy murderers. And I know for a fact, That ain't true. I couldn’t even read your post, though I’m grateful to put you in my bookmarks.

Lately I’ve been hanging out on ME blogs.

It’s very depressing. I know that sounds dumb since I live in the US, I really am not complaining, but……

It seems that every time I try to express some sympathy for what is happening to the Iraqi people,

someone says that they are all crazy murderers.

And I know for a fact,

That ain’t true.

]]> By: fairleft http://semitism.net/2007/07/11/the-missing/#comment-29898 fairleft Sat, 14 Jul 2007 17:33:11 +0000 http://semitism.net/2007/07/11/the-missing/#comment-29898 I wrote an appreciation of your wonderful piece at http://www.myleftwing.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=17809 and over at boomantribune.com too. I wrote an appreciation of your wonderful piece at http://www.myleftwing.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=17809 and over at boomantribune.com too.

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