I stand still during the sirens of Memorial Day here in Israel.
Even if I am in my house and no one can see me.
Even though I oppose the IDF’s policies.
Even though I believe every soldier is responsible for his actions and can choose to refuse.
While in the West Bank recently, I overheard some Israeli anti-occupation activists
talking about how they never stand on Memorial Day.
How it is a ridiculous thing to do and would be wrong and hypocritical.
I think this is a self-negation of the country’s history
and a misunderstanding of one’s own identity as an Israeli activist.
The crime and tragedy of Israeli actions against Palestinians
does not preclude my sense of deep grief for lives sacrificed and lost -
I am an activist against the occupation.
I go to the West Bank and stand with Palestinians,
facing the army and the Israeli Jews who live there.
And I am not ashamed to stand still on Memorial Day,
and remember those who were killed
serving in an army which I actively oppose.
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yuval
we stand in the memory of our friends. this army we serve is our pride and we send our children with pride. while we see the cruelty the palestinians treet each other in Gaza and so did in lebanon in 1982 while joining the extreme islamic radicals we understand we need to be strong. the palestinians deserve a land. but it has nothing to do we proud of our people. when they will recognise us as a jewish nation i guess it will be a good start.
harvey stein
Mairav,
Thanks for embracing a complex reality – so many people these days think we have to choose 100% this or that…THIS is all good, THAT is all bad….Yes, it’s easier to do that, but it makes life 2-dimensional…
Arnon
Weak. It’s a crude ritual, one that I would reluctantly perform when in public, but would avoid doing in private. You cannot separate Israel’s culture of military commemoration and its militaristic policies.
Josh
It’s not clear to me if you oppose particular *policies* of the IDF, (with the possibility that other policies of the IDF at other times you might support), or if you oppose the IDF as an institution, which is what you say in the last line.
Jeff
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Rashid Ali
Sound nuanced, kind of like a pregnant virgin. Either you are Baruch Goldstein or Ilan Pappe. The fact that you stand makes you Baruch Goldstein
Ezequiel Kopel
Mr Rashid Ali: If Ms Zonszein is Baruch Goldstein (with or without the beard?), I think you are smoking too much bad hashis or…. you are thinking that everyone who dont think like you is your enemy. This transform you in another… Goldstein?. Pappe or Goldstein? only two types?. Your idea is the same idea that i heard from the mouths of the settlers, you are a good arab(who works for them) or you are a bad arab(who is a freedom figther).
PD: Maybe Ms Zonszein is the virgin Mary? she is jewish like her.
Mitchell Cohen
@Rashid- If it is as black and white as you say, then there is really no point in Israel negotiating is there? I mean if Israel either has a right to exist or she doesn’t, then there is no point in trying to make “peace” with those (read YOU) who believe in the latter.
nurit peled-elhanan
Aziz, you are the lignt in the darkness. If everyone were like you we would have had peace so long ago it aches.
Ethan Schwartz
As I explain to my young pupils, I stand in memory of all those killed in Israel’s wars, Jews and Arabs, those who have been killed and those who have killed. During those moments of contemplation I think of the future we could have without war, of the application of the money spent on bullets and bombs to education rather then to death and destruction.
Koshiro
I just don’t see how any rational human being can see value in such a ritual, no matter for which army.
Militaries and wars are necessary (or sometimes not so necessary) evils. I can see how a limited amount of internal traditions and rituals might be beneficial for the efficient operation of a military, but mass ritualistic demonstrations of loyalty (yes, yes, “respect”) by civilians towards military forces… that seems highly dubious to me.
And this not even considering the implication that by honoring Israel’s war dead collectively, you are also honoring war criminals. By the way, since someone brought him up: Is Baruch Goldstein counted among the meticulously researched number of military dead?
Ben Israel
Are the Palestinian suicide bombers counted among the Palestinian dead the Jewish “peace camp” are mourning?
Koshiro
I can’t speak for the “Jewish peace camp”, but I don’t perform empty rituals of this sort for any amorphous group of dead people, as you could’ve concluded yourself. So, can you actually answer the question, which was an honest one? If you cannot or will not, be so kind to refrain from any more pointless counter-questions, especially if they are thinly-disguised strawmen.
Dov Ben Moshe
Since Goldstein wasn’t a soldier serving in the IDF at the time of his death (despite his wearing a uniform) or a victim of a terror attack, he is not counted on Memorial Day.
Koshiro
“or a victim of a terror attack”
What are the criteria for this? I mean, he *was* killed by Palestinians; that’s why I ask. Are all people – except active-duty IDF personnel – killed by Palestinians “terror victims” or are there exceptions? Is Goldstein the only exception then?