Etikett: Peace

I am Nir.

I am a free man, living in the free country of Israel.
I am Jewish. I am not religious. I am a human being.
I hate war, I hate violence, I hate prejudice and evil where ever it shows its ugly head. If you would ask me what I want right now more than anything, my answer will not be an Iphone (I hate Apple…But that’s beside the point), a new tablet or a car; it won’t be a home, money or even happiness; my one wish is for peace.
My name is Nir, and I wish for the same as all other Israelis.

In a country so fraught with violence, war and death people think we might have gotten used to it… But the truth is that we never do. Each picture of a child being hurt due to acts of war touches our hearts and sends shivers down our spine, be it a Jewish child, a Christian child, a Muslim child and any other child from any religion or ethnic group. You see world, WE do not care who you are and where you came from…We only want peace and safety.

There are many so called ”saints” who demonize us. These Hamas leaders who keep screaming ”They are evil!” While we only reply ”Please let us send your citizens aid”. They keep firing missiles at our children and we supply them with electricity, food and money, to help their innocents. They target our loved ones, in our homes, our streets and our sky scrapers and we? We let their people know when and where we are going to strike against these attacks, so their innocent citizens can stay out of harm’s way…

When I saw a video of a terrorist sending missiles on our homes, being hit by a missile shot from our air-force I felt pity for him. I know he was evil. I know his only intent was killing me and anyone else who is a Jew. And I know that there was no other way to save innocent lives. I agree with it all, and I approve of his death. But I do not take pride or happiness in it because unlike them (Hamas and other terrorist groups) I find happiness in life. Not death. Unlike them, When I see a man, woman, child or animal die, no matter what evil he might have done, I still find it in me to feel a little sad for the loss of a life from our planet. Unlike them, I DO NOT go out to the street to dance and sing about how they died. Yes, that terrorist had to die, but I am Nir, I am an Israeli and therefore I am not happy that he is dead. I am happy that other lives were saved because of it.

Many people ask what you would do, world, if your cities were bombarded by thousands of missiles. What would you do if your innocent civilians were targeted each and every day? I DON’T agree with that question because this is not a question. This is a fact. We are part of this world, just like they are. We are a part of this world just like anyone else… And we are being targeted. So I don’t ask you, world, ”What would you do?” I am asking you ”Why are you letting it happen?”

If today all the terrorist groups will say ”We want peace. We want to live for life and not death and because of it, we will not fight you” Israel will be happy, it will most likely help them build themselves and thrive alongside Israel. But if Israel would stop fighting, will open its borders and say ”we will never fight again” would there be peace in the Middle East? I think that it is clear that Israel will simply be wiped out in a matter of days, its population murdered for the sake of death.

Israel and Jews in general believe in the phrase ”To save even one life is to save a whole world” but the Hamas belief is ”We love death as much as the Jews love life”. I would gladly help a fellow Muslim if I saw him injured or hurt, would he do the same for me? I believe he might, if wasn’t brainwashed by terrorists who twist the words of their fate to support their own evil agendas.

World, I do not want war. I do not want to see anyone suffer. But I believe in the simple and most important right of any living being, the right to live. And that is why I am supporting my country and hope you will help us find a solution and resolution to this bitter situation.

I don’t believe in death. I don’t believe in terror.
I believe in life. I believe in peace. I am Nir. I am Israel.

Hi,

I saw your request on Facebook and think it’s a great idea. Unfortunately, I do not know much about Sweden. I have never visited your country and my ideas about Sweden are purely based on the media stereotypes of blond haired blue eyed people who enjoy a high standard of living. I presume that most Swedes opinions on Israel and Israelis are based on similar misconceptions.

My name is Dalia and I have lived in Israel for over twenty years after having been born and grown up in England. Life is very different here from the one I knew in London, but although I still miss certain aspects of the UK I love it here. It has been my experience that Israelis are a very warm and caring people. I remember when my children were babies, absolute strangers would stop me and offer me advice. They did not mean to be rude. It is just their way to treat each other as family, which sometimes can be annoying , but is always assuring. Israel is a family orientated nation and cares about its children and parents. Last summer we had the social justice demonstrations. I think that we were the only country in which these demonstrations were not violent. In view that most of the year it is hot and the sun shines, we enjoy an outdoor life, whether it is in our many parks or on the beach or in outdoor coffee shops. There is less crime than in a lot of the world and therefore the kids have a freer life. I feel safe walking alone at all hours of the day and night, something I cannot do in London anymore. Most people here are worried about the same things that people worry about all over the world, work, health, family, finance, global warming etc. Most people here are busy on a day to day basis with the same things people do all over the world, school, work, bringing up their kids, computer etc.

Israel is the home to people of different faiths and in my expereience there is mutual respect for each other. When I first came to Israel I studied at the Hebrew University and nearly all the students in my department were Arabs, Christians and Moslems. There were cultural differences, but it didn’t stop us from being friends. When I have had the misfortune to be in hospital with one of my kids, he has shared a room, Israelis and Palestinians together and the children and families have got along with no problem.

Unfortunately, the outside world does not experience everyday life in Israel, but is only exposed to news items about the Israeli Arab conflict, which often are incorrect, or at least misleading. I have never met an Israeli who did not want peace. Peace with the Arabs is taught in our schools and on our television. All children learn about peace. I remember when my children were in kindergarten and they were asked what they wanted for the New Year, nearly all the children answered peace, not Lego sets or dolls as would be the case in a different country.

It would be a pity if you take isolated incidents you see on TV as being the norm in Israel. That is far from the truth. Most people here would be happy for the Palestinians to have a good and prosperous life side by side with us. However, we cannot afford to be naive and in view of the terrorist threat in which we live, security cannot be ignored. I think that tolerance is a key and this is something that must be learnt.
I hope that as here in Israel, the Palestinians succeed in educating their children to want peace with us, in order that we can live without harm or obstruction to either side in a peace based on mutual understanding and respect.

I also hope that you visit our country to see for yourself and experience the warmth and many positive aspects it has to offer. I would be surprised if you do not leave with a positive view of this much loved piece of land.

Dalia