Jews And Arabs Refuse To Be Enemies

One of the latest trends on twitter has been the #JewsAndArabsRefuseToBeEnemies hashtag. The campaign was started a few weeks ago by Hunter College students in New York City.  “The campaign exists in a sense in Israel, the slogan has been alive for years in Hebrew,” says Abraham Gutman, an Israeli. “We wanted to use that same slogan, to strengthen it, to show the international community that we don’t have to be enemies.”

Gutman, and his Syrian girlfriend, Darwish are wanting to see the hate online, diffuse. “The tone online and on social media is harsher and harsher and people are using more violent words.”

The phrase, which is spreading through Israeli protests, has helped make it viral.[1]

Meanwhile, the Gaza Strip combat has viciously erupted, heightening the Arab-Israeli tensions. [2] The death toll is now topping 1000 during the 19 day war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, July 26, showing no signs of ending, despite a short-term truce declared.[3] [4]

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[1]MBD (24 July 2014) “This Is What #JewsAndArabsRefuseToBeEnemies Looks Like.” http://politicalblindspot.com/this-is-what-jewsandarabsrefusetobeenemies-looks-like/ Political Blind Spot. Retrieved 28 July 2014.

[2] Rheana Murray via Good Morning America ( 21 July 2014) “’Jews and Arabs Refuse to Be Enemies’ Proves Love is Bigger Than War.”  http://abcnews.go.com/International/jews-arabs-refuse-enemies-proves-love-bigger-war/story?id=24647206 ABC News. Retrieved 28 July 2014.

[3] Nidal al-Mughrabi & Maayan Lubell (26 July 2014) “Gaza Health Ministry: Palestinian Death Toll Tops 1000.” http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/07/26/palestinian-death-toll-1000-gaza_n_5623370.html Reuters. Retrieved 28 July 2014.

[4] Thomson Reuters (27 July 2014) “Gaza conflict: Hamas declares new 24-hour ceasefire.” http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/gaza-conflict-hamas-declares-new-24-hour-ceasefire-1.2719401 Retrieved 28 July 2014.