Across the Divide

How can people of goodwill surmount differences in cultural background and gain insight into each
other’s beliefs?

Perhaps, it must commence one relationship at a time.  Such  was the case when Richard Blaquiere, educator and advocate of Israel’s right to defend itself from those sworn to its destruction, and Ayat Abed Isaid of the United Arab Emirates encountered each other one frigid January evening when pro-Israeli and pro-Gazan sympathizers stood on  opposite street corners in Downtown Fredericton ,

Richard had heard previously that an anti-Zionist  Palestine Solidarity group was planning to hold a vigil in Downtown Fredericton in support of victims of  Gaza.  He was moved to do something about it.  “I believe in exercising  personal responsibility,” he said.  “This was going to be another irrational  attempt to blame everything on the Jews.”
 
He wrote a Letter to the Editor of The Daily Gleaner inviting the public to join him in a peaceful, silent vigil for the victims of Hamas aggressions in Israel and in support of the very existence of the state of Israel to be held simultaneously with the Palestinian Solidarity event.

“It’s about balance,” explained Blaquiere. “This group makes no effort to present the Israeli perspective. I am a friend of Israel and a friend of the Jewish people. I was determined to stand alone if no one came, but to my delight over 20 citizens joined me.  On one of the coldest nights in January,  we stood for about an hour holding two large Israeli flags as motorists passed by honking their horns and giving us the thumbs up sign.”  

As the Palestinian Solidarity group was organizing across the way, a young woman rather lightly dressed for such a cold night arrived with a microphone and recording equipment . After a while she crossed the snowy street and approached members of the pro-Israel group on the opposite side.  She was a Journalism student at St Thomas University she said pleasantly.  Could she interview some people in the group?  “I told her that we had agreed to hold a silent vigil to show our support for the people and the state of Israel,” said Richard. “ but she impressed me as being sincere, and I agreed to speak with her at a later date.”

“Thank you very much Sir for your help!! You don’t  know how much it means to me,” said Ayat in reply to Richard’s e-mail message agreeing to an on-line interview which follows. 

Ayat: My first question is: What is your name, where do you teach and what subject?  

Richard:  My name is Richard Blaquiere and I teach social studies at Woodstock High School in Woodstock N.B.

Ayat: Do you think that Israel has the right to defend itself against any outside aggression? 

Richard:  Under international law, sovereign nations do have the right to defend themselves when attacked by outside forces. Hamas, although not the government of a sovereign state is morally, if not legally, obligated to respect the sovereign state of Israel. Israel must protect its citizens. The psychological effect of the attacks on the people of Sderot will be studied some day I am sure. They sometimes have 15 seconds to take cover. Many families sleep in bomb shelters. Over 800 wounded and 13 killed. If not at a time like this, when does Israel defend its citizens?

Ayat: What was your reaction when the assault first took place?

Richard: I wondered why anyone was surprised. Hamas had been firing mortars and rockets for years and had been warned several times to cease but didn’t. This continued for three years. There is a double standard applied whenever Israel is attacked. As if those people in the homes of Sderot should just put up with it. Nonsense!  I remembered saying “O shit! Now it begins.” Did you know that Israeli authorities made over 100,000 phone calls to Gazans warning them to get out before the IDF came in?

Ayat: People have been accusing you and throwing names at you. How does that make you feel?

 Richard: It hurt at first. I’d be lying if I said it did’t,  but they do not try to understand what I am saying. Because I ask for balance in apportioning fault,  and because I worry in print about the under current of anti-Semitism present in some of their rhetoric, they say I have no compassion; that I support the suffering of Gazan children, that I am stupid, alcoholic, ignorant and a racist. I have those e-mails!. How condescending and arrogant and uncivil of them to do that! The hurt gets replaced by anger followed by a calming, and I am good to go

Ayat: Why do you think they are treating you that way?

Richard:  For different reasons, I expect. I know some of these people, and they are kind and decent people who are moved by the images of real suffering on the ground. That is all they choose to see, however.  The medium IS the message! To seek truths as opposed to “the truth” in untangling the web that leads to the cause would better solve the pursuit of peace. But that would mean acknowledging that Arab leaders have been complicit in the continued tragedy of the Palestinian people: That there is an ethos of anti-Semitism amongst radical extremists Muslims that prohibits sincere dialogue with the Israelis. That there is a culture of extreme anti-Western values being perpetuated by the extremists that is deadly for Israel and, indeed, for all of us if left unchecked.

And some treat me this way because they don’t like Jews, I expect… 

Ayat: Whom do you think should be blamed for what’s going on now in Gaza?

Richard:  I’d rather not play the blame game as such. I think my answers above give you a sense of where I stand on that question. But it really is a failure of humanity, isn’t it?. For thousands of years this region has been embroiled in wars and internecine violence and there are good people on all sides, yet we remain with swords drawn and hearts frozen in hate. How sad for all of us.

Ayat:  What do you think of the Canadian government’s standpoint with Israel?

Richard: I never thought I would agree with Harper on anything, but I think it is the right thing for us to do.

Ayat:  Finally, do you think the Palestinians and the Israeli’s can live in peace?

Richard: I do but we are nowhere near that time yet. And certainly not  while the Jew-hating Hamas is the dominant force claiming to speak for the people of Gaza.  God willing and common sense and vigilance prevailing, we will get there but Hamas has  “gotta go.”  For starters.