Comments on: Machsom Watch photo exhibition in Tel Aviv

by: Hang on, doesn’t democracy mean freedom of expression? - OneJerusalem.com

Sun, 09 Apr 2006 10:17:55 +0000

[…] The Machsom Watch exhibition that I posted about on this site a few weeks ago has been banned by the Be’er Sheva municipality because of its “harmful content.” On One Jerusalem the exhibition, which showed photographs taken by the women of the human rights group that monitors soldiers’ behavior at the checkpoints, was described as being neither extensive, nor hard-hitting. […]

by: Solomon

Fri, 03 Mar 2006 14:36:08 +0000

The pictures look extremely banal. Bored people on both sides doing what they need to do and wanting to get on with it. Not shown are the reasons they’re there — the terrorists and the bombs, but that’s fine, because what is shown isn’t particularly shocking. I’m not surprised Machsom Watch had to add a scary (or just annoying) soundtrack since what’s shown isn’t bad (from what’s shown here).

by: Ronit

Thu, 02 Mar 2006 15:12:57 +0000

If the checkpoint security is not to your liking dont enter Israel. Before Olso chekpoint security was not strict. Now you have bombs going off in busses and restaurants. I say , increase the security. Safety of the citzens of Israel come first!

by: Virginia

Mon, 27 Feb 2006 13:59:10 +0000

As sad as it is, it would be insane to dismantle the checkpoints until LONG, LONG, LONG after the violence stops! Some how, some way, these people must learn…nothing will be solved with violence. Do they really think if they do the same thing over and over, that one day it will produce a different result? The result of violence is as sure as the law of gravity and to expect otherwise is shear madness! Pray for the child inside us all (on both sides! AND those who observe!)

by: anon

Mon, 27 Feb 2006 12:52:53 +0000

That first picture with the soldiers and the toddler is very misleading. The soldiers are not pointing their rifles at the toddler, nothing untoward is going on. Yet the picture is obviously trying to make the soldiers look bad, as if they terrorize children and enjoy it, or some similar nonsense.

And how could the issue of whether the checkpoints should exist possibly be debatable (this from one of your commenters)? The alternative is to let the terrorists in, at their leisure. How many Israelis would be murdered without those checkpoints? Who would advocate such a thing?

by: Virginia

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 19:35:52 +0000

They are heart wretching. Who can understand?
The images projected will have an impact on the next generation. It is so sad to see what the little ones are subjected to.

by: Lisa

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 17:45:42 +0000

Funny thing, Maoz, regarding your last sentence: I think that Jill expressed our (hers and my) ambivalence about the exhibition quite clearly in this story. It’s not about whether the checkpoints should exist or not (although that is certainly a debatable issue); but rather it is about what those checkpoints symbolize - like economic interdepenence between Israelis and Palestinians, and the ugly symbols of human fear and desperation.

by: Maoz

Sun, 26 Feb 2006 17:11:36 +0000

- What are the checkpoints for?
- To stop terrorists

- Have any terrorists ever been stopped at checkpoints?
- Yes

- Why are the soldiers checking the children’s school bags?
- Because there have been cases in which explosives have been found there

All the rest is a mix of genuine humanitarian concern for the innocent population, and hand-wringing. There is no moral option to these checkpoints as long as the threat of terrorism remains. I prefer the discomfort (or sometimes humiliation) of the Palestinians over exploding Israeli buses, “human rights” or no “human rights”.

Obviously I’m not advocating gratituous cruelty and maltreatment of these people, but as far as I can see the ladies of “Machsom Watch” have a larger and more political agenda than simple humanitarianism. This does not come across in your story at all.