Um El-Fahem

A view of Um El-Fahem
Yesterday I went to meet Dr. Jabareen in the Arab village of Um El-Fahem, to hear him and Dr. Ayman Agbaria speak to a group of Political Scientists Specializing in the Middle East and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from around the world, who have come to Israel through Bar-Ilan University in Tel-Aviv to see first hand the realities of Israel, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, so that they can improve their understanding,

and thus their teaching of these topics.

Dr. Jabareen lecturing

Dr. Jabareen focused on the legal and political status of the Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, while Dr. Agbaria discussed the status of the Arab minority specifically in the educational sector, which is his specialty, as a lecturer in the Education Department at Haifa University. The lectures were very interesting, but also very interesting were some of the comments and questions that the audience had; for instance, a question one of the participants had on why the Arab citizens of Israel would prefer to stay in Israel, even if a Palestinian state were to be established, and another question on whether the demands of the Arab citizens of Israel were even realistic in the current state. To both questions Dr. Jabareen replied, suggesting that both situations are very complicated. Lack of time did not allow him to really delve into the questions.

After the event, one of the young women that works at the Art Gallery where the lectures took place was cleaning up in the lecture room. I was waiting for Dr. Jabareen and Dr. Agbaria, and so I asked if she needed help. Her response suggested a sort of shock at the fact that I was offering to assist her, even more so when I began picking things up and putting them away. Her reaction made me think that maybe my offer defied conventional power relations that may be entrenched in her; how is it that a man, and even more so, a Jewish man, is helping me? Sad, but true, reality.

On a more positive note, while talking to Dr. Agbaria I found out that he, too, was a student at Clark, and not only that- he was a student in the International Development & Social Change department; what are the chances? He reminiced a little on his time at Clark in 1998 and we compared past and current happenings.

Later this afternoon I am leaving for the Sea of Galilee in the North for a couple days of vacation with family. I will return on Friday and will be sure to share my adventures.

At the Gallery