Hoping Against Hope

November 30, 2006 - 3:48 PM by

Yael, the Israeli blogosphere’s official optimist, shares her hopeful thoughts on the peace process and a hopeful music video to go with them:

I haven’t said anything about the extremely fragile and not exactly being upheld by the Palestinians cessation of hostilities in Gaza because when it was first mentioned that it might happen I believed it like I’ve believed all the numerous claims that Gilad Shalit was going to be released “within a few days” –he’s still captive and it has been more than 5 months.

Still, it has sort of gone into effect in that Israel is adhering to it. We’ve ceased all activity in Gaza and our troops are not in Gaza at all. It has semi gone into effect on the Palestinian side in that rather than daily rocket barrages of Sderot and surroundings that numbered in the double digits only (”only”) about 4 rockets are being launched at our civilian population a day. But Abbas (I really do like Abbas) has sent a whole ton of police to monitor the border and to try to stop the truce-violators.

I’m still afraid that saying anything about it will somehow jinx this “not quite a cessation” and that we’ll see a return to daily madness. I have to say that I am very much hoping something positive will come of it.

I am hoping with all my heart that our inept leaders will enter negotiations that will result in the return of Gilad to his mother and his father and his country. I am hoping that it will lead to negotiations on the future of a Palestinian state side by side with us. I’m hoping Jordan will stop having a complete panic attack caused by fears that any resolution we come to will result in Palestinians wanting or trying to move to Jordan. I’m hoping Jordan might even agree to open their borders to allow goods from the West Bank to flow through and out into the world so that we are not the only country to allow the products of the Palestinians to reach the rest of the world (and of course, because of security issues, these products are often stuck right where they were produced).

I have a lot of hopes. I don’t have a lot of trust or belief. But still, there is a tiny ray of light and so in honour of that little ray, I’m going to share with you guys one of my favourite songs from a group called ??? (sheva which means 7 in hebrew). The band is called Sheva because it consists of seven members. The band lives close together in the Northern Galil and they are famous for the special instruments from India that they play as well as the ones they make themselves. Their songs express their hope for peace and harmony among nations. In this spirit, their band has members that are Arab and Jewish Israelis.

Tags: • Category: A New Reality 

Comments

2 Comments on Hoping Against Hope

  1. David on Fri, Dec 1st 2006 4:50 AM

    2. Songs of “hoping for peace” are amongst the most ridiculous and irrelevant. Thyey have always been around and so soppy and pathetic that it is embarassing.

    Unfortunately Israel no longer acts strongly and the fear and deterrence that Israel used to have has gone.

    Unfortunately Israel no longer has leaders with fire in their bellies with only the fear of God in their hearts.

    Today, Israel essentially jumps at its own shadow. A country usually elects leaders it deserves. Olmert and his cabinet is no accident.

  2. Neil Kuchinsky on Sun, Dec 3rd 2006 2:00 AM

    3. C’mon, David. Perhaps you would prefer songs or verses like, “It’s a Small War, After All”? Or, “Ode tireh, ode tireh, milchamah yihheye”?

    Regardless of how far reality departs from our hopes, we cannot allow our enemies to destroy even the mental (or musical) images of the world we desire. If the last vestiges of civilization were found only in our memories, they would be worth preserving for a time when they could take root in our relationships with others.

Leave a Comment





© 2012 ISRAELITY | Sitemap