Threats force Christmas coexistence rallies apart
By TOVAH LAZAORFF
12/26/2012 01:12
Israeli activists formed a heart-shaped drumming circle in Jerusalem on Tuesday
afternoon, after safety concerns forced them to pull out of a joint Christmas
Eve peace event with Palestinians next to the Bethlehem security
barrier.
With the help of American aerial artist John Quigley, Israelis
and Palestinians had planned to form a large human sculpture of a peace sign,
with the concrete barrier running through it.
But at the last moment,
threats from Palestinian hard-liners to sabotage the project forced organizers
to scrap the barrier event out of safety concerns.
Instead, Palestinians
gathered solo in Bethlehem’s Manger Square on Monday, where, under Quigley’s
direction, they formed a peace sign with the words “Love All” by the large
Christmas tree.
And on Tuesday afternoon, Israelis and some foreigners
sat in the shape of a heart on the cold stones of downtown Jerusalem’s Zion
Square.