We all in Jaffa have neighbors, Arabs and Jews • But I do not remember one serious project that came to solve the housing problem of the old Arab residents of Jaffa • Opinion
The riots in Jaffa
Hard days pass over Jaffa after the events of the last day.
Days of continual helplessness from an uncertain future on the part of its veteran residents, Arabs as well as Jews.
On such days, we, the residents of the magical city of Jaffa in all its sectors, must look at the jar and highlight the common life between Arabs and Jews that has always existed, even before the establishment of the state.
True, there have always been and always will be exceptional events that raise concerns about the continuation of the life together. These unusual events usually occur against the background of feelings of social deprivation which give rise to reactions of frustration that are sometimes expressed in violence. There is a beautiful life in Jaffa, and we all have neighbors, Arabs and Jews, with whom we have had an excellent relationship for years. These are neighbors who together celebrate the various holidays of all religions. Neighbors who exchange foods unique to their culture. Neighbors who take care of their children's health when emergencies occur. Neighbors whose children play in the shared gardens despite class differences. I see such and many other examples every day as an Arab Jaffa resident for generations. And that no one will tell otherwise!
Despite everything, it is impossible to bury your head in the sand and ignore the difficulties. As an academic researcher and clinician I must diagnose the exact disease in order to provide the effective treatment. And there is no doubt that the serious illness from which the Arab residents of Jaffa suffer is based on the difficult socio-economic situation in general and the catastrophic housing situation in particular. These two troubles have always been the trigger for violent individual exceptional events that have slipped into many others, as happened in the last event.
It is not enough to turn the city of Jaffa into a first-class tourist city to which many citizens, Arabs as Jews, from Israel and abroad flock. The conditions of the residents must be improved so that they do not feel like tourists in their city. I urge all the leaders and investors who come to Jaffa to work for the true integration of all residents in all projects and not to cause separation on the basis of religion or socio-economic status, as unfortunately happens in most projects that have arisen in Jaffa. Culturally, for all its components, and not be content with creating bubbles of expensive real estate for affluent residents only.
There is no doubt that violence must be condemned on all sides and not given any windfall.
But there is also a need for a general view of the situation and to limit the stimuli and provocations that can lead to violent outbursts.
And this is where the smart enforcement required by the police comes in.
Enforcement does not only involve physical resistance to violence with horses and sticks as unfortunately happens in most dispersals of demonstrations in general and in Arab society in particular. Enforcement involves ongoing conversations and meetings with residents so that steam does not come out at once in the form of violence. Smart enforcement involves the self-control of the cops on the ground so that things do not get out of hand as I see it, unfortunately. The police must remember that its success in maintaining true calm must be accompanied by an attempt to maintain long-term rather than short-term silence - of suppressing sudden riots.
I spent all my childhood as an Arab, as a member of a family in a difficult financial situation at the beginning of her journey, with Jewish and Arab families in Jaffa.
There has always been a brotherhood of neighbors between us.
Recently, the same Jewish girl, Orly by name, my dear neighbor from childhood, who lived with us in the same common yard, approached me with great excitement.
She remembers well the happy days, the foods and the games we played.
Jaffa has always been a city of daily life partnership, with all its mosques, churches and synagogues.
Let us live together, Arabs and Jews.
The author is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Medicine and chairman of the steering committee for the integration of Arabs at Tel Aviv University.