RAMALLAH, August 18 (JMCC) - Author Ilana Hammerman took three Palestinian girls to an Israeli beach - breaking Israeli law that prevents Palestinians from entering Israel. When authorities opened an investigation, a group of women imitated her act in protest.
To some of us... it seemed that doing an Ilana is exactly what we were longing to do for awhile. The action fully reflected our long-felt disgust with the Israeli legal system that discriminates people according to their ethnic origins and religion.
Preserving a Jewish State with a Jewish majority has become an axiomatic notion in Israel and abroad. An absolute majority of Israeli Jews feel there is a must to turn a blind eye to all evil necessary to facilitate it. For too long we have been demonstrating, writing and complaining about the sorry state of mind Israelis have locked themselves into. Now we saw a chance to actively break away with all this, as Ilana Hammerman had done.
Motivated by the urgency of the direct threat to Hammerman -- her act could potentially lead to up to two years in prison -- we decided to join her and follow her example. A group of twelve women (11+ Ilana) quickly organized. We soon found counterparts: courageous Palestinian women willing to make a political statement and interested in a day trip outside their harsh reality. They all knew the risk they were taking in case their identities should be revealed, but could not care less. At the appointed day we set off in six cars with 12 Israeli drivers and escorts, 12 Palestinian women, four children and one baby.
Read the blog on the Huffington Post..
