I just got back from Turkey! And I don't really want to write about the place until I put pictures up. Hopefully by the end of the week.
When we got back (Sunday) we were told we could not go out because there were going to be "demonstrations" all day. No one told us what was going on though. We heard lots of fireworks (I've heard fireworks three nights this week already). The next day I found a local newspaper that covered the events of the previous day.
What I assumed was a small protest or some violence was actually a large and official celebration. Kinda. Monday was Jerusalem Day. It celebrated the 45 years that Jerusalem has been one city after the 1967 war. Sounds great. Unity is good. Jerusalem is good. Right? Sadly, not all is well in zion.
Many prominent speakers told of Jerusalem never being divided again. Netanyahu said, "We saw the words of the prophets come true. We saw the rise of Zion, the return of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel, the ingathering of exiles, and our return to Jerusalem." He later added, "Our capital will never be divided" later in his speech. Wonderful words. A reporter and scholar, Ilana Brown, wrote in the paper that there is no Zionism without Jerusalem so the city must be preserved to protect the identity of Jews and their hope. Again, nice things.
15 people were arrested during the celebrations. That is down from last years 24 arrests. The reason the arrests are down is because last year the march (the main form of celebration during the day) (it was 50,000 strong this year and mostly peaceful) went anywhere in the city but was limited to Israeli West Jerusalem this year (last year's march involved damage to private property, such as smashed car windows, in the East Jerusalem, where Palestinians live). 5 Palestinians were arrested this year for throwing things at marchers. 10 Israelis were arrested for shouting racist slurs such as "Death to Arabs!" and "Revenge on Palestine!"
That's jacked up.
I can think of no excuse for such behavior. If that is how the city celebrates such a holiday why keep the holiday? If the celebration only reminds people of hurt and division then why celebrate? Acknowledging mistakes and petitioning people whether they would like such a holiday could be a good idea. Disbanding the holiday and seeking a better celebration would be great. Why celebrate your victory over the people you work, live, and worship near? It only creates division to proclaim your superiority and ability to keep a city under one disputed rule.
It's a mad world.
(23 May 2012)
When we got back (Sunday) we were told we could not go out because there were going to be "demonstrations" all day. No one told us what was going on though. We heard lots of fireworks (I've heard fireworks three nights this week already). The next day I found a local newspaper that covered the events of the previous day.
What I assumed was a small protest or some violence was actually a large and official celebration. Kinda. Monday was Jerusalem Day. It celebrated the 45 years that Jerusalem has been one city after the 1967 war. Sounds great. Unity is good. Jerusalem is good. Right? Sadly, not all is well in zion.
Many prominent speakers told of Jerusalem never being divided again. Netanyahu said, "We saw the words of the prophets come true. We saw the rise of Zion, the return of Jewish sovereignty in the Land of Israel, the ingathering of exiles, and our return to Jerusalem." He later added, "Our capital will never be divided" later in his speech. Wonderful words. A reporter and scholar, Ilana Brown, wrote in the paper that there is no Zionism without Jerusalem so the city must be preserved to protect the identity of Jews and their hope. Again, nice things.
15 people were arrested during the celebrations. That is down from last years 24 arrests. The reason the arrests are down is because last year the march (the main form of celebration during the day) (it was 50,000 strong this year and mostly peaceful) went anywhere in the city but was limited to Israeli West Jerusalem this year (last year's march involved damage to private property, such as smashed car windows, in the East Jerusalem, where Palestinians live). 5 Palestinians were arrested this year for throwing things at marchers. 10 Israelis were arrested for shouting racist slurs such as "Death to Arabs!" and "Revenge on Palestine!"
That's jacked up.
I can think of no excuse for such behavior. If that is how the city celebrates such a holiday why keep the holiday? If the celebration only reminds people of hurt and division then why celebrate? Acknowledging mistakes and petitioning people whether they would like such a holiday could be a good idea. Disbanding the holiday and seeking a better celebration would be great. Why celebrate your victory over the people you work, live, and worship near? It only creates division to proclaim your superiority and ability to keep a city under one disputed rule.
It's a mad world.
(23 May 2012)
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