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Israelis, Palestinians "Celebrate Coexistence" in West Bank Sukka
(Times of Israel) A year after a similar event landed four Palestinians in a Palestinian Authority jail, over 30 Palestinians joined dozens of Israelis as guests at the sukka of Efrat mayor Oded Revivi "to celebrate coexistence." The Palestinian participants were not identified in order to protect them from any backlash by PA authorities. They were described in a press release as "local Palestinian leaders from half a dozen local cities and towns." It is a Jewish tradition to host friends in the temporary structures that are used during Sukkot (the Feast of Tabernacles) to recall the biblical account of the booths erected in the desert by the Israelites during their exodus from Egypt. The event included music from a joint Muslim-Jewish musical group, and was attended by IDF Brig. Gen. Nir Aran, head of the Judea and Samaria Division, and Efrat Chief Rabbi Shlomo Riskin. Revivi called the Palestinian participants "heroes," saying, "I salute your bravery for coming here today...after the outrageous Palestinian Authority arrests last year. We cannot allow those who prefer separation over coexistence to prevail. We must continue to break down the imaginary walls that separate us and continue to build bridges between our two communities."