Picture of the week: Finding friendship in the ruins of war

October 28, 2009 - 10:55 AM by

Picture of the week best friends

Israel is a country of contradictions. While the world outside sees the conflict in the clean crisp black and white of headlines, here in Israel we tend to see things in myriad shades of grey.

Take these two kids for example. Maria Aman (in the wheelchair) is a Palestinian girl from Gaza who was hit by an Israeli rocket during operation Cast Lead. Orel Ilizrov, is an Israeli child from Beersheva who was left with severe brain damage after he was hit by a grad missile fired from Gaza in the same conflict.

Against all the odds, they are best friends.

Maria was left paralyzed when her house suffered a direct hit. Four of her family were killed. Orel, an only child, is lucky to be alive. His mother threw herself on top of him in an attempt to protect him from the missile.

The children were hospitalized at the Alin Rehabilitative Center in Jerusalem and were given neighboring beds. Despite the traumas that both suffered, they ignored the conflict – as kids so rightly do – and formed a deep friendship based on everything they have in common, and not everything that keeps them apart.

Photo by Nati Shohat/Flash90

Tags: , , , , , , , • Category: coexistence, Picture of the Week, War 

Comments

7 Comments on Picture of the week: Finding friendship in the ruins of war

  1. David-Joe on Thu, Oct 29th 2009 1:32 AM

    2. Have you not even realized what has been done when the above article so casually declares that a “grad” missile injured the Israeli child while the Arab girl was injured during Cast Lead?

    Why is it so difficult for people to understand the evil of moral equivalence?

    It was Arab hatred and intense decision to destroy Israel that caused the injuries.

    It was Israel DEFENDING itself – and timidly apologizing all the time – because after years of immoral inaction by weak Israeli leadership that the Arab girl was hit.

    Yet we read nonsense above – it was not two sides launching rockets – equating Israeli defense with Arab initiation of Force is utterly evil.

    Get rid of the liberal emotionalistic nonsense – so the children are friends?! Where is the outrage by Israelis that Israeli children are attacked? Nevermind the Arab children.

    And the excuse is always some sort of mystical ridiculous Jewish benevolence – look how we risk the lives of our soldiers to help Arab civilians. Je Accuse!!

    One of the Founders of the United States – which like Israel is also in the throws of philosophical collapse – Hamilton, wrote extensively warning on what happens to a free nation that forgets it foundation.

  2. Nicky on Thu, Oct 29th 2009 8:43 AM

    3. How could anyone not take heart when they see two children from opposing sides who have been damaged so badly by conflict, overcome all of this to be friends.

    This isn’t political. It’s distinctly, and wonderfully, human. And it’s the basis of any peace agreement we one day, hopefully, might have.

  3. Alex Nazario on Fri, Oct 30th 2009 8:24 PM

    4. Though I see both sides. The devastating effects of war is always negative. Sooner of later wars end and talks need to ensue or else more of this catastrophic situations will continue.

  4. Carl Muller on Wed, Nov 4th 2009 7:55 PM

    5. Collateral damage. None of these children started anything.
    As Golda said “The day they love their children more than war, it will end”
    We should pray that the Palestinians will stop being used as excuses to win sympathy by their own philosophy and leadership.
    Read http://www.shoebat.com/ and see how a nation is destroyed by themselves. This is a testimony of a terrorist whose eyes was opened by the truth.

  5. Nicky on Sun, Jan 3rd 2010 11:50 AM

    6. On December 30th, The New York Times ran an article on the two children. It’s well worth reading. Check it out below.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/world/middleeast/31children.html?_r=2&ref=middleeast

  6. ANGELO CASTO AND MAURO CAMINITI on Thu, May 6th 2010 6:46 PM

    7. We are italian. When we had read this article in Italy, we have decided to write a song titled “Orel and Maria”. The link on youtube is this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzveRZCj0J8

    Best regards and thanks for your attention!

  7. SAYED KHALIL on Fri, Aug 13th 2010 10:56 AM

    8. I wonder how you would feel if a rocket destroys your home and kill your family but only break your arm.
    Would you consider it even if we break the arm of the one whom through the rocket!!!!!

Leave a Comment





© 2012 ISRAELITY | Sitemap