I thought I'd highlight a peace organization for this week's blog. One Voice Movement is an international organization with branches in both Israel and Palestine. Both the Israeli and Palestinian branch work within their own societies to strengthen and encourage moderates to become active and be leaders in their society. This work is very important as the voice of extremists on both the Israeli and Palestinian side are becoming the dominant forces in the conflict.
Currently, One Voice Palestine is launching a campaign called Imagine 2018. This campaign is designed to get people to imagine the year 2018 if peace and a Palestinian state were to come next year, 2011. People are encouraged to imagine what life would be like seven years after occupation. In a place where hope is dwindling, Imagine 2018 is a way to get people to hope and create a vision of the future, to which they can work toward.
Now follow this link to watch the link of their new video.
Click Here. Then, play the video below the pictures.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Recent Developments in the Peace Process
Recently the US administration has made known that it failed to persuade the Israeli government to reinstate a settlement freeze in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The first moratorium on settlement construction lasted 10 months did not include settlement activity in East Jerusalem, a key issue in a future peace agreement. Also, during these 10 months, a peace agreement was supposed to begin between Palestinians and Israelis, which it did not.
In the past three months, after the expiration of the first settlement freeze, the US government has been trying to convince the Israeli government to reissue the settlement freeze, again not including East Jerusalem. In the past few days, the US government acknowledged their failure to encourage Israel to freeze settlement construction. A settlement freeze was a requirement for the Palestinian authority to enter into any direct negotiations with the Israeli government.
Following the failure to ensure a settlement freeze and thus the inability to begin direct negotiations, Hilary Clinton gave a speech stating that the US government would be an active participant in indirect negotiations with the two parties. She urged both sides to begin tackling the core issues of borders and security, settlements, water and refugees, and Jerusalem.
I have two observations about the "clean start" that the US administration has declared:
On the one hand, in the past year, the settlement issue has seemed to control the peace talks and keep any negotiations from dealing with the core issues of the conflict. A stalemate has occurred, instead of actual progress. In this way, perhaps focusing on all the issues, instead of just a temporary settlement freeze is good for the peace talks.
On the other hand, the fact that the Israeli government will not freeze settlement construction demonstrates that they are not serious about peace. Settlements are a key obstacle to defined borders in accordance with the internationally recognized 1967 borders. Settlements are a key factor in the unbalanced distribution of water, and settlements are one of the key factors frustrating the conflict and reducing the security of Israel. If the Israeli government keeps expanding settlements, they are not serious in solving any of the core issues of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
For good articles on this issue read:
Clinton says US seeks 'clean start' in peace talks.
Barak's vision of Dividing Jerusalem is not Israeli policy, Netanyahu says
Palestinians skeptical after US Freeze Failure
In the past three months, after the expiration of the first settlement freeze, the US government has been trying to convince the Israeli government to reissue the settlement freeze, again not including East Jerusalem. In the past few days, the US government acknowledged their failure to encourage Israel to freeze settlement construction. A settlement freeze was a requirement for the Palestinian authority to enter into any direct negotiations with the Israeli government.
Following the failure to ensure a settlement freeze and thus the inability to begin direct negotiations, Hilary Clinton gave a speech stating that the US government would be an active participant in indirect negotiations with the two parties. She urged both sides to begin tackling the core issues of borders and security, settlements, water and refugees, and Jerusalem.
I have two observations about the "clean start" that the US administration has declared:
On the one hand, in the past year, the settlement issue has seemed to control the peace talks and keep any negotiations from dealing with the core issues of the conflict. A stalemate has occurred, instead of actual progress. In this way, perhaps focusing on all the issues, instead of just a temporary settlement freeze is good for the peace talks.
On the other hand, the fact that the Israeli government will not freeze settlement construction demonstrates that they are not serious about peace. Settlements are a key obstacle to defined borders in accordance with the internationally recognized 1967 borders. Settlements are a key factor in the unbalanced distribution of water, and settlements are one of the key factors frustrating the conflict and reducing the security of Israel. If the Israeli government keeps expanding settlements, they are not serious in solving any of the core issues of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.
For good articles on this issue read:
Clinton says US seeks 'clean start' in peace talks.
Barak's vision of Dividing Jerusalem is not Israeli policy, Netanyahu says
Palestinians skeptical after US Freeze Failure
Friday, December 3, 2010
Settling In and Home Demolitions
Hello All.
Well I haven't written really since I got back to Jerusalem, so I thought it was about time to give a little update.
I'm settling well into my new life in Jerusalem. After a couple slow months, my Masters program in Middle Eastern studies is starting to pick up and I'm really enjoying my classes. I'm so glad to finally be learning written Arabic intensively and my reading ability is increasing dramatically. If you don't know, written Arabic is what unites all of the Arabic speaking world. Everybody reads the same Arabic and the media also uses the classical written Arabic when they report. In daily speaking, however, Arabic is different for each area. North Africans speak differently from Egyptians, who speak differently from Palestinians, who speak differently from Lebanese and Syrians, who speak differently from Iraqis, who speak differently from countries in the gulf. Sometimes the differences are even closer than that. People from Bethlehem speak differently than people from Beit Sahour, which is a neighboring town only 1 km away and now connected!! So although I feel like my reading Arabic is getting better, my spoken Arabic seems the same as before. So I should probably start working on that soon.
Now that I am studying my Masters at Hebrew University, I feel like I am in the right place. Although it took a couple months to get settled, I'm finally settled in my apartment and even have a job teaching conversational English at the East Jerusalem YMCA. I'm very content with life!
Since I have been getting used to my new life here, I haven't been focusing on politics a lot. I do not attend as many political events as I used to and my thoughts have been away from politics for the time being. Recently, however, I have been reflecting about certain issues. Often when I talk with people, we focus on the big events in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. It's very easy to argue about these issues forever and think about who started what first and who is to blame. But when you get caught up in big events, you forget that the occupation of Israel by Palestine is something that effects people's lives everyday.
One of those ways is through Home Demolitions. I am signed up for a text messaging service where I get text messages anytime there is a threat of home demolition by the Israeli army on Palestinian homes, businesses or structures. I have talked about Home demolitions before, but here is a reminder of the basic issue with demolishing homes. Often Palestinian buildings are demolished because they are built illegally according to the Israeli government. The reasons they are built illegally, is it is because getting a permit to build is nearly impossible for Palestinians in areas that the Israeli government controls. It costs thousands of dollars and after a family has spent those thousands of dollars, they may not even be able to get a permit. In some areas, the Israelis government has declared specific areas green zones. These zones are areas that Israel wants to set aside for parks and national reserves. The government, however, does not care that there are Palestinian families living in these areas. So for these families, it is impossible for them to build to make room for their growing families. No matter how hard they try to get a permit, it is impossible because these areas are closed for building.
East Jerusalem is one of the most susceptible places to home demolition, because the Israeli government wants to keep the Palestinian population in Jerusalem from growing. One neighborhood in particular stands out for me now. Isawiye is a neighborhood in East Jerusalem, near Hebrew University and near where I live in French Hill. I had not even heard of this neighborhood until I moved here. Recently the Israeli government has increased the threat of home demolitions in Isawiye, demolitions two places in the past week.
Not only have homes in Isawiye been demolished, but buildings near the separation barrier just outside of Jerusalem have been demolished, and bedouin structures in the Jordan Valley in the past couple of weeks. Often home demolitions get overshadowed in the media by new about "peace talks" and other big news. But it is just these events, that are so draining on the spirit of the Palestinian people and effect their daily lives. They fail to see the humanity behind the people who live in these houses and need them for their livelihood.
Read more about the demolition in Isawiye here: Bulldozers demolish home, workshop in East Jerusalem.
Well I haven't written really since I got back to Jerusalem, so I thought it was about time to give a little update.
I'm settling well into my new life in Jerusalem. After a couple slow months, my Masters program in Middle Eastern studies is starting to pick up and I'm really enjoying my classes. I'm so glad to finally be learning written Arabic intensively and my reading ability is increasing dramatically. If you don't know, written Arabic is what unites all of the Arabic speaking world. Everybody reads the same Arabic and the media also uses the classical written Arabic when they report. In daily speaking, however, Arabic is different for each area. North Africans speak differently from Egyptians, who speak differently from Palestinians, who speak differently from Lebanese and Syrians, who speak differently from Iraqis, who speak differently from countries in the gulf. Sometimes the differences are even closer than that. People from Bethlehem speak differently than people from Beit Sahour, which is a neighboring town only 1 km away and now connected!! So although I feel like my reading Arabic is getting better, my spoken Arabic seems the same as before. So I should probably start working on that soon.
Now that I am studying my Masters at Hebrew University, I feel like I am in the right place. Although it took a couple months to get settled, I'm finally settled in my apartment and even have a job teaching conversational English at the East Jerusalem YMCA. I'm very content with life!
Since I have been getting used to my new life here, I haven't been focusing on politics a lot. I do not attend as many political events as I used to and my thoughts have been away from politics for the time being. Recently, however, I have been reflecting about certain issues. Often when I talk with people, we focus on the big events in the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. It's very easy to argue about these issues forever and think about who started what first and who is to blame. But when you get caught up in big events, you forget that the occupation of Israel by Palestine is something that effects people's lives everyday.
One of those ways is through Home Demolitions. I am signed up for a text messaging service where I get text messages anytime there is a threat of home demolition by the Israeli army on Palestinian homes, businesses or structures. I have talked about Home demolitions before, but here is a reminder of the basic issue with demolishing homes. Often Palestinian buildings are demolished because they are built illegally according to the Israeli government. The reasons they are built illegally, is it is because getting a permit to build is nearly impossible for Palestinians in areas that the Israeli government controls. It costs thousands of dollars and after a family has spent those thousands of dollars, they may not even be able to get a permit. In some areas, the Israelis government has declared specific areas green zones. These zones are areas that Israel wants to set aside for parks and national reserves. The government, however, does not care that there are Palestinian families living in these areas. So for these families, it is impossible for them to build to make room for their growing families. No matter how hard they try to get a permit, it is impossible because these areas are closed for building.
East Jerusalem is one of the most susceptible places to home demolition, because the Israeli government wants to keep the Palestinian population in Jerusalem from growing. One neighborhood in particular stands out for me now. Isawiye is a neighborhood in East Jerusalem, near Hebrew University and near where I live in French Hill. I had not even heard of this neighborhood until I moved here. Recently the Israeli government has increased the threat of home demolitions in Isawiye, demolitions two places in the past week.
Not only have homes in Isawiye been demolished, but buildings near the separation barrier just outside of Jerusalem have been demolished, and bedouin structures in the Jordan Valley in the past couple of weeks. Often home demolitions get overshadowed in the media by new about "peace talks" and other big news. But it is just these events, that are so draining on the spirit of the Palestinian people and effect their daily lives. They fail to see the humanity behind the people who live in these houses and need them for their livelihood.
Read more about the demolition in Isawiye here: Bulldozers demolish home, workshop in East Jerusalem.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Event in Minnesota
Hey all my Minnesota friends. There is an event on November 10 with a man who lives near Bethlehem. If you're free that evening, go to learn more about Israel/Palestine.
For more information, click on the link below:
Planting Peace, Teaching Hope.
For more information, click on the link below:
Planting Peace, Teaching Hope.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Somebody to Love - Hebrew University
I know I haven't posted in a while, but if you want to know about my new life, just watch this video.
Somebody to Love - Hebrew University.
Ok, it really doesn't have anything to do with me, but I walk that same path everyday, I saw them filming it, and I love Glee!
Somebody to Love - Hebrew University.
Ok, it really doesn't have anything to do with me, but I walk that same path everyday, I saw them filming it, and I love Glee!
Saturday, September 11, 2010
America and Islam
I'm definitely late on commenting on this topic, but I have been wanting to write something, so I should probably do it before it is too late.
I'm sure most of you have heard about the protests and comments that have been made about the plan to build an Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero, as well as the plans of pastor Terry Jones to burn Qu'rans on September 11th, also in response to the building of the Park 51 mosque.
The comments that have come from opponents of the Park 51 Mosque have at times been extreme; equating the founders of the mosque with extreme Islamic terrorists. I am disappointed in the ignorance of the opponents who have lumped all of Islam together in one category and failed to recognize that Islam is a religion as varying and nuanced as any other religion. Just as there are many denominations in Christianity, there is a wide spectrum of beliefs in Islam. I get frustrated with people who stereotype all Palestinians as being terrorists and I am just as frustrated with people that propagate ideas that all Muslims are terrorists and linked with Al-Qaeda. In fact, Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf, in charge of the Park 51 project is a Sufi Muslim, a section of Islam that is very open-minded to other religions. Sufis emphasize love, for God and others, a similar value for Christians.
Many have said it's not that they don't want mosques in the United States, but that the Park 51 Mosque is just too close to the "sacred ground" of Ground Zero. Many journalists have pointedly mentioned the irony in the fact that there are strip clubs and bars in the same neighborhood, but somehow these do not desecrate the "sacred ground". Park 51 is not only a mosque, it is a cultural center that is intended to bring people of different faiths together in peace. A prayer room for Muslims is only one aspect of the building. To me, a center that will bring people of all faiths together in the United States is a very healing endeavor. To be located next to Ground Zero, Park 51 could be an example of forgiveness and understanding in face of the tragedies of this world and especially the tragedy of 9/11.
In regards to Terry Jones, the pastor who had planned to burn Qu'rans on September 11th. I am saddened beyond words by this response of some Christians to a people of another faith. It is not an example of Christ's love of reaching out to others. As Christians we should look for ways to see the humanity of all people and move beyond stereotypes. We should look for ways to build bridges through understanding of others and their religions than building hatred.
I pray that we as human beings on this earth would not turn our pain into hatred, but boldly try to transform pain into forgiveness and peace. I myself am aware that I have not experienced a fraction of the amount of pain that others have faced in this world and probably never will, but I pray with all my heart that if I do, I will get through it trying to bring people together and not tear them apart.
Here are some great articles that shed new light on this topic:
Visiting Ground Zero, Asking Allah for Comfort
Muslims and Islam were part of Twin Towers' Life
I'm sure most of you have heard about the protests and comments that have been made about the plan to build an Islamic cultural center near Ground Zero, as well as the plans of pastor Terry Jones to burn Qu'rans on September 11th, also in response to the building of the Park 51 mosque.
The comments that have come from opponents of the Park 51 Mosque have at times been extreme; equating the founders of the mosque with extreme Islamic terrorists. I am disappointed in the ignorance of the opponents who have lumped all of Islam together in one category and failed to recognize that Islam is a religion as varying and nuanced as any other religion. Just as there are many denominations in Christianity, there is a wide spectrum of beliefs in Islam. I get frustrated with people who stereotype all Palestinians as being terrorists and I am just as frustrated with people that propagate ideas that all Muslims are terrorists and linked with Al-Qaeda. In fact, Imam Faisal Abdul Rauf, in charge of the Park 51 project is a Sufi Muslim, a section of Islam that is very open-minded to other religions. Sufis emphasize love, for God and others, a similar value for Christians.
Many have said it's not that they don't want mosques in the United States, but that the Park 51 Mosque is just too close to the "sacred ground" of Ground Zero. Many journalists have pointedly mentioned the irony in the fact that there are strip clubs and bars in the same neighborhood, but somehow these do not desecrate the "sacred ground". Park 51 is not only a mosque, it is a cultural center that is intended to bring people of different faiths together in peace. A prayer room for Muslims is only one aspect of the building. To me, a center that will bring people of all faiths together in the United States is a very healing endeavor. To be located next to Ground Zero, Park 51 could be an example of forgiveness and understanding in face of the tragedies of this world and especially the tragedy of 9/11.
In regards to Terry Jones, the pastor who had planned to burn Qu'rans on September 11th. I am saddened beyond words by this response of some Christians to a people of another faith. It is not an example of Christ's love of reaching out to others. As Christians we should look for ways to see the humanity of all people and move beyond stereotypes. We should look for ways to build bridges through understanding of others and their religions than building hatred.
I pray that we as human beings on this earth would not turn our pain into hatred, but boldly try to transform pain into forgiveness and peace. I myself am aware that I have not experienced a fraction of the amount of pain that others have faced in this world and probably never will, but I pray with all my heart that if I do, I will get through it trying to bring people together and not tear them apart.
Here are some great articles that shed new light on this topic:
Visiting Ground Zero, Asking Allah for Comfort
Muslims and Islam were part of Twin Towers' Life
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
A new round of Peace Talks
This week begins direct peace talks in Washington D.C. between the Israelis and Palestinians. I tend to be cynical because of the issues I know are huge obstacles to a working peace. First of all, there are obstacles as to the logistics of what a peace agreement would include:
1. The list of issues that have been put off in previous peace agreements is daunting: borders, status of Jerusalem, rights of refugees and security. These have been put on the back-burner in past peace talks, and must be addressed and implemented soon if a viable peace is to be reached.
2. Having lived in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, it is very hard to see any viability in a two-state solution because of the seperation wall and Israeli settlements that weave in and out of the West Bank and the large amount of the West Bank that is completely controlled by Israel, including the Jordan Valley area. Also, the fact that Gaza and the West Bank are completely separated geographically makes a two-state solution less and less viable. If there is a to be a two-state solution, this may be the last chance as facts on the ground move both sides further and further from this direction.
3. The other alternative as I see it is a one-state solution. This is even less likely because of the tenets of the Israeli government that say their country will be a democratic, Jewish state. One-state would create a large non-Jewish majority. Even in the state they have now, with a large Arab-Israeli population, the Arab population has little influence and say in government, questioning the legitimacy of the democracy Israel now says it has. There are also many emotional barriers between the two populations which would make a one-state solution very difficult.
Not only, are there obvious obstacles on the ground and in the technicalities of what kind of peace could result from the peace talks, but there are also concerns for both sides:
1. The Israeli government is highly pressured by the extreme right settler population. If Netanyahu were to offer peace, this faction of society could revolt and send Israel into violent upheaval. The fear of a civil war is a thought in many Israeli minds and will most likely be on the mind of Netanyahu as he enters the negotiating table. This sector of society is not content with making any sacrifices, which could make Netanyahu more hesitant to make the sacrifices he will need to make to reach a viable peace. Not all Israelis agree with the extreme right, but it is a very strong and vocal sector of society and is not afraid to use violence.
2. The Palestinian side also faces it's on internal issues. Throughout the years the Palestinians have given up more and more in regards to their desires for a Palestinian State and the situation on the ground for them is dire. There are many every day trials they must endure, including checkpoints, permits, night raids by the Israeli army, confiscation of land, the siege on Gaza and the resulting poor humanitarian situation. Living in these kind of conditions, many Palestinians will not be happy of Mahmoud Abbas gives up too many of their desires. Abbas will have to be careful about what kind of sacrifices he makes. Then there is the obvious divide between Palestinians, between Hamas and the PA and their different approaches to peace. It will be hard to get Palestinians to rally around a peace plan, when there are many different views about the best way to achieve peace. You may have heard about the four Israelis recently killed just before the peace talks began. Before you think that this represents the views of all Palestinians and was completely in response to the ensuing peace talks, please read this article and the following opinion poll:
PA condemns attack claimed by Hamas
Opinion Poll about the Middle East Peace Process
With such obstacles in the way, you can imagine that it is hard for me to see a positive result coming from these peace talks. But recent articles I've read and posts from friends has caused me to have a little hope that maybe Now is the Time.
1. The list of issues that have been put off in previous peace agreements is daunting: borders, status of Jerusalem, rights of refugees and security. These have been put on the back-burner in past peace talks, and must be addressed and implemented soon if a viable peace is to be reached.
2. Having lived in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, it is very hard to see any viability in a two-state solution because of the seperation wall and Israeli settlements that weave in and out of the West Bank and the large amount of the West Bank that is completely controlled by Israel, including the Jordan Valley area. Also, the fact that Gaza and the West Bank are completely separated geographically makes a two-state solution less and less viable. If there is a to be a two-state solution, this may be the last chance as facts on the ground move both sides further and further from this direction.
3. The other alternative as I see it is a one-state solution. This is even less likely because of the tenets of the Israeli government that say their country will be a democratic, Jewish state. One-state would create a large non-Jewish majority. Even in the state they have now, with a large Arab-Israeli population, the Arab population has little influence and say in government, questioning the legitimacy of the democracy Israel now says it has. There are also many emotional barriers between the two populations which would make a one-state solution very difficult.
Not only, are there obvious obstacles on the ground and in the technicalities of what kind of peace could result from the peace talks, but there are also concerns for both sides:
1. The Israeli government is highly pressured by the extreme right settler population. If Netanyahu were to offer peace, this faction of society could revolt and send Israel into violent upheaval. The fear of a civil war is a thought in many Israeli minds and will most likely be on the mind of Netanyahu as he enters the negotiating table. This sector of society is not content with making any sacrifices, which could make Netanyahu more hesitant to make the sacrifices he will need to make to reach a viable peace. Not all Israelis agree with the extreme right, but it is a very strong and vocal sector of society and is not afraid to use violence.
2. The Palestinian side also faces it's on internal issues. Throughout the years the Palestinians have given up more and more in regards to their desires for a Palestinian State and the situation on the ground for them is dire. There are many every day trials they must endure, including checkpoints, permits, night raids by the Israeli army, confiscation of land, the siege on Gaza and the resulting poor humanitarian situation. Living in these kind of conditions, many Palestinians will not be happy of Mahmoud Abbas gives up too many of their desires. Abbas will have to be careful about what kind of sacrifices he makes. Then there is the obvious divide between Palestinians, between Hamas and the PA and their different approaches to peace. It will be hard to get Palestinians to rally around a peace plan, when there are many different views about the best way to achieve peace. You may have heard about the four Israelis recently killed just before the peace talks began. Before you think that this represents the views of all Palestinians and was completely in response to the ensuing peace talks, please read this article and the following opinion poll:
PA condemns attack claimed by Hamas
Opinion Poll about the Middle East Peace Process
With such obstacles in the way, you can imagine that it is hard for me to see a positive result coming from these peace talks. But recent articles I've read and posts from friends has caused me to have a little hope that maybe Now is the Time.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Sami Awad, on Auschwitz, fear, and the meaning of nonviolence
So this is two weeks in a row! I'm pretty shocked myself, especially because I'm still living in my summertime dream world, where I keep forgetting about reality. Since I'm not actually in Palestine, I'll just have to stick with analyzing different articles and posting different resources.
I've written about Sami Awad, the director of Holy Land Trust, in previous blogs. I talked about the presentation he gave at the Bethlehem Bible College conference about addressing the Holocaust as a Palestinian. This video is a glimpse of that speech. I really respect Sami. He is one of the only Palestinians I've heard talk about the Holocaust in Israeli society, and not discredit it, but look at it deeply and thoughtfully. Others may think the same, but Sami is beginning to figure out how to put it in words. He told me that it is a new issue for him, and he's not sure what will come out of his experiences yet, but he is learning and asking others to learn, which is an important beginning step.
I hope you will take time to watch this video by clicking below.
Sami Awad, on Auschwitz, fear, and the meaning of nonviolence
I've written about Sami Awad, the director of Holy Land Trust, in previous blogs. I talked about the presentation he gave at the Bethlehem Bible College conference about addressing the Holocaust as a Palestinian. This video is a glimpse of that speech. I really respect Sami. He is one of the only Palestinians I've heard talk about the Holocaust in Israeli society, and not discredit it, but look at it deeply and thoughtfully. Others may think the same, but Sami is beginning to figure out how to put it in words. He told me that it is a new issue for him, and he's not sure what will come out of his experiences yet, but he is learning and asking others to learn, which is an important beginning step.
I hope you will take time to watch this video by clicking below.
Sami Awad, on Auschwitz, fear, and the meaning of nonviolence
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Going organic: The siege on Gaza
Ok, so I know it's been forever...but the summer has gone by really quickly and my spare time has quickly been filling up. And what can I say, I've been a little lazy.
So here's a new blog post. Nothing spectacular, just short and sweet.
i read this article on AlJazeera entitled "Going organic: The siege on Gaza".
This article talks about an idea that I've been learning about alot this summer: eating local foods. The idea of eating local foods aims to improve the environment by using less petroleum to ship foods from far away places, as well as supporting agriculture that is sustainable to the environment. Instead of destroying our soil and adding pesticides to our foods, local, sustainable agriculture improves the quality of soil, provides healthy foods without pesticides and hormones, and surprisingly TASTES better! Buying local foods also supports local farmers and helps build relationships, because you can actually talk to the farmers who are selling their produce in the local farmers' market.
How did this new interest of mine emerge this summer? Well I'm living with my friend Emily, who is a hard core advocate. Besides that, however, I've been going to farmers' markets, eating delicious produce, cooking from amazing cookbooks (specifically Simply in Season created by the Mennonites) about eating local foods in season, and reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. I highly suggest this book if you haven't read it.
Eating local is also touching a cord in my spiritual self. I like the idea of respecting this beautiful earth that has been given us and building community through cooking well.
This article makes a few interesting points:
First of all, it again discusses the siege on Gaza, which is an always present problem in the Israeli occupation. Basic needs are still denied to the people of Gaza, keeping them just above survival and giving them little opportunities to improve their situation. Despite the humanitarian situation, I find an amazing amount of resilience in the hope the people of Gaza have to continue and discover new ways to improve their situation and provide for more than their basic needs.
This article also points out the idea that Israel is fighting against itself. The siege is designed to lower the influence of Hamas. Hamas, however, continues to prevail, being the best Palestinian political party at providing for the Israeli people, not depending on foreign governments. The fact is that the siege has made Hamas stronger, rather than weaker.
Now connecting politics to food. The people of Gaza have been forced to use organic farming and find ways to grow food sustainably because they are prohibited by the Israeli government to participate in the growing global export and import economy. I heard a Palestinian American, who is actually studying at the University of Minnesota, named Omar Tesdall. He talked about how the creation of Israel is not a new conflict, but simply a continuation of Western colonialism. His emphasis was on how colonialism affected agriculture. His Master's Thesis focused on the creation of industrial agriculture in the Jordan Valley area of the West Bank. Along with the creation of this industrial complex is propaganda about how the new forms of technology and agriculture the Israel has brought to the land are much better than the smaller agriculture operations of early 19th century Palestinian farmers.
This summer, I am learning that maybe it is the local, smaller scale, yet sustainable food operations that may be better and more respectful to our planet. Maybe that means that colonialism and its off-shoots, such as the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the American occupation of Iraq, are not the best for the planet and the people residing therein.
Please read the article "Going organic: The siege on Gaza" in order to understand this blog better.
Also, I highly suggest reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.
So here's a new blog post. Nothing spectacular, just short and sweet.
i read this article on AlJazeera entitled "Going organic: The siege on Gaza".
This article talks about an idea that I've been learning about alot this summer: eating local foods. The idea of eating local foods aims to improve the environment by using less petroleum to ship foods from far away places, as well as supporting agriculture that is sustainable to the environment. Instead of destroying our soil and adding pesticides to our foods, local, sustainable agriculture improves the quality of soil, provides healthy foods without pesticides and hormones, and surprisingly TASTES better! Buying local foods also supports local farmers and helps build relationships, because you can actually talk to the farmers who are selling their produce in the local farmers' market.
How did this new interest of mine emerge this summer? Well I'm living with my friend Emily, who is a hard core advocate. Besides that, however, I've been going to farmers' markets, eating delicious produce, cooking from amazing cookbooks (specifically Simply in Season created by the Mennonites) about eating local foods in season, and reading Barbara Kingsolver's Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. I highly suggest this book if you haven't read it.
Eating local is also touching a cord in my spiritual self. I like the idea of respecting this beautiful earth that has been given us and building community through cooking well.
This article makes a few interesting points:
First of all, it again discusses the siege on Gaza, which is an always present problem in the Israeli occupation. Basic needs are still denied to the people of Gaza, keeping them just above survival and giving them little opportunities to improve their situation. Despite the humanitarian situation, I find an amazing amount of resilience in the hope the people of Gaza have to continue and discover new ways to improve their situation and provide for more than their basic needs.
This article also points out the idea that Israel is fighting against itself. The siege is designed to lower the influence of Hamas. Hamas, however, continues to prevail, being the best Palestinian political party at providing for the Israeli people, not depending on foreign governments. The fact is that the siege has made Hamas stronger, rather than weaker.
Now connecting politics to food. The people of Gaza have been forced to use organic farming and find ways to grow food sustainably because they are prohibited by the Israeli government to participate in the growing global export and import economy. I heard a Palestinian American, who is actually studying at the University of Minnesota, named Omar Tesdall. He talked about how the creation of Israel is not a new conflict, but simply a continuation of Western colonialism. His emphasis was on how colonialism affected agriculture. His Master's Thesis focused on the creation of industrial agriculture in the Jordan Valley area of the West Bank. Along with the creation of this industrial complex is propaganda about how the new forms of technology and agriculture the Israel has brought to the land are much better than the smaller agriculture operations of early 19th century Palestinian farmers.
This summer, I am learning that maybe it is the local, smaller scale, yet sustainable food operations that may be better and more respectful to our planet. Maybe that means that colonialism and its off-shoots, such as the Israeli occupation of Palestine and the American occupation of Iraq, are not the best for the planet and the people residing therein.
Please read the article "Going organic: The siege on Gaza" in order to understand this blog better.
Also, I highly suggest reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
The Gaza Flotilla
If you haven't heard, at the beginning of last week, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) attacked the Gaza Flotilla, six ships carrying humanitarian aid to the Gaza strip. The intent of the Flotilla was to break an Israeli blockade of the Gaza strip, which is illegal under international humanitarian law. Immediately following, a propaganda war ensued, in which both sides played a game of "who started it first." The IDF set out to prove that soldiers that attacked the six ships were met with violence from the peace activists, and were thus justified based on self-defense in their use of tear gas and live ammunition, which killed nine people. I would like to write about a few thoughts I have about the incident.
First of all, the argument of the IDF falls short. The excuse of self-defense cannot be used, because they were the initial attackers, repelling onto the boats in international waters. Secondly, the whole incident would not have happened if Israel did not insist on keeping the Gaza strip under blockade. The intention of the IDF was to keep the ships from delivering humanitarian aid and therefore prolonging their already illegal siege of the strip.
There has been, however, a large silence on the side of Palestinian supporters regarding the violence of the peace activists aboard the ship. If these accounts are true, there should be more of an effort to admit that violence of any kind is wrong. If people are in favor of true peace, there must be no excuse for the use of violence of any kind. The article below, entitled Lying about the Gaza Flotilla Disaster compares the struggle against the Israeli occupation to the struggle against Segregation in the South. It is important, however, to remember that Martin Luther King Jr. did not condone violence of any kind and use this as a model in the struggle against the occupation.
This whole incident makes me feel even deeper how much I do not like war. In war, the majority of people act out of fear, instead of love and compassion. The activists may have been afraid of the soldiers attacking their ship and thus acted out of this fear. Soldiers in the IDF are taught to fear Palestinians and Palestinian supporters throughout their life and then handed guns at the age of 18. They too act out of fear.
It was ironic for me that this attack occurred on Memorial Day, a US holiday with which I struggle due to my sensitivities to war. It is hard for me to celebrate war of any kind when I know that war teaches people to act out of fear, and when I know that many of us, including myself, do not know the details of war and what even our soldiers have committed out of fear and a sense of duty.
I may be an unreasonable idealist when, deep down, I hope for a world without war, where people understand each other and the beauty of our different cultures, instead of fearing and judging others, but I honestly pray that we would all work to understand others and eliminate their fears, even if it means going against our own culture, country, and even families.
An initial article from the incident:
Israel Attacks Gaza Aid Fleet
Here are two opinion articles about the Gaza Flotilla attack:
This first one is from the Minnesota Star Tribune:
Flotilla Attack: Media Reporting Lacked Critical Thinking
Lying about the Gaza Flotilla Disaster
First of all, the argument of the IDF falls short. The excuse of self-defense cannot be used, because they were the initial attackers, repelling onto the boats in international waters. Secondly, the whole incident would not have happened if Israel did not insist on keeping the Gaza strip under blockade. The intention of the IDF was to keep the ships from delivering humanitarian aid and therefore prolonging their already illegal siege of the strip.
There has been, however, a large silence on the side of Palestinian supporters regarding the violence of the peace activists aboard the ship. If these accounts are true, there should be more of an effort to admit that violence of any kind is wrong. If people are in favor of true peace, there must be no excuse for the use of violence of any kind. The article below, entitled Lying about the Gaza Flotilla Disaster compares the struggle against the Israeli occupation to the struggle against Segregation in the South. It is important, however, to remember that Martin Luther King Jr. did not condone violence of any kind and use this as a model in the struggle against the occupation.
This whole incident makes me feel even deeper how much I do not like war. In war, the majority of people act out of fear, instead of love and compassion. The activists may have been afraid of the soldiers attacking their ship and thus acted out of this fear. Soldiers in the IDF are taught to fear Palestinians and Palestinian supporters throughout their life and then handed guns at the age of 18. They too act out of fear.
It was ironic for me that this attack occurred on Memorial Day, a US holiday with which I struggle due to my sensitivities to war. It is hard for me to celebrate war of any kind when I know that war teaches people to act out of fear, and when I know that many of us, including myself, do not know the details of war and what even our soldiers have committed out of fear and a sense of duty.
I may be an unreasonable idealist when, deep down, I hope for a world without war, where people understand each other and the beauty of our different cultures, instead of fearing and judging others, but I honestly pray that we would all work to understand others and eliminate their fears, even if it means going against our own culture, country, and even families.
An initial article from the incident:
Israel Attacks Gaza Aid Fleet
Here are two opinion articles about the Gaza Flotilla attack:
This first one is from the Minnesota Star Tribune:
Flotilla Attack: Media Reporting Lacked Critical Thinking
Lying about the Gaza Flotilla Disaster
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Fairy Tale Fairmont
So I bet you all thought I would stop writing now that I am no longer living in an "Exciting" place. Well, you thought wrong. I realized that towards the end of my time in Palestine, that in a place filled with conflict, there were still many beautiful things you could find. You just had to look a little bit harder. It became the simple things, like hikes, sunsets, and time with friends that got me through the days. Now that I'm back in Fairmont, I'd like to share some thoughts about my transition and the simple treasures found in good ol' Minnesota.
My first few days back in Minnesota, I really felt like I was in a fairy tale land, where everything was covered in green grass, green trees, shimmering lakes, sweet smelling flowers, and happy people that walked their dogs, played in parks, and soaked up the spring weather. I'm sure Minnesota hasn't changed much, but I'm seeing things in a different way. Everything is so peaceful. My only complaint is that the happily chirping birds wake me up in the morning, but then that is not much to complain about. Is it?
The GREEN and the SHIMMERING LAKES of Fairmont.
I was having coffee with my friend Elise last week, who just got back from teaching English in France. During the course of our conversation Elise share one of the same thoughts I had been having all week, "Everybody here is SO NICE!" Maybe it's the familiarity with the language or a sense of comfort in one's home culture, but I was shocked the first day back when my Dad and I went to Applebee's. There was a host standing in front, who opened the door for us, greeted us, and made small talk about the weather. Then the waitress did the same and was extremely efficient. She told me where the bathroom was, before I even asked! Coming from a place where the service is "laid back", I didn't know how to respond. It wasn't just Applebee's! Everywhere we go, people are making small talk: in the grocery line, at Shopko, on the street. I have gotten used to looking forward and ignoring everybody around me while walking. The first time I went for a run here, everybody was smiling at me and saying "hello". I was so stunned, that I didn't know how to respond. After I passed them, I felt cold and mean. Today, I thought I would practice getting back into the small town groove, so I said "hello" to everybody I walked passed. I got some funny looks. There must be a difference between old and young, older people you greet with "hello" or "good morning". Young people you should maybe just smile. I'm still learning the balance.
A few years ago, my Mom read a "You know you're in Minnesota when..." lists. One of the trademark Minnesotan things was wearing shorts, yet a jacket at the same time. Here I am in "true" Minnesota fashion in shorts and a jacket.
Good News! I found a job. I'll be working as a Nanny in South Minneapolis. It will work out perfectly, because they do not need me to have a car and I'll live with a friend nearby, from whose house I can bike. I'm going to learn how to be a REAL biker this summer and an evermore eco-friendly person. Even though Fairmont is very peaceful, I am excited for a new place to explore and to live near dear friends from college.
My first few days back in Minnesota, I really felt like I was in a fairy tale land, where everything was covered in green grass, green trees, shimmering lakes, sweet smelling flowers, and happy people that walked their dogs, played in parks, and soaked up the spring weather. I'm sure Minnesota hasn't changed much, but I'm seeing things in a different way. Everything is so peaceful. My only complaint is that the happily chirping birds wake me up in the morning, but then that is not much to complain about. Is it?
The GREEN and the SHIMMERING LAKES of Fairmont.
I was having coffee with my friend Elise last week, who just got back from teaching English in France. During the course of our conversation Elise share one of the same thoughts I had been having all week, "Everybody here is SO NICE!" Maybe it's the familiarity with the language or a sense of comfort in one's home culture, but I was shocked the first day back when my Dad and I went to Applebee's. There was a host standing in front, who opened the door for us, greeted us, and made small talk about the weather. Then the waitress did the same and was extremely efficient. She told me where the bathroom was, before I even asked! Coming from a place where the service is "laid back", I didn't know how to respond. It wasn't just Applebee's! Everywhere we go, people are making small talk: in the grocery line, at Shopko, on the street. I have gotten used to looking forward and ignoring everybody around me while walking. The first time I went for a run here, everybody was smiling at me and saying "hello". I was so stunned, that I didn't know how to respond. After I passed them, I felt cold and mean. Today, I thought I would practice getting back into the small town groove, so I said "hello" to everybody I walked passed. I got some funny looks. There must be a difference between old and young, older people you greet with "hello" or "good morning". Young people you should maybe just smile. I'm still learning the balance.
A few years ago, my Mom read a "You know you're in Minnesota when..." lists. One of the trademark Minnesotan things was wearing shorts, yet a jacket at the same time. Here I am in "true" Minnesota fashion in shorts and a jacket.
Good News! I found a job. I'll be working as a Nanny in South Minneapolis. It will work out perfectly, because they do not need me to have a car and I'll live with a friend nearby, from whose house I can bike. I'm going to learn how to be a REAL biker this summer and an evermore eco-friendly person. Even though Fairmont is very peaceful, I am excited for a new place to explore and to live near dear friends from college.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
I LOVE the Desert!!
The past six weeks I have spent traveling and visiting friends. One of my goals before I left Israel/Palestine was to hike in the Negev Desert. Therefore, I dragged two of my friends from Sabeel, Peter and Clayton, to enjoy a hiking and camping trip. We traveled to Mitspe Ramon, a town in the middle of the Negev Desert in Israel and hiked in the Makhtesh Ramon. The Makhtesh Ramon is often thought to be a crater created by a meteor millions of years ago, but in fact it is a canyon created by erosion (A fact I just learned from Wikipedia :) ). Hundreds of millions of years ago, the Negev desert was covered by an ocean. When this ocean receded, erosion created the crater looking canyon of Makhtesh Ramon.
Please enjoy these pictures and comments from our trip. The pictures are all courtesy of Peter who was our resident camera man for the weekend.
We rented a car for the ride down.
A Beautiful sunset on the way down.
Our campsite. I love sleeping without a tent here!
Waking up to the sunset at 5:30 in the morning. Although we didn't sleep that much that night, which allowed us to enjoy a SPECTACULAR array of Stars.
The three of us.
We begin our journey at the crack of dawn and the desert is covered with flowers.
Shadows in the morning light.
We reach the canyon in the morning light.
Exploring a ridge before descending into the canyon.
Descending into the canyon. Following the signs that point the way.
I was surprised to see so many flowers in the desert.
My favorite!
Black basalt rocks covered one part of the canyon. These rocks are thought to come from volcanic activity.
Making our way through a basalt valley.
One minute the desert is covered with flowers. The next it looks completely barren.
We ascended Mount Ido covered with some sort of rock formations.
Enjoying the view from Mt. Ido.
Friends since the beginning. Peter was the first person I met when he came to pick me up at the airport over a year ago.
After lunch, we were so tired, but we still had about 8 km to our car. Luckily Peter hitch-hiked to our car and attempted to bring it back to us. After Peter left, Clayton and I head out on the long, long road hoping that we would see Peter in the car any minute. After about one hour, we finally saw Peter, but with no car. Because the road was so bad, our little rental car could not make it all the way. Here we are when he met us. We look like we have a lot more stamina than we actually had.
FINALLY!! We made it to the car, looking a little more tired, like we actually are.
Following the road home, we drove through a military shooting range. Such irony that exists in Israel: Awesome natural beauty, right next to a military base.
We were planning to camp another night, but our tiredness led us to go back and stay in Jerusalem. We enjoyed some hummus and a lovely sunset in a park near Bet Shemesh.
Please enjoy these pictures and comments from our trip. The pictures are all courtesy of Peter who was our resident camera man for the weekend.
We rented a car for the ride down.
A Beautiful sunset on the way down.
Our campsite. I love sleeping without a tent here!
Waking up to the sunset at 5:30 in the morning. Although we didn't sleep that much that night, which allowed us to enjoy a SPECTACULAR array of Stars.
The three of us.
We begin our journey at the crack of dawn and the desert is covered with flowers.
Shadows in the morning light.
We reach the canyon in the morning light.
Exploring a ridge before descending into the canyon.
Descending into the canyon. Following the signs that point the way.
I was surprised to see so many flowers in the desert.
My favorite!
Black basalt rocks covered one part of the canyon. These rocks are thought to come from volcanic activity.
Making our way through a basalt valley.
One minute the desert is covered with flowers. The next it looks completely barren.
We ascended Mount Ido covered with some sort of rock formations.
Enjoying the view from Mt. Ido.
Friends since the beginning. Peter was the first person I met when he came to pick me up at the airport over a year ago.
After lunch, we were so tired, but we still had about 8 km to our car. Luckily Peter hitch-hiked to our car and attempted to bring it back to us. After Peter left, Clayton and I head out on the long, long road hoping that we would see Peter in the car any minute. After about one hour, we finally saw Peter, but with no car. Because the road was so bad, our little rental car could not make it all the way. Here we are when he met us. We look like we have a lot more stamina than we actually had.
FINALLY!! We made it to the car, looking a little more tired, like we actually are.
Following the road home, we drove through a military shooting range. Such irony that exists in Israel: Awesome natural beauty, right next to a military base.
We were planning to camp another night, but our tiredness led us to go back and stay in Jerusalem. We enjoyed some hummus and a lovely sunset in a park near Bet Shemesh.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Holy Land Trust
Holy Land Trust is an organization in Bethlehem that seeks to strengthen the Palestinian community focusing on non-violent methods. I had the opportunity to visit Holy Land Trust two weeks ago and talk with Sami Awad, the organizations founder and director. Sami Awad started Holy Land Trust (HLT) in 1998 shortly after he returned from the United States, where he studied for his Master's degree in Peace and Conflict Studies at American University in Washington, DC. When Sami Awad returned from the US, he saw that the situation was getting worse for Palestinians. He asked himself many questions: What can be done to strengthen the Palestinian for the future? How can we provide hope in a situation that is becoming more hopeless? What can be done to move out of the mindset of victimization that seems to be growing in Palestinian society? From these questions, Sami came up with the idea to create Holy Land Trust.
Holy Land Trust currently runs four main programs which aim to address the political situation for Palestinians and strengthening the Palestinian community and leaders for the future. Each program was created to address a specific issue facing Bethlehem and the Palestinian community.
1. The first issue is the Occupation, in which Palestinians live under Israeli military rule. In asking, how do we resist an occupation that is unjust in a non-violent way and also, how do we prepare for the future when the occupation is over, Holy Land Trust came up with the Non-violence Programs. These programs include trainings and seminars in non-violent methods and demonstrations which offer Palestinians to make their voice heard in a non-violent manner. HLT has created a curriculum for a four day training in non-violence, which focuses not on political issues, but non-violence in everyday communal relationships. This curriculum attempts to explain the true meaning of non-violence, which is not passively accepting one's situation, or focusing only on negotiations, but calls for resistance to injustice which a person or community may face. This curriculum is given out to schools throughout Bethlehem who use it to teach and empower their children.
2. Another issue facing Palestinians is the lack of a strong leadership that is committed to looking toward a better future. The Making the Impossible Possible Campaign, seeks to offer training to leaders in the Palestinian community. They focus on enabling leaders to think in a non-linear way, thus liberating them from excuses and empowering them to create a better future. Often Palestinian (as well as Israeli) leadership is focused on the past. Both sides linger on the pain of the past instead of looking for ways to create a better future that deals with the political reality today. HLT is trying to build a leadership that will focus on building a better future, than dwelling on the past. This program trains not only people who desire to become leaders, but works with those who are already in leadership positions in the Palestinian community. They are currently working with 80 leaders and will have 120 leaders in the program starting next October.
3. Thirdly, the Palestinian community is affected by a western based media, which often provides a biased view within the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The creation of the Palestine News Network (PNN) address this issue by providing local and international news. PNN offers news to an international audience which gives voice to the Palestinian community and emphasizes the non-violent movements taking place in Palestine. The goal is to offer a balanced view of the political situation and give a more accurate picture of Palestinians to an international audience that often receives a biased view. PNN also provides local news, because many Palestinians focus on the main headlines of news about their Political situation and not about the small things that are happening in their community. Offering local news helps people be more proud of the achievements of their community and brings the community together. PNN gives Palestinians of Bethlehem a place to express their joys and frustrations.
4. Lastly, Holy Land Trust began to look for ways to create awareness among internationals of the political situation for Palestinians. The Travel and Encounter Program encourages people from around the world to come and visit Palestine for themselves. This is the best way internationals can get an accurate view of what is really going on in Israel/Palestine. Through these programs HLT organizes tours for any groups that would like to come and visit the Holy Land, including pilgrimage sites, as well as events to learn about the political situation. The Summer Encounter program is offered to college age students to come live in Palestine for 1 -3 months in the summer. During this program, they live with a Palestinian family, study Arabic, visit various places in Palestine, and hear speakers talking about the political situation. As a part of this program, HLT organizes to rebuild one house per year that has been demolished by the Israeli authorities. They bring in internationals to come and build the house themselves.
Holy Land Trust does not align itself with a particular political solution (Two-State, Binational, etc.). They do not believe that it is a particular political scenario that will create change in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, but how people view the other side. They believe that both sides need to recognize the others' right to live here. They need to recognize the pain of the other and take responsibility for alleviating this pain. A peaceful political situation will only come when the real issues of the conflict are dealt with and healed. HLT's commitment to non-violence is a method to eliminate the Israeli leadership's excuse of security against Palestinian violence. Non-violence is the only way to create equality, respect, and trust and move forward, instead of focusing on the past.
Sami Awad spoke at Bethlehem Bible College's International Conference. He addressed a Palestinian approach to the Holocaust. Similar to many Palestinians I have met, before a few years ago, Sami did not talk much about the Holocaust. He looked at it as a justification for what is now happening to the Palestinians and wondered why the Jewish people were now doing the same to us. Through his years in non-violence work, he began to think this was not the healthiest attitude, but did not have a language in which to deal with the issue of the Holocaust.
A few years ago, however, he went on a "bearing witness" retreat to Auschwitz and his attitude changed. He learned that most Israeli children learn about the Holocaust and go on pilgrimages to former concentration camps. However little or much each Israeli was affected personally, they all learn about the devastation that occurred to the Jewish community and grow up with a fear of this ever happening again. The whole world has yet to offer actual healing for what happened during the Holocaust. Apologies are given over and over, but real forgiveness has not happened. Guilt over the Holocaust has caused countries involved to simply give billions of dollars to the State of Israel, instead of facing the difficult task of creating healing. Sami offers a revolutionary view that asks Palestinians to move beyond the idea that they are now the victims of the aftermath of the Holocaust and says that Palestinians must become responsible for it. They must honor and recognize what happened to the Jewish people, and offer them the assurance that this will not happen again. In this way, they can alleviate the fear that is causing the State of Israel to justify their actions against Palestinians under the auspice of security. The only way to overcome this fear and assure Israelis that a Holocaust will not happen again is through non-violent methods. He often says: "Fear is the greatest manipulator of human behavior." Palestinians and Israelis can reverse this idea by realizing the equality of the other and work towards building a better future based on the common respect of each other's equality and value as human beings.
For more information on Holy Land Trust please visit: www.holylandtrust.org.
To read Sami Awad's speech from Bethlehem Bible College's Christ at the Checkpoint Conference, please click HERE.
Holy Land Trust currently runs four main programs which aim to address the political situation for Palestinians and strengthening the Palestinian community and leaders for the future. Each program was created to address a specific issue facing Bethlehem and the Palestinian community.
1. The first issue is the Occupation, in which Palestinians live under Israeli military rule. In asking, how do we resist an occupation that is unjust in a non-violent way and also, how do we prepare for the future when the occupation is over, Holy Land Trust came up with the Non-violence Programs. These programs include trainings and seminars in non-violent methods and demonstrations which offer Palestinians to make their voice heard in a non-violent manner. HLT has created a curriculum for a four day training in non-violence, which focuses not on political issues, but non-violence in everyday communal relationships. This curriculum attempts to explain the true meaning of non-violence, which is not passively accepting one's situation, or focusing only on negotiations, but calls for resistance to injustice which a person or community may face. This curriculum is given out to schools throughout Bethlehem who use it to teach and empower their children.
2. Another issue facing Palestinians is the lack of a strong leadership that is committed to looking toward a better future. The Making the Impossible Possible Campaign, seeks to offer training to leaders in the Palestinian community. They focus on enabling leaders to think in a non-linear way, thus liberating them from excuses and empowering them to create a better future. Often Palestinian (as well as Israeli) leadership is focused on the past. Both sides linger on the pain of the past instead of looking for ways to create a better future that deals with the political reality today. HLT is trying to build a leadership that will focus on building a better future, than dwelling on the past. This program trains not only people who desire to become leaders, but works with those who are already in leadership positions in the Palestinian community. They are currently working with 80 leaders and will have 120 leaders in the program starting next October.
3. Thirdly, the Palestinian community is affected by a western based media, which often provides a biased view within the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. The creation of the Palestine News Network (PNN) address this issue by providing local and international news. PNN offers news to an international audience which gives voice to the Palestinian community and emphasizes the non-violent movements taking place in Palestine. The goal is to offer a balanced view of the political situation and give a more accurate picture of Palestinians to an international audience that often receives a biased view. PNN also provides local news, because many Palestinians focus on the main headlines of news about their Political situation and not about the small things that are happening in their community. Offering local news helps people be more proud of the achievements of their community and brings the community together. PNN gives Palestinians of Bethlehem a place to express their joys and frustrations.
4. Lastly, Holy Land Trust began to look for ways to create awareness among internationals of the political situation for Palestinians. The Travel and Encounter Program encourages people from around the world to come and visit Palestine for themselves. This is the best way internationals can get an accurate view of what is really going on in Israel/Palestine. Through these programs HLT organizes tours for any groups that would like to come and visit the Holy Land, including pilgrimage sites, as well as events to learn about the political situation. The Summer Encounter program is offered to college age students to come live in Palestine for 1 -3 months in the summer. During this program, they live with a Palestinian family, study Arabic, visit various places in Palestine, and hear speakers talking about the political situation. As a part of this program, HLT organizes to rebuild one house per year that has been demolished by the Israeli authorities. They bring in internationals to come and build the house themselves.
Holy Land Trust does not align itself with a particular political solution (Two-State, Binational, etc.). They do not believe that it is a particular political scenario that will create change in the Palestinian/Israeli conflict, but how people view the other side. They believe that both sides need to recognize the others' right to live here. They need to recognize the pain of the other and take responsibility for alleviating this pain. A peaceful political situation will only come when the real issues of the conflict are dealt with and healed. HLT's commitment to non-violence is a method to eliminate the Israeli leadership's excuse of security against Palestinian violence. Non-violence is the only way to create equality, respect, and trust and move forward, instead of focusing on the past.
Sami Awad spoke at Bethlehem Bible College's International Conference. He addressed a Palestinian approach to the Holocaust. Similar to many Palestinians I have met, before a few years ago, Sami did not talk much about the Holocaust. He looked at it as a justification for what is now happening to the Palestinians and wondered why the Jewish people were now doing the same to us. Through his years in non-violence work, he began to think this was not the healthiest attitude, but did not have a language in which to deal with the issue of the Holocaust.
A few years ago, however, he went on a "bearing witness" retreat to Auschwitz and his attitude changed. He learned that most Israeli children learn about the Holocaust and go on pilgrimages to former concentration camps. However little or much each Israeli was affected personally, they all learn about the devastation that occurred to the Jewish community and grow up with a fear of this ever happening again. The whole world has yet to offer actual healing for what happened during the Holocaust. Apologies are given over and over, but real forgiveness has not happened. Guilt over the Holocaust has caused countries involved to simply give billions of dollars to the State of Israel, instead of facing the difficult task of creating healing. Sami offers a revolutionary view that asks Palestinians to move beyond the idea that they are now the victims of the aftermath of the Holocaust and says that Palestinians must become responsible for it. They must honor and recognize what happened to the Jewish people, and offer them the assurance that this will not happen again. In this way, they can alleviate the fear that is causing the State of Israel to justify their actions against Palestinians under the auspice of security. The only way to overcome this fear and assure Israelis that a Holocaust will not happen again is through non-violent methods. He often says: "Fear is the greatest manipulator of human behavior." Palestinians and Israelis can reverse this idea by realizing the equality of the other and work towards building a better future based on the common respect of each other's equality and value as human beings.
For more information on Holy Land Trust please visit: www.holylandtrust.org.
To read Sami Awad's speech from Bethlehem Bible College's Christ at the Checkpoint Conference, please click HERE.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Reflections on Demonstrations
Maybe it is just my perception, but some people in this world seem to have it all together. They seem to know exactly what they want to do, what they believe, what they think. They are strong in their positions and nothing seems to rock the boat. I, however, feel like I am constantly standing on a rickety, old rope bridge between two cliffs. I find myself so open to learning about other people's stories and, if not agreeing with them, feeling that I at least understand their perspective. This attitude can sometimes make my life more difficult living in Israel/Palestine, or at least my thoughts on particular events seem like they are tumbling around in a clothes dryer, rather than firmly rooted in my brain.
A little less than one month ago, I went to a demonstration in Beit Jala, a town connected to Bethlehem to the West. The demonstration was protesting the Israeli governments' decision to reroute the wall to take in a large portion of land belonging to the town of Beit Jala. Since this decision, the army had already begun to uproot olive trees to prepare the way for the wall, some of these trees being hundreds of years old.
I have hard about demonstrations that are met quickly with violence from the Israeli forces. These demonstrations are non-violent, however, the army is given orders to squash the voices as quickly as possible, which results in orders to shoot stun grenades, tear gas, and eventually rubber bullets. On our way to this demonstration (I was with some speakers from Bethlehem Bible College's International Conference and friends from the Bible College), we found out that soldiers at already started to gather near the demonstration sight and that this might be one of those demonstrations met with violence such as stun grenades, tear gas, and rubber bullets. Ever since I have been in Israel/Palestine, I have wanted to attend on of the popular demonstrations usually met by this kind of violence, just to see it for myself. But I am usually held back by a sense of fear and not wanting to put myself in a dangerous situation. So suddenly, I am headed to a demonstration, with the potential for violence from the army, and I am not able to turn around now.
When we arrive, it takes about 15 minutes to gather all the people. Then as a group, with signs protesting the uprooting of trees and rerouting of the separation wall, we march forward towards the soldiers. I am in the back, not really wanting to face any danger. I don't really feel part of this demonstration, as much as I feel I want to be an observer. Half-way down the hill, the army begins to shoot stun grenades at the crowd. Keep in mind that when stun grenades are used in Israel against Israelis demonstrating, it is illegal for the army to shoot them directly into the crowd. They must shoot them away from the crowd. But here, in the West Bank, they shoot them directly at the crowd. I immediately turn around and run back up the hill, realizing I am not cut out to be a brave, peace activist. The sound that emanates from these stun grenades is like none that I have ever heard. I was told later that stun grenades are designed to send a shock through your body, not only with their sound, but with their vibrating impact to the ground. Literally, I feel stunned. I get the sudden urge just to sit down and cry to release all the energy that has just been sent through my body.
Now you may think that my thoughts after this incident would be one's of anger and an even firmer disgust for the Israeli army. But instead, I find myself swinging on that rope bridge again.
The stun grenades were shot with no actions of violence on the part of the demonstrators part, before they were even close to the Israeli soldiers. they are a pre-eminent attempt to crush any voice of opposition. I am not angry, but I wonder why? "Why is this type of violence necessary? Why is the Israeli government so afraid of opposition that they order their soldiers to use violence against non-violent crowds?" But I look at these soldiers, and remember that, within the past few months, I have become good friends with Israelis that have been soldiers. It is easy to blame soldiers for conforming to their society and entering the army because they think they have too. It is especially easy for those of us from the US, who have never lived in a situation like this, never faced mandatory army service, to become all high and mighty in our judgment of these soldiers. After the shooting of the stun grenades, the crowd continued to march and approached the soldiers directly. There was no more violence from either side. There were some speeches and some chanting.
A particular group of mostly Americans, sat down, arms linked and began to chant to the soldiers, "Don't be machines, think for yourself." To me that statement, fails to see the soldiers as human. It fails to see this conflict in a nuanced way, with many different perspectives and a long history, that has now created many complexities. It fails to see the system in which Israelis have grown up. I am reminded of what a friend told me she hard at a Breaking the Silence lecture recently. Breaking the Silence is an organization of Israeli soldiers that formerly served time in the West Bank. They tell stories of what they did as soldiers. They are trying to speak out against a culture that largely tries to cover up what is going on in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The soldier who gave this story said that even though he told terrible stories of dehumanization committed by Israel soldiers, we should not blame the soldier, but blame the system. The system of occupation that is now in place in the West Bank and Gaza, is one in which any soldier that enters it will ultimately commit acts of dehumanization. Occupation is a dehumanizing system in itself. To blame Israeli soldiers immediately for their reactions without trying to see them as human, is only committing the same crime of dehumanization against them as they are committing against the Palestinians.
On one hand I am angry at the violence that is used against my friends who are only trying to express their feelings and not let their land be stolen while they sit on the sidelines watching it happen. On the other hand, I cannot be mad and judging of these soldiers, because I have met soldiers who are good people, but have grown up in a thickly rooted system of oppression in the Palestinian Territories. My two conflicting emotions boil up inside of me as a deep sadness. I have learned to love this country; to see both cultures as unique, to see the landscape as extremely beautiful, to have met friends on both sides. I find myself hoping deep inside that this conflict would just end, so that both sides would stop being dehumanized.
There are so many more things I could say about my thoughts that came from this particular demonstration, but I would say that this blog post is long enough. Instead I will give a link to Stephen Sizer's blog. He also attended this demonstration. Click on this link to see his pictures, his video and his reflections: Non-Violent Resistance met with Lethal Force in Beit Jala.
In Conclusion, I wish that I was passionate for one side or the other. I wish that I wasn't constantly being met with new view that I couldn't help but understand. I think my life would be a lot easier in this way, and would have a more visible definition. But instead, I am trying to learn to be content with my ever-changing thoughts and attraction towards the middle rather than one opposing end.
A little less than one month ago, I went to a demonstration in Beit Jala, a town connected to Bethlehem to the West. The demonstration was protesting the Israeli governments' decision to reroute the wall to take in a large portion of land belonging to the town of Beit Jala. Since this decision, the army had already begun to uproot olive trees to prepare the way for the wall, some of these trees being hundreds of years old.
I have hard about demonstrations that are met quickly with violence from the Israeli forces. These demonstrations are non-violent, however, the army is given orders to squash the voices as quickly as possible, which results in orders to shoot stun grenades, tear gas, and eventually rubber bullets. On our way to this demonstration (I was with some speakers from Bethlehem Bible College's International Conference and friends from the Bible College), we found out that soldiers at already started to gather near the demonstration sight and that this might be one of those demonstrations met with violence such as stun grenades, tear gas, and rubber bullets. Ever since I have been in Israel/Palestine, I have wanted to attend on of the popular demonstrations usually met by this kind of violence, just to see it for myself. But I am usually held back by a sense of fear and not wanting to put myself in a dangerous situation. So suddenly, I am headed to a demonstration, with the potential for violence from the army, and I am not able to turn around now.
When we arrive, it takes about 15 minutes to gather all the people. Then as a group, with signs protesting the uprooting of trees and rerouting of the separation wall, we march forward towards the soldiers. I am in the back, not really wanting to face any danger. I don't really feel part of this demonstration, as much as I feel I want to be an observer. Half-way down the hill, the army begins to shoot stun grenades at the crowd. Keep in mind that when stun grenades are used in Israel against Israelis demonstrating, it is illegal for the army to shoot them directly into the crowd. They must shoot them away from the crowd. But here, in the West Bank, they shoot them directly at the crowd. I immediately turn around and run back up the hill, realizing I am not cut out to be a brave, peace activist. The sound that emanates from these stun grenades is like none that I have ever heard. I was told later that stun grenades are designed to send a shock through your body, not only with their sound, but with their vibrating impact to the ground. Literally, I feel stunned. I get the sudden urge just to sit down and cry to release all the energy that has just been sent through my body.
Now you may think that my thoughts after this incident would be one's of anger and an even firmer disgust for the Israeli army. But instead, I find myself swinging on that rope bridge again.
The stun grenades were shot with no actions of violence on the part of the demonstrators part, before they were even close to the Israeli soldiers. they are a pre-eminent attempt to crush any voice of opposition. I am not angry, but I wonder why? "Why is this type of violence necessary? Why is the Israeli government so afraid of opposition that they order their soldiers to use violence against non-violent crowds?" But I look at these soldiers, and remember that, within the past few months, I have become good friends with Israelis that have been soldiers. It is easy to blame soldiers for conforming to their society and entering the army because they think they have too. It is especially easy for those of us from the US, who have never lived in a situation like this, never faced mandatory army service, to become all high and mighty in our judgment of these soldiers. After the shooting of the stun grenades, the crowd continued to march and approached the soldiers directly. There was no more violence from either side. There were some speeches and some chanting.
A particular group of mostly Americans, sat down, arms linked and began to chant to the soldiers, "Don't be machines, think for yourself." To me that statement, fails to see the soldiers as human. It fails to see this conflict in a nuanced way, with many different perspectives and a long history, that has now created many complexities. It fails to see the system in which Israelis have grown up. I am reminded of what a friend told me she hard at a Breaking the Silence lecture recently. Breaking the Silence is an organization of Israeli soldiers that formerly served time in the West Bank. They tell stories of what they did as soldiers. They are trying to speak out against a culture that largely tries to cover up what is going on in the Occupied Palestinian Territories. The soldier who gave this story said that even though he told terrible stories of dehumanization committed by Israel soldiers, we should not blame the soldier, but blame the system. The system of occupation that is now in place in the West Bank and Gaza, is one in which any soldier that enters it will ultimately commit acts of dehumanization. Occupation is a dehumanizing system in itself. To blame Israeli soldiers immediately for their reactions without trying to see them as human, is only committing the same crime of dehumanization against them as they are committing against the Palestinians.
On one hand I am angry at the violence that is used against my friends who are only trying to express their feelings and not let their land be stolen while they sit on the sidelines watching it happen. On the other hand, I cannot be mad and judging of these soldiers, because I have met soldiers who are good people, but have grown up in a thickly rooted system of oppression in the Palestinian Territories. My two conflicting emotions boil up inside of me as a deep sadness. I have learned to love this country; to see both cultures as unique, to see the landscape as extremely beautiful, to have met friends on both sides. I find myself hoping deep inside that this conflict would just end, so that both sides would stop being dehumanized.
There are so many more things I could say about my thoughts that came from this particular demonstration, but I would say that this blog post is long enough. Instead I will give a link to Stephen Sizer's blog. He also attended this demonstration. Click on this link to see his pictures, his video and his reflections: Non-Violent Resistance met with Lethal Force in Beit Jala.
In Conclusion, I wish that I was passionate for one side or the other. I wish that I wasn't constantly being met with new view that I couldn't help but understand. I think my life would be a lot easier in this way, and would have a more visible definition. But instead, I am trying to learn to be content with my ever-changing thoughts and attraction towards the middle rather than one opposing end.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Now that the Conference is Over...
I have really fallen off the bandwagon this month. After the Christ at the Checkpoint Conference, I was finishing up my last two weeks of work at Bethlehem Bible College. 
As of yesterday, I have officially ended my work there. The next month and a half I will spend seeing things I haven't seen, visiting friends, and reflecting on my life as I make the decision about what is next.
I will write a personal reflection in a few days, but for now I wanted to give you all a link of one man's reflection on Bethlehem Bible College's International Conference. This article, about Paul Johnson, a famous Christian musician and Tony Campolo's traveling companion to the conference, will give you a good idea about the Spirit of the Conference.
To read the article click HERE.
To get updates on the conversation coming out of the conference, continue to check the conference website: Christ at the Checkpoint. DVD's and audio of the speakers will soon be available on this website as well.
As of yesterday, I have officially ended my work there. The next month and a half I will spend seeing things I haven't seen, visiting friends, and reflecting on my life as I make the decision about what is next.I will write a personal reflection in a few days, but for now I wanted to give you all a link of one man's reflection on Bethlehem Bible College's International Conference. This article, about Paul Johnson, a famous Christian musician and Tony Campolo's traveling companion to the conference, will give you a good idea about the Spirit of the Conference.
To read the article click HERE.
To get updates on the conversation coming out of the conference, continue to check the conference website: Christ at the Checkpoint. DVD's and audio of the speakers will soon be available on this website as well.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Bethlehem Bible College International Conference
Tomorrow is the beginning of Bethlehem Bible College's First International Conference. Speakers include: Stephen Sizer, Tony Campolo, Lynne Hybels, Gary Burge and local Palestinians: Yohanna Katanacho, Salim Munayer, Naim Ateek, Mitri Raheb, Alex Awad, Bishara Awad, and many others.
For those not attending the conference, all of the speakers can be heard online by going to christatthecheckpoint.com. Live broadcast will be available as well. Checkout the website for the complete list of speakers and the schedule.
Enjoy!
For those not attending the conference, all of the speakers can be heard online by going to christatthecheckpoint.com. Live broadcast will be available as well. Checkout the website for the complete list of speakers and the schedule.
Enjoy!
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Dome of the Rock, Al-Aqsa Mosque, Temple Mount - A Picture Journal
Having had been here for over a year, I decided that it was time to go to the most important religious sight in Jerusalem, the Temple Mount area, on which is located the Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque. This is a place holy to three religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. It is the sight of Judaism's first two temples, a place that Jesus frequented during his ministry, the place where Abraham sacrificed Isaac (for Christians and Jews) and Ishmael (from Muslims), and the place where Mohammad ascended to heaven. It has become a place of much tension within the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. Despite the controversy, I found myself in awe of the peacefulness and holiness of the place.
The Western Wall
The Western Wall where Jews gather to pray.
Al-Aqsa Mosque
We are not allowed inside, but Muslims from Jerusalem enter these doors daily to pray.
The Dome of the Rock
First view of the Dome of the Rock.
I love the way the clouds look in this one.
Proof that I was there
Beautiful Calligraphy and Tile Work!
Sitting back and enjoying the view.
Surrounding Islamic Architecture
The local community gathers to Picnic and Play
East Jerusalem does not have many parks. It was wonderful to see that there was some place to go where people could enjoy themselves and relax.
The Western Wall
The Western Wall where Jews gather to pray.Al-Aqsa Mosque
We are not allowed inside, but Muslims from Jerusalem enter these doors daily to pray.
The Dome of the Rock
First view of the Dome of the Rock.
I love the way the clouds look in this one.
Proof that I was there
Beautiful Calligraphy and Tile Work!
Sitting back and enjoying the view.Surrounding Islamic Architecture
The local community gathers to Picnic and Play
East Jerusalem does not have many parks. It was wonderful to see that there was some place to go where people could enjoy themselves and relax.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Israeli Activists at Sheikh Jarrah
Last Friday afternoon, February 12, I attended for the first time a weekly protest that is now taking place in Sheikh Jarrah.
Sheikh Jarrah is a neighborhood located in East Jerusalem that is under threat by Israeli settlers. In 1956, 28 Palestinian refugee families were given homes in this area in Jerusalem (then under Jordanian rule), agreeing to give up their status as refugees. Since the 1970's, a group of Sephardic Jews has been trying to take over this area. This settlement activity has resulted in the evictions of four families in the past year.
Normally, these evicitions are forced and unexpected. The home of the Al-Hanun family evicted last November was stormed by settlers in the middle of the night. They and many of their belongings were thrown out onto the streets. A family of settlers then moved in and the Al-Hanun was forced to sleep outside on their lawn. This was the fourth eviction that happened in a years time.
Police gather to keep protestors from entering disputed territory.
After the eviction of the Al-Hanun family, weekly protests began. These protests are organized by a coalition of Israeli Peace Activist organizations. In the beginning, each protest began with a march from West Jerusalem to the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. For many weeks, the protestors were met with force by police and many were arrested. At times over 700 people, mostly Israelis have been present at these weekly protests.
The leaders of the group play rhythms and chants.
Last week, when I went, the protest was relatively calm. The Israeli court determined that these protests are legal, so police can no longer arrest the protestors. Activits are no longer allowed near the home of the settlers, but gather in a small park near the Sheikh Jarrah area.
Settlements in Sheikh Jarrah and other areas of East Jerusalem undermine diplomatic efforts to come to a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. The Israeli government claims that they are interested in discussing peace, but continues to create facts on the ground that inhibit a lasting peace that will be agreed to on both sides. Settlements in East Jerusalem seek to increase the Jewish presence in this side of Jerusalem, which hinders a final status solution in Jerusalem which divides it so that it the capital for both nations in a Two-State solution.
This sign is so true. Only will Israel be completely safe and at peace, if Palestine is free from oppression.
Protesting settler violence and extremism on the Israeli side that moves Israel and Palestine further away from a peaceful resolution.
Early that day, I attended the weekly Women in Black demonstration, a group of Israeli women that meet every week to protest the occupation. Some weeks I have gone to this demonstration and received no reaction to the protest. This week, there were many people who shouted, made angry faces, thumbs down, shook their fists, and flicked us off. I asked my roommate, who is Jewish and familiar with Israeli society, why we received these angry reactions. Was it because they thought we were lying or because they didn't like to be reminded about the bad things their government is doing about which they are trying to forget? She said it was neither of these. It was because people thought anybody who protested the occupation are anti-Patriotic and against the government of Israel.
A large crowd has gathered and many people hold up signs protesting the occupation and violence in Sheikh Jarrah.
While some Israeli activists are anarchists, many protest against the occupation and settler violence as a way to be patriotic. They believe that for the security of Israel, the occupation needs to end, the government needs to stop oppressing the Palestinian people. Many want their country to live up to its words and be a state of justice, rather than oppression and war.
Police blocked off the road to the disputed houses. Settlers gather nearby.
It was very encouraging for me to see so many Israelis gathered to speak out against the injustices of their government. They may have been their for many reasons, but it was great to see that some seek to do something against the actions with which they don't agree, instead of staying silent and trying to forget or ignore. I again asked my roommate why there was such a good turnout for this protest, as it was one of the largest amounts of people I have seen at a protest since I have been here. She said it was because Sheikh Jarrah was one of the facts that finally began to wake Israelis up. The normal excuse of security cannot be used here. Evicting families out of their homes in the middle of the night in an area that is not even behind the wall in the West Bank cannot be hidden under the guise of security.
For more information on Sheikh Jarrah, read these articles:
Eviction in Sheikh Jarrah
Why are Israelis demonstrating in Sheikh Jarrah?
The legal battle over Palestinian ownership in Sheikh Jarrah
Sheikh Jarrah is a neighborhood located in East Jerusalem that is under threat by Israeli settlers. In 1956, 28 Palestinian refugee families were given homes in this area in Jerusalem (then under Jordanian rule), agreeing to give up their status as refugees. Since the 1970's, a group of Sephardic Jews has been trying to take over this area. This settlement activity has resulted in the evictions of four families in the past year.
Normally, these evicitions are forced and unexpected. The home of the Al-Hanun family evicted last November was stormed by settlers in the middle of the night. They and many of their belongings were thrown out onto the streets. A family of settlers then moved in and the Al-Hanun was forced to sleep outside on their lawn. This was the fourth eviction that happened in a years time.
Police gather to keep protestors from entering disputed territory.
After the eviction of the Al-Hanun family, weekly protests began. These protests are organized by a coalition of Israeli Peace Activist organizations. In the beginning, each protest began with a march from West Jerusalem to the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah. For many weeks, the protestors were met with force by police and many were arrested. At times over 700 people, mostly Israelis have been present at these weekly protests.
The leaders of the group play rhythms and chants.
Last week, when I went, the protest was relatively calm. The Israeli court determined that these protests are legal, so police can no longer arrest the protestors. Activits are no longer allowed near the home of the settlers, but gather in a small park near the Sheikh Jarrah area.
Settlements in Sheikh Jarrah and other areas of East Jerusalem undermine diplomatic efforts to come to a peaceful resolution to the Palestinian/Israeli conflict. The Israeli government claims that they are interested in discussing peace, but continues to create facts on the ground that inhibit a lasting peace that will be agreed to on both sides. Settlements in East Jerusalem seek to increase the Jewish presence in this side of Jerusalem, which hinders a final status solution in Jerusalem which divides it so that it the capital for both nations in a Two-State solution.
This sign is so true. Only will Israel be completely safe and at peace, if Palestine is free from oppression.
Protesting settler violence and extremism on the Israeli side that moves Israel and Palestine further away from a peaceful resolution.
Early that day, I attended the weekly Women in Black demonstration, a group of Israeli women that meet every week to protest the occupation. Some weeks I have gone to this demonstration and received no reaction to the protest. This week, there were many people who shouted, made angry faces, thumbs down, shook their fists, and flicked us off. I asked my roommate, who is Jewish and familiar with Israeli society, why we received these angry reactions. Was it because they thought we were lying or because they didn't like to be reminded about the bad things their government is doing about which they are trying to forget? She said it was neither of these. It was because people thought anybody who protested the occupation are anti-Patriotic and against the government of Israel.
A large crowd has gathered and many people hold up signs protesting the occupation and violence in Sheikh Jarrah.
While some Israeli activists are anarchists, many protest against the occupation and settler violence as a way to be patriotic. They believe that for the security of Israel, the occupation needs to end, the government needs to stop oppressing the Palestinian people. Many want their country to live up to its words and be a state of justice, rather than oppression and war.
Police blocked off the road to the disputed houses. Settlers gather nearby.
It was very encouraging for me to see so many Israelis gathered to speak out against the injustices of their government. They may have been their for many reasons, but it was great to see that some seek to do something against the actions with which they don't agree, instead of staying silent and trying to forget or ignore. I again asked my roommate why there was such a good turnout for this protest, as it was one of the largest amounts of people I have seen at a protest since I have been here. She said it was because Sheikh Jarrah was one of the facts that finally began to wake Israelis up. The normal excuse of security cannot be used here. Evicting families out of their homes in the middle of the night in an area that is not even behind the wall in the West Bank cannot be hidden under the guise of security.
For more information on Sheikh Jarrah, read these articles:
Eviction in Sheikh Jarrah
Why are Israelis demonstrating in Sheikh Jarrah?
The legal battle over Palestinian ownership in Sheikh Jarrah
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