Shortly after our return from Cape Town, we heard that the Tel Aviv municipality had decided to name a small turnabout in Jaffa after Dr Fouad Dajani (1890–1940), scion of an elite family, a physician and Palestinian medical pioneer who had lived nearby. The roundabout is located right behind the Dajani family home and hospital founded by Dr Dajani. Both have been repurposed by the state and are used today as a geriatric centre. The ceremony was planned to be a public affair in the presence of the extended Dajani clan, including the physician's surviving son and his grandchildren, several of whom were allowed back into the country for the first time. A group of Zochrot activists, both Palestinian and Israeli Jews, planned to attend the ceremony and call for the implementation of the right of return rather than tokenising the Dajani family and the Palestinian-Arab history of the city in order to curry favour with Palestinian voters.

Our group took position at the periphery of the large crowd, yet clearly visible, holding banners in English, Arabic and Hebrew calling for the right of return. One of the signs provocatively greeted the Dajani family members with ‘welcome returnees’. Our presence was quickly acknowledged by members of the audience and the media. We were approached by architect and self-styled ‘Tel Aviv expert’ Samuel Giller, who, according to his account, facilitated the whole affair. Giller sternly demanded that we leave the scene, claiming that ‘such provocations might discourage the municipal authorities from making similar gestures’ and that moreover, the Dajani family was ‘uncomfortable’ with our presence. His claims were belied by the sheer enthusiasm of all members of the Dajani family, who came to shake our hands, expressing their gratitude, and insisting on having their photographs taken with the group and the banners (see Figure 7.1).