Miri Awad and Ahinoam Nini

are two women who represented Israel with their song; “There Must Be Another Way” in the European song contest this year. This is also the title on their new album with 12 songs in Hebrew, Arabic and English. Miri Awad is an Arab looking like a Jew and Ahinoam Nini is a Jew looking like an Arab. Together they are “dynamite”.
None of these women are hypocrites. They wouldn’t go for something like this just to sell well or to just add some temporary sweetness to a rather sour reality. These two women have courage and the ability to see the potential in a situation where others see only closed doors and shades of black and grey.
Miri Awad has been much criticized by the Israeli Arab community who accuses her of being used to create a false impression of the situation between Jews and Arabs in Israel.
These accusations are shallow and just testifies to the fact that the ones who criticize didn’t even bother to listen to the words in their songs.
Neither Jews nor Arabs are happy with the situation in this country. Both sides suffer.
I think they do well when they sing; “And when I cry, I cry for both of us. My pain has no name. And when I cry, I cry to the merciless sky and say, “There must be another way.”
Later the words go, “Where can we go from here? Sister, it’s been a long night. What’s to come? I fear. Give me something to restore my faith in the light. Tell me that we’re here to stay, and that we can set things right.”
To all the pessimists in the world there is a message , “You’re broken when your heart’s not open. There is no point in placing the blame. And you should know I suffer the same.”
Both Jews and Arabs are descendants of Abraham through their forefathers Ishmael and Isaac. Abraham cared for both of his sons and for the others to be born to him later, and when he died both Isaac and Ishmael were there to bury him. If they could do such a painful act together I see the potential of hope in present day’s situation.
The song ends by stating that,”…the clock’s still ticking in a frantic trance, and we are locked together in a tragic dance, remember that every second offers a second chance.”

Elin Elkouby