Deityblog

The Days of Sulha are quickly approaching. I'm just finishing up here, doing some last-minute follow-up calls and running errands, and then I'll be heading up to the Sulha site tonight. Eliyahu's already there, and of course there's already a major controversy. I discussed before that the park is a memorial to the Etzel Fighters, an illegal extreme militia who defended the Jews in the area before the official establishment of Israel. More info from the Jewish Virtual Library:

Etzel: Armed Jewish underground organization, founded in 1931 by a group of Haganah commanders, who left the Haganah in protest against its defense charter. In April 1937, during the Arab riots, the organization split—about half its members returned to the Haganah. The rest formed a new Irgun Zeva'i Le'umi (abbr. Etzel), which was ideologically linked with the Revisionist Movement and accepted the authority of its leader, Vladimir Jabotinsky.

Etzel rejected the “restraint” policy of the Haganah and carried out armed reprisals against Arabs, which were condemned by the Jewish Agency. Many of its members were arrested by the British authorities; one of them, Shlomo Ben Yosef, was hanged for shooting an Arab bus. After the publication of the White Paper in May 1939, Etzel directed its activities against the British Mandatory autorities.

At the outbreak of World War II, the organization declared a truce, which led to a second split (see Lohamei Herut Yisrael). Etzel members joined the British Army's Palestinian units and later the Jewish Brigade.

From 1943 Etzel was headed by Menachem Begin. In February 1944, Etzel declared war against the British administration. It attacked and blew up government offices, military installations and police stations. The Jewish Agency and the Haganah moved against the Etzel in a campaign nicknamed the Sezon. Etzel joined the Jewish Resistance Movement and after its disintegration in August 1946, Etzel continued attacks on British military and government objectives.

In April 1947, four members of the organization were hanged in Acre prison. In May 1947, Etzel broke into the fortress at Acre and freed 41 prisoners. In July 1947, when 3 other Etzel members were executed, the I.Z.L. hanged two British sergeants.

After the Declaration of Independence, the Etzel high command offered to disband the organization and integrate its members into the army of the new Jewish state. Full integration was achieved in September 1948.


So I guess you can see why some Arabs have serious issues with having the Sulha at their memorial park, which, incidentally, used to be an Arab village. The Arab Sulha organizers were furious at first with the site, but everybody agreed in the end, more or less, that having it there is exactly the point of the Sulha--doing a healing between the two peoples on a disputed territory. Makes sense, beautiful, right?
So just when the Arab organizers calmed down, the Etzel memorial people started throwing a fit at the fact that we're having a peace gathering there. We've had this site for months, but nevermind that, they won't allow Palestinians to be there, they're not having any of it. For a few terrifying moments it looked like the entire Sulha was going to have to be cancelled. But they worked it out, we just can't use a few key facilities of the park, like the office we had set up and the ampitheater for all of the ceremonies.
But.....lo mishaneh. Peace will prevail on Earth, with the help of G-d. We'll defy the odds, with everyone's help. We even invited the Etzel people to join our talking circles and share their stories....should be interesting.
In other news, a humongous mazal tov mazal tov to Tamar Pieczenik and Moshe Gordon, who are getting married on Thursday, to Chana Leah Friedland-Wechsler and Betsalel Esterson, who are getting married tomorrow, to Bracha and Micha Hyman on the birth of Zahava Tsipia Hinda, to Leora Hessing on her recent aliyah to Israel, to Ari Johnson on his official appointment to go to the gold mines of South Africa to do AIDS research, and last but certainly not least, to my parents, the holy beloved Phil and Lisa Jacobs, on their 28th wedding anniversary this Thursday. So many incredibly beautiful milestones and changes, so much love, thanks to you all for allowing me to be part of your worlds.
Don't forget to check out the live webcast of the sulha--www.sulha.com.