JERUSALEM/ ISRAEL: Two Israelis introduce an Israeli blue and white kaffiyah headress in an attempt to improve Arab-Israeli understanding.

Two Israelis introduce a new blue and white kaffiyah in a bid to bridge cultural gaps and bring Israelis and Arab neighbours closer together. Two Israelis believe that a blue and white Israeli kaffiyah, inspired by the Arab head dress, may help Israelis assimilate in the Middle East and could bring the Arabs and Jews closer together. The kaffiyah is a traditional head dress used by many Arab men. It is a square piece of cloth that usually comes in which and black or white and red. In some parts of the Arab world, it can also be a plain white cloth. The white kaffiyah is mostly worn in the Gulf states, the red and white kaffiyah is strongly associated with Jordan (although it is also worn in the Gulf states) and the black and white kaffiyah is popular amongst Palestinians. It even became a trademark symbol of the late Palestinian President Yasser Arafat. Three years ago sculptor Gabby Ben Haim came up with the idea of an Israeli kafiyyah.. He met industrial designer Muki Harel, whose work involves design. Together they created the blue and white Israeli kaffiyah which can be a cultural symbol, a fashion item or even a Jewish prayer shawl (Talith). The idea was that it would help Israelis to integrate with their Arab neighbours. Ben Haim and Harel say that since different parts of the Middle East have different coloured kaffiyahs, Israelis, being part of the region, should have one too. "The kaffiyah is a scarf that is used by our (Arab) neighbours and they are identifying themselves by this item which is a kind of a language that we like it and we used (to wear it) when we were kids and I think that if we had a similar item that we can use as well, which can identify us so we will use the same language and it will be for the benefit of all of us," said Harel. Ben Haim noted that in the early and middle days of the 20th century Jews used to wear the black and white kaffiyah, but over the years it became a symbol of the Palestinian uprising for statehood. "When I was a teenager I used to wear a kaffiyah and in the last ten years the kaffiyah has almost disappeared. The youths had stopped (wearing a kaffiyah) because of the tension between Jews and Arabs and I think that what Muki and I had created together can bring the people closer," added Ben Haim. They say the kaffiyah was designed in a way which preserves the traditional Arab style but also includes Jewish and Israeli symbols. The square cloth reveals a pattern made of a Jewish Star of David and two blue strips which together compose the national Israeli flag. Harel explained that the Jewish symbols were not highlighted, but hidden in the cloth, in order to create a sense of belonging rather than appeal in a strong way which could lead to a conflict. At the promenade of the coastal Israeli city of Tel Aviv local residents and tourists voiced different reactions towards the new cultural item. "May peace come upon us, that's the most important thing," said one man with a smile after Harel wrapped a blue kaffiyah around his neck. "I think it's phoney to go with a kaffiyah which is so Arab, so Palestinian that it really symbolises the... uprising. To go and take it, it's a form of fraud," said another woman who refused to wear the blue and white scarf. Shalom Blau, an American Jew from New York City, who tied the kaffiyah around his head, raised a question: "Do you think that this is going to bring the Arabs and the Jews closer together because we are wearing similar clothing? You think so?". Harel and Ben Haim believe the new kaffiyah would start as a fashion element but eventually become a symbol of peace. Harel compared the cultural element to a form of language which could help hostile neighbours become more tolerant towards one another. "We have to find a common language and (we are) hoping that maybe this will be the item that will be a trigger for cooperation, maybe. I think that if we will look similar maybe we will be closer. And that's the idea," he said and added that he was already contacted by three Lebanese people who were interested in purchasing the item. But the designers of the Israeli kaffiyah do not only intend it to serve as a means of strengthening Israeli-Arab relations. They also intend it to have a patriotic role through becoming a national head dress. They hope it will be worn by official delegations abroad, Israelis and their supporters around the world. They plan to introduce it to Jewish organisations, tourist guides, shops and private consumers on the internet at: www.kaffiya.com. Even though they are often accused of "stealing" Arab symbols they hope their new creation would bridge cultural and national gaps.

ITN Source | February 14, 2007

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