Epilogue
7-1(54) Middle East meets Far East
Palestinian refugees who were involved in the war against
Israel were expelled from the Palestinian territory of the West Bank of Jordan
River and moved to the east of the border, where Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan
was. But the life was not so easy in Jordan. In late 1960s, they again moved
from Jordan to Gulf state. It was the east of Jordan. They, however, could not settle
in the Gulf state as the last heaven. Their host countries did not give them
permanent residence, and they themselves disliked nomadic people of oil
producing countries who was arrogant and incompetent. People in the Gulf
countries looked down on the poor Palestinians. They hoped to return to their
home country when two-state coexistence policy would be realized. Most of
Palestinians had expected that Israel and Palestine could agree a peace treaty with
a mediate effort of Arab colleague.
But after several wars took place in the Middle East,
the dream of Palestine independence has gone away. To make matters worse, Iraq
invaded to Kuwait in 1990. The world criticized the violence of President
Hussein of Iraq. Saudi Arabia, the monarch states in the Gulf, was afraid
seriously that the next target after Kuwait was its own country. Jordan and the
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) , however, had different dream. They
enthusiastically supported Hussein regime who claimed to overthrow Israel. As a
result, after Iraq was defeated in the Gulf War next year, both Saudi and
Kuwaiti governments ordered Palestinian and Jordanian migrant workers to go
home immediately.
Three Arabs, Khatib, Zahra and Shatila, working at a
Japanese oil company that produced the oil in the offshore of Kuwait and Saudi
Arabia, were fired. Jordanian Khatib invited Palestinian Zahra to return together
to Amman, Jordan. With the savings during the migration and retirement
allowance, Khatib planned to be the landlord in Amman and Zahra planned to set
up an automobile repair shop. Another Palestinian Shatila decided to immigrate
to the United States where his younger brother got residence visa. Two
Palestinians were just about to leave the Gulf. This time they moved from east
to west.
One night, Japanese colleagues held a farewell party
for three Arabs. Guests were served food and beverage. Japanese colleague took
alcohol drink. In Saudi Arabia alcohol was prohibited, but Japanese staff was
assigned a company house where the authority overlooked Japanese drinking
habit. All attendees indulged in memories. Shatila spent 30 years in Japanese
company. Zahra had been working for 23 years, and Khatib 21 years respectively.
It was in their prime of life. Usually migrant workers did not work so long for
one company. In case of Kuwaiti or Saudi company, they had to be fired by the
owner's caprice or they changed spontaneously their job unbearable of the
tyrannical owner. But in the Japanese company they could work in peace. The
work environment was comfortable. Concession agreement between government and the
company was overdue in year 2000. They would like to continue to work until
that time, if possible. But the Palestinians, who had been at the mercy of history,
had to accept their destinies.
They sincerely appreciated that they had been able to
work in a honest and generous atmosphere of Japanese company. Japan that was
defeated by the World War II and burned to the ash achieved miraculous
reconstruction. Japanese products such as automobiles, TVs, cassette recorders,
refrigerators were overflowing in the daily life in the Middle East.
Furthermore, they were so happy that Japanese staff treated them equally
without racial discrimination. It was a special experience they never had before
joining to Japanese company.
When they enjoyed the chat, suddenly they heard the
crystal voice of unknown singer from the cassette recorder behind them. It looked
like Chinese song. Shatila asked to Japanese colleague the name of the song. A
Japanese explained that the singer was a famous Taiwanese lady and the song’s
name was "何日君再来？(He ri jun zai lai; When will you come back again?)".
The song described that she missed farewell to a loved one and wished to be
reunited someday.
好花不常開，
(Lovely flowers don't bloom very
often)
好景不常在。
(Beautiful scenes aren't always
here to stay)
愁堆解笑眉，
(Worries dissolve my smiles)
涙灑相思帯。
(Memories of love bring back tears)
今宵離別後，
(After you leave tonight)
(When will you come back again?)
For Palestinians, "you" meant "Goddess
of Peace". "Peace" always passed by them quickly. The sweet
melancholic text and melody evoked nostalgia for them. That night, the hearts
of ordinary citizens of Middle East and Far East melted into one. It was a
moment that Middle East met Far East.
Shatila’s first journey to the east was from Tulkarm
on the West Bank of Jordan River. His second journey to the east was from
Jordan to Gulf countries. Now, he turned to west and immigrated to the United
States skipping Palestine. It was not easy for Muslims to live in the United
States dominated by Christianity, but the United States was still the world's
best place to live in peace and safe for everyone. Letters and calls were
frequently exchanged between the US and Jordan. It was not sure whether Shatila
could meet with his relatives and old friends in Jordan again.
(To be continued
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By Areha Kazuya
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