There are always two sides to a conflict. I was invited by an Arab-Israeli friend on my recent trip to Israel and the Middle East to meet up with his family members living in Jerusalem.
I had a long dinner and conversation with my friend’s family members, talking about what it is like as a Christian Arab family living amongst nearly two million Muslim Arabs in a predominantly Jewish State.
The father advised me there was no limit on the number of mosques and churches allowed in Israel, they had multiple Arab radio, TV, newspaper outlets, an Arab political party part of the current ruling coalition, Arab sports teams, even Arab reality TV programs.
I noticed, whilst walking around the towns, there were many African Muslims wearing traditional garb, outwardly gay youths amongst religious and secular Jews; quite an eclectic range of citizens.
I noticed all the road signs and all public signage was in both Hebrew and Arabic. I took a drive and was quite shocked to read, at the entrance of one Arab village within Israel, ‘Jewish-Israelis not allowed’.
One of the family members was gay and told me he participated each year in one of the world’s largest GAY/LGBT festivals held in Tel Aviv and I personally noticed the Gay Rainbow colours all over the place.
I asked the father why he still lived here in Israel when he could live across the border in Gaza with his fellow Arabs. His response was quick and precise, he replied ‘As a Christian with a gay son, why would we want to be treated as second class citizens and have our lives threatened each day?’.
Perhaps Palestinian activist Gareth Smith (Letters: Sydney Festival Boycott) needs to take a trip and be amongst others, and meet this Arab family. In my experience, having been to South Africa under real apartheid, Israel doesn’t make the cut.
Boycotts and bullying are not the answer, meeting with and communicating to the opposing sides is a better answer.
