Bus stop in a nearby Arab village
I have excuse not to ratchet up the blogging – I have both interesting photos to post, and experiences to report…
For a start, last week:
Israeli Independence Day (as known as النكبة , the Catastrophe) fell on Wednesday, though starting at dusk the night before, as per Jewish tradition. We spent the previous day, Tuesday (which doubles as Israeli Remembrance/Veterans’ Day) touring Mishmar HaEmek, Lidia’s kibbutz – Lidia being a lively (sixty-year-old) of who spent her childhood in Wales. More interesting than Barkai (the kibbutz where we study) for its greater age, commercial success, closer alliance to the original principles of community, and location as a noted battle of the War of ’48, Mishmar HaEmek, with its new buildings and ornate gardens, presents an example of what things can look like when individuals with talent and flair sacrifice it toward the good of the kibbutz.
Leaving the ornate preparations for the evening’s celebrations somewhat reluctantly for the rough-and-ready plans at Barkai, we sat through the barbecue and fireworks. Lots of flashes and flag-waving, but “not much joy”, to quote one friend on the kibbutz, describing the mood compared to some prior years…
The following day, I went along with local friends to see an event to mark the Nakba. The heat, dust, crowds, and tiredness isn’t evident in the photographs; otherwise, it was a rather muted affair.
Filed under: General
