Political is Personal / Israel+ Palestine

 HER STORY #80 - miriam

Like A Princess

I was born in Istanbul, in 1950 (if anybody remembers that date), and I am Turkish and Israeli. Not long ago, I received Spanish citizenship. I'm very comfortable with the three citizenships I acquired during the years. 

I am Jewish; my parents are Jewish. My Jewishness is not an issue for me. I’m Jewish. I accept it, and just go on. 

I was brought up like a princess – the way most Jewish families bring up their children. That’s what I think at least. And I had a good education. 

My parents were very loving and tried to encourage me – sent me to study abroad (1970). 

Studies

I studied economics at Dauphine University in Paris. Two years later I returned to Istanbul and as a young woman raised my family with my longtime partner. I graduated from Bosphorus University (earlier called Robert College University) with an M.A. in Economics (1977). 

I felt I needed a breakthrough in my life. We moved to Israel with our two children. The relocation was not easy for my partner. For me it was easier because I was more eager than him to start a new adventure that, eventually, I predicted, would change our lives in unpredictable ways. 

We had our third child in Israel. My partner became an entrepreneur and I worked in all kinds of free-lance jobs within the field of economics. Then I got this bright idea of studying philosophy at Tel Aviv University. Prof. Joseph Agassi, a worldwide acknowledged philosopher, supervised my thesis titled, "Globalization from a Liberal Perspective" at a period when the concept of "globalization" was barely discussed in intellectual circles. I received my Ph-d in Philosophy from Tel University in 2008. While I was working on my thesis, and a few years until I started running marathons (2015), I published a few articles and participated and presented working papers in conferences worldwide. 

An Unexpected Sharp Turn

At the same year (2008) that I received my Ph-d, I lost my partner and the father of my three children. On the same year, by complete chance, I started running. I think that in the early stages of my running, I found some relief from my pain not knowing that running would, eventually, turn into my new passion. I am running, for more than 13 years and hope to go on for as long as possible.  

Since I started running, I ran dozens of half marathons in Israel, Western Europe, and the US and five marathons (in chronological order Paris, Tiberias, Berlin, New York, and Berlin for a second time). Passionate by my running, I published my first book on Amazon, titled, "The Portrait of a Marathon Runner (as a not so young woman)" exactly at the outset of Covid-19 (2019).  

Arabic

I have a new hobby that I’m also passionate about. I’m learning literary Arabic. 

I tried to learn Arabic earlier, but I couldn’t make sense of it. The non-literary Arabic which I wanted to learn was too difficult for me. But now, I am making some progress in my studies and enjoying it very much.

Soon, I’ll be more fluent in literary Arabic and, most important, I will have a more informed idea of

what those who write articles in Arabic think, and in what way, they express themselves.

In fact, I want to know more about what’s going on in the Arabic speaking population in general and in Israel and her neighbors in particular. It’s a way of connecting with the Arabic speaking population within Israel and around it. 

I find the logic of Arabic (its syntax and grammar) to be very interesting and diverse. It is a challenge to decipher the logic and I’m trying to meet it, as much as I can. 

Eventually, I want to visit an Arab country, and hold a discussion in Arabic. It won’t happen today or tomorrow, but today I’m lucky to have a teacher that teaches Arabic at the university, and I get interesting articles in my homework. 

Why Israel?

Prior to moving to Israel, I visited Israel a few times, because my mother had friends in Israel, and every time she needed a change from her life in Istanbul, she would take me, the oldest daughter, to Israel. I found it, like my mum, to be a refreshing experience. In a way, an eye opener. 

I saw the soldiers in their uniforms. The soldiers, both young women and men, looked accessible, strong, and full of energy. I was surprised to find, to what extent, the soldiers were part of the everyday life of the Israeli society. During the Six Day War (1967), I found myself very worried about Israel and the soldiers, closely following the news on the newspapers and the radio. 

Eventually the war was considered a success or whatever. I thought that Israel was a country in the making that would eventually be fully part of Western Europe that I often visited, as well. In a way, Israel became part of Western Europe. Yet, in a way it’s still not democratic enough to my taste, I look forward to Israel turning into a liberal democratic country and not to an ethnic democracy.  Israel calls itself a Jewish democratic state which to my understanding, makes its democracy ethnic. 

At an individual level, however, I thought that my chances to follow my aspirations in Israel were much bigger than if I stayed in a country as a minority. In Turkey, even though, I had no problem being part of the minority in Turkey. However, I thought that Israel offered more in terms of my aspirations. 

Tel Aviv Istanbul

After we moved to Tel Aviv, I visited Istanbul often. Now, because of the Covid-19 epidemic, I don’t. 

My friends in Istanbul organized a 50-years reunion about a year and a half ago. I was supposed to go. We   were going to celebrate, but then everything got canceled because of the ongoing pandemic worldwide. Like most of the world population, we stay in contact with each other through social media. I miss my friends and worry about them for many reasons. 

A Quick Look At Global Politics

Covid-19, global warming, nuclear proliferation, and many other global problems are obliging global leaders of rich countries in general and global decision makers in particular to work together and examine solutions to global problems. Global politics in the making. 

Meanwhile, the achievements of global politics are a far cry from what is really needed to improve matters. What is needed is legitimate global politics with agreed upon enforcement rights. Otherwise, as we are all aware, the planet and its inhabitants are in danger. 

A Quick Look At Local Politics: A Test Case For Promoting Solutions To The Israeli Palestinian Conflict

Dr. Sapir Handelman [Chairman of the Board of Minds of Peace and a negotiation moderator] and I know each other from our studies at Tel Aviv University. Eventually Handelman moved to Harvard as a lecturer. He came back a few years later and founded an association called “Minds of Peace.” I participated in the association as well. 

Though, today, I’m not personally involved with “Minds of Peace,” I support the work of the association. One of the conditions to participate in the workshops of the association is to forget the past, start negotiations from what there is and find solutions. In other words, the idea is starting from now and not recalling what was, and who is right and who is wrong]. 

I share the idea that, when there is a conflict, we must try to find solutions, not find out who did the wrong thing. The important thing is to find solutions for less violence and less aggression. The negotiations are held with the aim of reaching a workable solution to the conflict. 

In “Minds of Peace” workshops, Handleman brings in the participants from both sides. I participated in a few of them a few years ago. Maybe things have changed since then. Back then we sat around tables. In each table, there were about five Palestinian participants that came from the territories [West Bank] and five from inside of Israel. 

I didn’t know, who the Palestinians were, but the Israelis were left-wing, right-wing, settlers,

religious, secular etc. Handleman and the organizers tried to make the meeting as heterogeneous as possible. 

To our surprise, at the end of these meetings, we would reach solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. We negotiated until we reached a solution. 

For example, on the issue of the territories and how to divide them, we came to an understanding. It was interesting, but it didn’t have much political support. Nevertheless, we did it and were very happy to have done it. We were happy, as well, to get to know each other, and share humus and tahini. 

No matter how many wars are won or lost in the way. Only negotiations bring solutions. 

Refugees Matter As Well

One of the things that I really enjoy doing is to help the least privileged people. 

We all know about the refugees, both in Israel and worldwide. They are the most vulnerable population. Not only are they subject to expulsion, but they have almost no rights. The meager rights they have are hardly enough for their survival. There are many groups and associations that help them and give them added security.

I help them somewhat, as well. I even have a nice story to share if I may. The story, in a way will round up this interview: One day, I get a phone call from a friend who said: “Miriam, you have a running group. There is a refugee guy, who used to be a runner in Sudan. Can you help him? He wants to run with a group.” I said: “Yes, of course,” and, making a long story short, we met, and we, immediately, became friends – on the spot. 

I took him to my running group. This happened about ten years ago. Some of my friends looked at me, surprised. They didn’t really like it, but when he started running, they stopped looking at me badly. He was so good, so fast. It was unbelievable. He ran with us for a couple of months, and I tried to find him a job, but it was complicated. I met all his family as well. 

When my mother passed away, I gave away a lot of items to my sisters and my children and to all kinds of organizations and the remaining items I brought to his family in a truck. The family was very happy, but a few months later, he went back to Sudan with his family, including his two children. When they arrived in Sudan, my friend was interrogated so much that he ran away with his family to Ethiopia. We were in touch the whole time. 

He eventually went to Egypt, and from there he applied to some organization to move to Canada. Today he is in Canada. He has four children. He is doing very well. He still runs. I’m very happy. 

I’m Afraid To Express Myself

I talk about him in my book [“Portrait of a Marathon Runner”]. 

I wanted to talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as well, but I wasn’t sure. A very good friend of mine from Turkey, a Jewish girl said: “Miriam, I liked your book very much, and I sympathize with your consideration of the refugees and everything, but why don’t you write about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict?” To which I replied: “I don’t know how to express myself on the issue without arousing too much antagonism. It’s too loaded. However, I hope that one day I’ll have the courage to write about it.” 

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has so many sides. I’m afraid to express myself because I’m not sure my perspective is workable. I don’t know. I know what I feel, but what if I’m wrong? It’s very probable that I’m wrong. Studying Arabic may, eventually, give me the courage I lack. 

I’m Not Mature

I have a girlfriend, who tells me: “You are living out your teenage years. You believe in global peace. Wake up! This is humorous, but I think she has a point. I’m very much for understanding the underdog and for world peace, Is this mature? 

It’s always been like that. Nothing has changed. It might be fine for when one writes a book. I shared my hesitations with my mentor, Agassi. He answered “Write whatever you want. Feel free to write it, and then when you read it, you can make corrections, but first write down your ideas openly, sincerely.”                                                                             

I’ll do it [write about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict] since I care a lot about ending this conflict. 

Let Them Laugh

This is my mind set: We [Israelis] are the strong. We are the experienced. We built a nation. We know everything about it, so we can also help the Palestinians. One needs to go above taboos and dogmas. It’s not easy. We must recognize the suffering of the Palestinians and give them a hand to lift them up. 

When I say those things, people laugh at me. So let them laugh. This is me.

Interviewed on August 5, 2021 by Sarah Arnd Linder

Text written in collaboration with interviewee