Egypt's PM, JICA chief discuss boosting investment, education ties at TICAD 9    Egyptian pound wavers vs. USD in early trade    SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    Egypt's PM meets Tokyo governor, witnesses signing of education agreements    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Egypt's Sisi, France's Macron discuss Gaza ceasefire efforts in phone call    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



A corner of Tahrir Square in Tel Aviv
Published in Daily News Egypt on 19 - 09 - 2011

TEL AVIV: Among the tents and posters which filled Tel Aviv's famous Rothschild Boulevard this past summer, there's a particularly prominent banner with the words “Rothschild, corner of Tahrir.” This is only one of the many similarities between the Square which has come to symbolize the liberation of the Egyptian people and events shaking up Israeli society and politics.
For example, the cry of the protestors filling the streets of Israel's cities last Saturday night, “The people demand social justice”, is a local variation on the Tahririan slogan, “The people demand an end to the regime.” (Although I am convinced that many of the demonstrators in Israel are unaware of the similarities).
It is hard to ignore the timing of the widespread protests in Israel which erupted several months after the wave of revolutions that began in Tunisia and spread to many countries in the Arab world, revolutions that also inspired the mass protest movements in Spain and Greece.
The Israeli protestors' agenda may be different to that of the Egyptians, as is the nature of Israel's regime compared to the Egyptian state, but I have no doubt that without Mohamed Bouazizi — the Tunisian grocer who immolated himself and in so doing ignited the fires of the revolution — and without Tahrir Square, Rothschild would still be known as a fashionable but rather sleepy boulevard.
These ideological similarities should not be taken for granted. For most Israelis, the fact that Israel is situated in the geo-political sphere of the Middle East is nothing more than an unfortunate accident of history.
In the metaphorical apartment building where we all live, neighbors don't greet each other in the stairwell, and certainly do not knock on the door requesting a cup of milk in times of need. Beyond the epic dispute between neighbors, many of those who live behind the door that says “Israel” are not interested in the people living on the other side of the wall. The spacious houses on the other side of this metaphorical street (i.e. Europe and the United States) are more appealing and we tend to think that we would have more in common with the people living there if only we could move closer to them.
Indeed, a significant proportion of Israelis view the fact that their state is situated in the stormy heart of the Middle East as a necessary evil, not just from a geographical point of view but from a cultural one as well. If we see ourselves as an integral part of the developing Western world — our feet in the eastern waters of the Mediterranean and our eyes facing Europe and the United States — then we also share the Western attitude towards the “other”, which includes the Arab world.
This is a crude generalization of course, but to a large extent the Arab world is not considered one that can contribute much to us as Israelis. It is not that Arab culture did not contribute significantly to Israeli culture for years, from the language to the food, music and cinema — but as in many other cases, here too reality is not enough to change deep-seated perceptions which frequently dictate an attitude of alienation and a sense of superiority vis-à-vis our neighbors.
And then came the Arab Spring and along with political revolutions and regime changes it could also hail the beginning of yet another small yet significant revolution, here in Israel. We do not yet know what the results of the recent social justice movement in Israel will be, but we do know that this summer can already be inscribed in golden letters in the history books about Israeli civil society.
To those watching from the outside, what might appear as obliviousness on the part of the protestors to the issues linked to the Occupation and foreign policy might seem strange and escapist, but the very fact that hundreds and thousands are taking to the streets on civil issues could indicate that Israeli society is becoming healthier and marks a deep perceptual change.
Another profound perceptual change will occur perhaps when we Israelis look back and analyze what happened since mid-July in the streets of the country. Then we will understand that one of the factors which launched this mass movement is the inspiring efforts by masses in the Arab world to stand up for what they believe in and change their lives. This is an opportunity to change our attitude to the geographical and human sphere in which we live.
Perhaps in the Rothschild corner of Tahrir we will find an opening for face-to-face dialogue, a dialogue that respects both sides, with the partners who share this piece of land.
Yonatan Gur is a member of Combatants for Peace and a journalist. He is currently in training to become a teacher. This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews).


Clic here to read the story from its source.