Messianic Israelis' New Way of Encouraging Settlement in South Lebanon: A Children's Book
Haaretz
Avshalom Halutz
Jun 24, 2024 10:45 pm IDT
The premise of an upcoming Israeli children's book goes something like this: Alon is an Israeli boy growing up in Misgav Am, a kibbutz in Upper Galilee that's right on the border with Lebanon. He loves his small kibbutz, his family and friends, and even his playground. But most of all, Alon loves the picturesque views of Lebanon from his bedroom window. Those sharp hills, the snow-covered mountains in the distance, the brown-green fields and little houses.
Even when he and his family are forced to move to a different area due to the fighting with Hezbollah, what Alon misses most is, well, Lebanon. He tells his mother: "I want to return to Misgav Am. I miss my friends, I miss my playground, I miss the mountains of Lebanon."
Alon is the main character in "Alon and Lebanon," a crowd-funded book written and promoted by Prof. Amos Azaria of the far-right Uri Tzafon ("Wake Up North") movement. The messianic group, which includes well-known figures such as settler leader Daniella Weiss, is currently calling for Jewish settlement in southern Lebanon. They even held an online conference promoting their ideas last week.
The movement's leaders are clearly planning ahead, planting the seeds of longing for Lebanon in the hearts of young readers. According to the Headstart project, the kids' book "deals with a love for the north of the country and residents of the north from the point of view of a child," and its intended audience is children aged 2-6.
For 88 shekels (about $24), you will receive a copy of the book with color illustrations (which look particularly generic and AI-generated). This will apparently "make the children want to read it again and again." You will have to pay 20 shekels extra for delivery. For 1,980 shekels, meanwhile, you will receive 10 copies and the author will come to your home (anywhere in Israel) for a workshop.
In normal times, the landscape Alon loves so much isn't actually empty: the nearest village to Misgav Am inside Lebanon is called Odaisseh. The rest of southern Lebanon is also settled by Lebanese people. The inclusion of Lebanon as part of the messianic vision of a "greater Israel" originates from the movement's belief in God's Promised Land, which also includes parts of Egypt, Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria (and according to an expanded version, it even includes Saudi Arabia and Iraq).
Avshalom Halutz
Jun 24, 2024 10:45 pm IDT
The premise of an upcoming Israeli children's book goes something like this: Alon is an Israeli boy growing up in Misgav Am, a kibbutz in Upper Galilee that's right on the border with Lebanon. He loves his small kibbutz, his family and friends, and even his playground. But most of all, Alon loves the picturesque views of Lebanon from his bedroom window. Those sharp hills, the snow-covered mountains in the distance, the brown-green fields and little houses.
Even when he and his family are forced to move to a different area due to the fighting with Hezbollah, what Alon misses most is, well, Lebanon. He tells his mother: "I want to return to Misgav Am. I miss my friends, I miss my playground, I miss the mountains of Lebanon."
Alon is the main character in "Alon and Lebanon," a crowd-funded book written and promoted by Prof. Amos Azaria of the far-right Uri Tzafon ("Wake Up North") movement. The messianic group, which includes well-known figures such as settler leader Daniella Weiss, is currently calling for Jewish settlement in southern Lebanon. They even held an online conference promoting their ideas last week.
The movement's leaders are clearly planning ahead, planting the seeds of longing for Lebanon in the hearts of young readers. According to the Headstart project, the kids' book "deals with a love for the north of the country and residents of the north from the point of view of a child," and its intended audience is children aged 2-6.
For 88 shekels (about $24), you will receive a copy of the book with color illustrations (which look particularly generic and AI-generated). This will apparently "make the children want to read it again and again." You will have to pay 20 shekels extra for delivery. For 1,980 shekels, meanwhile, you will receive 10 copies and the author will come to your home (anywhere in Israel) for a workshop.
In normal times, the landscape Alon loves so much isn't actually empty: the nearest village to Misgav Am inside Lebanon is called Odaisseh. The rest of southern Lebanon is also settled by Lebanese people. The inclusion of Lebanon as part of the messianic vision of a "greater Israel" originates from the movement's belief in God's Promised Land, which also includes parts of Egypt, Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and Syria (and according to an expanded version, it even includes Saudi Arabia and Iraq).
