The Cross of Bethlehem | The Memoirs of a Refugee

Recently, my Skype account was blocked. Several phone calls were stolen and when I complained to the company they told me they can’t refund me and blocked the account “to prevent further thefts.”

In the subsequent weeks I dealt with the issue. They kept apologizing for their slowness. I didn’t care too much since I seldom make phone calls – especially since listeners sit next to me in the internet kiosks and openly place recording devices on the table.

Then, I published “On an Israeli Art Student” and things changed. A friend sent me an email urging for a phone call. “After I’ll get my account back” was my answer. “Call me later today, it is urgent!” he added. Annoyed, I check out and found my Skype account was given back at the same time the email was sent, though without a refund. Something was wrong, someone was pulling strings within Skype.

Minutes later, I was chatting with my friend. Without giving identifying details, I’ll just say he depend economically on his relatives; one of them is a very influential American.

He began talking about the article claiming he was surprised about my choice of that chapter from The Cross of Bethlehem for the online promotion. I was even more surprised about his comment. “What’s the problem?” I added.

”Arik is furious.”

How do you know that?

He clamed having be contacted by his relatives and threatened to be cut his allowance if he didn’t cooperate by making this call to me. Then he informed me that Arik’s website was taken off-line. I checked out that immediately and found this information correct. It was clear his claim of being blackmailed by people cooperating with Israel was true.

After almost eight years of exile and a very long and violent persecution by the State of Israel, I thought to have seen everything. Yet, this was a new peak in the levels of chutzpah and immorality.

”Arik is furious.” ”Arik is upset.” ”Arik is a prince – the son of the Jewish terrorist that blew up the King David Hotel in 1946 and a Mossad agent – and you are just scum.”

Violating a citizen’s privacy and rights – beginning with the rights to life and privacy, and ending with the right to have a family and to express freely – is right according to the State of Israel; Justice Goldstone referred to these as terror inflicting methods, categorizing thus the State of Israel as a terrorist organization. But, answering to these by disclosing the methods and identities of the perpetrators is wrong.

Oy vey, ayayayayay, Arik is upset.