Generational Recounting

Sitting on the kitchen stool, I watched Saba juggle the hot pitas. He handled the heat with such ease; years of practice. While squeezing lemon into the messy bowl of tahini resting on the old marble counter, Saba declared, “Peace is not a metric of compromise; it is a measurement of risk, courage, and balls. November 4, 1995 had a profound effect on the Israeli psyche. One bullet can miss, kill, and start a revolution. It is hard to tell where we would be today if Rabin was killed. Shachi, empowerment comes in unforeseen ways. It takes a man of integrity to make peace and a man with a tainted silver lining to call for war.”

“Permit me to say that I am deeply moved. I wish to thank each and every one of you, who have come here today to take a stand against violence and for peace. This government, which I am privileged to head, together with my friend Shimon Peres, decided to give peace a chance -- a peace that will solve most of Israel's problems… This rally must send a message to the Israeli people, to the Jewish people around the world, to the many people in the Arab world, and indeed to the entire world, that the Israeli people want peace, support peace. For this, I thank you.” Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin 1995

BREAKING NEWS: Failed Assassination Attempt on Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin Following Peace Rally

Grandfather continued: “Following the peace rally and failed assassination attempt, Israel became closer than ever. Most all of the interpolitical disputes and religious disagreements began to blur. In the wake of such a horrific incident, the nation rallied stronger. Citizens from Tel-Aviv to Akko to Beer Sheva unified.”

Narrator (Grandson): “Saba was the type of person I could sit and listen to for hours. He lived a distinct narrative that is shared by diaspora Jews in differing ways. He emigrated from Iraq, fleeing pogroms and fierce anti-semitism, to only camp for the ensuing years in the newly lamented State of Israel. He went on to serve as a Paratrooper during much of the 60’s including the Six Day War. Following his military service, he relocated to Nahariyya, a Mediterranean town just north of Haifa and just south of the Lebanese border that was tagged as the “resort town for young lovers”. He moved to start a family. The family transpired to become an empire of lawyers and impeccable cooks. During the breakthrough momentum of the Peace Now movement, Saba reentered the realm of public service by orchestrating gatherings.”

He slided the tray of tapas accross the counter towards me; hummus, tahini, sliced pickles, Kibbutz olives, stacks of pita, and of course schug. My arm stretched out reaching to begin my culinary concourse of the homing appetizers I am a kin to. Saba continued,

“The months after the incident were some of the most vulnerable in Israel’s history. The Peace Now movement was stronger than ever. I remember marching along with thousands of other Israelis through the streets of Tel-Aviv. Israeli youths to the elderly participated. To describe the scenes as vibrant and electric would not do the atmosphere justice. It was just short of a revolution, a revolution of peace. Tragically as we know, the corridors to the agreement are still empty, cold, and obsolete. At a rally in Jerusalem-”

Before he could finish, I had to interrupt. I was astonished by the rampant hope that was spurred from the failed assassination. How could such momentum, upheaval, and vast international backing result in nothing, nothing at all? It seemed fallacious. I interjected, “What were the territories like during this time frame?

    Saba adjusted his thought, “Well, thats a slightly different story. I haven’t been to the area for who knows how long, however my Arabic roots enabled me to cultivate relationships with Israeli Arabs. Many of whom during this period, marched alongside Jews in the strides for peace. Within the territories there was a fervor. As some called for peace others continued to call for attacks and destruction. There was a tenuous divide that encapsulated the hurdles of peace. For both of us, Israelis and Palestinians, peace was and is still held hostage by zealots and extremists.” His arm raised as he clenched the clay mug my brother must have made him for a birthday. He sipped the coffee powerfully while carefully plotting his next remarks. “In March of 96’ Rabin made a historic visit to Ramallah. It received much backlash and applause. Regardless of what people thought of the visit, everyone could agree he was fearless, a meshugana.”

BREAKING NEWS: Rabin and Arafat Sign Second Declaration of Principles

    “Let this be the final stretch to peace, civility, and cooperation. The bounds of our signatures shall begin a new era in the Middle East.” Prime Minister, Yitzhak Rabin 1996    

I strategically prepared my pita sandwich. I painted a smooth layer of hummus on, placed olives, sliced pickles, and small dollops of schug evenly. For the final touch, I drizzled tahini up and down the crater of perfection. I prodded while exercising my restraint to not take my first bite, “Where did it all go wrong? The timeline seemed so promising.” Saba took a bite himself, on his last chews he started, “Both parties were unable to maintain their commitments and duties. In the Summer following the second signing, the Israeli government began pulling settlements one by one. Bus trips to Jerusalem were organized for Palestinians who wished to pray at the Al-Aqsa mosque. Slowly it seemed as though the chips were falling into place. There was relative quiet until a wave of sporadic suicide bombings occurred in the greater Tel-Aviv area. Arafat publically denounced the acts in english. In arabic his sentiments were much more alarming. In response, Israel stopped retracting settlers from the West Bank. Many Palestinians saw this as provocation. Uprisings began; stone throwers, molotov cocktails and mass gatherings. More Israeli troops were called upon by some on the left factions of the Palestinian Authority to suppress the riots in hopes of swiftly salvaging the optimism of peace. As part of the second signing, Israeli troops had been gradually decreasing their presence in the area. Shortly after, with no end in sight, the violence and protests began. Arafat declared, “We cannot make peace with a Zionist regime that is unwilling to recognize Palestinians. If my people desire to bring justice we shall do it with all of us.” Just like that, the Second Intifada commenced.

I raised my head in acknowledgement. As my head lowered, my eyes locked on to the sandwich I so patiently caressed. My curiosity suspended as I enjoyed my first bite of the pita that is both shared by Israelis and Palestinians as favorites.