Nir
Jun-28-2005, 06:01 AM
INTRODUCTION
Israeli politics are pretty complicated. Roots of the present conflict were implanted about 4000 years ago. Ishmael was the son of Abraham and Hagar, Sarah's slave. Sarah 'gave' Hagar to Abraham thinking she (Sarah) was infertile - Ishmael was born. Then a miracle happened - the barren Sarah gave birth to Isaac. On Sarah's initiative, wishing for her own son's inheritance, Hagar and Ishmael were driven out of the camp (Genesis 21). Thus two half-brothers, Isaac and Ishmael became the forefathers of two great nations, but they never got over their mothers' inheritance conflict. Two conflicting nations are today destined to live in the middle east, side by side, in harmony.
But harmony still has not been attained.
In 1947, following the end of the British mandate in Palestine, UN Resolution GA181 called for partition of Palestine based on the following map:
http://www.mideastweb.org/map_unpartition.gif
Descendants of Ishmael were unhappy with the resolution; Syria, Jordan and Egypt attacked the descendants of Isaac, and lost. Descendants of Isaac established the State of Israel on the yellow area of the following map:
http://www.mideastweb.org/Israelmap_1949.gif
In the 1960s pressure began to build. In May 1967 Egyptian President Gamal Nasser began building up pro-war rhetoric in the media and then closed the Strait of Tiran to Israeli shipping. The Fatah group, headed by Yasser Arafat (recently deceased), began calling for war to eliminate Israel. Jordan signed a defense pact with Egypt, readying itself for war. King Hussein stated: "The armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon are poised on the borders of Israel...to face the challenge, while standing behind us are the armies of Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, Sudan and the whole Arab nation. This act will astound the world. Today they will know that the Arabs are arranged for battle, the critical hour has arrived. We have reached the stage of serious action and not declarations." On June 4, Iraq likewise joined a military alliance with Egypt and committed itself to war stating "This is our opportunity to wipe out the ignominy which has been with us since 1948. Our goal is clear--to wipe Israel off the map."
Israel could not maintain total military mobilization indefinitely. When it became apparent that Egypt would not stand down, Israel attacked the Egyptians beginning on June 5, 1967. In the first hours of the war, Israel destroyed over 400 enemy aircraft to achieve total air superiority. Israeli troops quickly conquered the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza. Jordanian artillery began firing at Jerusalem on the first day of the war, despite a warning by Israeli PM Levi Eshkol to stay out of the war, and then the Jordan Legion advanced and took over the headquarters of the UN (Governor's house - Armon Hanatziv ) in Jerusalem. After warning King Hussein repeatedly to cease fire and withdraw, Israel conquered the West Bank and Jerusalem. During the first days of the war, Syrian artillery based in the Golan Heights pounded civilian targets in northern Israel. After dealing with Egypt, Israel decided to conquer the Golan heights. After just six days of fighting, Israeli forces broke through the enemy lines and were in a position to march on Cairo, Damascus and Amman. Along with the territories conquered, Israel now had close to a million Palestinians under it's rule.
http://www.mideastweb.org/6daywar_map.gif
How does all this relate to the subject "Current Affairs"? The point of the intro is understanding the Gaza Strip. The 360 square kilometers of the Gaza Strip today house almost 1.5 million Palestinians and about 6,000 Israeli settlers.
http://geography.about.com/library/cia/gz-150.gif
In February 2005 the Israeli government voted to withdraw Israel's presence from the Gaza strip during the summer of 2005, including dismantling all the Israeli settlements and removing all Israeli settlers from the strip. The government still faces significant opposition to the plan.
A ribbon war has broken out in Israel. On the orange side are Jewish settlers and their supporters objecting to the dismantling of Jewish settlements in Gaza. On the blue side are Gaza pullout supporters. The orange side claims the Israeli Government does not have a moral right to withdraw from biblical lands. The blues say Israel cannot continue to occupy and rule Palestinians.
So what has all this got to do with photography? Bear with me just a little longer.
A few years ago I read on the net about someone who claimed ownership to the moon. After making his declarations public he waited seven years as supposedly required by international law. Since no one took him seriously nor disputed his claims, after seven years he began selling deeds to plots on the moon.
I too am now making a declaration (maybe in seven years it will come true). I
declare the intersection of Herzl Boulevard, Itzchak Rabin Boulevard and Kiryat Moshe Street, in Jerusalem, mine. This is a central intersection located about 1 Km from the main entrance to Jerusalem from the West, about 1 Km from the Israeli Parliament and about 1 Km from my home. This intersection serves a battleground for oranges and blues. Activists stand on corners and tie their ribbons to passing cars before the lights change green, they carry signs with slogans supporting their cause and sometimes semi-violently try to stop traffic here, at my intersection, and elsewhere around the country.
Israelis are facing a few very intense months as the Gaza pullout is planned for August 15th. I plan to follow the ribbon war at my intersection, and, if you guys are interested, update you on current affairs.
APRIL 2005
Anti-Gaza-pullout protesters have been recruiting the younger generation for their cause. In a sense, they are desperate, as they are opposing a government decision soon to be implemented.
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26406288-M.jpg
27-June-2005
Anti-Gaza-pullout activists have called for a nationwide traffic standstill at exactly 6pm. They urge drivers to stop for 15 minutes and contemplate on the upcoming events, thus paralyzing traffic all over the country. My intersection, located near the religious neighborhood of Kiryat Moshe, is totally orange territory. Police forces are spread out in advance and a police helicopter hovers above as the orange protesters spread out around my intersection.
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26410422-M.jpg
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26408806-M.jpg
Children have a big part in this protest
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26408667-M.jpg
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26407244-M.jpg
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26409821-M.jpg
This guy seems like he doesn't really understand why he was brought here and what all the commotion is about:
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26408397-M.jpg
Here is something to worry about - the ribbon war may deteriorate to something more violent as active security personnel are also involved in the politics:
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26406874-M.jpg
News headlines today report of an active IDF soldier who this week refused to take part in preparations for dismantling Jewish settlements in Gaza. His court martial began today.
Some are still hopeful, some turn to prayer
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26410777-M.jpg
My intersection was definitely orange yesterday, not one blue ribbon to be seen. But, police were very assertive and orange plans to disrupt traffic at my intersection were unsuccessful.
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26409486-M.jpg
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26407838-M.jpg
Israeli politics are pretty complicated. Roots of the present conflict were implanted about 4000 years ago. Ishmael was the son of Abraham and Hagar, Sarah's slave. Sarah 'gave' Hagar to Abraham thinking she (Sarah) was infertile - Ishmael was born. Then a miracle happened - the barren Sarah gave birth to Isaac. On Sarah's initiative, wishing for her own son's inheritance, Hagar and Ishmael were driven out of the camp (Genesis 21). Thus two half-brothers, Isaac and Ishmael became the forefathers of two great nations, but they never got over their mothers' inheritance conflict. Two conflicting nations are today destined to live in the middle east, side by side, in harmony.
But harmony still has not been attained.
In 1947, following the end of the British mandate in Palestine, UN Resolution GA181 called for partition of Palestine based on the following map:
http://www.mideastweb.org/map_unpartition.gif
Descendants of Ishmael were unhappy with the resolution; Syria, Jordan and Egypt attacked the descendants of Isaac, and lost. Descendants of Isaac established the State of Israel on the yellow area of the following map:
http://www.mideastweb.org/Israelmap_1949.gif
In the 1960s pressure began to build. In May 1967 Egyptian President Gamal Nasser began building up pro-war rhetoric in the media and then closed the Strait of Tiran to Israeli shipping. The Fatah group, headed by Yasser Arafat (recently deceased), began calling for war to eliminate Israel. Jordan signed a defense pact with Egypt, readying itself for war. King Hussein stated: "The armies of Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon are poised on the borders of Israel...to face the challenge, while standing behind us are the armies of Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, Sudan and the whole Arab nation. This act will astound the world. Today they will know that the Arabs are arranged for battle, the critical hour has arrived. We have reached the stage of serious action and not declarations." On June 4, Iraq likewise joined a military alliance with Egypt and committed itself to war stating "This is our opportunity to wipe out the ignominy which has been with us since 1948. Our goal is clear--to wipe Israel off the map."
Israel could not maintain total military mobilization indefinitely. When it became apparent that Egypt would not stand down, Israel attacked the Egyptians beginning on June 5, 1967. In the first hours of the war, Israel destroyed over 400 enemy aircraft to achieve total air superiority. Israeli troops quickly conquered the Sinai Peninsula and Gaza. Jordanian artillery began firing at Jerusalem on the first day of the war, despite a warning by Israeli PM Levi Eshkol to stay out of the war, and then the Jordan Legion advanced and took over the headquarters of the UN (Governor's house - Armon Hanatziv ) in Jerusalem. After warning King Hussein repeatedly to cease fire and withdraw, Israel conquered the West Bank and Jerusalem. During the first days of the war, Syrian artillery based in the Golan Heights pounded civilian targets in northern Israel. After dealing with Egypt, Israel decided to conquer the Golan heights. After just six days of fighting, Israeli forces broke through the enemy lines and were in a position to march on Cairo, Damascus and Amman. Along with the territories conquered, Israel now had close to a million Palestinians under it's rule.
http://www.mideastweb.org/6daywar_map.gif
How does all this relate to the subject "Current Affairs"? The point of the intro is understanding the Gaza Strip. The 360 square kilometers of the Gaza Strip today house almost 1.5 million Palestinians and about 6,000 Israeli settlers.
http://geography.about.com/library/cia/gz-150.gif
In February 2005 the Israeli government voted to withdraw Israel's presence from the Gaza strip during the summer of 2005, including dismantling all the Israeli settlements and removing all Israeli settlers from the strip. The government still faces significant opposition to the plan.
A ribbon war has broken out in Israel. On the orange side are Jewish settlers and their supporters objecting to the dismantling of Jewish settlements in Gaza. On the blue side are Gaza pullout supporters. The orange side claims the Israeli Government does not have a moral right to withdraw from biblical lands. The blues say Israel cannot continue to occupy and rule Palestinians.
So what has all this got to do with photography? Bear with me just a little longer.
A few years ago I read on the net about someone who claimed ownership to the moon. After making his declarations public he waited seven years as supposedly required by international law. Since no one took him seriously nor disputed his claims, after seven years he began selling deeds to plots on the moon.
I too am now making a declaration (maybe in seven years it will come true). I
declare the intersection of Herzl Boulevard, Itzchak Rabin Boulevard and Kiryat Moshe Street, in Jerusalem, mine. This is a central intersection located about 1 Km from the main entrance to Jerusalem from the West, about 1 Km from the Israeli Parliament and about 1 Km from my home. This intersection serves a battleground for oranges and blues. Activists stand on corners and tie their ribbons to passing cars before the lights change green, they carry signs with slogans supporting their cause and sometimes semi-violently try to stop traffic here, at my intersection, and elsewhere around the country.
Israelis are facing a few very intense months as the Gaza pullout is planned for August 15th. I plan to follow the ribbon war at my intersection, and, if you guys are interested, update you on current affairs.
APRIL 2005
Anti-Gaza-pullout protesters have been recruiting the younger generation for their cause. In a sense, they are desperate, as they are opposing a government decision soon to be implemented.
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26406288-M.jpg
27-June-2005
Anti-Gaza-pullout activists have called for a nationwide traffic standstill at exactly 6pm. They urge drivers to stop for 15 minutes and contemplate on the upcoming events, thus paralyzing traffic all over the country. My intersection, located near the religious neighborhood of Kiryat Moshe, is totally orange territory. Police forces are spread out in advance and a police helicopter hovers above as the orange protesters spread out around my intersection.
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26410422-M.jpg
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26408806-M.jpg
Children have a big part in this protest
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26408667-M.jpg
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26407244-M.jpg
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26409821-M.jpg
This guy seems like he doesn't really understand why he was brought here and what all the commotion is about:
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26408397-M.jpg
Here is something to worry about - the ribbon war may deteriorate to something more violent as active security personnel are also involved in the politics:
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26406874-M.jpg
News headlines today report of an active IDF soldier who this week refused to take part in preparations for dismantling Jewish settlements in Gaza. His court martial began today.
Some are still hopeful, some turn to prayer
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26410777-M.jpg
My intersection was definitely orange yesterday, not one blue ribbon to be seen. But, police were very assertive and orange plans to disrupt traffic at my intersection were unsuccessful.
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26409486-M.jpg
http://niralon.smugmug.com/photos/26407838-M.jpg