Only in Haaretz… A few weeks back I did a post quoting an Israeli settler writing to Haaretz and expressing solidarity with Palestinians over their oppression. "Meir of Gush Etzion." It was a remarkable moment because it showed that you cannot demonize people collectively. Even in the settlements, there are rays of light. Men have souls, and maybe there are creative and loving ways out of this mess.
Today I got the following note from the friend who had passed on that earlier Meir sighting:
Remember the settler expressing sympathy to the Palestinian suffering? I was browsing Haaretz today when this article caught my eye: "Arab lawyer detained after refusing to remove pants during airport check."
In itself, it is just another of the travesties of the imperfect democracy of Israel, and I was going to move on when I saw that one of the commentators – #33 – was this guy Meir. His comment is titled, "This one made a headline, how about others." Meir says:
"I accompanied a businessman from Dubai to Ben Gurion airport. He was mid east representative of a large American firm. His letters from the American company, his referral by us, an Israeli company…his previous annual entrances..all did not help. I was with him as his Lap top was taken and returned broken..as he was led away and checked "privately" in closed quarters. He would not tell me what went on..but he looked a bit shaken..even though he tried to put on a smile.
"'I want to fly safe..so I respect their precautions,'" he said. He meant it.
"I am not sure I can expect an Israeli Arab to feel the same. May the next year bring us more wisdom and sensitivity."
