I Cannot Help But Wonder...

 Is Israel the 51st state  of the US?.  Or is the US a territory under

the control of Israel.  It is unbelievable that the Israeli Knesset

and the American Congress would be simultaneously involved with

passing laws that would impose fines and sanctions on anybody who

promotes any non-violent movement such as the  BDS (Boycot Divestment

and Sanctions) against Israel for its  continued illegal military

occupation of the Palestinian Territories.

While both the US and  the United Nations consider the occupation of

the West Bank as well as the annexation of East Jerusalem and the

building of settlements are illegal, yet the US continues to support

Israel in pursuing this illegal status.  While we Palestinians are

physically occupied by Israel, the US, however, is  morally and

psychologically occupied.

Mr. Netanyahu keeps claiming that Israel is the state for all Jews,

inviting all Jews from all over the world to come to Israel.  Yet how

ironic that  a Jewish lady Rabbi, Alissa Wise,  who was a member of

an interfaith delegation planning to come and visit Israel was denied

with the rest of the delegation from boarding  a Lufthansa Airlines

jet at Washington Dulles International Airport heading to Israel.

It seems the Prime Minister would like to welcome only Jews who

approve and support  all the illegal measures of the State.  The

sincere Jews and non- Jews who for the sake of the welfare of Israel

would like to see a non-violent way to end the  occupation, are not

welcome to Israel.  There is no doubt that  the Prime Minister and his

right wing government are proving to be their own worst enemies.

Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets

Yabous Cultural Centre in Jerusalem  had just ended all its preparations for the yearly Jerusalem Festival, and Rania, my daughter- in- law, director of Yabous, was spending hours to get everything ready for the opening night with a Flamingo performance on July 18.  Of course all the family was planning to attend a variety of events, and in fact I had invited guests for the Flamingo night.

However, tension started mounting in Jerusalem after the shooting incident that took place on July 14, 2017 at El-Haram El-Shareef, one of the holiest sites in Islam.  It is worth noting that the security of El-Haram as well as Jerusalem itself is under Israeli control, and that the armed men who shot the Druze soldiers and eventually got shot, are from Um El-Fahem inside Israel. This led to the closure of all the gates that give access to Muslim worshipers to reach the mosque, and of course it led to the cancellation of the Festival. 

One cannot but wonder who could possibly benefit from such a shooting. 

Ever since the occupation of the Palestinian Territories including East Jerusalem after the June 1967 war, Israel has coveted the area of the mosque, claiming it to be  the site of the Jewish Temple and referring to it as “The Temple Mount.”  For a starter they evicted all the Palestinians living around the Wailing Wall and demolished their homes so as to turn the whole area into a plaza for Jewish worshippers.  Then there was the attempt to burn the mosque, which Israel at the time alleged the perpetrator was lunatic.  And for those who might have forgotten, the 2002 armed uprising was triggered by the provocative visit of  Ariel Sharon to the compound of  El-Haram El-Shareef.  Confiscation of property around the area never stopped and neither did the excavations below the Haram which has affected many houses in the area.

It almost fits the pattern, so that the status quo at El-Haram el Shareef agreed upon with Jordan, the Palestinian National Authority and Israel would not hold any more.  Electronic devices and smart cameras have been placed at the main entrances to the mosque, but the Palestinians as well as Jordan refuse to deal with this change in the status quo.  However, that has not deterred  worshippers from worshipping on the streets outside the gates of Jerusalem despite the brutality of the Israeli armed forces to an extent that they raided the Makassed hospital where some of the injured young Palestinians were being treated.   Never has the Jerusalem community, both Muslims and Christian, been so united in facing this onslaught on one of its holiest sites. 

After fifty years of a brutal military occupation it has become openly clear that Israel is capable of achieving what it sets out to achieve and gets away with it even if it violates international law and UN resolutions.  “Whatever Lola wants Lola gets,” a song from the fifties, continues to be so pertinent  regarding Israel.  The daily provocative incursions into the compound of the mosque  by settlers under the protection of Israeli forces,  proves their intention. 

Should the international community allow this to go on?  And will the intervention to salvage this third holiest Mosque in the Muslim world by countries who have peace agreements with Israel like Jordan, and Egypt, and others countries like Saudi Arabia and the Emirates, who have unofficial relationships, make a difference? Or will they acquiesce to all the Israeli measures and allow Israel to achieve what it wants to achieve regardless of  the havoc that it will bring to the area should the Israelis partition the mosque as they did with the Ibrahimi mosque in Hebron?  God forbid!!!

Family Reunion in Rhodes

Just got back from a family reunion in Rhodes.  It was basically for the descendants of my grandfather Andoni Khoury from Jaffa  (my  mother’s father.)  His six children have all passed away and so did some of his grandchildren who were with us in the 1984 reunion in Cyprus.  So my generation was the front line generation, and we missed the doyen of the cousins Tony Khoury who could not make it for health reasons.  Also especially missed was  a cousin from Germany,  Marie Anne Kleber, the daughter of cousin Nadia Khouri Michon, who passed away shortly before the reunion.  However we appreciated it very much that her husband and family did join us, and we felt her spirit was with us because she wanted her family to stay connected.  With the second and third generation we were around eighty  persons coming from different parts of the world.  From outside the immediate family, my sister Rima’s brother- in-law,  Hani  and his family joined us.

Well we made it home safely and as I look back at the  effort that everybody made to be there,  I realize how strong the family and the Palestinian Jaffa bond must be to keep us connected.  For my sister Rima, it was an occasion to have all her four boys and their families who live in different parts of the world come together, and over and above we all had the opportunity to meet the youngest member of the extended family, her grand son  Faris Tarazi.

Many of us had enjoyed a mini reunion at the wedding of his parents Nabil and Lara in Aqaba four years ago.  His competitor with her charm, but slightly older than Faris, was Laila, the daughter of Sami and Mona Baramki.  Once you look at her charming face you cannot but remember the film Gigi, and the   beautiful song by Maurice Chevalier “Thank heavens for little girls…….”

Hanging around the breakfast tables and around the pool bar was a great time for reminiscing.  For me personally, Rhodes brought back lovely memories of our honeymoon in 1960 when Yousef and I had stayed at the Mira Mar hotel,  the  only hotel on the beach at the time. 

For us who continue to live under occupation, it was a lovely break.  However, there is never a dull moment.  One morning while we were swimming in the pool the children were playing musical chairs on the side of the pool, and a young boy from  our group won.  But when he was asked where he was from, and said Palestine, the lady in charge said that there was a mistake because the music had not stopped; it was only  a pause.  So as they repeated the game an older girl joined in and pushed him when the music stopped, and was announced the winner.  Not surprising that she was an Israeli. 

At the Rhodes airport, on our way back,  they were just as pushy and by the time a young girl from  our group got to the passport control the attendant was going  crazy.  “But I am not Israeli” she said, “I am Palestinian.”   “Thank God, ” he said while crossing himself .  Maybe that is why they always get away with what they want. 

We enjoyed every bit of the  program that the planners, my grand-daughters, Haya Yasmeen and Zeina had prepared.  The welcoming reception in which I had a chance to read my special rhyme for the occasion, the boat ride, (which the front line generation skipped),  but I heard it was enjoyable with lots of adventure due to the false alarm from Mona Said.  My son Suhail entertained the group with his clarinet which was greatly appreciated.  Then there was the trip to Lindos, the Greek night which after the official show,  ended up a Palestinian Greek night.  And the grand finale of the dinner dance, in which  even Rima and  I could not resist a few dances, and the usual laughs.  There were also a number of  honorary funny awards during the dinner.   And joining us for that special  occasion were the honey-mooners, George and Wilhelmine who had been on a cruise celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary; the memorable wedding that took place on June 4, 1967, just one day before the war. 

The keen interest of the younger generations to hear from the older ones their stories of how they left Palestine and ended up where they are now was amazing.   The family tree which our late cousin Vera,  had prepared for  the first reunion in 1984, which she had planned, was available.  We realized how much updating it needs. Everybody bought the special  Tote bag which Omar had designed with the logo of the orange business in Jaffa and the date of the reunion. 

Already the younger generation is talking about 2020 for the next reunion.  I am not sure who will still be around, but I know that registration will start as soon as the first invitation is circulated with no need for reminders or hesitancy until the last minute.   Yet it was a treat to have Jida Farradj Mushawar, accompany her mother Nina Farradj (not mentioning age)  at the last minute.  Go for it younger generation and stay connected through all the new technology, and encourage your children and grandchildren to join us for special visits in Palestine.