2023-10-16 13:40:37
This past Wednesday, the attention of certain attentive Internet users was focused on the title of an article in Le Soir “demonstration in support of Israeli hostages” illustrated by a photo of the pro-Palestinian demonstration. [La photo a été modifiée depuis, NDLR] What appears to be a human error attributable to the urgency created by the continuous flow of information for a journalist to manage – in times of war – might in reality be an invitation to think differently, to not limit ourselves to import hatred, but rather to think regarding how to create community 4,500 km from Gaza.
Since this Saturday, October 7, we have been witnessing a deadly escalation in the Middle East. Inhumanity strikes once once more. In the horror of these disastrous cycles, we are tempted to choose our pain and our deaths, to choose our side. Except that we do not defend the Palestinian cause with a culture of death like that of Hamas. We do not defend Israel by remaining silent in the face of the occupation of the Occupied Territories, the colonization and the impunity of the settlers and their representatives.
We don’t defend anyone when we support the strategies of the worst. Above all, for us Belgians, of Jewish or Muslim culture, we are not defending anyone by importing into Belgium the tragedy of a conflict which seems insoluble. If we, who live in peace, cannot discuss our disagreements by putting human dignity above all else, how can Israelis and Palestinians ever be able to do so?
Also read Dominique Moïsi, geopolitologist: “I fear that Israel, which will emerge victorious, will be more extremist”
The omnipresence of social networks and the algorithms that run them reinforce our beliefs. It prevents us from thinking regarding the Other, their aspirations and their sufferings, in short, from considering them as equals. Worse, this logic leads us to a total dehumanization of the other camp, resulting in a minimization, even a justification of the unspeakable. However, nothing justifies barbarity and massacres of civilians. Never. You don’t fix one injustice by creating another. We must repeat loud and clear that an Israeli life has the same weight as a Palestinian life. And vice versa. Condemning Hamas terrorism is not anti-Palestinian. Condemning the Netanyahu regime’s war crimes is not anti-Israeli. War should not be a football match.
“We are angry with those who are going to “count the points””
We cry and rage at the escalation of violence and in our immense grief, we blame those who will “keep score” and trample a little more on decency and the sacredness of life. If you need a calculator and the victims’ identity card to know whether you should applaud or denounce war rape, the kidnapping of children and the assassination of civilians, you think you are on the side of the damned. , but in fact, you think like executioners.
Tempers are heated, media and political discourse has become locked down and cowered. By writing these words, we know that we will expose ourselves to hatred, to accusations of supporting one vision over another. But we have to write well, because the media landscape is totally saturated by all the voices and ours have their place in these debates.
Also read Israel-Hamas War: What is Hamas?
Let’s hold our leaders accountable
So let’s allow ourselves to dream together: what if this poor choice of article photo was premonitory? What if tomorrow we saw demonstrations demanding an end to the occupation, colonization and recognition of the State of Palestine, while unambiguously condemning Hamas terrorism and Israeli bombings on Gaza?
Let us hold the European Union and our leaders accountable for failing, for decades, to make the necessary decisions to force the leaders of both peoples to find solutions that respect the rights and aspirations of everyone.
Let us dream of a common demonstration for the right to existence of the Other and to security for all. Let’s choose the side of human dignity.
In the spirit of this forum, a “Jewish-Arab solidarity” rally will be organized this Thursday, October 19 from 5:30 p.m. at the Schuman roundregarding in Brussels.
More information on: https://www.facebook.com/events/1504665160351649
Signatories:Jonathan Moskovic, citizen, ex CJMAD*Mehdi Benallal, citizen, ex CJMADIsa Mohamed Kh’leeh, citizen, ex CJMADTewfik Sahih, citizen, ex CJMADJim Dratwa, citizen, ex CJMADDavid Charlier, citizen, ex CJMAD Simone Susskind, Doctor Honoris Causa of ULB, Founder of Actions in the MediterraneanRaphael Agostini, citizen, student Sophie Dajez, citizen, student Joséphine Vos, citizen, psychotherapist Pierre Dajez, doctor Aymane Azza, citizen, entrepreneurNinon Berman, feminist activist (Collages Feministes Juifves Bruxelles)Jean Rosenfeld , citizen and teacher Gary Celnik, citizen, musician and producerMona Miodezky, citizen, musician, singing teacher Ahmed Lagha, co-founder of Mediterranean Development Initiative, socialist political youth and students Moussia Garelik, citizen, studentFarah Feguy, lawyerWassim Allouka, research assistant and student Julie Flam, citizen, photographer Lara Silber, citizen, artistic director Audrey Elbaum, sociocultural facilitator, teacher Sharon Geczynski, citizen and member of the Bab’Zouz Jewish-Arab choir. Deborah Kupperberg, feminist activist and member of the Jewish-Arab choir Bab’Zouz Fran Bracho. Intercultural mediator. Brugfigur. Facilitator Amine El Asli, Muslim philosophical educator/advisor in FWB Amos Bok, citizen, architect *The CJMAD (Judeo-Muslim circle for friendship and dialogue) was a bi-denominational and multi-cultural ULB student circle created at the time of the Gaza War (2008-2009)
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