Things are heating up, literally and figuratively. The outdoor thermometer I brought with me from the States shows 90 degrees fahrenheit which is about 30 degrees centigrade. Hot in both systems. It is the season of change - and of chamsins. Chamsin is the Arabic word for 50 - it is approximately 50 days a year that a fiercely dry and hot wind blows into the entire area from the Sahara. It does not discriminate between regions or peoples - all regions of the middle east suffer.
Last night I attended the "anti government, elections now, bring back the hostages" demonstration in Tel Aviv. For a year, until October 7 there were protests and marches around the country against the proposed judicial reform and the end of democracy. On that black Saturday everything, every system, and everyone came to a crashing, stunning, horrifying halt. The wonderful, brave, resilient, resourceful Israelis who had been active in the protests, turned their activism toward mobilizing and running the country as the government, those supposedly in charge, those responsible for the horror in which we now live, remained silent, and stopped doing anything. When they came to, instead of helping the army, bringing the hostages back, assisting the hundreds of refugees in the country - they have done nothing but strategise how they will win the next election, maintain their seats, feather their nests, enrich their coffers. They have ignored the suffering, been rude to the army, militarized the police, broken ties with America, pushed Israel into isolation. Bibi who helped and encouraged Hamas, now wants to prolong the war - he cares about nothing but himself. And the people have had enough.
Hundreds of thousands are back protesting all around the country and outside the Knesset today - they will be in Jerusalem for three days. The religious refuse to be conscripted - they want to be subsidised and to pray. The prayers have not helped much. Bibi promised them money - now we will see what happens. Things are not pretty and they are going to get uglier. Maybe these days of heat and fury will herald a change. MAYBE
(Photos later)
The bus we went to says "choosing hostages" on the side.
1 comment:
Thank you, Nesta, for highlighting the Tel Aviv protest , the unequivocal bus banner, the level of government dysfunction and how there is burning with righteous rage as the weather sizzles. Yet individuals need to quell the fires and be refreshed frequently to sustain the good fight. You have truly gone back to Israel at a “beyond awful” time And you are allied with Israel’s very best humans. My heart breaks with yours, my arms hold you.
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