Love is in the air, and it is between the two most unlikely suspects: Iran and Israel. Two countries whose governments are known for their hostile rhetoric and unwavering political stances are making waves for something other than talk of a potential nuclear war. Refusing to rely on elected and appointed officials to adequately represent their views, Iranians and Israelis have assumed the role of citizen diplomats, taking a grassroots approach to achieving peace.
Launched in Israel on March 16, 2012 by Ronny Edry and his wife Michal Tamir, a Facebook phenomenon rose from the posting of one picture advertising a simple message: Love.
Edry’s photograph attracted a like-minded Israeli audience that created similar posters. The media-generated messages made their way to the streets of Iran, and Iranians responded in kind.
In response to mass support for the Facebook photo campaign, Edry uploaded a YouTube video starring the world’s most important actor –the average person. With more than half a million supporters, similar videos and photographs continue to circulate on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest, and other social-media platforms.
Now in its third week, the movement includes Iranians, Israelis, Americans, and others who are taking it upon themselves to work to achieve something governments talk about but have yet to make sufficient efforts to attain: world peace. People from all backgrounds are overlooking the differences that many argue make countries incapable of compromise. Instead, people are embracing their shared connection as humans who desire a bright future for themselves, their countries, and the world.
Full of posts and images uploaded by Iranians, the Iran Loves Israel webpage portrays Iran as something other than an intolerant and war-driven society, something starkly different from the images conjured in recent months by major news sources. At the core of the Iran Loves Israel movement is a humanistic mission statement that evokes feelings of solidarity and hope.
“The people of Iran, like our counterparts in Israel, are vibrant, creative, and forward-thinking. We need a transparent arena where ideas can be exchanged, thoughts developed, and discourse inspired by our similarly ancient cultures. Although many countries in the Middle East suffer from debilitating international stereotypes, we can unite to transform the media’s image of us as violent and intolerant aggressors to loving and cooperative partners. As we go through the crucible of our inherited animosities, we can burn away our superficial differences and together emerge with a greater understanding of humanity.”
“We don’t hate you,” is the simple, yet powerful statement at the forefront of the worldwide movement. However, despite its hopeful message, the very idealist notion of a peace treaty between Iran and Israel resulting from the Israel Loves Iran and Iran Loves Israel campaigns is unlikely.
While the Israel Loves Iran movement developed and continues to grow in the streets of Israel’s cities, members of the Iran Loves Israel campaign hide behind the anonymity of shadows and signs in their videos and photographs.
This is not a testament to Iranians lacking desire for change. Rather, it is the result of fear. Whereas Israelis do not fear the repercussions from standing up against their government, Iranians do.
As the Islamic Republic of Iran’s human rights abuses continue to be a central issue for the international community and the United Nations Human Rights Council, it is no wonder that Iranians fear brutality, imprisonment, and execution. Although expatriate Iranians may feel comfortable showing their faces in conjunction with the Iran Loves Israel movement, it is understandable that many living in Iran are afraid to take more than a virtual stance against their government.
The ultimate question is whether a movement to change government policy can be successful if its supporters remain faceless. Despite inherent obstacles preventing immediate alterations in Iran’s domestic and foreign policies, the movement does have potential. Just as Rome was not built in a day, effective change cannot be achieved in a short time. However, with the backing of the international community, Iranians continued efforts have the potential, in the long-term, to yield positive results.
