Gush Shalom (The Peace Bloc) recently reported that some seventy Israeli peace activists lighted the candles of a huge Hanukkia at the Palestinian "outpost" put up by the villagers of Bil'in, located in the West Bank of Palestine.
Bil'in is widely known to Israel and Palestinian peace activists for its weekly Friday nonviolent protest marches conducted by several organizations including Jewish Voices for Peace out of Boston. The infamous Wall through this region cut through the village separating the people from their farmlands.
As soldiers and nearby settlers looked on, some seventy peace activists, members of Gush Shalom (The Peace Bloc) and sympathizers, lighted the candles of a huge Hanukkia at the newly constructed Palestinian "outpost" put up by the villagers of Bil'in on their land. It is located only a hundred yards from the houses of the Israeli settlement, Modi'in Illit. The event took place on the eighth evening of Hanukka, the first day of 2006.
The ceremony began with the words of Uri Avnery, founder of Gush Shalom:
"Perhaps it seems strange that we light the candles of a Jewish holiday at this place'" Uri Avnery said, "but we are standing here on the land of the Maccabees. It is here that they were born and here they started their revolt. The rebellion of the Maccabees is not only a Jewish symbol. Long ago it has become a world-wide symbol of the struggle against oppression, occupation, and injustice. The people of Bil'in are the Maccabees of these days, and the occupation is Antiochus." (Antiochus Epiphanes was the Greek king of Syria, against whose tyrannical rule the Maccabees rebelled 2174 years ago.)
A few days earlier, the villagers of Bil'in, in one night, set up a brick "outpost" on the land that lies between the "separation fence" or Wall and the settlement, a large area that has been cut off from the village by the Wall, in order to build new neighborhoods in the already large Israeli settlement of Modi'in Illit. It was alleged that the settlers were enticed to Modi'in Illit by Canadian real estate speculators, who earned many millions by "selling the stolen (Palestinian) land." The Bil'in villagers have decided to call the place "Center of Joint Struggle".
Eight of the activists lighted the "candles" - actually large torches, each one making a short statement:
"I light this torch for the fighters against occupation and oppression, in the spirit of the Maccabees, who were the sons of this soil!"
"I light this candle against injustice and discrimination, in the spirit of the best spiritual leaders of Judaism throughout the ages!"
"I light this candle for human dignity and human rights!"
"I light this candle against the settlers who take by force possession of the land that belongs to others, contrary to the Jewish values they profess to honor!"
"I light this candle in honor of the State of Israel within the Green Line, a state of liberty and justice!"
"I light this candle against the hooligans who cut down Palestinian trees and steal the olives, and who last year destroyed 5000 Palestinian homes, who besmirch the honor of Israel."
"I light this candle for the love of human beings, wherever they are!"
"I light this candle for peace between the two peoples, sons of this country!"
"For human dignity!" - Yoshua Rosin of Gush Shalom lights a candle. Next to him: Teddy Katz, who has constructed the hanukkia.
Uri Avnery with Palestinian children from Bil’in.
The original article and a video of the event are available at the Gush Shalom site (Hebrew and Arabic needed to appreciate the audio portion. It takes a few minutes to load).
http://zope.gush-shalom.org/...
Crossposted at Eternal Hope: http://eternalhope.blog-city.com/