Interview with a Deaf Israeli and a Deaf Palestianian

The Daily Moth contacted two deaf individuals for an interview about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. We are aware that Israel and Palestine came to an agreement today to cease-fire. This interview happened before the agreement, but we are still sharing it.

The first interview will be with Dalit Avnon from Tel Aviv, Israel. This is Dalit’s name sign. The second one will be with Halimeh Sarabtah from Ramallah, Palestine in the West Bank. This is Halimeh’s name sign.

There are a few things I want to mention related to the signs. The both of them sign “Israel” this way (shows sign). The both of them have a different sign for Hamas. This is Dalit’s sign (shows sign). This is Halimeh’s sign (shows sign). With Dalit’s interview, we used ASL. With Halimeh’s interview, we used International Sign Language. I wanted to quickly mention that so you are aware as you watch the interview.

The first interview is with Dalit then the second interivew is with Halimeh.

Renca: Thank you for being willing to meet with us, The Daily Moth, so we can get your perspective as a deaf person who lives in Israel and you as an Israeli as well. We contacted you to get your perspective. We know that the world is watching the conflict between Israel and Palestine. So, first question I’d like to ask- what do you want us as outsiders, who are not Palestinians or Israelis, to understand about this situation?

Dalit: First of all, thank you for the opportunity for me to explain about whatever is possible to expose information or something. I want you to understand that this situation is not black and white. It’s not. It is very complex and has many issues overlaid. I have seen so many people in this world, advertisements, of people going against Jewish people therefore they are also against Israel because we are a Jewish state. So, I want us to understand that it is a deep kind of perspective. Outside people need to be more neutral. That is what I want. Every story has a side- like there’s two sides to a coin. I know that. As for me, as an Israeli, it is important for you to understand that our military is doing the best they can to protect us and to protect the citizens in Palestine too. That’s the difference here- it is Palestine and Hamas. It is Hamas that is now controlling Palestine. Hamas is, I emphasize this, a group of terrorists. You know, for example, Israel had to bomb their (Hamas) buildings- did you know that our Israel army, before they started bombing, they did warn the Palestine citizens. The Israel army warned the citizens to please leave as they will bomb the building. The target is army related. That’s one example that happened. That’s how I feel- I am just tired of the wars. I’m tired of it. I live next to them. I have met many Arabs. I work with them. I work with a deaf school with some children who are Arabs. We all get along just fine. But, the war happened and now we are stuck. It’s a shame. I have seen on Facebook and YouTube that features people’s different opinions. Honestly, they do not know the facts.

Renca: So, based on what you know, right now in Israel, how the Deaf Israelis, the Deaf community in Israel, what are their thoughts and feelings? If you know?

Dalit: Deaf people here in Israel, to be honest with you, have anger. Now, Arab deaf people and Jewish deaf people have tensions in between. It is really really sad to see. It’s really sad. It upsets me. Why? Some of them are my longtime friends. I have worked with them or have a good rapport with them. All of the sudden, they’re angry. I understand their perspective. I understand the anger. They feel connected to the Palestinians. I get that, but they are against the Israelis in the Deaf community. I just feel….what are you doing. We have helped them a lot. But then again, they have the right to their opinion. What can I do? And I just hope, really hope, after the situation calms down- I hope that we can be friends again. I really hope for that. Why? We need each other. The Deaf community is very small.

Renca: What do you hope for from this point and on?

Dalit: Even though the chance of peace is very low, I still hope to have peace.

Halimeh: Let me set aside the war about Palestine. I want to say that deaf people who are arguing about the war itself do not really understand our situation. The Deaf community is small and that is normal. Who is bad here? The government. It’s them. The world does not fully understand this.

Renca: As you know people have said that Israel is targeting Hamas, not Palestianians. What are your thoughts?

Halimeh: What people do not understand is that Hamas are not bad. They follow the Quran. As opposed to ISIS who do not follow the Quran and they kill all. Ok, let me explain, Israel has imposed the blockade of Gaza. Gaza has never been free. People in Gaza are stuck inside. The Palestinians in the West Bank, the Israeli government has not issued any shooting or dropping bombs in the West Bank- nothing at all. Now, recently with our Ramadan holiday, in Jerusalem at the Al-Aqsa Mosque, the Israeli police- two or three, I’m not sure how many of them, but they entered. The Israeli police had no respect by walking in with shoes. You know shoes? They are always taken off to pray. So, the Israeli police entered with shoes. But honestly, every year during Ramadan, Israel never respects us- they oppress us. Now, back to the story, the Israeli police entered with their shoes on. The people who were praying asked the Israeli police to stop. The conflict arose. The few Israeli police called for more help from the Israeli police so more came. That was when the attack happened and everything got messed up - the state of government in Israel attacked. Who will help us? No one. The West Bank Palestinians cannot do anything and we do not have the government of Israel on our side. So, that is when Palestinians begged Hamas in Gaza to help us. Palestinians do not have weapons or anything. Hamas accepted. So, the Hamas told Israel to stop now- stop the attack in Jerusalem. Israel did not care and continued. Hamas said “We will do something at 6pm, just wait and see.” Hamas fired the first rockets. Did they target the people? No. They wanted to target the police by the border. The rockets exploded. Israel did not respect the same. They fired their rockets, but hit the homes where kids and old people live. The building crumbled. After that, rockets just continued back and forth. It got messed up even more. Why that far? I don’t know. It’s really no good. I mean with the people, kids, old people, set them aside. You want war? Ok, police to police , police of Israel and police of Hamas- both can face each other- simple. Here in Palestine, I watch TV, I see babies, kids who die- I do cry. This is the same when I see old people who die in Israel. I cry for them too. It is not a good feeling. I cry for Israel too. I cry not because I support them, but because I don’t like seeing brokenness on both sides. Both people are in pain. I want peace. It’s impossible. But, I have friends who send me messages that Palestine is bad. I ignore them. My friends who want to make peace, I talk with them. But, I would like to share something. I am a tour guide for tourists. For the Deaf community who has seen and experienced and been here in this land- they know the right information between Israel and Palestine. Other people, countries, who have not been to this land and have not seen Israel or Palestine, they say bad and negative things about here. They do not understand. Like what I have been seeing the videos on Facebook, people are saying negative things, so I ignore them. They have not been educated about this. What is happening in the Deaf community, we are small, like family. Why are we allowing the government, hearing people, their fights affect us. No. We are the Deaf community. I have been thinking and praying to Allah for peace in this world. The conflict between Palestine and Israel is deep. I just want peace. People, all of us, are normal. We all share the same blood. We are not dogs that you can kill. We are the same blood. Look at today. Not the history that goes all the way back and continues to carry this trauma. We need to stop looking in the past. Look at today. That’s what I want and hope for.

Renca: The Daily Moth wants to thank Dalit and Halimeh for being willing to be interviewed on video and shared their thoughts with us. We, the Daily Moth, ask that you show respect for different countries, cultures, and races as you comment. We will remove any hateful comments.