The Commonality of Humanity, An Artist's Journey
Prologue
When first invited to join patheos.com, it was to launch a new section entitled Religion and Art. It was an exciting opportunity to combine images and words that reflect the oneness in humanity’s spiritual and religious journeys.
As an American born Israeli living in Jerusalem, I served in the Israel Defense Forces, experienced war, terrorism, the assassination of a living Prime Minister, its aftermath and everyday life within Israeli society.
I have a unique ‘on the ground‘ perspective of the dramatic events that continue to unfold. This has tossed me into the world of politics and political journalism. My goal is to bring to light realities that may not be readily available in mainstream international press and social media.
Racism is the underbelly of Bibi’s Mizrahi alliances
Throughout the history of the modern State of Israel, the Sephardic/Mizrahi community (Jews from Mediterranean, North African and Muslim countries) has used racism to poke their fingers in the eyes of non-Mizrahi Israelis. Relentless anger and brooding frustration pulsates in the underbelly of Israeli society, politics and even military decisions.
It’s no coincidence that as a direct result of the 1995 Bibi led violent and volatile anti-peace, anti-Oslo, anti-Rabin demonstrations that it was a young, religious, Mizrahi Israeli man who assassinated Prime Minister Yitzchak Rabin. Front Line Youtube, Bibi & The Rabin Assassination
Many settlers, Haredi and secular Mizrahim, religious zionists and ultra-orthodox Israelis celebrated Rabin’s murder. They even declared assassin Yigal Amir, their hero. The Right-Wing Block believed then as they believe now that no one has the right to give up land or property in the West Bank or East Jerusalem. It all belongs to the Messianic Jews.
In 2022, Bibi Netanyahu released his controversial autobiography “Bibi, My Story.”
A repercussion of that publication occurred less than a month ago on July 3, 2023. Members of Israel’s security service publicly accused Bibi of twisting the truth and refusing to take responsibility for the violent incitement that led to Rabin’s murder.
The online Times of Israel article headline read, “Ex-Shin Bet heads accuse Netanyahu of lying about lead-up to Rabin’s assassination.” The sub headline reads, “Retired chiefs, hundreds of former agents in security service say premier’s autobiography promotes false conspiracy theories about the 1995 murder of his predecessor.” Bibi Lies About the Rabin Assassination
“Ashkenazim whores may you burn in hell. I am proud of the six million that were burned, I wish another ten million would be burned. Amen.” – Itzik Zarka
On Saturday evening July 16th, Itzik Zarka, a Mizrahi/Moroccan Israeli made headlines across the country for his unbridled verbal rampage against Ashkenazi Israeli women and men protesters.
Zarka is a long-time supporter of Bibi Netanyahu and a prominent member of the Likud Central Party. He also has a long history of disruptive behavior towards anyone who dares question ‘King Bibi.’
On this particular evening in northeast Israel at a Pro-Democracy demonstration, Zarka let it all hang out.
“Ashkenazim whores may you burn in hell. I am proud of the six million that were burned, I wish another ten million would be burned. Amen. Leftists are traitors, you are the cancer of the country.” – Itzik Zarka
He didn’t stop there, “The *black flags are your shrouds. Your legs should be broken with batons, you should be kneecapped. That way you will not go to any demonstration at all.” (*one of the symbols of the anti-Bibi protests that started in 2020 is the black flag) Zarka’s Rampages of Hate
The leaders of the Likud denounced Zarka. Bibi declared Zarka would be removed from his position in the Likud Party and, “such disgraceful actions will not be tolerated.”
Likudniks called Zarka’s words ‘shocking,’ ‘intolerable.’ And to make sure they got a little dig towards the Pro-Democracy demonstrators, leaders of Likud also said, “all sides need to stop the inciteful and violent rhetoric.”
Justice Minister Yariv Levin, the most powerful Likudnik, had to send a barbed dig to the Pro-Democracy protesters with his statement, “As opposed to how the opposition leaders act – who support violence, refusal to serve and incitement from the left – I will not sit idly by in light of violent and harmful comments, even if they come from a right-wing person.”
The Pro-Democracy Demonstrations are not violent. The very nature of the Pro-Democracy groups is based on the unspoken non violent teachings of Gandhi. When there is confrontation, it comes directly from the police.
And regardless of what Yariv Levin may say, the three main opposition leaders, Yair Lapid, Benny Gantz, Avigdor Lieberman have nothing to do with the Pro-Democracy movement.
They do however use the demonstrations to promote themselves.
They sometimes participate in marches, even give speeches. But they are NOT the leaders of the Pro-Democracy revolution.
Three women, none of them politicians, are the backbone, the heart and soul of the grass roots people’s revolution against the ‘Bibi Coup’
42 year old Shikma Bressler is an internationally respected particle physicist. Mother of five daughters, former basketball player, she is of veteran of the IDF. Since 2011, Shikma has been a member of the prestigious Weizmann Institute of Science Faculty. In 2015 she became the leader of the particle-detector project, “one of Israel’s main contributions to the ATLAS experiment…” Shikma Bressler
With her three brothers and several friends, Shikma was one of the initiators of the 2020 – 2021 anti-Bibi protests that lasted over 18 months. Those protests were an outcry against Bibi, who as an indicted politician in criminal court has no right to be holding the position of Prime Minister.
Nicknamed the ‘Balfour Protests,’ weekly demonstrations were held outside of the Prime Ministers’ official residence on Balfour Street in Jerusalem.
Moran Zer Katzenstein, is a former marketing manager and a prominent women’s rights activist and lecturer. A veteran of the IDF, in 2020 she founded Bonot Alternativa, Women Building an Alternative. A woman’s rights advocacy organization Moran created Bonot Alternativa in response to a 2020 vicious gang rape of a teenage girl in the southern city of Eilat. 16 Year Old Israeli Girl Gang Raped
Moran, 40 years of age, is the initiator of the red cloaks, white hats, ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ protests.
The author of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ Margaret Atwood tweeted her approval and support for using these images to protest the Bibi Coup. Moran Zer Katzenstein founder of the Handmaiden Protests
Or-ly Barlev is a 51-year-old social activist and independent journalist. She’s had an extensive and varied career in Israeli journalism. In response to the 2011 Israeli social justice protests, she created (with her supporters) a Facebook page entitled “Social Justice-Situation Room.” Wikipedia, Social Justice Protests
Never one to back down from an issue dear to her heart, Or-ly took part in the 2020 ‘Balfour Protests’ against Bibi Netanyahu. She continually posted articles, photos and video clips on social media. And one time while on the air she was attacked by a policeman.
In 2020, ‘The Marker,’ a daily business newspaper published by Haaretz, listed Or-ly as one of the top 100 most influential Israelis. She supports the Pro-Democracy protests, is a featured speaker at rallies and regularly posts information, photos and video clips on her Facebook page. Or-ly Barlev on Facebook
As the misogynist coalition swipes away at women’s rights, Israelis march to Jerusalem in protest of the Judiciary Overhaul
On July 18, 2023, Shikma Bressler announced the Pro-Democracy Protest would march from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. They would leave at 8:30 pm and arrive on Saturday evening, July 22nd for a series of massive rallies against the Bibi Coup Judiciary Overhaul.
What a crazy idea. In the middle of a harsh heat wave, every day the thermometer sitting in the mid-90s with not a cloud in the sky. Hundreds began to march. Hundreds turned into a thousand and the thousand turned into several thousands.
By the time they reached the entrance of Jerusalem on late Saturday afternoon, there were well over 90,000 Israeli men, women, children, grandparents, students, reservists, LGBTQ activists.
It was a miracle. How they marched up and down through the hills leading to Jerusalem, only God knows.
The march was well organized. With the help and kindness of supporters, one evening, members of Kibbutz Nachshon served the protesters a wonderful meal, offered them showers, opened their homes.
During the entire march, no one was hurt. No one was injured. There was no violence, there were no confrontations.
Earlier on Tuesday July 18th, Israeli women, including members of Moran Zev Katzenstein’s ‘Bonot Alternativa‘ rallied outside of the rabbinical courts in Tel Aviv and Rehovot.
It was a direct protest against Religious Service Minister Michael Malkieli who submitted a bill that “aims to give rabbinical courts (run by religious men) discretion over child support, overriding a 2019 Supreme Court ruling.”
The week before, on July 13th, the Bibi Coup advanced a bill to that would “nullify and replace the 1998 Authority for the Advancement of the Status of Women Law. The vote was vehemently oppose by a long list of women’s advocacy groups.” Frightening Steps Against Women, Haaretz
There was also a new civil service directive that scrapped the practice of using masculine-feminine suffixes when publishing job tenders and ordered the use of only the masculine form.
The Bibi Coup, to placate the Religious Zionism block agreed NOT TO SIGN the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty intended to battle violence against women.
And within the last month, the Bibi’s Coalition refused to support a bill that would mandate an electronic monitoring system to track domestic abusers. Experts say this could potentially save the lives of women under constant threat by their male partners. Coalition’s War Against Women
Epilogue
On the evening of July 22 in Sachar Park, Jerusalem, protesters set up a Tent City where they could rest and sleep under the stars in preparation for the protests on Sunday, July 23rd, and Monday, July 24th.
Bibi’s Coup labeled the protesters ‘anarchists’ and ‘traitors.’
You be the judge.
to be continued…
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