fiTN
I World
Color Wars
Ahead of the Gaza pullout, Israelis wear their politics.
wearing
An anti-disengagement foe,
an orange armband argues with a pro-
disengagement activist in Jerusalem.
DINA KRAFT
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
Jerusalem
n orange wave symbolizing
Israel's anti-withdrawal move-
ment has rolled onto the
country's shores — orange T-shirts,
orange ice pops, orange flags, orange
ribbons, even orange-draped chupahs
(wedding canopies) and orange
stretchers at funerals.
In its wake is a blue ripple from
those who support the Israeli govern-
ment's plan to evacuate Jewish settle-
ments in the Gaza Strip and northern
West Bank in mid-August. Blue rib-
bons now flap from car antennas and
hang from backpacks.
Seeing the orange gives a sense of
how many people are against the with-
drawal. "It's like a poll," says Nomi
Cohen, 18, passing out orange rib-
bons at a busy intersection in
Jerusalem.
In left-leaning Tel Aviv, there
A
appears to be an even number of blue
ribbons battling orange ones. "We
need to show a contrast to orange,"
says Oded Muiraz, 24, a student rac-
ing among the cars near Tel Aviv's
main train station distributing blue
ribbons. "I think it's very important to
be out here because otherwise it gives
the impression that everyone is
orange.
"If we are apathetic, it will give the
impression that the minority is the
majority." According to polls, most
Israelis support the government's with-
drawal plan.
At first, pro-withdrawal activists
were divided about which color to
choose in response to the defiant
orange. In recent years, the right wing
had succeeded in associating itself
most strongly with the Israeli flag. But
an unforeseen consequence of the
anti-withdrawal camp's decision to
wrap itself in orange — after the
orange groves of Gaza's Jewish settle-
ments — has been that the Israeli left
opinions than yourself in a way that
will help humanize the issues and
open up dialogue," said Aryeh
Halivni, Gesher spokesman.
Meanwhile, in Tel Aviv, shopkeepers
are having a hard time selling any
clothing that happens to contain
orange, even though outside of Israel
it's one of the hippest colors of the
summer.
"I can pack up all the orange clothes
and store them until further notice,"
fashion designer Raziela Gershon told
the Ha'aretz newspaper. "The color
orange is the trendiest color this year.
And since it has turned into a symbol
of protest, the customers are protest-
ing against it."
At a wedding last month outside
Jerusalem, orange bunting was draped
across a chupah, and revelers waved
orange flags and orange ribbons on
the dance floor. The wedding invita-
tions even included a prayer for Gush
Katif, the main Jewish settlement bloc
in Gaza — trimmed, of course, in
orange.
At the other end of the political
has reclaimed the country's traditional
spectrum, a former head of Israel's
blue and white.
navy and its Shin Bet security service,
Though the profusion of day-glo
Ami Ayalon, last Sunday addressed a
orange and royal-blue ribbons may
convoy of a few hundred Israelis —
make for a more colorful commute,
kibbutz
youth, former security offi-
underneath the color war is the serious
cers,
politicians
and others — before
question of where Israel is heading
leading them on a weeklong trip
and whether the society can handle a
across Israel to spread their slogan,
move as controversial and divisive as
"Leaving Gaza — Returning to
the withdrawal.
Zionism."
In a bid to soothe flaring tempers
The convoy began in a mall parking
and foster dialogue, Gesher, an organi-
lot
near Tel Aviv, made its way north
zation that works to bridge the gap
to
Kiryat
Shmona and was scheduled
between religious and secular Israelis,
to end Aug. 5 at Jerusalem's crowded
launched a telephone: dialogue cam-
Mahane Yehuda outdoor market.
paign in late July, posting a central
Along the way, the "Blue and White
number which so-called Oranges and
Blues can call to discuss the withdraw- Voyage" will stop in cities and towns
where Ayalon and associates will try to
al with each other.
drum up support for Israel's plans.
Publicized under the slogan "We
Ayalon said the journey is one of
have to keep in touch," the venture is
the most important missions he ever
being advertised in Israeli newspapers
has undertaken. "What's at stake
and on billboards with a picture of an
today in Israel is the future of this
orange ribbon and a blue ribbon tied
country
as a Jewish and democratic
together. "It is the opportunity to
state
—
the future of Zionism itself,"
actually talk to someone with different
COLOR WARS on page 60
ITN
8/ 4
2005
59