Jaffa residents ired over lack of Arab street names
In a city where half the population is Arab, with some 400 streets, only five are named after Arabs.
By Yuval Azoulay Tags: Israel news JaffaThe municipal committee in Tel Aviv that is responsible for naming streets was due to convene last week to discuss complaints of discrimination from residents of Jaffa, but the meeting was postponed due to illness. As the date for the discussion approached, the residents had expressed the hope that several decades of injustice would be redressed and that some of their streets would be renamed for Arab personalities. They claimed they could not understand how, in a part of the city where half of the population is Arab, and which has some 400 streets, only five are named after Arabs.
One is named for Abd al-Ghani Karim, an Arab resident of the city who was killed in a terrorist attack in March 1992 next to the garage he managed. He tried to defend Ilanit Ohana, a young woman who was stabbed when returning from a Purim party; she died on the spot and he later died of his wounds.
Another street is named after the mayor of Jaffa, before it became part of Tel Aviv: Abd al-Rauf al-Bitar. There are also streets named for historical figures such as renowned philosophers Ibn Rushd (12th century) and Ibn Sina (or Avicenna, 10th century).
Residents of Jaffa are convinced there are many Arab figures worthy of having streets named after them, and accuse the municipality of an undeclared intention to Judaize the entire mixed city. The straw that broke the camel's back was the intention to name a new road in Jaffa's Ajami quarter after Shmuel and Sultana Tagger, who helped found Tel Aviv.
Prior to that, Arab residents had requested that it be named for a venerated imam, Sheikh Bassem Abu Zied, who died last year.
Residents had also called for the square next to the clock tower at the entrance to Jaffa to be named after Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat; instead, the municipality named it for a philanthropist, Yossi Carmel.
"I wanted this to be a square of peace named after two brave leaders who forged the first peace in the Middle East. I thought that perhaps it would be nice to set up electronic machines there, where you put in a coin and hear parts of their speeches. It would be possible for tourists to take pictures and be photographed, and to buy souvenirs. Do you know what that would do for business here in Jaffa, what it would do for the country?" says Ahmed Masharawi, a member of the city council from the Meretz party, who is spearheading the campaign to have streets named for Arabs.
Previous requests rejected
Previous requests for Arab names, submitted to the municipal committee, have all been rejected. In some instances, the panel did research the proposed personalities but found problematic details, such as involvement in the Arab rebellion in the 1930s.
More than two years ago, the committee decided to name streets after leading Arab figures including writer and former communist MK, Emil Habibi; Adil Azar, who lived in Jaffa a century ago and was known as "mother of the poor"; historian Ibn Khaldun; and poet Jubran Khalil Jubran. Menahem Rabin, a member of the committee, proposed naming streets for Haroun al-Rashid, from "A Thousand and One Nights," and for the Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian writer Naguib Mahfouz.
Meanwhile, however, the municipality has not taken any action. Residents of Jaffa thought there would be progress in light of Tel Aviv's 100th anniversary celebrations this year, but they have been bitterly disappointed.
"When Shlomo Lahat was mayor, he pushed the idea forward," said Rabia al-Ghani, 31, who lives on the street named for his late father. He added that what really bothers him is not so much the lack of commemoration of Arab notables, but rather the quality of life in Jaffa.
"In the last month I have killed eight mice in our house. There are burrows where the rodents live under the sidewalks. There are no proper entrances to this road and no road humps to slow the traffic. Drivers enter at high speed, with their stereo sets blaring so loudly that the walls practically fall down. That's what happens when no one invests in our roads," he said.
A few weeks ago, a contractor arrived and put up a huge sign for new apartments on the street, with the emphasis on "luxury dwellings." Al-Ghani knows that means his new neighbors will have to be wealthy, so perhaps, he said, the municipality will finally have to fix the road and get rid of the mice.
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One street could be called "Child Molester" since Mohammed married and had sex with a 9 year old. Another street could be named "illiterate." A third Street could be named "drug addict." A fourth street could be named "Leader of psychos."
I contributed what I contributed, and so far you've contributed nothing, except typing some words on your keyboard You're merely a "never was, that never will be", just staying in the grandstands pretending you're player on the field Get some first hand experience, then talk, so far it's just hot air
BEN JABO:"I contributed my services to both countries, and your contribution has been ???? Pointing out your contribution to the folly you and your irk have created.
Aby:"Israeli Arabs are not proud to be an Israeli Arab." Why should they? are they treated as Israeli citizens with all the entitlements or as second class citizens like other ethnic or religious minority groups are treated,even though they hold Israeli citizenship. The fact of the matter is you treat each other like shit and bemoan the reality that faces your society that you created. Read the articles in Haaretz long enough and you might see what i'm talking about.
Most of the Jews left Yemen long before there was a State of Israel, because of Arab persecution, the Palestinian Arab situation had nothing to do with it The situation was so bad the made their way on foot over the desert, many dying on the way I contributed my services to both countries, and your contribution has been ????
Aby:"Israeli Arabs are not proud to be an Israeli Arab." Why should they? are they treated as Israeli citizens with all the entitlements or as second class citizens like other ethnic or religious minority groups are treated,even though they hold Israeli citizenship. The fact of the matter is you treat each other like shit and bemoan the reality that faces your society that you created. Read the articles in Haaretz long enough and you might see what i'm talking about.
"Jews were involved in creating fear amongst the local Jewish population in several counties by blowing up synagogues" Don't fabricate of your own illusions, and believe to lies of Arab propaganda, you have to prove it. Where and when? If you don't you are a big big big liar. Aby
"I`m proud to be a Maori and a New Zelander" Israeli Arabs are not proud to be an Israeli Arab. If you are proud to be a New Zelander then you are also loyal to New Zeland. But Israeli Arabs are not. Are the enemy of the state. What did New Zeland would do if Maori's were the enemy of the State? Do you understand or not? Period. " our people is more important than dwelling in the wrongs of the past " When the Arabs like Maoris comes to this maturity and understanding to make peace with Israel, like you did 1840 everything could be solved. I've asked questions which could not be answered by you. 1) What is the ratio of Maori named Streets / Total New Zelander Streets. It will be exactly like here. 2) Why do you use your race name in this forums instead of your name like I do. Please answer this questions. Aby
DavidAK:"Maoriboy, you don`t know what racism is." You should spend more time researching the history of the founders of modern Zionism, people like Theodor Herzl and Ahad Ha'am and what they had in store for the local Palestinians. Pointing out historical narratives is not anti-semitics.
Aby:"Are Maroi`s the enemy of the state of New Zeland? Do you feel your self a New Zelander or not?." I'm proud to be a Maori and a New Zealander,that should answer your question. Maori grievances of the past are settled in the Waitangi Tribunal that date back to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi 1840. Yes we've had our fair share of racism, but we view the future of our people is more important than dwelling in the wrongs of the past and the Tribunal deals with those issues. Maori and English are the official languages of the country, in a sentence i get the best of both worlds.
BEN JABO:"Since you mentioned "Apartheid Laws", explain why the few Jews that still remained in Yemen have left or are about to leave because they`re segragated, living in fear of their lives." Maybe a lot of that has to do with Jews and their treatment of Arabs and Palestinians,as you know extremist Jews were involved in creating fear amongst the local Jewish population in several counties by blowing up synagogues. BEN JABO:"Unlike yourself, I`ve lived in Israel." and the intellect in Israel rose at your leaving and America is paying the price since your arrival back their.
Aby:"Are Maroi`s the enemy of the state of New Zeland? Do you feel your self a New Zelander or not?." I'm proud to be a Maori and a New Zealander,that should answer your question. Maori grievances of the past are settled in the Waitangi Tribunal that date back to the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi 1840. Yes we've had our fair share of racism, but we view the future of our people is more important than dwelling in the wrongs of the past and the Tribunal deals with those issues. Maori and English are the official languages of the country, in a sentence i get the best of both worlds.
Some Arab street names should be no problem. It's pretty significant that one request was for a Begin-Sadat Square. What more constructive idea could there be? After 60 years, and now by far the strongest country in the region, there need be no insecurity leading Israelis to avoid recognizing the important Arab aspects to the country's history and present.
Please, EZ! Look at you pretending to understand this place from LA. While in the US street names are, as you claim, named after people who contribute to peace (this is arguable b/c we include slaveowners as street names), in the Middle East, they're named after different things. Israel names streets in Hebrew after terrorist operatives who have murdered civilians and boast names like "Occupier of Gaza" street. The real problem is that these Jaffa streets had names in Arabic and they were replaced with Hebrew by the marauders who cleansed Jaffa after shelling it from the outside like is going on in Gaza. Do you claim the right to names streets in Gaza in advance...since only Hebrew has been bringing peace to the region the last 100 years? Please...
When Algeria obtained its independence from France, street names were changed. An example: Anatole France street became Anatole Algérie. Any suggestions for Jaffa?
The Israeli-Arab conflict has NOTHING TO DO with racism, although all you PC third-worlders like to say so, in order to beat up on Jews (and express your anti-semitism!). Racism is about race. The conflict between Arabs and Jews is about conflicting historical narratives. Your posting is fundamentally anti-semitic, but I wouldn't call it racist.
"what have the arabs done there to deserve having a street named after them." ....nothing except living in an ancient ARAB town.
You still haven't answered the questions Since you mentioned "Apartheid Laws", explain why the few Jews that still remained in Yemen have left or are about to leave because they're segragated, living in fear of their lives Let me know, if you can, in which Arab city that a Jew would be able to live without fearing for his life Unlike yourself, I've lived in Israel, speaking from experience, all you have is theory, because you never will go to observe first hand what's actually going on, being just another windbag with a typewriter keyboard I really don't give a sh-t about how they spelled a river in your hometown,it's none of my concern
How many streets on your town and in New Zelland is native to Maori, except your underdeveoloped town. What is the ratio the streets named Maorian to total streets. Are Maroi's the enemy of the state of New Zeland? Do you feel your self a New Zelander or not? Here Arab Israelis does not feel their self Israelians and most of them are the enemey of the state. If Arabs accepts to be Israelian like you've accepted to be NewZelander, there will be no racism nor apartheid, as it was before 2000. When it comes to racism look to your self in the mirror. Who are the most racist. While you are preaching us about racism you are using your etnicty in your postings, not a NewZelander identity. Aby
Jochai Rubinstein:"There are two rivers that were called Wanganui, but on the request of the Iwi, the river on South island is now called Whanganui. The river and city that i was referring to is in the North Island i have tribal ties to the area. Red necks are like your die hard Jews who proclaim they and they alone have rights to the land over the Palestinians, and their delusional view of history holds dominance right or wrong.
Who cares? Is it a matter of pride??? Well then, what have the arabs done there to deserve having a street named after them. Have them name something, raise a peaceful petition (if they understand how to do that) and let the citizens vote on a street name. Who the heck cares? In the US, street names mean nothing, unless they are named to honor a fallen hero, president or someone who significantly contributed in some way. Let's see what they come up with in that vein. Good luck.
I checked, but you are wrong and "red-Neck" is a racial slur. There are two rivers that were called Wanganui, but on the request of the Iwi, the river on South island is now called Whanganui. Count your blessings, Be happy you are not a Pal
Odd, Cause it seems everywhere I look there are signs of the Arab occupation and names of former Arab occupiers. Bottom line is that Arabs do not want to see any streets named after Jews or in Hebrew and you know what? TOUGH LUCK!
I can't recall any other Arab names
BEN JABO:"How many streets in Arab town are named after Jews? How many countries use apartheid laws to segregate the community,case in point Misgav says "the law is solely to prevent Arab citizens from living here."what would you call that Ben? We have an example in the spelling of a river and city Whanganui, its wrongly spelt Wanganui without the "H" and Maori want the "H" to correct it,but the die hard "red necks" have turned it into a racial issue.
Five too many. Even these should be scrubbed off.
Thenames of town are also changed.
Unless there is a good reason then there should not be simply renaming streets for the sake of it and anybody who a street is named after should have done things for Israel. If an arab has done something good for Israel then fine we can name a street after him but we can't start naming them after imans just because the arabs don't think they have had enough streets named after arabs. The costs should also be taken into account, will the costs to the municipality involved be so high ( changing maps etc ) that it makes it unjustifiable to change a streets name. Lets also not forget Israel is a jewish state not a binational and so although naming them after arabs should not be ruled out if they have done something substantial for Israel thats noteworthy then jewish figures should be the first choice when it comes to naming streets unless of course there are arab states who are willing to start naming their streets after jews.
BEN JABO:"How many streets in Arab town are named after Jews? How many countries use apartheid laws to segregate the community,case in point Misgav says "the law is solely to prevent Arab citizens from living here."what would you call that Ben? We have an example in the spelling of a river and city Whanganui, its wrongly spelt Wanganui without the "H" and Maori want the "H" to correct it,but the die hard "red necks" have turned it into a racial issue.
How many streets in Arab town are named after Jews? Name a few, if you can!!! What would you call that??
its called racism.