The J14 movement is back tonight with its first large-scale protest since early September. Musician Ami Yares hopes the movement takes a more decisive direction this time around.
By Ami Yares
“It’s happening again… Get ready for it … Even better this time … We’re returning to the streets.”
If I wasn’t so damn cynical, I’d be thanking some ineffable being for the energy and drive of Israel’s 99% to continue to yell, shout, and stomp their feet in order to get some attention.
But I am cynical… and on top of that, a little selfish.
A few nights ago, I was forced to cancel a performance that I scheduled long before tonight’s protest was announced. As a professional musician, my livelihood relies on these gigs.
Before the fateful conversation took place to end the life of my ill-scheduled performance, I spoke to a few of my compatriots about the event. Many were surprised to hear that “yet another protest was to occur” and some were tickled pink to know that “we’re going back to the streets.” Most notably missing was the contagious exuberance that epitomized the summer.
When I finally spoke to the bar’s booker, she too sighed and lacked the luster that propelled the summer’s enthusiasm. She actually admitted that numerous protests and street parties had hurt the bar’s business, despite the bar’s support of the protests. In fact, a symbolic tent has been a mainstay of the bar’s outdoor area. After reviewing the facts together, we decided to pull the plug on the performance. No one was RSVPing and we believed it to be foolish to compete with the protest.
Canceling the gig meant that neither the bar’s employees, nor my band would see any income to buy our next container of overpriced whatever.
I certainly believe the bar and I are in the 99%, so why does it feel like the struggle is against me? I thought artists and musicians were lawful components of society. Just because I’m an artist, doesn’t mean I work for free. I need opportunities to support myself. Since the government doesn’t provide me with a subsidized living expense, I still need to work and produce. Yet it looks I’m becoming more indy than an In-D-Negev band. I’m so indy, I don’t even perform.
Nevertheless, I will be at tonight’s protest and I’ll be damned if my voice isn’t included in the assembly of the people. However, I hope this protest is different from the others. I need some good news.
The Trachtenberg committee has astutely revealed we’re being screwed.
The news tells us little or no progress is being made.
Another protest is going to tell us we’re still mad as hell and not going to take it anymore.
Our emotions have been important catalysts for the struggle for a state that really provides for its people. However, anger and reproach haven’t really solved anything in the past. The struggle has created an impetus, but is there enough momentum for a solution?
I want to see progress and know where to go when we leave the streets on Saturday night.
At the end of the day, I certainly hope the number of people protesting exceeds the numbers of the people previously shouting their dismay. More importantly, I hope that one of the speakers takes advantage of the numbers and suggests a practical to way to fight the injustice bred in our society. That they inspire the masses to do something more than to just gather, to yell, to occupy a street and to even to be forcefully removed from the street.
Should we be volunteering our time more? Should we not go out to a pricey restaurant or maybe we should be using less electricity and water …. WHAT??
The feeling of disillusionment arises in me once again and I want to know where we’re going with the struggle. Deep down, I really hope that we can channel our disappointment for the past and optimism for the future into forward momentum. Canceling my gig isn’t my choice, it’s a consequence of the protest consuming my life. So as long as the protest is going to interrupt my life, tell me something new.
You too, may soon have to relinquish something for the sake of all of us. There will be sacrifices and concessions that we will have to make and I hope they are not for naught. We hope the government changes, but it’s also us, the people, who need to change too.
I don’t want this struggle to fall to the wayside and become a puff piece for the papers to cover. Yes, this could be just another protest. Yet, it could also be the protest that motivates us to move forward together and actively make a difference with our hands and not just with our feet and mouths. So, for crying out loud, tell me something that I haven’t heard.
I’d be happy to hear your thoughts and suggestions to be players and not pawns in the struggle. In the meantime, I’m going to go about my business and make music mean something.
See you tonight.
And please, buy my music.
Ami Yares is a songwriter, musician, and educator based in Jaffa. Most recently, he received a grant from the US State Department and the US Embassy in Tel Aviv to teach and perform American music born in and out of US social movements. For more info For more info on Ami’s whereabouts, visit www.amiyares.com and Facebook.
For additional original analysis and breaking news, visit +972 Magazine's Facebook page or follow us on Twitter. Our newsletter features a comprehensive round-up of the week's events. Sign up here.
AYLA
It begins with a message that crystalizes everything and makes people understand what it is they need most.
*
We need to be marching in solidarity with Palestinians, FOR something the majority of us can agree on–and in connection to our economic woes and social needs–Big Picture. Everything is connected, plus Israel’s mobilization was revolutionary just for its own sake at first, but now it will be hallow if its only for itself and ignores the role of the conflict in social/economic issues.
*
The time for this is now, the urgency crucial.
*
now, how to message that something. What needs do we have in common? We have the same social needs as palestinians, though theirs are far greater than ours, and they have more of them. Still we have the same basic desires and needs, and in both cases, the conflict is prohibiting our freedom, though to vastly different extents, and in both cases, a lot of energy, time, and *money* is bleeding into military / fighting, and not into the people doing that fighting. In both cases, though not equally, we’re losing and risking innocent lives to keep each other locked in this hell. In both cases, we want the fighting to stop, but most Israelis just want it to stop without understanding that Palestinians require more than some land and solidarity or even evacuation of settlements–there needs to be at least some right of return (I’m personally for all, just saying). But if the movement could go in this direction–and I would call on Palestinian-Israelis to take a big lead on this–then there could be education within the movement via films, speakers, etc. We ALL need to take back the night from our government officials, and not against anything–FOR something. If we do this together, we have the power. If we don’t, nothing else will work.
*
non-violence leaders on both sides need to lead this movement together. They can have skype meetings–it’s so easy these days. protests can happen on either side of the greenline, in coordination. Palestinians may not trust Israelis at first, and may not want to march together, but if Israel’s message is strong enough and we go first, I believe it will work.
*
how to simplify that message. I’ll think about it and get back.
*
Tin soldiers and Nixon coming / we’re finally on our own / this summer I hear the drumming…
AYLA
i meant to say “palestinians need more than some land and SOVEREIGNTY”, not ‘solidarity’. also, working on the comment length problem…
AYLA
J14 has to reach out to leaders in conflict dialogue and activism on both sides. Aziz Abu Sarah, Sami Awad, Combatants for Peace, Bereaved Families, Sulha, Rabbis for Human Rights. etc. etc. They need to be tapped regarding how to connect the dots. The dots are infinitely connected. This is not about Israel protesting for Palestinians rights. Also. This is about everyone wanting a better life for themselves and their children, and knowing that that is impossible unless we fight for it together, on behalf of ourselves and each other. The each other part may be a hard sell in Palestine, but it doesn’t matter–if we start it and make the message right, it will attract most people.
AYLA
Wiki Data:
.
*
In 2008, Israel had the biggest ratio of defense spending to GDP of ANY country, and the highest percentage of the budget to defense of all developed countries: $2,300USD per person.
*
In 2009, Barak, Steinitz and Netanyahu endorsed an additional NIS 1.5 billion to help Israel address Iran (see LD’s piece today to see how your money can help lead us into WWIII (my analysis, not LD’s)), making the total defense budget NIS 48.6 billion in 2009 and NIS 53.2 billion in 2010 – the highest in Israel’s history.
*
In response to J14 (People Power), in 2011, Netanyahu reversed course and moved to make “perilous” cuts in the defense budget in order to pay for social programs. The General Staff concluded that the armed forces could not maintain their battle readiness under the proposed cuts.
*
Therefore, there can be no social justice without big military budget cuts, and there can be no big military budget cuts without addressing justice issues for Israelis and Palestinians, together.
*
put that in your message pipe and smoke it.
*
the message should have no polemic buzzwords such as “occupation”. We need a very smart message. come on, very smart people. I’m going to get kicked off this site for word count if you don’t join me
sh
“protests can happen on either side of the greenline, in coordination.”
.
Count me in. I thought about that first during Cast Lead but the idea didn’t get much reaction from our side
AYLA
thanks SH. I’m trying not to conserve words unless I come up with the magic message
.
AYLA
meant “to conserve words.” obviously.
AYLA
a man in Roee’s video cracked the code, and proved me wrong about not using the word “occupation” –we can use the word “occupy”, like everyone else! The man had a sign that said, “Occupy Tel Aviv, not Palestine”. That’s exactly it. But to attract a wider audience in coordinated demonstrations, and to make these demonstrations FOR EVERYONE, something like:
*
Israelis and Palestinians for social justice: Occupy Ourselves.
*
or something.
*
Will someone here please dance with me?