Israeli soldiers speak about their actions in Nablus 1991 - Aftershock

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Comment by Manal Anna on February 25, 2010 at 3:53pm

When we had mepeace chat on social theatre Oliver suggested Arna`s Children and i watched it. I felt sad for the destiny of some of these children. Not because they fought for their freedom but for the way they chose to fight. One might think think that the social theatre actually taught those children to fight for there freedom in any way possible?

Comment by Stewart Mills on February 25, 2010 at 1:47pm

Hi Manal,

I agree that sadly often "what goes around comes around". The question is how to break the cycle of violence? I understand your point of the violence learnt through enforcing the occupation may be directed by Israeli against Israeli. Just as sadly Palestinians living under occupation learn to use that violence against Israelis or other Palestinians.

The solution then cannot be about using violence. This is the beauty of Arna Mer-Khamis' story (which I have watched now just watched - thanks). Arna's story - a Jewish woman who fought in 1948 for Palmach, became disillusioned with the way Israel was going, married a Palestinian-Israeli and then devoted herself to the children on Jenin through theatre. Her spirit continues through her son Julian, amongst others. What can we learn from her story today? What can we learn from Uri Avnery and other Jewish-Israelis who steadfastly speak an alternate voice to the mainstream?

Arna's children
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=9004838847737803917#
http://www.mepeace.org/video/arnas-children
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arna_Mer-Khamis
http://www.arna.info/Arna/movie.php
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juliano_Mer_Khamis

Comment by Manal Anna on February 25, 2010 at 6:08am

Hi,
I saw that video once.

Palestinians already know how Israeli soldiers behave with them. However, the Israeli public has no clue about it. They are "mass hypnotized" by their media that the Israeli army is the "most humanitarian" army in the world. I did not study mass communication but it is so obvious for me when I watch the Israeli news. As a result, it is very difficult to make a discussion or a debate with some Israeli that entirely believes in the righteousness of his army. The Israeli public needs to be aware of the influence of their media on them and how they are molded to think in a specific way. They need to be aware of the complexity of the conflict and how the masses become tools in the hands of the government.

In Arna`s Children one can see clearly how the Palestinian children play a game in which they imitate the Israeli soldiers in their violence and brutality towards the Palestinians. It is not "shocking" anymore but I believe in "what goes around comes around." Actually, these soldiers hurt themselves more by their brutal behavior towards the Palestinian they came across in their lives. I do not think that the increase of crime and violence in Israel is arbitrary. One day, that soldier that used violence for fun with the Palestinians he will use it again with an Israeli.
Peace
Manal