The Israeli Border police (Magav) in Weimar
I wanted to bring The Israeli border police in Weimar, the standard armored jeep that the border police uses to patrol would escort me in my daily life in town. I examine what such an action brings, how the presence of a militarized police force from Israel in a small quiet East German place would be perceived. Would it produce fear, antagonism, discomfort or maybe understanding and sympathy? The site of the Star of David is never neutral on the streets of Germany, all the more so when it is painted on an armored jeep.
Not surprisingly, I could not bring a real jeep to Weimar. Instead, I built a two- dimensional life size cut out (like the fake police cars that deter driver from speeding). The cutout can do the same job that a real jeep can do and invoke the discussion I would like to create. Some people might recognize the jeep as an Israeli border police; others, who are less familiar with the situation in Israel/Palestine might not have any reference and not know the origin of the jeep. But all will recognize that it is a militarized jeep. This fake militarized jeep, I feel, will also bring another useful element to the discussion. The fake jeep, the two-dimensional façade barley standing on its wooden frame, is very much like the fake façades of Weimar’s historic building. The façades, historical manipulations, and the cultural cloning wish to suggest authenticity, but they do have to be really convincing to fulfill their purpose and to create in Weimar the romantic Disneyland of the east. In the same way, security can work as a façade. It does not really have to be convincing, you don’t need expensive systems, trained personnel, intelligence, and expertise. What is needed is a pretense of security, feeling of security, the knowing of its being and the statement that it is present.
Background information:
Many times, I’ve been asked if I’m scared to live in Weimar. This question is usually asked by people who don’t live in Weimar; people from West Germany, around Europe and also at home, in Israel. The “wild east” has a reputation for being dangerous for foreigners; East Germany is perceived as being xenophobic and not welcoming to non-Germans. There have been many cases of fascist hooligans attacking non-ethnic Germans in the former GDR, but I personally feel very safe. I have no fear walking the streets alone at night and I’m very comfortable in my environment. So, I find myself many times having to explain my situation, share my perception of safety, but then also have to rethink how safe I really am.
Not being dark skinned is a major factor in my sense of security; people of dark skin and non-European looking people (Asians, Arabs) are more likely to be attacked. So as long as I keep my mouth shut, and conceal my identity I’m pretty safe. But, what if I want to be public? What if I don’t want to hide my identity?
The German state provides twenty-four-hour police protection at synagogues and many other Jewish institutions; even dead Jews need protections with some Jewish cemeteries patrolled by police regularly against Desecration. This protection is to provide security both from far right wing neo-Nazi groups and from extreme Islamic groups. This protection is provided because there is a reason; there have been many attacks in the past on Jewish institutions. Also, individuals have been attacked and Jewish kids in Germany today hide their identity by not wearing Kippas (skullcaps), concealing Star of David chains and not speaking Hebrew publicly. So, do I need to be provided with security if I want to be publicly Jewish? Should I ask the German police to protect me?
The problem is that I don’t trust the German police. Unquestionably, the German police has a very poor record of protecting foreigners and Jews historically. But also currently, they have not been doing a very good job. Last year, in August, for example, a brutal mob attacked eight Indians in eastern German town of Muegelna and the police still have made no arrests . But even worse, there have been cases where police officers themselves acted murderously violent against foreigners, like in the cases of Oury Jalloh in Dessau, or Layé Konde in Bremen who were murdered by the German police while in police custody.
So if I need protection, to be defended, maybe it should be provided by my own country. The state of Israel claims that its mandate is not only to provide security to the citizens of Israel but to Jews in danger anywhere in the world. The security forces of the state will fight anti-Semitism anywhere and help Jews in danger anywhere anyplace. The border police is part of the states security forces and one of its main missions is providing internal security, “The operational arm of the Israel Police for combating terrorism and public disturbances and for providing ongoing security.” Bringing the border police to Weimar to do their task would be a good solution for my fear. But the border police in Israel also have a very vicious side. They have a well deserved reputation for violent treatment of minorities and underprivileged people both in Israel and the Palestinian territories. In addition to the daily harassments on the streets, during demonstrations and direct actions, while exercising their democratic rights, demonstrators get beaten, tear gassed, shot with live and rubber bullets and arrested by these forces, whose mission should be to protect citizens not to attack them. I myself was in many of these confrontations with the border police, and when I see them now patrolling the streets I don’t feel safe for myself or for my neighbors. Still, I decided to bring the Israeli border police to Weimar. Because of the unusual situation, the unique relationship between Israel and Germany and of course the catastrophic past, because of the place Israel’s security forces plays in the discourse about security and militarism, and because of my uncertain and confused feelings I have as a foreigner and Jew living in Weimar, I’m intrigued to find out what such an action would bring.
January 30th, 2008 at 9:46 am
poor sliman! he’ll go to the cantina and gets his shock for live.
January 30th, 2008 at 10:18 am
now seriously …i really like the idea to bring this item of daily life from israel to the tiny classic town in weimar. i do think it should mentioned and brought up for discussion how a magav jeep is perceived in israel. since it is not only a symbol of security it comes with another level of perception also in weimar. moreover i feel the lack of getting into a real discussion of security. you mention an ambivalent picture of perception but it isn’t doubting the question of security in general. in other words, i would like to discuss and look behind the facade of the term security. we all know the security discourse around terrorism and it is a actual development, for example in germany, to built more police, 129a, less privacy and so on. the hole security thing is in the end the facade. no security check can prevent a suicide attack in a restaurant, no camera can prevent a criminal act so far. And again my question is, what will give us security and in which matters, do we want it, what are the real political solutions to be made to create real security? in israel and in germany regarding foreigners!?
security measures are always reactions rarely pointing out the real problem and more often escalating then preventing.
..and the most important question: “how will it be perceived in weimar when the magav jeep will be attacked?!”
wondering
daniel
January 30th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
as a video it looks so real, well done! i like the alienation effect very much.
for Daniel: lack of disscussion? this is exactly the purpose of this project, to bring up the disscussion. this is the objective of art work, to create it, but not nessecarily to manifest it in words. is the image not enough? also, i’d rater see any israelis on the way to the cantine and how they would react, rather than Sliman…
January 31st, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Daniel, thank you for your comment, i very much agree with you and i feel you really understood the point that i was trying to make. Maybe my text is not clear enough, but it’s the question of Security and what does it mean that I want to discuss. In the project i exaggerate the common perception in order to open the discussion. I build a fake, absurd situation hoping to highlight the absurdity of the current situation. How the authorities try to solve problems not by getting to roots of the problems and dealing with it but by building more police forces, more surveillance, less rights to privacy, and walls fences and “security systems”.
February 1st, 2008 at 9:09 am
i meant poor sliman and naomi, who thought there are save on the way to the cantina.
to nts: i agree it brings up a discussion, i wanted to mention what i think should be discussed. taking back “the lack of”
hope to see u all soon not just for discussions! i’m flying today! sorry for the offtopic!
February 1st, 2008 at 4:20 pm
My very dear Ronen,
This is so visually appealing, and brings up so many things at once, it does not seem to take a position on any of this finally. Like contemporary ‘political’ art usually do these days. Being playful to the point where it is not clear whether the play is for oppression or against it. It’s funny, because it’s the first time in my knowledge u fall into this trap. You know that I usually LOVE your art, and find it intriguing and meaningful. Does this change have to do with the fact u reside now in the fat belly button of Europe?! I think the EU doesn’t do u good :)! Come back to the guerrilla, we’re waiting for u!
February 2nd, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Mehamem. the funny thing is your feet. seiing your feet brings out the idea that there are people in the jeep - its a symbol, but people wear it all their lives, redifining themselves, and redefining space as they go along. the funny thing is - It probably would not be noticed back home. only the feet would conjure up a question in peoples minds. maybe you should have one infront of the un building in nyc and another one in soho, on a busy shopping day.
February 3rd, 2008 at 7:10 am
Some more magav related art:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXKsV3ILdPw
February 4th, 2008 at 1:05 am
Dear Ronen,
My knowledge in art is very limited. But since in the Discussion my name came up, and I was really shocked on the way to Mensa, I’d like to write some words.
Aesthetically is your work very nice, it’s also provocative. The Question is: what is he aim of this definitely political art?
Of course now I’m talking from a Palestinian perspective.
There are three important points: The context, the used elements and the concept.
I don’t know how useful is it, to use the Israeli Border Police Jeep in Germany. This is a very strong symbol (for some Israelis and most Palestinians) but for the big majority of Germans it means nothing. So if you would do such a project in Tel Aviv, I would understand it… The MAGAV is for me a symbol of repression and occupation, so if you want to use it the context should be clearer. In Germany it’s not possible.
The Concepts are interesting, but I can’t recognize “the concept”. You are mixing up many points… that doesn’t help to understand your intensions. Maybe separately they would make more sense.
You are producing nice images for the export, that then make sense in another context (for example when critical Israelis see them) but I don’t know if this is the aim of Art in public Space.
I think that some symbols should be handled with care, symbols of repression for sure!
February 6th, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Sliman, thanks for your response. i agree with you that most Germans/residents of Weimar will not recognize the Jeep as a Israeli border police jeep. But they all recognize it as a militarized jeep an as I stated I’m my previous text, I first of all want through this project to raise the questions of the sense of security and the policing and militarization of the public sphere that is also very strong also here in Germany. But as anyone can see the jeep is a fake, it can’t really provide security, however its represents a façade of security similar to the fake Security and its forces being built up all around us.
So why make a Magav jeep you can ask. why confuse this issue with other points regarding Israel and being jewish and foreigner in germany? Why are you mixing issues?
Well here I agree with you with your that I’m “producing nice images for the export, that then make sense in another context”. Yes that’s true, the project does not only have a life as public art in Weimar, but also another life when it is exported through photos and video to other context where it will be viewed with different lenses and hopefully the extra levels will enrich the discussion in invokes.
April 17th, 2008 at 9:13 am
yoman again i very much like your starting point it refers to an issue we had in the netherlands please check side below some links are in englisch
http://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayaan_Hirsi_Ali
because she was fighting for the rights of muslim woman in our country she got protection but since she is originally from somalia she needs global protection because her death treath is not stopping at our border
she was asked for this think thank in the states and still wanted protection from the dutch this was a big issue which she lost and because she can t protect herself she s back which is nice ofcourse we need more like her
anyway nice story and cool images
cu
June 25th, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Why do you have so much self-hate? It’s always nice to make your people look bad in front of others, particularly the descendants of Nazis and their present sympathizers. You should be proud of yourself.