bat yam

Palestinians, many of whom came from the West Bank, are seen in Haifa during the last day of the Eid al-Fitr, July 19, 2015. (photo: Faiz Abu Rmeleh/Activestills.org)

‘But you don’t look like an Arab’

Years of failed coexistence projects between Jews and Palestinians, which were always intended to show Jews that we too are human beings, made me realize that enough is enough. By Muhammad Kabha Years of failed coexistence projects between Jews and Palestinians, which were always intended to show Jews that we too are human beings, brought…

By +972 Magazine January 31, 2016

'Defenders' Square on the Bat Yam-Jaffa border (Photo by Bukoved/CC)

The language of death in Bat Yam’s Monument Square

The nationalist machine tries to ‘sell’ city residents a story about honoring ‘defenders.’ But the latter respond: they are not defending anything anymore. They died and all that was left is a monument. By Eyal Sagi Bizjawi The central square in Bat-Yam, my hometown, is known as “the matseva” (“the headstone” or “monument”). As a child…

By Haokets May 17, 2014

Vigil in Bethlehem against war in Gaza (photo: Activestills)

Hoping for a quiet night during the new Gaza War

First we get hit by Hurricane Sandy while on vacation in New York. Now this. But hey, nothin’ like a good ‘ol war to fix that writer’s block. Gotta hand it to Bibi, I’m blogging once again. Thanks, Bibi! (Or wait, should I thank Hamas, too? Yeah… I should. And Barak. Oh, and Barack. Oh,…

By Ami Kaufman November 15, 2012

Latest

What exactly is the ‘Halacha Technological Institute’?

Took this photo at an appliance shop in Bat Yam. It’s a sticker on a Sharp fridge. 10 years warranty Sharp Better than yours Sharp Mehadrin To prevent Shabbat desecration The computerized mechanism is already built inside the fridge, no other installation is needed Authorized by the Halacha Technological Institute

By Ami Kaufman August 5, 2011

Treading a fine line between Jaffa and Bat Yam – UPDATED

Last night I posted one of my “Izzie in HolyLand” pieces. It was about the collective punishment Israel rewarded the West Bank village of Awarta, after the murder of the Fogel family from Itamar. In the post, I made Izzie have a nightmare about the same treatment Bat Yam would have had if a murder…

By Ami Kaufman April 25, 2011

Binyamin Netanyahu, inciter-in-chief

The Prime Minister returns to his hate-mongering roots A strange dialogue took this place between grassroots rightwing activists and the government. A demonstration was held in Bat Yam under the slogan of fighting the Arabs, with an emphasis on the fear of “assimilation”, or, to use the more accurate and less laundered term, defilement of…

By Yossi Gurvitz December 24, 2010

Out of Control Racism in Israel even Netanyahu is Forced to Comment

Netanyahu warns against out of control racism in Israel

The similarities are shockingly stark. Everyday Israel is becomming more and more like the American South in the 1950’s. I am writing not about the West Bank or Gaza but about the Israel within the Green Line. Bibi Netanyahu warned today that violence against minorities will not be tolerated. The Prime Minister was responding to…

By Joseph Dana December 22, 2010

No Biennale can save Bat Yam (Karen Kaufman)

I’m about to write something really controversial. Probably the most controversial thing ever said on +972. The Bat Yam Biennale, that currently has the Israeli media in such a tizz with gushing reports about the city’s gritty urbanism, is a load of bull. There. I said it. Look, I’m not even attempting to approach this…

By +972 Magazine September 27, 2010

The Israeli ‘shikun’: Living in urban ugliness and how to deal with it

There must be some consequence to how most of us grow up with dubious architecture. The “shikunim,” dour apartment blocks not quite as gargantuan as those of eastern Europe, but about equally ornate, make up a great deal of the urban and suburban Israeli landscape. They were mostly built during the 1950s and 60s to…

By Yuval Ben-Ami September 12, 2010