From b55f37a18ed4181d48a237a309553f48ad2ac21c Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001 From: Youwen Wu Date: Wed, 9 Oct 2024 11:04:28 -0700 Subject: [PATCH] add peace dialogue notes --- notes/2024/mes-45/peace-dialogue-notes.md | 114 ++++++++++++++++++++++ notes/2024/mes-45/peace-dialogue.typ | 18 ++++ 2 files changed, 132 insertions(+) create mode 100644 notes/2024/mes-45/peace-dialogue-notes.md create mode 100644 notes/2024/mes-45/peace-dialogue.typ diff --git a/notes/2024/mes-45/peace-dialogue-notes.md b/notes/2024/mes-45/peace-dialogue-notes.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7e05780 --- /dev/null +++ b/notes/2024/mes-45/peace-dialogue-notes.md @@ -0,0 +1,114 @@ +# Peace dialogue notes + +- Grew up as Israeli, became soldier +- Doubted morals, told to not think about consequences +- Army is above everything +- Never imagined meeting Palestinians -> always told to never cross wall (into + West Bank), violent +- Never heard about Nakba (in Israel) until Germany -> In Israel, Law prohibits teaching Nakba +- Israeli/Palestine peace activists: First step forward is recognizing the + other side +- Decided to move and live with Palestinian friends in West Bank -> reaction + was shock +- Oppressive system, Israeli government encroaching on Palestinian way of life + +- Lived in Jericho, born in East Jerusalem +- Stories of Nakba were earliest +- In Jerusalem, no services, not allowed to fix houses, etc +- Army gave two options: administrative detention -> kidnapped by General for + 2-3 years or military court +- Learned about all injustices committed by jews (Israelis) and began to feel + hate, throw stones, etc +- Heard of peace talks, celebrations in Jericho +- Felt not recognized by international law, community, etc -> no rights +- Palestinian schools closed by Israeli army +- Shocked by jews who believe in peace -> could not believe they exist -> only + one narrative +- Met woman who believed had right to live on land, but did not believe they + had the right to displace and discriminate against others +- Everyone is suffering, paying the price +- Went to Europe, learned what happened to Jews (holocaust) -> came to + conclusion that Israelis and Palestinians have to meet and talk to resist the + system +- Started "Visit Palestine" to show Israelis what Palestine and life under + occupation looks like +- Only way forward is to give everyone their freedom + +Questions: + +Where was the meeting in Bethlehem? + +_Q: What other parts of the system oppress the people?_ + +A: There are three groups: + +First - from (Jordan) River to Sea. Arabs born in Israel ostensibly have +citizenship + +Second group: Palestinians in West Bank, Gaza: not citizens, military +law/police instead of civil police + +Third group: Palestinians expelled + +The entire system is how to guarantee Jewish majority (ethnostate). You can't +guarantee "Jewish democratic state" without discrimination. Jewish democratic +state / Jewish majority / "Jewish supremacy" + +_Q: Is land redistribution is a path through this crisis, and do you see that as +a part of this movement?_ + +A: In America, ethnic cleansing is complete, so we can talk about reparations, +redistribution, etc. In Gaza, we are in the middle of ethnic cleansing. +Redistribution is a "fantasy", because we need to stop the violence now. Of +course, it is part of thefuture, but no one is imagining it because worried +about more immediate issues + +Need to work on a ceasefire now. Worrying about what is the best solution, +peace organization, etc, is us trying to keep conscience happy. No one knows +about what is going on in Gaza, Israeli jails, etc. We need to talk about the +governments defending Israel's crimes. Peace organizations are part of the +system. Can't use system to change system. + +Israeli government doesn't want citizens to learn common language with Arabs. +Discourage learning Arabic. Want to keep people apart because otherwise they +will realize they are similar. + +System needs to keep people divided to dehumanize them. + +_Q: Who in the system do or would you think you need to speak to?_ + +A: Very flexible, willing to speak to anyone who agrees or disagrees with us. +Want to convince everyone. + +_Q: What do you think are the best steps to take to promote ceasefire on +individual and institutional level?_ + +A: We are all complicit because the system in Israel is the same system here. +The same military complex, the same bombs. Understand how system works, and +unite and build power and a movement. Need to be open and let people who +disagree with us into our space, to stop separation of us against them. +Transformation takes time. We are fighting against the empire who makes +billions while we kill each other. + +Q: It seems that real transformation will not occur until mass media begins to +change. The most respected media voices censor much of the discourse. What has +your experience been with the media branding many of your points as +anti-semitic? + +A: The mainstream media are not interested. Only invited by podcasts and small +newspapers. Big channels will never talk to the activists. We need to build +alternative independent media. + +Q: Do you feel that with support for Palestine on social media, Israelis are +beginning to see the actions of the Israeli state? + +A: More and more Israelis are waking up but it's not enough, the mainstream are +moving right. Every night, the news is propaganda. The prevalence social media +and phones is very good because it's finally documenting the war crimes. +Before, people wouldn't believe the atrocities committed by the Israel +government. The US government is working more for Israel than the Americans. + +Q: Is the way that we discuss the issues productive? + +A: Many people are too busy infighting amongst themselves, when they have no +skin in the game. diff --git a/notes/2024/mes-45/peace-dialogue.typ b/notes/2024/mes-45/peace-dialogue.typ new file mode 100644 index 0000000..20fd5b2 --- /dev/null +++ b/notes/2024/mes-45/peace-dialogue.typ @@ -0,0 +1,18 @@ +#import "@preview/ilm:1.2.1": * + +#set text(lang: "en") + +#show: ilm.with( + title: [Notes on the Israeli-Palestine Peace Dialogue], + author: "Youwen Wu", + date: datetime(year: 2024, month: 10, day: 08), + abstract: [ + ], + figure-index: (enabled: true), + table-index: (enabled: true), + listing-index: (enabled: true), +) + += Introductions + +- Recruited to