Two compelling literary works on Israel: Arnold Zweig's "The Friend Comes Home" and Chaim Noll's "The Silence After the War: Morning's Whisper"
In a recent development, the Aufbau-Verlag has reissued Arnold Zweig's novel "De Vriendt Returns Home", a work that offers insights into a historical tradition of over three thousand years. This novel, set in Jerusalem in 1929 and involving a political murder, is not only a captivating read but also a valuable historical document.
Arnold Zweig, a writer of world rank, lived in Israel during World War II. His education, hardly imaginable today, allowed him to provide detailed and accurate descriptions of Palestine in 1929, as seen in "De Vriendt Returns Home".
The novel is significant as it is the earliest novel about the Middle East conflict. It portrays a Jerusalem on the brink of unrest, a city divided by political and cultural differences. The protagonist, a Dutchman named De Vriendt, returns home after many years to find his city changed and embroiled in conflict.
Meanwhile, in the present day, Chaim Noll's novella "The Calm After the War" describes the current situation in the Middle East. Despite its plot taking place during the Gaza War in 2009, the themes of conflict, political unrest, and the impact on everyday life resonate strongly.
The conflict between Israel and Gaza has been a long-standing issue, with periods of tension and violence interspersed with relative peace. However, as Noll's protagonist notes, the silence in the morning after the war remains unforgotten for the residents in the affected areas.
The aid sent by the UN and its member states to Gaza ended up with the Hamas, who sold it for ammunition. Furthermore, a Dutch initiative to install street lighting in Gaza found that the lanterns had been converted into rocket tubes by the Hamas.
The situation in Gaza is complex, with Israeli villages recognisable by the dense greenery surrounding them, while Arab villages are largely barren. Residents in the affected areas have had to get used to the constant noise of planes and rockets.
The Hamas, in control of Gaza, used international aid billions for tunnel construction and weapons production instead of economic development. This misuse of aid has exacerbated the economic hardship in Gaza, leading to further instability in the region.
The conflict between Israel and Gaza was frozen, awaiting another outbreak. The silence in the morning after the war remains a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggle and the hope for peace.
In "De Vriendt Returns Home", the suspect in a political murder is initially thought to be an Arab, but suspicion later falls on Zionist circles. This underscores the complexities of the conflict, where blame is not always straightforward.
Chaim Noll's novel "The Silence in the Morning After the War" presents a bleak future, with the protagonist believing his grandchildren will have to fight in Gaza's mined alleys and deadly tunnels. This serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of the conflict and the need for peaceful resolution.
In conclusion, both Arnold Zweig's "De Vriendt Returns Home" and Chaim Noll's "The Calm After the War" offer valuable insights into the history and current situation of the Middle East. Their works serve as a call for peace and a reminder of the human cost of conflict.
