Today, we visited an Arab village called Jiser Azarka, where we met with a member of the community named Marai (מרע). Marai explained the history of his village and the struggle between the Azarka community and the Arab community as a whole. We learned about how Jiser Azarka was cast out of the Arab community after the village chose not to fight in the war of independence, when the majority of other Arabs chose to fight against Israel. This choice sealed their fate and ultimately closed them off from the Arab community.
When Marai was asked: “Do the people regret not fighting in the war when they were outcasts after?”, his response was: “Definitely not.” The people of Jiser Azarka would not have chosen to exchange their morals for a different life. Although they might be more closed off than they once were, they belong to a community with over 15,000 people who enjoy the water surrounding their homes. Marai explained that “Azarka” translates to: blue bridge. We actually walked over a few bridges, which showed a beautiful view of the water, the many seashells in the beach and the boats floating in the water.
It’s interesting to see how the city is not much different from some other Israeli cities we visited, yet what makes it different is its history and its roots. After hearing the story of this village that decided not to fight and was outcast because of it, I have gained a better understanding through a real-world scenario, how one decision can impact an entire community, and even a multigenerational one.
We cannot generalize all Israelis or all Arabs as being against or for one group or another. It’s not as simple as every group choosing one side – As we learned from the story of the Jiser Azarka village, some Arabs chose not to fight, even though others did. The Israeli Palestinian conflict is also not so simple – not every Israeli or every Palestinian has the same beliefs, which is what makes the conflict so complex. We learn about it in our seminars and have met with leaders throughout our trip in order to better understand the different angles, all while knowing that there is no “correct” one or “majority” opinion.
After visiting Jiser Azarka, I feel like I have a better understanding of how other religions live in Israel, and how they also face challenges when they want to identify as Israeli, fight in the IDF or simply side with Israel.