Primo Levi’s words echo across the daily lives of Israelis and Palestinians

In a chilling comparison AMIRA HASS juxtaposes the ordinary lives of Israelis with the experiences of Palestinians under occupation.

“You who live secure / In your warm houses / Who return at evening to find / Hot food and friendly faces.” Primo Levi, “Shema,” 1946.

While you were waking up with the Shema prayer on the radio, earthmoving equipment from Israel's Civil Administration in the West Bank was already razing a school, three tents and a water cistern, and tens of thousands of  labourers were crowding at checkpoints to enter Israel.

 While you were brushing your teeth, young men in tzitzit were chopping down an olive tree, and thousands of  labourers continued to pass through checkpoints.

While you were making an omelette, soldiers were arresting a shepherd, binding his wrists, covering his eyes with a cloth and bringing him to an army base.

While the nanny was arriving, Israeli police officers disguised as produce merchants were raiding the Jenin refugee camp.

While you were getting on your bicycle, there were already three dead and eight wounded in the camp; one school had been destroyed; five cubic metres of purchased water had gone to waste; one tent had collapsed; frightened goats had scattered; a woman had passed out from the tear gas and was rushed to hospital; 13 trees had been cut down; soldiers excited by their successful mission had returned to their Jeep and  labourers had reached the construction sites four hours after leaving their homes.

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How Primo Levi's words echo across the daily lives of Israelis and Palestinians (Haaretz)

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