Those for whom hummus symbolizes coexistence in this binational country are living an entirely bogus coexistence.
Ha’aretz
In the event of my death in the current wave of terrorism, in the event that a terrorist, male or female, runs me over or stabs me, I would like to announce in advance that my final words are:
I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner. Really. What took you so long? Countless times, while passing a construction site on one of the city streets during the quiet, early hours of the morning, I’ve wondered why one of the Palestinian laborers there didn’t grab a drill bit or shovel, a saw or a hammer, and murder me.
I have never believed in the myth of coexistence in this country. I don’t believe in coexistence based on extreme inequality when it comes to human rights, social status and economic opportunities. I never liked eating hummus, or going to Jaffa especially for hummus. And I never liked making a stop on a tour of the north to go to some Arab village for hummus. I didn’t like it. Any talk of humus always disgusted me.
Habayit Hayehudi party leader Naftali Bennett ran an entire political campaign here in the run-up to the Knesset elections in March with the slogan “enough apologizing.” But I don’t like feeling myself exerting my authority. I don’t like exercising control by virtue of my belonging to a certain race or nation. It disgusts me. I always abhorred tours of Jerusalem’s Old City. I spotted the look that the Palestinians in the alleyways gave, a combination of humiliation and anger. If I die in the current wave of terrorism, in talking about me, I want you to say that I refused to eat the hummus.
In the face of the current wave of terrorism, when fear is stirring, it’s very easy to change one’s political position. It’s almost required, when someone wants to murder you, to say that he doesn’t deserve a thing other than a bullet between the eyes. But that’s what the hummus eaters say, the people for whom hummus symbolizes coexistence in this binational country. It’s an entirely bogus and false kind coexistence.
For hummus eaters, the chickpea spread represents commerce with the Palestinians, the good life here in the Israeli consumer society that buys their hummus. The hummus brotherhood. Just look at the tweet by Tel Aviv-Jaffa Mayor Ron Huldai from Jaffa after the recent disturbances there. Come to Jaffa. The hummus is great. You’re invited to partake.
On the other hand, someone who has refused to go for hummus would not be surprised at the current wave of terrorism, but instead just surprised that it took so long to come. And such a person’s political position doesn’t change now, when instead of wiping hummus off their plates, they’re wiping blood off the streets.
If I get killed in a terrorist attack, I ask that the endless broadcasts loop of the report about my murder, as is the custom currently, be dispensed with. It is not what I want. It will contain no information that the public would want or need to know about. It would just stir up hatred. I would ask that my killers, if they remain alive, be told on my behalf that I apologize. I am reconciled with them after my death.
And if my murderers also die, I apologize to them at this time, in advance; not because I deserved to die, and not because they have the right to kill me, but so my death is worth something, so it has some value, some significance, no matter how small. I have no God. I don’t need the Temple Mount. I have no problem living with the Palestinians as full equals in a binational state or as a peace-loving neighbors in my country and next to their own. What use would I have for revenge on my behalf after my death? I apologize for my paltry role in the injustice of the occupation. Even after my death.
4 thoughts on “An Apology to My Killer in the Event of My Death in the Current Wave of Violence”
Behold. An Israeli in whom there is no guile.
Verily I say unto you, I have not seen any like
this in all of Jerusalem.
I enlarged the pre-colonial map of Palestine the
best that I could while keeping it in focus.
I did not see “Israel” recorded anywhere on it.
Much of our current discussion regarding the protests in Palestine is centred on Israeli priorities, not Palestinian rights, which is clearly prejudiced. Once more, Israel is speaking of ‘unrest’ and ‘attacks’ originating from the ‘territories’, as if the priority is guaranteeing the safety of the armed occupiers – soldiers and extremist settlers, alike.
Rationally, it follows that the opposite state of ‘unrest’, that of ‘quiet’ and ‘lull’, are when millions of Palestinians agree to being subdued, humiliated, occupied, besieged and habitually killed or, in some cases, lynched by Israeli Jewish mobs or burned alive, while embracing their miserable fate and carrying on with life as usual.
Palestinians can then assume the role of the perpetual victim, and their Israeli masters can continue manning military checkpoints, robbing land and building yet more illegal settlements in violation of international law.
The question, now, ought not to be whether some of the murdered Palestinians wielded knives or not, or truly posed a threat to the safety of the soldiers and armed settlers. Rather, it should be centered principally on the very violent act of military occupation and illegal settlements in Palestinian land in the first place.
Amazing . Someone who don’t have a god and don’t need the Temple Mount ,but still want to live in Palestine . Am confused .
#3 Sandy: the expression, “Mission Accomplished” comes to mind. Our confusion smells sweet to them. Just keep on borrowing and spending. That’s your role in their world. Oops, how careless of me. That’s our role in their world. All the world’s ordinary people: united in our confusion; united in our division; united in our disunity. That’s the way they like it.
Feeling confused is really unpleasant. Got to take my mind off confusion.
Go shopping. I’m gonna go out and buy something – not just anything – but something essential and basic. Like water. But which brand to buy – Coke or Pepsi? Can’t get away from confusion.
Behold. An Israeli in whom there is no guile.
Verily I say unto you, I have not seen any like
this in all of Jerusalem.
I enlarged the pre-colonial map of Palestine the
best that I could while keeping it in focus.
I did not see “Israel” recorded anywhere on it.
Much of our current discussion regarding the protests in Palestine is centred on Israeli priorities, not Palestinian rights, which is clearly prejudiced. Once more, Israel is speaking of ‘unrest’ and ‘attacks’ originating from the ‘territories’, as if the priority is guaranteeing the safety of the armed occupiers – soldiers and extremist settlers, alike.
Rationally, it follows that the opposite state of ‘unrest’, that of ‘quiet’ and ‘lull’, are when millions of Palestinians agree to being subdued, humiliated, occupied, besieged and habitually killed or, in some cases, lynched by Israeli Jewish mobs or burned alive, while embracing their miserable fate and carrying on with life as usual.
Palestinians can then assume the role of the perpetual victim, and their Israeli masters can continue manning military checkpoints, robbing land and building yet more illegal settlements in violation of international law.
The question, now, ought not to be whether some of the murdered Palestinians wielded knives or not, or truly posed a threat to the safety of the soldiers and armed settlers. Rather, it should be centered principally on the very violent act of military occupation and illegal settlements in Palestinian land in the first place.
http://www.informationclearinghouse.info/article43134.htm
Amazing . Someone who don’t have a god and don’t need the Temple Mount ,but still want to live in Palestine . Am confused .
#3 Sandy: the expression, “Mission Accomplished” comes to mind. Our confusion smells sweet to them. Just keep on borrowing and spending. That’s your role in their world. Oops, how careless of me. That’s our role in their world. All the world’s ordinary people: united in our confusion; united in our division; united in our disunity. That’s the way they like it.
Feeling confused is really unpleasant. Got to take my mind off confusion.
Go shopping. I’m gonna go out and buy something – not just anything – but something essential and basic. Like water. But which brand to buy – Coke or Pepsi? Can’t get away from confusion.