118 lines
5 KiB
Markdown
118 lines
5 KiB
Markdown
# Peace dialogue notes
|
|
|
|
Rotem Levin's introduction
|
|
|
|
- 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
|
|
|
|
Osama Illiwat's introduction
|
|
|
|
- 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.
|