Cyrill Delvin - The Gaza Project

Šarīf himself was just about to interject: Israel is an occupying force and the Palestinians are freedom fighters, not terrorists! But Charles stopped him short: »The Israeli Prime Minister cannot and does not want to avert possible reprisals! We have to be clear on that point.«

Šarīf resembled a whipped puppy and the IWAC chairperson understood only too well how the Palestinian felt. Among all those present he had the least influence over the political environment and the people he represented. And still, he played a key part in this critical initial phase.

From that perspective, it was easier to negotiate with Israel. Not only because of the American Minister of Foreign Affairs‘ presence, but also because of the contributions of the absent high-ranking initiates from Russian and China.

»Everyone in this room is convinced that Israel and Palestine can only peacefully coexist if both have a healthy economy. We believe in a balance of interests and not in a balance of power. That’s why we are here. The IWAC is willing to create such a balance on the Gaza Strip. We want the people to take responsibility for the future. We do not believe in a military solution to the Middle East conflict. It is therefore the objective of every one of us to create the framework. In secret, without the world’s media getting wind of it. Officially, the IWAC does not take a stance regarding the conflict. We support a humanitarian programme for the redevelopment of the Gaza Strip just like so many other non-government organisations.«

It was late afternoon before Trois-Ruisselets was once again at the sole disposal of its proprietor. The additional security personnel and the French police had vacated the premises together with the politicians. However, two guests, who hadn’t taken part in the meeting, remained in the house: Françoise, the IWAC’s chief of operations, and Ted, in charge of the activities on the Gaza Strip. After dinner, they sat together in the study.

»It’s hard to believe, but in just two years you‘ve achieved what others unsuccessfully fought for their whole live.« Françoise raised her glass in a toast: »To you and the IWAC!«

»Thank you, Françoise. It wasn’t easy to get those in charge together, but it’s child’s play compared to what’s ahead of us. How valuable our work is will be apparent when we actually become active in Gaza. The real challenges are still out there.«

»A bit of excitement during the work can do no harm.«

»I agree. Let’s take the bull by the horns, but if things get hairy, nobody is going to divert the beast’s attention the way they do in a bullfight, Ted! Despite all the security precautions and agreements, the Gaza Strip is and remains a loose cannon!«

»You know me, Charles. I only come out with my flippant remarks to score points with the ladies.«

Nobody commented.

»Professor Liu Cheng from the Peking Polytechnic rang a while ago. He’s accepted the position as head of research and development.«

»Are you serious?!« Françoise exclaimed. »That means we’ve already won half the battle.«

»Have we? Next week, he’ll meet you in Paris and in the fall he will start in Cyprus.«

»That’s just wonderful. You’re a true miracle worker.«

That moment, there was a knock on the door and the private secretary entered the room.

»Pardon the interruption, Sir, the Israeli Prime Minister is on the line.«

»Thank you, Brad, put him through.«

»Very well, Sir.«

»Liron, where are you? I see …«

All the others could hear was something being uttered in an agitated voice from the other end of the line.

»Yes, but…« Charles fell silent. »Thank you, Liron. Yes, we are still staying on course. Have a good flight, Liron.«

He slowly turned around to the others. »During our meeting this afternoon, Israeli fighter planes attacked the Ḥamās post at the coast in the south of the Gaza Strip in retaliation for the suicide bombings in Jerusalem three weeks ago. The Palestinians suffered a considerable loss of civilian life.«

The flames in the fireplace seemed to flicker with particular intensity.

»Damn it!« Ted cried out from the depths of his armchair. »You simply can’t trust those lunatics, on either side. And here they were just a while ago playing at charades. If only we could build a wall high enough to reach Yahweh and Allah! Then there would be no more jet fighters and ping-pong matches with human bombs.«

»Did Eizenburg know about it? Can we trust him?«

»The actual problem is that Liron wasn’t involved.«

»Do you really believe that?« Françoise asked.

»I do, but that means that he isn’t as much in charge as he wants to be – or should be. One way or the other, I now have to make a few calls and smooth things over.«

Addressing Ted, he said: »We’ll meet the logistics specialists in Washington on Sunday, as agreed. And Ted, we will build a wall. An invisible wall. To break through it will cost Israel a lot of money in the end. Too much money.«

Before he hurried from the study, he hugged Françoise. »As I said, we’re only just starting. It’s going to be fine. And look after Cheng. We need him.«

Abdoul and his younger brother Qadim were combing the beach for floating debris. They often did. And they were doing it now on this late summer afternoon they were spending at the seaside with their whole family. Searching for jetsam in the hot sand was not only a useful, but also one of the few enjoyable diversions for the children. The best part for the brothers was the guessing game.

»Look at that, Abdoul. There’s a blue ball over there. I think it’s a broken floating cork.«

»Not at all. It’s a stuffed pufferfish. That’s his mouth, see.«

»But there is a hook like the ones on granddad’s fishing net.«

»Exactly, that’s the hook – it’s a hooked pufferfish.«

»Can we eat it?«

»Why don’t you try. But don’t bite too hard, or you’ll get caught on the hook yourself,« Abdoul said seriously.

Qadim pulled a face, pretending to have been caught and being towed away by a fishing boat. The brothers laughed and put the blue cork in their pocket.

Granddad Amir always knew how to use things. But Abdoul was only truly happy when he found a beautiful seashell. He only ever took one of them home, the most beautiful one of the day. He was very selective about his collection. Whenever he found a shell he liked even more, the ugliest one had to go.

That afternoon he hadn’t yet spotted a shell he considered worthy enough. Except the blue cork, the rest of the jetsam, too, wasn’t up to scratch. Until he discovered a few inches wide shell in the wet sand. At a first glance, it looked unimpressive; dark brown with a ribbed surface and a series of small serrations in the middle. All in all it resembled the carapace of a small lizard. No disruptive colour stains or patterns; just an even brown. He had never found a shell like that before. After he had opened it and rinsed it in the water, he gasped. The inside was lined with the purest mother-of-pearl. More flawless and whiter than anything he had ever seen.

Just as he wanted to show his treasure to Qadim, who was rummaging around in the sand quite nearby, it announced itself through absolute silence. For a fraction of a second all noise ceased. What was to change the brothers‘ lives forever was taking place right beside them. As the adults tried to chase the eerie silence away with their screams, everything happened at once. At first Abdoul thought his father would call Qadim and him back. Then the calls and screams merged with the thundering roars of an Israeli fighter plane squadron above the sand dunes.