ISRAEL- AT HOME IN THE ENEMY COUNTRY
0.05
The story of Nora and Jawdat Ibrahim is probably unique. It happens in the Middle East - where miraculously a restaurant in a Jewish village is full of Arab guests. It is the story of a lottery win - and the difference it can make
0.30
Jawdat is an Arab living in Israel- his wife, a Muslim from Thailand. The restaurant is in Abu Gosh, 20-minutes west of Jerusalem- and is so popular with Israelis, they’re queuing up.
0.49
He decides to use his lottery winnings to help a situation in his homeland almost impossible to change- to bring Jews and Arabs closer together.
1:06
Jawdat Ibrahim, Arab. Businessman
I have a foundation that supports 40 students every year- both Arabic and Jewish. I am often asked why – it’s because I hope that in turn Jewish organisations will give more to Arabs.
1.23
In Jawdat’s restaurant, Jews and Arabs can get to know each other.
1.27
Jawdat Ibrahim, Arab. Businessman
Here, Jews and Arabs live alongside each other but never really unite. They know nothing of each other, especially children and adolescents. If Jews of 18 are going into the army, their image of Arabs is solely based on what they have seen on television. They believe that all Arabs are terrorists… because they don´t know, they never meet.
1.58
Bringing the children together is most important to Jawdat. For example, through the cooking of hummus. The oriental speciality belongs to Jews but the traditional cuisine to the Arabs- an indication of their shared past.
2.10
Jawdat Ibrahim, Arab. Businessman
Hummus is something common between both sides. We love the same food, our languages are similar, our culture, we both live here, we could live in peace…
2.36
Fine words – but the reality is very different. Right now hopes for peace seem to be going up in smoke.
2.44
The elections in Israel have triggered a massive push to the right. Avigdor Liebermann is the pivotal force between Livni and Netanjahu: on the far right, ultra-nationalist, he’s no friend of the Israeli Arabs.
2.58
Above all, he is against Hamas. The Gaza Strip should be bulldozed flat like a football field, says Lieberman.
3.08
OT Palestinian (Walter)
Whoever will come to power, the outcome will be the same – the only difference will be who eventually destroys Gaza.
3.17
The Gang attacks in Gaza were inevitable, say the Jewish family Kugelmass. It is only right that Israel respond to the Hamas rocket attack from Gaza.
3.31
David Kugelmass, israel. Manager (David)
I think that the Israeli population is very much concerned at the moment. I t has been especially bad in the last few months, actually in the last seven years- there have been lots of incidents of extremist groups, Hisbollah in the north and Hamas in the south.
3.56
OT Dana Kugelmass, Israel, lecturer.
Many people in Israel have simply had enough of the attacks from the Gaza Strip, enough of peace efforts, if on the other side no one is willing to set up a dialogue.
Maybe we should really toughen up, maybe that would help…
4.24
In Jerusalem's Old City Muslims and Jews live together closely and yet seem so far apart.
4.34
At the Jaffa Gate you will meet Secular Modern Orthodox Jews, of all kinds.
5.10
Not far away at the Damas Gate, the Arab quarter.
5.20
Israeli Arabs have largely the same formal rights, they are de facto second-class citizens. On the Israeli citizenship - ethnic Palestinians, they are neither here nor there really. Liebermann wants a clear commitment to the Jewish state, otherwise he will deport them.
5.47
Jawdat and his family would be affected by Israeli Arabs. Does he fear Liebermann’s rhetoric?
5.59
We make up 20 percent of the population. You can not just kick us down. Arabs were already here before Israel even existed. I'm worried, but I do not fear the consequences of his rhetoric, but rathe of those who talk nicely and do something completely contradictory.
6.19
OT Nora Ibrahim
It is hard to live with and difficult to be married to an Arab. When I had a Thai passport, I could simply stay anywhere, now I have one with my husband’s last name ‘Ibrahim’ and suddenly everything is different- the Israelis will no longer allow me to stay where I want to stay.
6.44
More than ever, these are difficult times for Israel. And yet, it seems as though everyone just wants to live in peace.
6.57
David Kugelmass, israel. Manager (David)
The best that we could hope for now would be a broad-based government to form the political centre of Israeli society, which would then no doubt live in peace. For the Palestinians, we must find the right partners- moderate, as we want to live, in restaurants like this, we want to sit together. This is a perfect example of peaceful coexistence between Jews, Muslims and Christians – showing that it is indeed possible.
Closing at 8:00