A lady I know, recently asked me about the blog; if we were still writing it and how it was going. As we talked, I began to reflect on what this experience has brought me. I told her that this blog has been one of the best things I've ever done. There's been times when it's been a real challenge - the subject matter can be so provocative. I remember when I went to UCI and hearing Amir-Abdel Malik-Ali really shook me up - he scared the crap out of me, honestly. But I persisted and wrote about my experience anyway. I wrote that post with tears streaming down my face while cursing his name. And as I wrote, I became more empowered, and then Malik-Ali became more like the little man behind the curtain in the Wizard of Oz.
This blog has made me think about things I'd never put much thought into before, like: what is my relationship with Israel? what does Israel mean to me? how do different people define zionism? how is zionism used and misused on both sides? what does zionism mean to me? am I a zionist? Some of these I've answered in past posts but some I still have to get to. I've learned how to hear the other side and try my best to consider it. I don't have to agree and I can challenge arguments when I feel it's warranted. I have also realized that it's not my purpose, nor my duty, to try and convince Halla of anything. We're both thinking women. Yet we can push and pull each other with some thought provoking discussions. Most importantly, I am no longer afraid. No longer afraid to discuss this subject matter... and maybe this sounds overconfident, but... feeling a bit more educated makes me not have fear for Israel anymore, nor for the U.S., nor for Palestine.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Reflections
Friday, September 18, 2009
Saturday, August 22, 2009
East Med Sea Peace: drawing borders..
East Med Sea Peace: drawing borders..
I hate to take away from the Ramadan greetings below, but thought this was a good read.
Friday, August 21, 2009
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
New Diplomacy: Usama and Avihu, looking for the Chinese taxi driver
Back in April, I went to UCI to see The Olive Tree Initiative presentation called "The Need for New Diplomacy in the Middle East" a presentation and open discussion with Palestinian and Israeli speakers from Jerusalem and Bethlehem. I've said it before, how impressed I am to see the work these UCI students are doing, engaging in this difficult yet peaceful dialogue, listening to different views and trying to be objective by going beyond the media and the activist groups. They're doing exactly what I am trying to do, what I hope to do, but they've actually been to Israel and the West Bank and will continue to make trips there (the OTI students raised the money themselves to go on the trip so that they could go as independents - they are not monetarily sponsored by UC or any one organization). At this presentation, we heard from Shannon Shibata and Avihu Cohen from the Center for New Diplomacy in Jerusalem and Usama Al Zoughbi from Wi'am - the Palestinian Conflict Resolution Center in Bethlehem. Avihu's father was killed by terrorists and started a group within the Center for victims and their families, Usama's main focus in Wi'am is to facilitate meetings/interactions between foreigners and locals rather than them just going to the tourist stops.
It was a Saturday evening in the Crystal Cove auditorium and, unfortunately, there were a lot less people there then there were back in the Fall. On the up side, I was able to sit a lot closer this time and recognized many of the students and a few other people there. Shannon and Usama started with their introductions and Shannon explained that Avihu, who is shomer Shabbat, could not speak for the first 10 minutes or so because he could not use the microphone until the Sabbath was officially over. It's interesting to note that Avihu and Usama met because of these UCI students. During their trip last fall, the students spent Shabbat eve. at Avihu's home in East J'lem and the next day met with Usama at his home in Bethlehem in the West Bank. From the top of Usama's building, the students could see the building of Avihu's home where they just were the night before (at the press conference last fall, some of the students talked about how intimate the space is there with all of the towns so close together - something we are not used to here - and keep in mind that although they live almost a stone throw away, Avihu and Usama are separated by a barrier). Upon returning to Israel, the students told Avihu of their visit to Usama's, which prompted Avihu to ask for Usama's phone number, "I want to talk to him," he said. Because the students were able to pass easily back and forth between W. Bank and Israel, in this way, they became ambassadors. So, this was the beginning of Avihu and Usama's unlikely friendship.
Avihu lives in a part of town, he says, that some consider to be a "settlement" and others consider it "just a neighborhood in East J'lem". Avihu and Usama don't agree on politics but they do agree that they are both tired of living with this conflict. A message that they wanted to strongly convey; that we should realize that the people on both sides, although they disagree on politics, have to live with this (conflict) on a day-to-day basis and they are tired of it. Shannon further emphasized, "Don't judge" ...unless you actually go there and listen to the people - the everyday people on both sides that live and work there - not the world leaders. She scoffed at Nicolas Sarkozy calling him "clueless" in reference to his trip to the region back in January and his (lack of) knowledge regarding the smuggling problem with the tunnels that run between the Gaza and Israel border. She further gave her opinion that we give way too much credit to world leaders who, in reality, know very little of what goes on in the lives of everyday people. In response to a question from the audience regarding financial aid given by the U.S. and other countries, Usama chagrined - the money doesn't get to the people that need it, rather, it gets tied up by the Israeli government. He also had to fend off some perceived stereotyping when asked about Palestinian incitement of violence and suicide bombers. "We're all terrorists," he replied in a calm, yet sarcastic tone.
In watching and listening to Avihu & Usama, I could tell they were friends - in the way they shared stories about their families and of the time they've spent together on their journey here like the day Avihu & Usama decided to go shopping at our local Toys R' Us store in Huntington Beach. They both wanted to buy gifts to bring home to their children so they ventured out in their rental car not exactly knowing how to get there. They asked a local for help with directions but they still got lost. Then they asked another, again, lost. Then they asked a Chinese taxi driver who "looked like he just got here a week ago", but his directions to Toys R' Us were right on and so, they found their way. Avihu said it's like that - we want peace but we don't know how to get there and we keep hitting dead ends - so we need to find someone like that, a Chinese taxi driver, someone that knows the way. When the issues surrounding the conflict arose, there was some tension between them. One audience member asked Avihu about the roads that he travels on in East J'lem, and if they were like those isolated highways we hear about - the ones that are meant only for Israelis and cut through Palestinian land and villages. Avihu replied that, actually, the road that he travels on to work everyday is the same one that Usama travels on - "Isn't that right?" he turned to Usama for confirmation. Usama affirmed, "Yes" and then went on with his arms folded and just a tinge of spite in his tone , "It's the same road that I used to travel on to my grandfather's farm." Avihu quickly replied, "Yes, it's the same road that my father was murdered by terrorists" - (Avihu's father was raised in the West Bank). Then they argued a bit about checkpoints and security... Question: they live divided by the separation barrier yet they can travel on the same road - how does that work??? I wish I would have thought to ask this when I was there.
Looking back on my notes from that evening, here's a few more thoughts that the speakers shared:
Shannon said... there are so many advocate groups that export the conflict. Don't take what your professor or the media say as gospel and don't think that you know just because you watch CNN everyday. As a point she said there are talks with Hamas currently happening in Amman and England that are not publicized - 3rd party talks. This generation, Generation X - the generation of mass information - is teaching the last generation. and in a nod to the students she noted that the Geneva Convention (U.N.) is interested in the Olive Tree Initiative.
Usama said... the difficulties in the West Bank stem from a lack of resources: water, power, etc., lack of movement - there are 620 checkpoints in WB, instability in general, and lack of land due to settlements. Yet, the people still have hope and are peaceful. The money is not going to the right places. There is a need to empower hospitals, schools, infrastructure. There is a non-violent movement in Palestine.
Avihu said... Palestinians are victimized by many nations, not just Israel. There are a lot of movements and industries that pump money (into the region) and fuel the conflict. Don't just send money for food - it's like giving fishes and not teaching to fish. Each one of us is a hub - don't close your eyes even if the solution is far away. There are hard core rabbis & islamic clerics alike that are meeting and talking.
A couple of the most memorable moments of the evening came during the q&a session:
One of these was a lady who directed her question to Usama - although it really wasn't a question. I hate to guess age, but I'd say she was probably in her 60's or 70's. She said that she and her family were from "a little village in a place I won't name". As she continued to describe her story, I concluded that her place of origin must have been what was then known as Transjordan (Jordan) or Palestine (West Bank), probably the latter. Let me tell you, she was one pissed-off mama. She didn't shout or raise her voice at all - she held her composure and spoke calmly and slowly but it was that kind of seething anger you could feel from deep within. She told of when she was a little girl - a family friend and neighbor, an Arab, came to their house in the middle of the night. He told them that they must leave now, if they stayed till morning they would all surely be dead. And so they fled, leaving everything behind. "I hear you speak of 'justice' " she said to Usama, "how quickly we forget history... take care of the corruption in the Palestinian Authority before you speak to me about 'justice' ".
The other came from Avihu, when Ruth Shapin of the Cousins Club asked him what he thought of the proposed 1-state solution. "The problem is" he began, "Everyone is talking about 1 state or 2 states when actually what we have is 3 states. I don't know what the solution is." He went on in reference to the 3rd state (Gaza), "Hamas doesn't recognize Israel. They hold this election and Hamas was democratically elected then the International community says no, they don't like it. And in Israel there is no Israeli party that is willing to re-draw lines, only security is what they think about - security comes first. So I really don't know what the solution is." His answer reflected my own ambivalence. I used to think that, although undesirable, if dividing Jerusalem is what is necessary to achieve 2-states living side by side in peace, then that is what must be done. But something that one of the OTI students said at the press conference last Fall made me think again; when she described her visit to the J'lem and how she realized that dividing the city would separate people from their church or place of worship, from their workplaces and employees, and from their families and friends. J'lemites, whether Jewish or otherwise, are interdependent. I know that dividing cities is never good, but how ignorant and arrogant it was of me to be so willing to take that idea at face value. 2-state solution, 1-state solution, even a 3-state solution - everybody's got a solution but I am not so sure of any of them anymore. Yet, my ambivalence does not leave me hopeless. I see the world getting a lot smaller and more familiar and people are blogging, twittering, talking in ways they never did before. If a vigorous and sustained peace movement on both sides could at least hold down the violence and militarism to a minimum, over a period of time - even if there were some breakdowns along the way - restrictions could be eased, commerce could flourish, relations could normalize, trust could be built. Maybe then conflict would just fizzle out and the best political solution would become clear. I guess I'm seeing peace as a means to a possible political end, and not the other way around.
It was a Saturday evening in the Crystal Cove auditorium and, unfortunately, there were a lot less people there then there were back in the Fall. On the up side, I was able to sit a lot closer this time and recognized many of the students and a few other people there. Shannon and Usama started with their introductions and Shannon explained that Avihu, who is shomer Shabbat, could not speak for the first 10 minutes or so because he could not use the microphone until the Sabbath was officially over. It's interesting to note that Avihu and Usama met because of these UCI students. During their trip last fall, the students spent Shabbat eve. at Avihu's home in East J'lem and the next day met with Usama at his home in Bethlehem in the West Bank. From the top of Usama's building, the students could see the building of Avihu's home where they just were the night before (at the press conference last fall, some of the students talked about how intimate the space is there with all of the towns so close together - something we are not used to here - and keep in mind that although they live almost a stone throw away, Avihu and Usama are separated by a barrier). Upon returning to Israel, the students told Avihu of their visit to Usama's, which prompted Avihu to ask for Usama's phone number, "I want to talk to him," he said. Because the students were able to pass easily back and forth between W. Bank and Israel, in this way, they became ambassadors. So, this was the beginning of Avihu and Usama's unlikely friendship.
Avihu lives in a part of town, he says, that some consider to be a "settlement" and others consider it "just a neighborhood in East J'lem". Avihu and Usama don't agree on politics but they do agree that they are both tired of living with this conflict. A message that they wanted to strongly convey; that we should realize that the people on both sides, although they disagree on politics, have to live with this (conflict) on a day-to-day basis and they are tired of it. Shannon further emphasized, "Don't judge" ...unless you actually go there and listen to the people - the everyday people on both sides that live and work there - not the world leaders. She scoffed at Nicolas Sarkozy calling him "clueless" in reference to his trip to the region back in January and his (lack of) knowledge regarding the smuggling problem with the tunnels that run between the Gaza and Israel border. She further gave her opinion that we give way too much credit to world leaders who, in reality, know very little of what goes on in the lives of everyday people. In response to a question from the audience regarding financial aid given by the U.S. and other countries, Usama chagrined - the money doesn't get to the people that need it, rather, it gets tied up by the Israeli government. He also had to fend off some perceived stereotyping when asked about Palestinian incitement of violence and suicide bombers. "We're all terrorists," he replied in a calm, yet sarcastic tone.
In watching and listening to Avihu & Usama, I could tell they were friends - in the way they shared stories about their families and of the time they've spent together on their journey here like the day Avihu & Usama decided to go shopping at our local Toys R' Us store in Huntington Beach. They both wanted to buy gifts to bring home to their children so they ventured out in their rental car not exactly knowing how to get there. They asked a local for help with directions but they still got lost. Then they asked another, again, lost. Then they asked a Chinese taxi driver who "looked like he just got here a week ago", but his directions to Toys R' Us were right on and so, they found their way. Avihu said it's like that - we want peace but we don't know how to get there and we keep hitting dead ends - so we need to find someone like that, a Chinese taxi driver, someone that knows the way. When the issues surrounding the conflict arose, there was some tension between them. One audience member asked Avihu about the roads that he travels on in East J'lem, and if they were like those isolated highways we hear about - the ones that are meant only for Israelis and cut through Palestinian land and villages. Avihu replied that, actually, the road that he travels on to work everyday is the same one that Usama travels on - "Isn't that right?" he turned to Usama for confirmation. Usama affirmed, "Yes" and then went on with his arms folded and just a tinge of spite in his tone , "It's the same road that I used to travel on to my grandfather's farm." Avihu quickly replied, "Yes, it's the same road that my father was murdered by terrorists" - (Avihu's father was raised in the West Bank). Then they argued a bit about checkpoints and security... Question: they live divided by the separation barrier yet they can travel on the same road - how does that work??? I wish I would have thought to ask this when I was there.
Looking back on my notes from that evening, here's a few more thoughts that the speakers shared:
Shannon said... there are so many advocate groups that export the conflict. Don't take what your professor or the media say as gospel and don't think that you know just because you watch CNN everyday. As a point she said there are talks with Hamas currently happening in Amman and England that are not publicized - 3rd party talks. This generation, Generation X - the generation of mass information - is teaching the last generation. and in a nod to the students she noted that the Geneva Convention (U.N.) is interested in the Olive Tree Initiative.
Usama said... the difficulties in the West Bank stem from a lack of resources: water, power, etc., lack of movement - there are 620 checkpoints in WB, instability in general, and lack of land due to settlements. Yet, the people still have hope and are peaceful. The money is not going to the right places. There is a need to empower hospitals, schools, infrastructure. There is a non-violent movement in Palestine.
Avihu said... Palestinians are victimized by many nations, not just Israel. There are a lot of movements and industries that pump money (into the region) and fuel the conflict. Don't just send money for food - it's like giving fishes and not teaching to fish. Each one of us is a hub - don't close your eyes even if the solution is far away. There are hard core rabbis & islamic clerics alike that are meeting and talking.
A couple of the most memorable moments of the evening came during the q&a session:
One of these was a lady who directed her question to Usama - although it really wasn't a question. I hate to guess age, but I'd say she was probably in her 60's or 70's. She said that she and her family were from "a little village in a place I won't name". As she continued to describe her story, I concluded that her place of origin must have been what was then known as Transjordan (Jordan) or Palestine (West Bank), probably the latter. Let me tell you, she was one pissed-off mama. She didn't shout or raise her voice at all - she held her composure and spoke calmly and slowly but it was that kind of seething anger you could feel from deep within. She told of when she was a little girl - a family friend and neighbor, an Arab, came to their house in the middle of the night. He told them that they must leave now, if they stayed till morning they would all surely be dead. And so they fled, leaving everything behind. "I hear you speak of 'justice' " she said to Usama, "how quickly we forget history... take care of the corruption in the Palestinian Authority before you speak to me about 'justice' ".
The other came from Avihu, when Ruth Shapin of the Cousins Club asked him what he thought of the proposed 1-state solution. "The problem is" he began, "Everyone is talking about 1 state or 2 states when actually what we have is 3 states. I don't know what the solution is." He went on in reference to the 3rd state (Gaza), "Hamas doesn't recognize Israel. They hold this election and Hamas was democratically elected then the International community says no, they don't like it. And in Israel there is no Israeli party that is willing to re-draw lines, only security is what they think about - security comes first. So I really don't know what the solution is." His answer reflected my own ambivalence. I used to think that, although undesirable, if dividing Jerusalem is what is necessary to achieve 2-states living side by side in peace, then that is what must be done. But something that one of the OTI students said at the press conference last Fall made me think again; when she described her visit to the J'lem and how she realized that dividing the city would separate people from their church or place of worship, from their workplaces and employees, and from their families and friends. J'lemites, whether Jewish or otherwise, are interdependent. I know that dividing cities is never good, but how ignorant and arrogant it was of me to be so willing to take that idea at face value. 2-state solution, 1-state solution, even a 3-state solution - everybody's got a solution but I am not so sure of any of them anymore. Yet, my ambivalence does not leave me hopeless. I see the world getting a lot smaller and more familiar and people are blogging, twittering, talking in ways they never did before. If a vigorous and sustained peace movement on both sides could at least hold down the violence and militarism to a minimum, over a period of time - even if there were some breakdowns along the way - restrictions could be eased, commerce could flourish, relations could normalize, trust could be built. Maybe then conflict would just fizzle out and the best political solution would become clear. I guess I'm seeing peace as a means to a possible political end, and not the other way around.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
It's just wrong!!
50 Palestinians evicted from their Jerusalem homes
By BEN HUBBARD, Associated Press Writer Ben Hubbard, Associated Press Writer Sun Aug 2, 2:31 pm ET
JERUSALEM – Israeli police evicted two Palestinian families in east Jerusalem on Sunday, then allowed Jewish settlers to move into their homes, drawing criticism from Palestinians, the United Nations and the State Department.
Police arrived before dawn and cordoned off part of the Arab neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah before forcibly removing more than 50 people, said Chris Gunness, spokesman for the U.N. agency in charge of Palestinian refugees.
U.N. staff later saw vehicles bringing Jewish settlers to move into the homes, he said.
Israeli police cited a ruling by the country's Supreme Court that the houses belonged to Jews and that the Arab families had been living there illegally.
Gunness said the families had lived in the homes for more than 50 years.
The status of east Jerusalem is one of the most explosive issues in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Israel took control of east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war and annexed it, a move not recognized by any other country. Since then, Israel has to boosted the Jewish presence there, building neighborhoods where about 180,000 Jews live. The Palestinians want east Jerusalem as the capital of their hoped-for state.
Organizations linked to the Jewish West Bank settlement movement also have bought properties inside Palestinian neighborhoods in Jerusalem and moved Israelis in.
About 270,000 Palestinians live in east Jerusalem, or 35 percent of the city's total population of 760,000.
The international community has pressured Israel to refrain from evicting Palestinians and building new homes for Jews in east Jerusalem, saying such moves hamper peacemaking efforts.
State Department spokeswoman Megan Mattson said such actions in east Jerusalem constitute violations of Israel's obligations under U.S.-backed "road map" peace plan.
"Unilateral actions taken by either party cannot prejudge the outcome of negotiations and will not be recognized by the international community," she said in a statement.
Robert Serry, the U.N. Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, called Sunday's evictions "totally unacceptable."
"These actions heighten tensions and undermine international efforts to create conditions for fruitful negotiations to achieve peace," he said in a statement.
Palestinian negotiator Saeb Erekat also condemned the move.
"While Israeli authorities have promised the American administration that home demolitions, home evictions and other provocations against Palestinian Jerusalemites would be stopped, what we've seen on the ground is completely the opposite," he said in a statement.
Khawla Hanoun, 35, who lived in one of the homes, said police ordered her and 16 family members to leave the house before dawn and forced them out at gunpoint when they refused.
"Now our future is in the streets," she said. "We will remain steadfast until we return home. By any method, we must go back home."
Monday, July 20, 2009
German women break silence
This got to me. I heard this story on NPR's All Things Considered while driving home on Friday about the atrocities suffered by many young German (non-Jewish) women in the days and months during the liberation of WWII. It's a disturbing story of the rape of these women at the hands of the Allied and (mostly) Soviet forces (corresponding article is here). It's a part of the WWII story I'd never heard before, although, it shouldn't surprise me - women and children are always the biggest victims of war, and the pain of war reverberates for generations. I'm, at least, glad that these women are now allowed to speak and have the courage to do so. So much healing that needs to be done.
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