May 22, 2023 — Day 7 of the delegation was a pleasant reminder that activism can be — and sometimes should be — joyful.
We spent the day with the people of Sfai. The people of Sfai are currently facing forced transfer from their village, which is located in what Israel calls “Firing Zone 918.”
During the day, we met the villagers and their children and helped them build new playgrounds in each village. The positive feedback was immediate. Children were looking on excitedly all day, and as soon as we finished working, the new slides and swings and seesaws were put to good use.
We bonded with our hosts, with Israeli activists, and with our cohort members within the delegation. These bonds are not just a nice break from direct action, but a radical act in and of themselves.
The Israeli regime does not want bonds across their apartheid lines. Our solidarity has a real impact on the people suffering most under this regime. We hope that it strengthens them and aids them in their struggle. We also hope it helps us bring these stories back home to our communities and build broader networks of solidarity.
For at least just one day, joy was a radical act against apartheid and ethnic cleansing.
In solidarity,
Sam Stein
All photos from Emily Glick