Broken Lands

by Boaz Klachkin

  “Yes, sir, thank you, sir,” they responded loudly in unison, equaling Khaled’s energetic delivery.

  Israeli and Inkasar military units were systematically positioned throughout Palestine along the border towns, maintaining strictly coordinated patrols in search for and guarding against any Hamas, Fattah, or Hezbollah loyalists. The successful Inkasar missions were the result of the countless hours of training that the operatives had undergone. Many civilians began volunteering to help the new order by giving a hand in old age homes, hospitals, schools, in addition to distributing food and clothing wherever it was needed.

  The Palestinian public was finally and completely at ease when the coup was complete. There was call for a referendum to officially end the old rule and bring about a true vote for self-rule and a lasting peace with Israel. After years of legislated censorship and harassment, the nation voiced their opinions directly by voting openly about the major issues affecting them. In a unanimous and indisputable statement of public opinion, the Palestinian’s true passion about who they were and what they felt became formally and systematically documented.

  The polling stations were heavily guarded by the police and Inkasar troopers. The digital voting booths that had been set up with the aid of the international community, dwarfed the archaic paper-slip ballot boxes of the past. There was no room for fixing votes, and the results were immediately tallied and reported for each district with the utmost level of accuracy. Each voter was to be identified by means of an eye scan and a digital fingerprint; these were technologies that the Israeli teams provided free of charge to our neighbors. There was no way that the terrorist groups could possibly interfere, not while the massive security and international monitoring was in place.

  The election resulted in a unanimous vote for the Inkasar Movement and for Jezabilah as the President of the new Palestine. In addition, the revised resolutions for a peace accord with Israel also received a landslide vote.

  After the results of the elections were posted, Khaled, Jamal and Zaid were also recognized for their efforts and contribution to the successful campaign. Everyone was ecstatic and relieved. The streets were filled with people dancing to traditional Arabic music, enjoying the food and drink being provided in celebration of Inkasar’s victory.

  She had realized her goals and dreams for her nation, an entity that would be recognized as a model to be observed and followed by those who were still living in a turbulent environment. During the next few days of careful deliberation and amending, the newly amended Palestinian Constitution was clearly laid out, law by law. The members of the government also set the necessary standards and rules for the continued balance between all the agencies and committees.

  It took only a few weeks for Jezabilah and her aids to begin the process of handling public issues in every municipal entity in Palestine. There was an overwhelming call of praise and unity amongst the Palestinians, and many were quite openly talking about how the solidified peace with their Israeli neighbors had brought a sense of serenity that had never before been felt in their daily lives.

  The agenda was very clear, as stated by Jezabilah in one of her many speeches.

  “The rights of each and every individual shall be respected above all other functions of our new government. Keep this momentum stable and fixed and all the rest will be easily accomplished. I call on all the citizens of Palestine to be honorable, respectful to one another, especially since your individual rights are now protected and there is no longer fear for your lives, even if you have different opinions. Brotherhood is the foundation of our peace with our neighbors. Love, share and be benevolent to one another. We are here for you. Bless you all.”

  Those were words that clearly rang in the ears of her supporters. She made sure to address the people every day during the morning news broadcasts, honoring her followers and praising them for pursuing the initiatives for a new Palestine. The continuing cooperation that was being executed was a unique phenomenon in the chronicles of Middle Eastern history. Times were never better both socially and economically, and everyone in the Inkasar movement was determined to keep it that way for the benefit of all.

  Chapter Seventeen

  I called Jezabilah to congratulate her and her staff on winning the election. I was very proud of all the people in her staff. Their endurance and relentless quest for the betterment of life in Palestine was commendable. What they accomplished was due to an intense loyalty and adherence to their endeavors. This is exactly how I feel about the many wonderful devoted members in my unit.

  I have always had deep respect for everyone under my command, especially the Bedouin soldiers, one of whom is Salem Machlim. He and the other Bedouins in my command had been in charge of the border security along the Egyptian and the Gaza borders during the constant assaults by Inkasar. Ever since his recruitment in the Israeli Defense Forces, he has been one of our most courageous soldiers, and I have been in constant contact with him every week ever since. Soldiers like Salem, those who swallowed their pride and put aside their discontent with the injustices to which his people were subjected, were a symbol of tolerance and pride for his people. He knew quite well that as bad as things seemed to be, they could get much worse under the control of some autocratic power in the region; especially one based on a Jihad morality that is seeded to grow violent sectarianism and inequity. By instinctively keeping his loyalty to the Israelis, he was assured to have the rights that accompany citizens living in a democratic society.

  He and I are made of the same stuff; being passionately committed to serving our nation with devotion. He understood the differences between being governed by muftis as opposed to a democratic government. Salem had this intense, assertive look; one of leadership, pride and confidence. His endurance was equal to his steadfastness in implementing military procedures. I remember him when he was young. He had protruding curls that stuck out from under his helmet and was somewhat uncomfortable being around us. In those days, on our days off duty, we played golf at the Caesarea Golf Course, and that is when I picked up on his incredible ability to determine distances, and in the process of getting acquainted with one another, I learned a lot about his Bedouin culture.

  I invited Salem to meet me at my home and he gladly accepted the invitation. He arrived driving his brand-new Jeep Cherokee – one of only 50 in the whole country – that had been issued by the army to a select group of commanders with special merit. He had unquestionably deserved this enviable set of wheels. As soon as I heard his car approach, I opened the front door. I was so glad that he had come for a visit.

  Salem saluted me as he approached the house, admiring the cactus garden that lined the walkway to the front porch.

  “My dear friend, it’s so good to see you again.” I said excitedly.

  “Yair, my brother, it’s great to be here with you.”

  We embraced, and patted each other on the back – like relatives who had not seen each other for decades.

  “It has been too long, hasn’t it?” I said warmly. Salem nodded his head in agreement, all the while smiling, his hazel eyes sparkling.

  “Yes, indeed. It has been awhile since we have seen one another,” he responded.

  “Come on in, we have so much to catch up on.” I said, as I guided Salem with a friendly wrap of my hand around his shoulder. “Come, sit in my armchair; it’s my own special domestic throne.”

  Salem sat down and raised his feet as he shifted the tilt of the recliner. “Thank you, Yair. I am glad to be here with you,” he said earnestly.

  “Salem, you remember what I always promised you; that I would come around for your people. Well, now I am going to begin fulfilling my promises. The time is now, a bit late, but it is here.”

  “Yair, could you be a bit more specific? I had a long ride and I’m not quite focused.”

  “Salem, since we have completely resolved the turmoil in the region, it is an opportune time
for your Bedouin community to receive all the attention they deserve. I am setting forth legislation so that your people will receive the proper equal citizens in our common land. Many of the issues are already on the table, but as you know, processes take time and I do not want you to lose hope. Please rely on me to keep my word.”

  “Had you told me this a few years back, I would have told you that you were full of camel shit.” He was relaxed, sitting back comfortably as he spoke. “But ever since I heard about the outcome of the revolutionary demands made by the Broken Arrow Movement in getting the rights to the lands they now hold, I feel that there is hope for some real changes for us as a people who have likely been endemic to this region more so than anyone else might have ever been.” He gave me a thumbs-up and smiled.

  “Let me get us something to drink.” I got up to get a six-pack of bottled beer out of the cooler. I uncapped a bottle for each of us. “Listen my brother, if the government doesn’t come around and take care of your people, I shall personally put some of those law-jockeys into unbearable head locks.”

  I started laughing as Salem gave me an Indian handshake, palms clutching at the forearm, a virtual Ying and Yang. We raised the bottles, and simultaneously said ‘cheers’.

  “Thank you, I truly believe you will, if it comes to that.” Salem replied as he and I continued to smile, then sipping some beer.

  “I have respected you as a friend and you can be sure that we, together as a team, will bring about all the necessary changes in the policies concerning your tribal families. We once were and still are a nation of tribes and we, too, have come around to reclaim what was rightfully ours. I think that the feeling of unity for all the people of this planet is truly overdue. This is an opportunity to bring us all together, to unify the family of man.” Sitting attentively, his eyes wide open, Salem was taking in the positive things that I had mentioned.

  “Now your time has come to be recognized as citizens that deserve all the rights and equality just like every other citizen in his country, and I will make certain of it.”

  Suddenly, my cell phone began vibrating in my pocket. “Excuse me Salem, I must take this call.” I put the phone to my ear. Salem continued chugging his beer.

  I listened to the other party on the line for about 30 seconds and responded by saying, “Confirmed! Chicken Legs and Fried Rice!” Salem smiled when he heard me, trying to remember the phrase from a long list of code references whose names were oddly funny at times. He raised his brows up to his curled, springy hairline, “I know for sure that that wasn’t an order for take-out food,” he said laughing.

  “Take-out yes, but not food. That was a code name for a wanted terrorist and his location. I just gave my unit the authorization for the hit. In a few minutes Chicken Legs will be nothing more than a Fried Pig in a Blanket.” Salem burst into a roaring laugh, almost falling backwards from the chair, and I joined in with a chuckle. We always enjoyed kidding around as laughter and joviality always boosted our spirit, even during seriously dangerous times.

  “Would you like some more beer?”

  “No, Yair, thank you. I have to drive now. Thanks for meeting me, and telling me all the plans you have. Good luck with it. I have to be on my way now. My wife and I are going to a friend’s wedding near Be’er Sheva, and I promised her that I wouldn’t be late. I usually get tied up with commitments to operations in the area, but today I’m taking some time out to be with relatives and old friends. Along the way, it enabled me to come and visit you.”

  “Great, Salem! Have a great time, be well and I will contact you soon. Let your tribal leaders know that a new age of unity between us will surface and that they will be rewarded for all the years of misery and they have endured.”

  “Thank you, my friend. I really believe in you and all you have mentioned. God be with you.”

  I had assured Salem that his people would receive the respect they deserved, especially because they had recorded years of solidarity with the Jewish population. They have served in the army honorably and have proved to be survivors and showed great levels of tolerance.

  If we as a people could offer our friendship and brotherhood to the Palestinians - many of whom were mostly immigrants just like us - then surely the time had come for us to aid our own Bedouin population and raise their status as Israeli citizens. It was all a matter of bureaucratic paperwork and permits, and after so many years at the forefront of the political spectrum, I had all the contacts necessary to achieve my goals. By doing this, I felt that I could be instrumental in making Israel an even better, truly democratic nation, even more worthy of its improved status in the eyes of the world. Since at last we had a real peace accord with our neighbors, there would be plenty of resources within the budget to improve every aspect of the quality of life for anyone living in Israel. The promises that I had made were going to be kept. My commitment to my friend was as binding as a contract signed in blood. We stepped outside, shook hands and embraced.

  I stood on my porch watching him as he pulled out of the driveway, bidding him an additional farewell with a wave of my hand.

  During the following weeks, I had reached dozens of law makers about the major changes that we needed to make in our government. Balancing the distribution of funds was my main focus. Many top officials in the government recognized my desire to delve this matter deeply, especially when I made it quite clear that the Bedouins are the true residents in our region to have land rights.

  Salem called me every day, praising and thanking me for raising the Bedouin agenda in the Knesset. It was one of my most gratifying projects, and I was very pleased with the successful achievements of everyone who had been involved. Even though there were still many improvements yet to be made in providing them with social services and health benefits in their large communities.

  In my youth, I had seen news reports about how Israel was involved in helping countries in need, whether it was providing engineering or medical assistance in times of tragic catastrophes like hurricanes and earthquakes, or when nations needed help in developing agricultural mechanisms to help alleviate famine and deprivation. The national pride that has been nurtured in me had never been stronger, as I looked around and saw all that was going on around me. There is nothing more gratifying in my life than to help others and share the goodness and wonder of living in freedom. Goodness of heart brings positive action: we now have neighbors as partners in peace, and we are being embraced and getting the well-deserved respect by the world community. And all the while, our economy is growing at an incredible pace.

  The only thing lacking in my life is not being able to share my time with Jezabilah and our darling daughter. The few meetings that we have been able to arrange have been few and far in between, but that is the cost of our special relationship. Jezabilah and I have never divulged our bond and the consummation of our love which had culminated in a glorious outcome: a precious, beautiful girl named Nairah. Jezabilah has had to deal with Nairah’s constant inquiries as to who her father is for years, and as it stands, her explanation is that my job is of such great importance, accompanied with secrecy, that Nairah must simply accept the fact that I am not present. Nairah knows, too, that it is just as hard for Jezabilah to be without the man she loves as it is for her to know who and where he is. I must endure and keep my emotions to myself all times. Hopefully, there will come a time for the truth to be told - discretely, but honestly. This is truly the hardest task I have ever had to confront.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Jezabilah let out an emotional sigh as she hugged Nairah, while being driven to her headquarters. Her eyes were filled with tears of joy. She was adored by her supporters. Her heart was beating with excitement, acknowledging the spirited salutations by her people. It was a very emotional experience for her; almost like the feeling of fulfillment that she had when she gave birth to Nairah. She remembered how in the past, the daily marches calling to rally around terrorism
and vengeance had disrupted the lives of so many of her friends and neighbors. She recalled the vivid images of men, women and children of all ages marching and chanting obscene, hateful comments, flanked by masked, Jihadist fanatics shooting bullets into the air, burning American and Israeli flags, and calling for the spread of a global Jihad. This was a picture that sat implanted in the minds of so many poor, simple folk who were afraid to speak out against the old ruling Fattah-Hamas parties. The people could now put aside the misery and torment perpetrated by the various Islamic extremists who bore the responsibility for all they had undergone.

  When the news reports about Jezabilah’s success and her victory in the election spread around the world, representatives from every country made called to congratulate her. The main goals were to establish immediate diplomatic relations with the new governing body. The cooperation between the world community, Inkasar and Israel was at its peak. Everyone was busy sorting information and arranging meetings for the initiation of a wide range of projects touching on education, the arts and social interactions. International informants, now aiding the cause in every country around the world, had relayed information about terrorist operations that were being planned on the international level. Previously, assassinations by Israel were scorned by the international Arab and European community, but now it was condoned by every free nation - including most of the Arab nations who had suffered many years of suicide bombings and shooting sprees in public locations. New economic sanctions pressured those nations who still preferred to follow the Jihad doctrine. All their resources could not stop the Israeli agents from following through on their plans to eradicate the terrorists that these non-complying nations harbored. It was a coordinated effort that reaped the fruits of its success all around the world. People who lived in dangerous places breathed somewhat more easily, but still proceeded with caution at every turn in their daily lives. The eventual increase in revenue due to the reduced defense spending enabled us to replenish the distribution of funds to very essential services dealing with health, drug addiction and welfare.