The
Second Activity
Break Bread, Not Bones
Early in 1989, Mr. Yitzhak Rabin, the Israeli Defense Minster at
that time, ordered his soldiers to break the bones of Palestinians in order to bring the
Palestinian Intifada to an end. Few the horrible stories of soldiers crushing the bones of
Palestinians were televised. One report, that shocked the conscience of the whole world
was filmed by the CNN network and broadcasted in the USA and Europe. This film showed
Israeli soldiers trying to crush the arms of two detained Palestinian youths using huge
rocks.
Full of pain and anger, Palestinians watched the bones of their
children being smashed. While the world silently watched the few reported bone breaking
stories, Palestinians were the ones who received the blows. According to the famous Arabic
saying: "The one who receives the blows of the stick is not
like the one who counts them".
In the shadow of such brutal policy, Palestinians, who deeply
believe in the peaceful message of their Intifada, defended their Intifada with their
crushed bones, defeated fear and physical pain and continued sending messages of goodwill
to the Israelis.
On march 20, 1989, the Palestinians Centre For Rapprochement Between
People, in the name of the people of Beit Sahour, issued an invitation to Israelis of
goodwill to come and spend a weekend (Shabbat) in Palestinian homes and break bread with
them, not their bones. 25 religious Jewish families accepted the invitation.
Planning to host those families in Beit Sahour was not easy. They
should arrive in Beit Sahour without Being stopped by the army and they should stay
overnight in 25 Palestinians homes, besides, they should be provided with Kosher food; and
the army should not be able to force them out of the town.
On Friday March 24th, 1989, at around sunset, a bus and a few
private cars arrived at El-Iscan neighborhood in Beit Sahour, travelling through mountain
roads, without being observed by the occupation soldiers. The arrival time was important;
after sunset even if they are located and ordered to leave, religious Jews are not allowed
to travel during Shabbat and the army cannot force them out of the town.
Warmly welcomed by their hosts, the Israeli guests of Beit Sahour
stepped out of the cars and joined their hosts into their homes. Men, women, and children
from both sides created a great human harmony that cannot be broken by the brutality of
Rabin’s shameful policy.
Each Israeli family joined a Palestinian family. The guests lit the
Shabbat candles in a place allocated for their prayers. After a small break everyone was
busy preparing for the joint supper. Israelis brought the kosher food while Palestinians
provided salads and soft drinks. It was not easy, by any means, to convince Palestinian
families to accept the idea of hosting people who bring, with them, their own food.
While kids ignored the food and continued playing together in the
kids’ playground, adults enjoyed the bi-national meal and dialogue. During that night
few people spoke in front of the mixed audience, then, each Palestinian family invited its
guests into its home.
Saturday morning was the big day. People walked trough mountain
roads to join the prepared massive gathering in the Shepherds’ Field. Hundreds of
Palestinians and the Israeli guests gathered there to listen to Palestinians and Israelis
peace.
"Occupiers can not sleep soundly in
the homes of the people they occupy, but guests can",
said Yaron Ezrahi.
MK Ran Cohen, born in Iraq, spoke emotionally about how his family had been saved from
pogroms in Baghdad in the 1940’s by their Arab neighbors and said: "Now it is up to us (Israelis) to come help save you from the
"Pogroms" of the occupation". Palestinian speakers asserted
their demands for freedom peace and justice and confirmed that their broken bones will
pave the road for human and just future in the Holy Land. During the meeting, a young
masked boy climbed a tree and planted a Palestinian flag on top of it.
"I have no problem with people showing national pride as long as my
flag, the Israeli flag, also is respected and we coexist side by side," said MK Ran
Cohen.
At the end of the meeting Palestinians and Israelis marched
peacefully in the streets of the town heading towards the municipality building to meet
the Mayor. In front of the municipality the confused army stopped the march.
"This a closed military area. All Israelis should leave
immediately" said the army officer.
" It is
Shabbat, officer what can we do?" said one of
the visiting Israelis. The officer was totally confused. He started calling other
higher-ranking officers to come to deal with this problem.
Few officers arrived to the town. They tried to convince the
Israelis that they should
leave the town. "Mr. Rabin
personally ordered us to get you out of the town" said one officer.
"God ordered us personally not to travel in Shabbat"
replied one of the town’s guests. During those lengthy negotiations mainly conducting
between MK Ran Cohen and the army officer, the officer told MK Cohen that he had reliable
information from within the town that Palestinians were planning to kill him and his
family". Sir, you do not know that my family and I spent the
last night sleeping in their homes. Honestly, I never felt more secure in my life than
last night" said MK Ran Cohen.
The dispute between God’s orders and Rabin’s order
continued for a couple of hours until, finally, God won. The officer agreed to let them
stay in the town until sunset if they would go back to the place they slept in and stay
indoor until sunset. The town guests agreed and spent the end of their visit enjoying a
Folklore dance presented by a group of Palestinian youths.
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