The Martyrs of Nablus

Below are some pictures of some common signage on the streets of Nablus, the largest city in the West Bank and one of the most interesting places on earth. During the Second Intifada many Palestinian fighters—some of whom would become "martyrs"—came from this very city. (I refuse to call them "terrorists" unless they had attacked civilians.) Those who died in combat are featured on posters which almost invariably include two components—a picture of the Dome of the Rock (the second holiest site in Islam) and some sort of heavy weaponry in the deceased's hands. It's pretty dark stuff, but to be honest, I'd rather look at this stuff than advertising any day.

I personally think that armed struggle against the Israelis by the Palestinians is pointless and self-destructive—the Israelis have much bigger, better-functioning weaponry than the Palestinians, and more of it. Not to mention that life only got more difficult for Palestinians after the Second Intifada—they now have more trouble moving from place to place and finding jobs than they ever did before.

Not to say that I do not understand why Palestinians would take up arms against the Israelis. As I said before, it’s difficult to contemplate forgiveness and non-violent struggle after your family and/or friends are killed by a “smart bomb.” Still, understanding does not equal endorsement, especially in this case. Given the malleable nature of the young mind, I find it tragic that in both Palestine and Israel, kids are growing up in societies that glorify warfare.




You'll notice that the gentleman above is rather popular, being featured in four of the five shots I’ve provided. This guy is known as "Spider Man," and he is without question one of the most famous martyrs in Nablus. Rumors are that Spidey's family is rich; hence the large number of expertly-crafted posters of him all over town. The story surrounding his death is that he was providing cover fire for one of his mates when an Israeli jet dropped a bomb on him. Perhaps it was the fact that he was felled not by a $2 bullet, but by a $20,000 bomb, that has gained him such posthumous admiration.