The american dream and the zionist nightmare  

For example, there have been discussions between Wajdi and our English teacher and her husband about Egypt and the Pharaonic civilization and its antiquities. They stayed for several years in Cairo and Alexandria. The discussions suddenly focused on the Palestinian cause, which hampered the development of the region. I was very surprised when I listened to them. They were very critical of the apartheid regime in South Africa, but they could not realize that it formed twins with the regime in Israel. They were defending the right of the Jews to live in peace, as if that right was threatened, not the right of the Palestinians that their territory is occupied, and its inhabitants are expelled or displaced. I was wondering how the aggressor plays the role of victim.

Wajdi said calmly but bitterly, "There is a similarity between the American and Zionist dreams. Both have been a nightmare for those who both dreams come true at their expense. It was a nightmare for the slaughtered, displaced and persecuted Palestinians, as well as for the Arabs whose lands were occupied so that the Zionists could realize their dream of returning to the Promised Land".

Before the English teacher could comment on Wajdi's words, an Italian engineer intervened saying, "There is a fundamental difference between the two dreams. American pioneers dreamed of freedom for all human beings, regardless of their races and religions despite what happened later. The goal of their dream was to build the future. As a result, it was a human and progressive dream, while Herzl and the Zionist pioneers dreamed of freedom for the Jews alone and at the expense of others. Their dream was to reconstruct the past. As a result, it was a racist and backward dream because it is impossible for the past to return". She added after a moment of silence, "Palestine must be a free and secular state for all races and all religions. Its inhabitants who have been displaced must return to their land".

Abdellah Khammar

Winter vacation, Life is love and love is life 1

An extract taken from the novel: Entry bell to class