Please take a good look at this photograph. It was taken in Hebron and published in "HaAretz" on August 10 2001.
Is it staged or does it record/report an actual event?
What do we see in this photo?
Who do we see?
Nine (9) (perhaps more) people (from background to foreground):
- 3 (perhaps more) unidentifiable (male) people (who can see the action?) (from right to left: a boy in a white shirt, a man in a blue plaid short sleeved shirt and khaki pants, a man in a blue short sleeved shirt and blue jeans, and perhaps another two people in the further background)
- 2 Israeli soldiers (who seem to be talking to (or, at least, facing) each other, though their heads are not visible)
- 1 male who appears to have peyot
- 1 Arab woman
- 2 Israeli civilians (one wearing a long denim skirt, the other wearing denim shorts)
What is the action?
The two Israeli civilians (who seem to be what are called "religious" - based on their garb, likely also "settlers" - based on their location) physically taunt a woman.
We do not know what came immediately before, nor immediately after. However, it appears that one of the soldiers (the one on the left edge of the photo) can see what's happening, or, at least, is facing the action. The male with what seem to be peyot looks in the direction of the action.
Who is this Arab woman? From where did she come? To where was she going? She seems to have a satchel in her left hand. Can we see anything about her that might identify her as a threat?
The two Israeli civilians are in motion. The young woman has reached and grabbed the head-cloth of the Arab woman and is balanced on her right foot. The Israeli boy stands on his left foot as he extends his right foot in a kick. These actions take less than a minute, but, more than the fraction of a second needed for the shutter to click open and closed.
There seems to be no response from those who can see what's happening.
But, let's presume (or, at least, hope) that there was a response the moment after the shutter clicked.
Based on what ("Jewish"?) teaching do these youngsters (they seem somewhere between the ages of eight and eighteen) act the way they do?
As I have stated since 1967, to prevent additional acts such as this (and for other good reasons), the occupation must end.
I remember Golda Meir saying that she could forgive the Arabs (she did not believe there were any Palestinians) for killing "our sons". But, she could not forgive them for making our sons kill others.
What can we do?
And, come with us to Israel.
Debbie and I are leading our next in-depth study/tour of Jerusalem and Israel March 10 - 20 2002, immediately following the CCAR Convention and while (we expect and hope) Noam will be a student on EIE. If you know of people who may want to join us then, you can have them check out highlights of our previous trips.
Last updated 10 September, 2001