Arabs of the Mosaic Faith

On 14 December, 1984, was sitting in the news department of the Voice of Israel, Arabic section. Our correspondent had just informed us that the poet Sh?'ul (1904-1984) had passed away, in Kiron, near Tel-Aviv. We broadcast this news along with a short biography. Over the internal telephone network, called the news editor in the Hebrew section; it was important, thought, to let Israeli citizens know that one of the last Arab-Jewish po ets had passed away. Anwar who?! heard her screaming. ex plained briefly. Ze lo meanyen et ha-mazinim shelanu (it doesn't interest our listeners), she said. didn't try to convince her. Two years later Mur?d Michael (1906-1986) died. And over the years other Arab-Jewish poets and writers passed away in to tal anonymity: Shalom Darwish (1913-1997), David Semah (1933 1997), Yacq?b Balb?l (1920-2003), Ish?q B?r-Moshe (1927-2003), and 5 months ago one of the greatest of Arab-Jewish writers of our generation, Sam?r Naqq?sh (1938-2004). He passed away with out having the most elementary means for honorable survival. I don't exist in this country, he said some years ago, as a writer, neither as a citizen nor human being. don't feel that belong anywhere, not since my roots were torn from the ground [in Baghdad]. want to present another anecdote: the Israeli press recently mentioned some activities by a Jewish-Arab Musical Orchestra supported by the UNESCO. Its aim is the promotion of peace

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