2/28 Response

http://electronicintifada.net/content/it-fence-it-wall-no-its-separation-barrier/4715

-This article that was published(in 2003) discusses Israels separation barrier and discusses its parallel to the Berlin Wall. The relative size, compared to the Berlin wall is said to be at least 403 miles long. Due to the publication date of this article, I would be intrigued to figure out how accurate this estimation is. There are 2 types of section- a wall made of concrete or concrete/fence combination. Some sections include electrified fencing, 2 meter deep trenches, roads for patrol vehicles, thermal imaging and video cameras, unmanned aerial vehicles, sniper towers and razor wires.

http://electronicintifada.net/content/it-fence-it-wall-no-its-separation-barrier/4715

-This more recent video by PRESSTV discusses the Israeli Barrier and its wall near Syria the Occupied Golan Height. Tel Aviv says the barrier will stat from the southern part of the Golan beside the Jordanian border up tot the north of the Golan Heights. According to Israeli officials the wall is aimed to protect settlers in the Occupied Golan. 

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/16/world/middleeast/israeli-forces-kill-palestinian-in-west-bank-confrontation.html?_r=0

When researching the barrier I came across this artcile in the NYTIMES that was released January 15, 2013. Israeli forces shot and killed a Palestinian teenager during a confrontation along the West Bank barrier. Two more men were fatally shot along Gazas border with Israel. This artcile as i interpretted, illustrates the fact that this separation wall is causing more unrest and fierce militant action; rather than solving any issues that were thought to be resolved from building such a barrier. This article further discusses how Samir Awwad, the 16 year old that was fatally shot on his way home after an exam as he threw stones at some soldiers, live fire was responded ultimately killing Samir.  "On Friday, Israeli forces shot to death a Palestinian man and wounded another near the fence separating Gaza and Israel. Witnesses said that a group of Palestinians had approached the fence, which Israel forbids on security grounds. Israeli military officials said soldiers had acted in accordance with the rules of engagement and fired at the legs of protesters who were trying to damage the fence." The following direct quote from the article discusses the growing unrest as a result of the separation barrier. 

Adel Hana/Associated Press

Caption: Palestinians women attended the funeral of a Palestinian farmer on Tuesday, who died hours after being shot near the Gaza border.

Response 2/26

After watching the Writing on the Walls videos, understanding that their are numerous ways to relay a message and a story. The website that allows the public to put messages on the wall, is such a peaceful way to speak ones mind without using violence to prove a point. I find that in our modern society many people use methods that are less peaceful to show others how they feel about a topic or to prove a political message.  Some of the messages on the walls are so deep and emotionally stimulating that one cant help but want to know the story behind the messages and pictures on the wall.
After reading Noura's thesis, it helped me get a clearer understanding of terms that I would hear and read but never questioned.  Homeland, for example, has a much deeper meaning than just the physical territory. Homeland has a very "emotional dimension that allows the nation to promote sentiments such as a sense of belonging, memory of space, feelings of historical continuity and possession of the land (8)." These elements are what the Israels and Palestinians value in the land of Jerusalem. The need to have an exclusive right and historical legacy to the land is what makes reconciliation very difficult. I also found it very appropriate to define what the definition of Israeli and Palestinian are, many assume everyone understands the boundaries of what make up the varying sects. Promoting exclusion by feeling legitimacy over the "other", and the two nationalisms with deep rooted ties to the territory "through methods of history, collective past, religion and political ideology (7)" are what make it difficult to look past each owns narrative and understand everyone has theri own story that must be respected. 

Response to Parallels and Paradoxes

I understand that Edward Said had a profound impact on the lives of others but the extent to which his influence changed the world is remarkable. His questions examining Orientalism a term in which he pioneered will forever be studied and analyzed. He also is the most forceful and impassioned commentator on the endlessly complex conflicts in the Middle East. The fact that he can have such a lasting impression as well as numerous musical essays, is amazing and creative. In addition, Daniel Barenboim "is a central figure in the musical world." Breaking the barriers with Edward Said, Barneboim is the first and most prominent Israeli musician ever to perform in the Palestinian West Bank. The numerous public manifestations the two of them put together is a true interpretation that that it is possible for Palestinians and Isrealis to come together.

Journal #3

Every artifact that has some Middle Eastern background and heritage in my home holds its own significance. Each piece of art has an individual story. They were bought at different times some before I was born while others I was present during their purchase. Some were bought from the store vendors on the streets of Palestine, while others were purchased in fancy boutiques. Some more expensive than the rest, but each has its own story and history. These artifacts of the Middle East culture represent community, faith, family values and in some cases milestones in life such as marriage.

Reading Response 2/12

In Ishaq Shami and the Arab Jew a great point was made that in contrast to the other Arab countries such as Yemen, Iraq, and Syria-Lebanon, the community was not homogenous in ethnic and confessional terms. In addition, there is an interesting transition as noted in Victoria, Michaels most controversial novel, that there was a major divide and separation that most Arabic Jews experienced when classifying themselves as Arabic Jews or Israelis. It’s interesting that by reconstructing their Hebrew culture the denigrating of their Arab cultural roots had to simultaneously take place.

In Lepers Lunatics and Saints, there is an interesting debate about the use of the word nativism. Some use it to “refer to widely disparate notions of preserving cultural roots and their ‘authenticity’.” While others such as Mehrzad, it is a “ ‘resurgence ad reinstatement of native or indigenous cultural customs.. Privileging ones own ‘authentic identity’.” While Canaan and his colleagues strayed away from using that term but were still rather skilled at framing observations about peasant practices with references mainly from the Old Testament and less from the Quran. By doing so he hoped to demonstrate the historical continuity between pre-Islamic social and normative systems and the modern Arab rural lifestyle. By using the biblical references as his main historical backdrop was understandable since it does contain a great deal of historical content but I feel like to gain a less biased and one sided background was essential to accurately analyze the changing mores of his subjects. Canaan delves deeper in explaining the demonology, which he uses in a scientific aspect to explain how the peasants who were affected by natural and human disasters, as well as held hostage cope with these stressful aspects of life. He bridges the aspect of peasant ailments such as herbology to the ideological aspects of folk medicine such as magic potions.

Final Chapters

The fact that Jerusalem has been destroyed and rebuilt so many times in its long history just proves the strength of the city and its people. In Chapter 17 it discusses to some extent the “what ifs” that I have been asking myself. What if the Arab nations all treated the Palestinian and Israeli conflict similarly and gave all the refugees similar treatments? Would there have been an alternate turn of events than it is today? If Jerusalem would have been the capital of Palestine how would that have changed or altered the relationship of the Palestinians and Israelis today? Oversimplifying the issue seems to be something that many of us take part in today, especially as U.S citizens. Accounts of struggle and conflict occur on both sides of the issue and presenting it in terms of villains and heroes is not realistic and accurate. Being able to overcome the ideological divisions within their own movement, the Zionists were obviously more fortunate impart because the Arab nationalist movement in Palestine lacked some extent of coherence or ability to deal with the Europeans and Zionists at the same time. When mentioned that Lord Balfour didn’t notice, “ the streets of Arab Jerusalem were shuttered and silent and that black flags of mourning hung in the suq” was this believed to be a pivotal reason riots arised in the 1920 riots?

Chapters 11-13

The way that Islam was portrayed it illustrates it in such a way that makes it sound like such a religion is no longer practiced.  But its illustration with words makes it somewhat simplified but still greatly respected. It explains some of the basic terms, Islam, Muslim and kufr in a way that makes sense to non -Muslims. Finding the similarities in the Hebrew prophets also makes it relatable to people of other faiths. “Like the Hebrew prophets, Muhammad stressed the prime duty is to create a society where the poor, the orphan, the widow, and the oppressed was a Muslims first responsibility.” The description of the hijrah, as a blasphemous action is what confuses me. The description of the Quran “instructing Muslims to return o the original, pure religion of Abraham, who had lived before either the Torah or the gospel and had, therefore, been neither a Jew nor a Christian.” In addition the ideology that “everything came from God, all things were good, so there was no essential dichotomy between the sacred and the proface as in Judaism.” I wish Armstrong elaborated when she stated “Islam is a realistic faith, and Muhammad knew that human beings need symbols on which to focus.” But overall the chapters were realistic and the facts were somewhat accurate.