Activists change street names in Tel Aviv to those in Hebron

By Joseph Dana February 26, 2011 | Edit
Last Thursday evening, Israeli activists with the Anarchists Against the Wall changed the wording of a number of street signs in the heart of Tel Aviv to mark the closing of Hebron’s Shuhada Street. The action was done in connection with the international day of action to Open Shuhada Street. At 03h30 in the morning, activists changed street names on Tel Aviv’s popular Sheinken Street to read, “Shuhaha Street: Closed to Palestinians since 1994.” The activists were immediately arrested by police, who the activists believe, had been following them throughout the night. After one night in jail, the state asked that the activists be “barred from the Tel Aviv area for 90 days” as a punishment. Instead, the judge ordered the activists released with the condition that they do not engage in any illegal activity for 30 days. Both options seem strange on second reading considering that graffiti is an illegal act according to Israeli law. A judge ordering someone to refrain an illegal act for only period of 90 days is odd.
Sheinken Street in Tel Aviv briefly read "Shuhada Street" in Hebron on Thursday night. Photo: awalls.org
Sheinken Street in Tel Aviv briefly read "Shuhada Street" in Hebron on Thursday night. Photo: Karen Zack/activestills.org

This is not the first time that activists have carried a political message to the public by changing street signs in Israel. Supporters of the immediate release of captured solider Gilad Shalit changed a number of street signs in West Jerusalem and Tel Aviv to read, “Gilad Shalit, Gaza.” No criminal changers or arrests have taken place in connection to these similar acts of political vandalism.

Original image of the street sign to be used in the action in Tel Aviv. Photo:awalls.org`
Original image of the street sign to be used in the action in Tel Aviv. Photo:awalls.org

A full report of the demonstration in Hebron to open Shuhada will be posted shortly.

Joseph Dana was a contributing writer on +972 Magazine from August 2010 to December 2011. This is an archive of his work.

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