From a twitpic: "A stunning photo of Palestinians holding posters of Juliano Mer-Khamis, a map of Palestine targeted on his heart."
Here is a statement from the Palestinian Popular Committees against the wall:
In memory of our beloved friend Juliano Mer-Khamis
Juliano Mer-Khamis embodied the uncompromising struggle for freedom and for dignity. With his brutal murder the Palestinian struggle has lost a brilliant charismatic and courageous fighter for justice and freedom. Both parts of his life's work were seamlessly joined. His art was inseparable from his political commitment. The dignity and humanity which his art sustained were just as important to Palestinian resilience -sumud as his explicitly political work. His life was tragically cut short but he nevertheless managed to live a life full with purpose and meaning. In his typical way he fully dedicated himself to realizing his principles and gave up the comfort of life in Haifa to move to Jenin.
The Freedom theater which Mer-Khamis founded enriched the lives of countless young participants who all loved Juliano and their audience. It demonstrated the resilience of Palestinians, who transcended the most difficult situations to create a lasting legacy of art and consciousness. The effect of the Freedom theater reached far beyond Jenin and even the West Bank. People throughout the world were inspired to support the work of the theater and Palestinian solidarity in general.
We offer his family our condolences and support. We will always remember and miss him. His legacy will continue to inspire us to struggle for dignity and liberation. We will follow Juliano's example in his work and in his spirit.
Democracy Now had several remembrances of Mer-Khamis this morning. Here is a great statement from New York theater leaders:
The murder of Juliano Mer-Khamis, actor, director, founder of the Jenin Freedom Theater, in the Jenin Refugee Camp, is an assault on art and artists, peacekeepers and the creative lives of young people who live under the constant threat of violence.
As American theater makers whose work is dedicated to understanding of the other and the self, we condemn this unspeakable act. We condemn the policy of targeted assassination which is widely practiced, by militant non-state actors, and by governments.
Karen Malpede
George Bartenieff
Theater Three Collaborative
James Nicola
Linda Chapman
New York Theater Workshop
Here is Gideon Levy in Haaretz:
This tall, strapping, handsome man who oozed charisma, a Jew and an Arab on account of his parents - perhaps a Jew in the eyes of the Arabs and an Arab in the eyes of the Jews - decided to devote his life to Jenin, where he lived as an Israeli and as a human being. One of the most talented theater actors to ever emerge here was also the most courageous of them. The seven bullets extinguished the light of courage that he radiated. "Jule was murdered," a trembling voice belonging to a refugee camp resident on the other end of the phone told me..
Ilene Cohen observes:
It is noteworthy that no Israeli government official that I've seen has bothered even to comment on the murder of an Israeli citizen in occupied Palestine. This is, sadly, not surprising, since Juliano was not a beloved settler but an activist whose life was dedicated to opposing the occupation. For Israelis, I would imagine, he was therefore beyond the pale.
Mazin Qumsiyeh
So beautiful so sad. So very sad.
Juliano and his family in my prayers during daily walking meditations.
A huge loss
May he rest in peace…
And Phil, good, strong, clear words:
“no Israeli government official that I’ve seen has bothered even to comment on the murder of an Israeli citizen in occupied Palestine. This is, sadly, not surprising, since Juliano was not a beloved settler but an activist whose life was dedicated to opposing the occupation. For Israelis, I would imagine, he was therefore beyond the pale.”
They only scream “they are killing innocent Jews” when the Jews in question are good Zionists. Other Jews don’t count, from the Zionist point of view.
What bull. If the Israeli government would have commented, you would call them hypocrites.
Yes. But instead there’s no ambiguity — the Israeli government has said nothing, so they don’t mind that Juliano is dead.
“If the Israeli government would have commented,..”
That should be
“If the Israeli government had commented,..”
Well, the distinction exists on a few levels/layers.
Juliano’s father was Palestinian and his mother Jewish.
Much like the children of interracial parents in the US where the child is considered black by his white neighbors, although he is still black in the eyes of his black neighbors.
To many Israeli Jews, Juliano was the son of a traitor. His mother married an Arab, the enemy, the untermensch. By the same rationale, he, too, was a traitor because he was an Israeli who saw himself as a Palestinian, certainly not a ‘good Arab’ like Israel’s 20% who are often expected to be loyal yet subservient.
Those interested in reading more about the subject can see:
Sleeping on a Wire: Conversations with Palestinians in Israel – By David Grossman.
It’s an illuminating book. Highly recommended.
I just read a report in the Palestinian press that he was killed while driving home his son and the babysitter. The report said that his 10-month-old son was sitting in his lap when he was killed, and the babysitter took a bullet to her arm.
I don’t think I’ve seen those details here yet although I might have missed them. It struck me as extraordinary that someone would be assassinated while holding a baby and the baby would be unharmed.
How tragic for the child.
This man was killed because he believed that ethnic Jews and Arabs could live together. Heck, he was living proof of it.
The man might have been slain, but his dream will live on. Because we will keep it alive.
Who killed him? I don’t know, but killings have become this petty? Artists? If it was yet another Israeli extra-Judicial killing, it’s certainly an admission of the extreme desperation of their situation.
Hej!
On the anniversary of MLK Jr’s assassination. I think this is the most bitter irony one could possibly take.
ouch…had not thought about that
From your favorite lefty newspaper
link to haaretz.com
But Juliano Mer-Khamis was not murdered by Jews.
lli, does Ari Shavit know who murdered Mer-Khamis?