"Exploring the spectrum of anticipation and anxiety: 'Welcome Art'"
In the tumultuous landscape of the Middle East, the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine continues to be a source of deep concern. The region is marred by ongoing hostilities, humanitarian crises, and political deadlock, with no immediate resolution in sight.
Arno Gerlach, a renowned expert on the history of Israel and the Middle East, and the chairman of the Be'er Sheva friendship circle, has been actively involved in cultural and societal exchange between Wuppertal and Be'er Sheva since 1977. Gerlach's work focuses on fostering personal encounters and clarifying backgrounds and connections, emphasizing the importance of working towards peaceful coexistence, even if it seems small or insignificant.
The current political and cultural situation has been a source of personal trauma for Gerlach. His close friends were brutally murdered by Hamas terrorists in front of their three children on October 7, 2023, a trauma that echoes centuries of persecution and the Holocaust for the Israelis. This incident has undoubtedly shaped Gerlach's perspective on the conflict.
In the midst of this turmoil, Gerlach views Germany's participation in an air bridge with food and medicine for the needy Palestinians in Gaza as a sign of goodwill. He interprets the sculpture by Tal Zfani, depicting a family tightly embraced, surrounded by barbed wire and frightened waiting for the terrible, as symbolizing Jewish families threatened with death by Hamas and Palestinians trapped in Gaza, starving and dying.
The Evangelical Church in the Rhineland, like Gerlach, condemns Israel's blockade of aid deliveries to Gaza and calls for serious efforts to end the occupation and for both sides to respect international humanitarian law. The church also criticizes the building of settlements by radical Jewish settlers.
Despite the ongoing violence and division, there are already many positive examples of good cooperation between Israelis, Palestinians, and Bedouins in Be'er Sheva. In areas such as university research, medicine, teaching, engineering, and art, Israelis and Palestinians are working together to build a more peaceful and prosperous future.
Shlmo Hanai, an Israeli artist known for promoting peace between Israelis and Palestinians, is one such example. His sculpture "Message to the World - Never Again!" serves as a poignant reminder of the need for peace and understanding. Around the sculpture's pedestal, the artist carved the words, a testament to the hope for a future free from violence and persecution.
As the conflict continues, the efforts of individuals like Arno Gerlach and Shlmo Hanai become even more crucial. Their dedication to fostering understanding and cooperation offers a glimmer of hope in a region plagued by violence and division.
- Amidst the backdrop of ongoing war-and-conflicts, politics, general-news, and crime-and-justice in the Middle East, the work of Arno Gerlach, a historian and peace advocate, is a beacon of hope for peaceful coexistence.
- Despite the divisive circumstances, initiatives aimed at promoting cultural exchange, fostering understanding, and encouraging peaceful cooperation, such as those led by Arno Gerlach and Israeli artist Shlmo Hanai, are essential components of the general-news discourse in the Middle East.
