From The Guardian, a short essay by photographer Ryuichi Hirokawa on this photo. It is part of an exhibit for London’s Palestine Film Festival:
I took this in 2002, at Al-Ram checkpoint on the West Bank. All the checkpoints had been closed by Israeli troops and these women were demonstrating to have them opened, so that food and medical supplies could come through. An hour before, a group of men had been demonstrating, but the soldiers pulled out their batons so the women – who were both Palestinian and Israeli – moved to the front.
Hirokawa, age 60, is a photojournalist with nearly four decades of experience.
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- PALESTINA LIBRE! Action for Palestine on the basketball court
- Palestine’s Lost Generations
- Looking Back: P.J. O’Rourke on his Palestine Vacation 20 years ago
- More Bloodshed in Israel-Palestine
That's an amazing photo. The look of defiance and calm courage of the two women staring down the Israeli soldiers, versus the thuggish posture of the Israeli soldier in the background. It is not easy for unarmed women to face down men with loaded guns and a reputation for being willing to use them. The courage of these women stirs the soul. It strikes me there is almost a family resemblance between the Israeli soldier in the foreground and the woman on the far right. They could be brother and sister. Too bad they're not.
Posted by Sean2009 | May 1, 2009, 1:29 am