Riki is a 63-year-old from Tel Aviv who, like the other women did not want to give her surname. She said it took her time to sign up to the trips. “I was resistant to breaking the law. But then I realised that civil action is the only way to go forward, that breaking an illegal law becomes legal.”
…
But all the Palestinian women have just one request: to go to the sea. For most, it’s their first trip to the seaside, even though it is a short drive from home.
…
Fatima, 24, gazes out at the horizon. “I didn’t know that the sound of the sea is so relaxing,” she said. Sara asks for a sheet of paper, speedily folds it into a paper boat and writes her name on it, intending to set it out to sea. “So that it will remember me,” she said.
Awesome.
Today’s Guest Hoyden is Jo Tamar, who rants and rampages at Wallaby. This is an edited (to add image) version of a post originally published there.
Categories: ethics & philosophy, social justice
It is so easy to forget in all this that there are many Israeli and Palestinian people who just want to live in peace and that they are being held hostage by idealogues on both sides. Bravo to all these brave women for taking this step. One small step for women, one huge step for mankind.
Yes.
And this para speaks volumes to me, too:
The privilege of “looking right”. The discrimination based solely on stereotyping based on dress. The privilege that the Israeli women have, that they can dress as they usually do and “breeze past the checkpoint”. (Which is not a criticism of the Israeli women, by the way!)
And the sheer emphasis that really, these peoples are not so different. Of course, even if they were different, it would be no reason for the shit that goes on. But the fact they are not so different really emphasises how stupid that shit is.
This is such an uplifting story.
I’ve always thought that one of the most powerful feminist things we women can do is be friends with each other.
Wonderful, wonderful women.
What a fantastic story. I love it.
Terrific story – thanks Jo Tamar – and wonderful comments too in response.