Al-Saud household, as Mariam was one of his sister Yasmín’s best friends. In spite of opposition from both families, Shiloah and Mariam defended their relationship. It was thought that the romance would end when Shiloah left for Israel at eighteen to enroll in the Tsahal , the Israeli army. The year passed, and Shiloah Moses continued to send letters and gifts to Mariam, who swore to be faithful in turn.
“They’ll block your political project, Shiloah.”
“Oh, there are many like me. Peace Now, the Israeli Committee Against Demolition, the Progressives for Peace, the Palestinian Youth League for Peace, et cetera. They let them be. Why not me?”
“Because you have serious economic power and you’re a public figure in your country. You’re not like the others, people with good intentions and no power. Your ecological campaigns have won you respect and affection in many sectors.”
“And that’s what I’ll use to my advantage to bring my ideas for unity to the Knesset,” he said, referring to the Israeli parliament.
“Shiloah, if you really want to make a difference and join the struggle for peace, why don’t you support the PLO?” Eliah was referring to Yasser Arafat’s party, the Palestinian Liberation Organization. “And support a Palestinian state?”
Moses opened a folder that he had left on the table between them and took out a map of the West Bank.
“Look at this, Eliah. These are the Israeli settlements and here are the Palestinian cities. It’s the same as what the black population had to suffer under apartheid in South Africa. The Israeli settlements have everything going for them: the protection of the Tsahal, the road system that connects them to the rest of Israel—which is forbidden to Palestinians—while the Palestinians are trapped in ghetto islands. And now they’re talking about building a wall! Do you really believe that the Palestinian state has a chance? We have to work on the idea of a united state, because the settlements aren’t going anywhere, so there’s no other way of stopping the violence.”
“Shiloah, you’re a Zionist. What are you talking about?”
“Yes, I am, but I think that Zionism has achieved its goal, a Jewish state. Now is the time to coexist with the Arabs. For centuries both communities lived in peace. We can have no more pariahs like they had in Nazi Germany.”
“Why do you say that the Israeli settlements will never abandon the West Bank?”
“Because of the resources, mon frère , water especially. Water is the most important thing in my country. Eighty percent of the water in the West Bank ends up in Israel. And water is life.”
“Then the Oslo Accords were a sham.”
“Sabir warned you that in ’93, when the damn documents were signed.”
Al-Saud rested his elbows on his knees and cradled his head in his hands. It was all a terrible mess.
“Your idea is a utopia,” he concluded, finally.
“No, it’s not,” Shiloah refuted. “Anything is possible, and it pains me that you, of all mortals, would try to tell me that something can’t bedone. You, who does whatever he wants and successfully too. Regardless of what stands in your way.”
“There are too many complications. I’m just thinking of the opposition you’ll get from the Israeli parties and centers of power, not to mention the PLO, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. It’s overwhelming. If we add the United States into the equation, then prospects are really starting to look bleak.”
“Step by step. Little by little.”
“Moreover, in your newspaper,” Eliah said, referring to Breaking News , “you’ve always criticized the Mossad for not appearing in the budget and generally enjoying impunity. You’ve shaken up a hornet’s nest by saying they should be subject to Knesset supervision. Now you have them against you. And they’re not to be messed with, I’m warning you.”
“Ah, but that’s why I have you! So you can watch my back.”
“I’ve already told you
“They’ll block your political project, Shiloah.”
“Oh, there are many like me. Peace Now, the Israeli Committee Against Demolition, the Progressives for Peace, the Palestinian Youth League for Peace, et cetera. They let them be. Why not me?”
“Because you have serious economic power and you’re a public figure in your country. You’re not like the others, people with good intentions and no power. Your ecological campaigns have won you respect and affection in many sectors.”
“And that’s what I’ll use to my advantage to bring my ideas for unity to the Knesset,” he said, referring to the Israeli parliament.
“Shiloah, if you really want to make a difference and join the struggle for peace, why don’t you support the PLO?” Eliah was referring to Yasser Arafat’s party, the Palestinian Liberation Organization. “And support a Palestinian state?”
Moses opened a folder that he had left on the table between them and took out a map of the West Bank.
“Look at this, Eliah. These are the Israeli settlements and here are the Palestinian cities. It’s the same as what the black population had to suffer under apartheid in South Africa. The Israeli settlements have everything going for them: the protection of the Tsahal, the road system that connects them to the rest of Israel—which is forbidden to Palestinians—while the Palestinians are trapped in ghetto islands. And now they’re talking about building a wall! Do you really believe that the Palestinian state has a chance? We have to work on the idea of a united state, because the settlements aren’t going anywhere, so there’s no other way of stopping the violence.”
“Shiloah, you’re a Zionist. What are you talking about?”
“Yes, I am, but I think that Zionism has achieved its goal, a Jewish state. Now is the time to coexist with the Arabs. For centuries both communities lived in peace. We can have no more pariahs like they had in Nazi Germany.”
“Why do you say that the Israeli settlements will never abandon the West Bank?”
“Because of the resources, mon frère , water especially. Water is the most important thing in my country. Eighty percent of the water in the West Bank ends up in Israel. And water is life.”
“Then the Oslo Accords were a sham.”
“Sabir warned you that in ’93, when the damn documents were signed.”
Al-Saud rested his elbows on his knees and cradled his head in his hands. It was all a terrible mess.
“Your idea is a utopia,” he concluded, finally.
“No, it’s not,” Shiloah refuted. “Anything is possible, and it pains me that you, of all mortals, would try to tell me that something can’t bedone. You, who does whatever he wants and successfully too. Regardless of what stands in your way.”
“There are too many complications. I’m just thinking of the opposition you’ll get from the Israeli parties and centers of power, not to mention the PLO, Hamas and Islamic Jihad. It’s overwhelming. If we add the United States into the equation, then prospects are really starting to look bleak.”
“Step by step. Little by little.”
“Moreover, in your newspaper,” Eliah said, referring to Breaking News , “you’ve always criticized the Mossad for not appearing in the budget and generally enjoying impunity. You’ve shaken up a hornet’s nest by saying they should be subject to Knesset supervision. Now you have them against you. And they’re not to be messed with, I’m warning you.”
“Ah, but that’s why I have you! So you can watch my back.”
“I’ve already told you
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