now I bet you’re familiar with the word piece two versions probably and I bet
piece two versions probably and I bet
piece two versions probably and I bet you’re familiar with the word building
you’re familiar with the word building
you’re familiar with the word building but if you’re like anyone else I’ve ever
but if you’re like anyone else I’ve ever
but if you’re like anyone else I’ve ever met in my entire life you’re not
met in my entire life you’re not
met in my entire life you’re not familiar with the word peace building
familiar with the word peace building
familiar with the word peace building but contrary to what spell check things
but contrary to what spell check things
but contrary to what spell check things it is indeed a real word which is good
it is indeed a real word which is good
it is indeed a real word which is good because I’ve been studying it for four
because I’ve been studying it for four
because I’ve been studying it for four semesters I’m learning to transform
semesters I’m learning to transform
semesters I’m learning to transform violent opposition entities change I’m
violent opposition entities change I’m
violent opposition entities change I’m learning to run away I’m learning to dig
learning to run away I’m learning to dig
learning to run away I’m learning to dig into it instead of covering it up and
into it instead of covering it up and
into it instead of covering it up and I’m learning to love its potential
I’m learning to love its potential
I’m learning to love its potential instead of fearing its pain as part of
instead of fearing its pain as part of
instead of fearing its pain as part of that I got to spend three and a half
that I got to spend three and a half
that I got to spend three and a half months in Israel Palestine in Jordan and
months in Israel Palestine in Jordan and
months in Israel Palestine in Jordan and Egypt and now I can’t summarize
Egypt and now I can’t summarize
Egypt and now I can’t summarize everything I learned I’ve actually
everything I learned I’ve actually
everything I learned I’ve actually really been struggling to figure out
really been struggling to figure out
really been struggling to figure out what to say today because I lived in the
what to say today because I lived in the
what to say today because I lived in the israeli-palestinian conflict for three
israeli-palestinian conflict for three
israeli-palestinian conflict for three and a half months how can i summarize
and a half months how can i summarize
and a half months how can i summarize without excluding an identity or a sugar
without excluding an identity or a sugar
without excluding an identity or a sugar coating or oversimplifying and without
coating or oversimplifying and without
coating or oversimplifying and without exceeding my time limit turns out it
exceeding my time limit turns out it
exceeding my time limit turns out it can’t not even gonna try instead I’m
can’t not even gonna try instead I’m
can’t not even gonna try instead I’m going to introduce you to the first
going to introduce you to the first
going to introduce you to the first steps of peace building as I came to
steps of peace building as I came to
steps of peace building as I came to understand them on my travels when I
understand them on my travels when I
understand them on my travels when I first found out I was going on this trip
first found out I was going on this trip
first found out I was going on this trip I remembered almost nothing about the
I remembered almost nothing about the
I remembered almost nothing about the conflict
conflict
conflict how son I knew that the Jews returned to
how son I knew that the Jews returned to
how son I knew that the Jews returned to Israel and fought to establish a state
Israel and fought to establish a state
Israel and fought to establish a state in 1948 I had vague memories of UN
in 1948 I had vague memories of UN
in 1948 I had vague memories of UN resolutions and refugees and about a
resolutions and refugees and about a
resolutions and refugees and about a six-day war and he owned Kippur War
six-day war and he owned Kippur War
six-day war and he owned Kippur War which I definitely thought were the same
which I definitely thought were the same
which I definitely thought were the same thing and which definitely aren’t I
thing and which definitely aren’t I
thing and which definitely aren’t I think in general I just thought that the
think in general I just thought that the
think in general I just thought that the Jews came home and it caused some
Jews came home and it caused some
Jews came home and it caused some friction that escalated into a war that
friction that escalated into a war that
friction that escalated into a war that displaced Palestinians and if the
displaced Palestinians and if the
displaced Palestinians and if the Israelis and the Palestinians could just
Israelis and the Palestinians could just
Israelis and the Palestinians could just figure out how to care for the refugees
figure out how to care for the refugees
figure out how to care for the refugees everything else would just work itself
everything else would just work itself
everything else would just work itself out I’m very glad I kept that to myself
out I’m very glad I kept that to myself
out I’m very glad I kept that to myself so I’ve learned a lot mostly that all of
so I’ve learned a lot mostly that all of
so I’ve learned a lot mostly that all of my assumptions were very wrong but I
my assumptions were very wrong but I
my assumptions were very wrong but I also learned most importantly that
also learned most importantly that
also learned most importantly that everybody has their own story and that
everybody has their own story and that
everybody has their own story and that those stories those stories create a
those stories those stories create a
those stories those stories create a narrative that affects how we perceive
narrative that affects how we perceive
narrative that affects how we perceive the world around us and how we perceive
the world around us and how we perceive
the world around us and how we perceive the world around us affects how we
the world around us affects how we
the world around us affects how we interact with that world so if I want to
interact with that world so if I want to
interact with that world so if I want to change actions I need to change
change actions I need to change
change actions I need to change perceptions and if I want to change
perceptions and if I want to change
perceptions and if I want to change perceptions I need to change narrative
perceptions I need to change narrative
perceptions I need to change narrative and if I want to change the narrative I
and if I want to change the narrative I
and if I want to change the narrative I need to tell different stories to show
need to tell different stories to show
need to tell different stories to show you a little bit more of what I mean I’m
you a little bit more of what I mean I’m
you a little bit more of what I mean I’m going to share with you part of my
going to share with you part of my
going to share with you part of my learning process these are some of the
learning process these are some of the
learning process these are some of the stories that taught me the first time my
stories that taught me the first time my
stories that taught me the first time my narrative was really challenged was when
narrative was really challenged was when
narrative was really challenged was when we traveled to Bethlehem and
we traveled to Bethlehem and
we traveled to Bethlehem and homestays before then we’ve been
homestays before then we’ve been
homestays before then we’ve been studying Judaism and the environmental
studying Judaism and the environmental
studying Judaism and the environmental effects of conflict in a kibbutz a
effects of conflict in a kibbutz a
effects of conflict in a kibbutz a socialist community in the southern
socialist community in the southern
socialist community in the southern Negev desert Bethlehem was a completely
Negev desert Bethlehem was a completely
Negev desert Bethlehem was a completely different story to get into the city and
different story to get into the city and
different story to get into the city and anytime you want to leave you have to
anytime you want to leave you have to
anytime you want to leave you have to pass through checkpoints and sometimes
pass through checkpoints and sometimes
pass through checkpoints and sometimes it felt like everywhere you looked there
it felt like everywhere you looked there
it felt like everywhere you looked there were soldiers staring at us one day in
were soldiers staring at us one day in
were soldiers staring at us one day in one of our lectures we heard from a
one of our lectures we heard from a
one of our lectures we heard from a leader of the First Intifada the
leader of the First Intifada the
leader of the First Intifada the intifadas are usually characterized as
intifadas are usually characterized as
intifadas are usually characterized as Palestinian revolts against the Israeli
Palestinian revolts against the Israeli
Palestinian revolts against the Israeli occupation of the West Bank but to our
occupation of the West Bank but to our
occupation of the West Bank but to our lecturer the first one at least was so
lecturer the first one at least was so
lecturer the first one at least was so much more it was a way of taking back
much more it was a way of taking back
much more it was a way of taking back his identity so he started with the
his identity so he started with the
his identity so he started with the story of his grandma who grew up in a
story of his grandma who grew up in a
story of his grandma who grew up in a village where Muslims Christians and
village where Muslims Christians and
village where Muslims Christians and Jews looked side-by-side as neighbors
Jews looked side-by-side as neighbors
Jews looked side-by-side as neighbors and best friends which is kind of
and best friends which is kind of
and best friends which is kind of unheard of right now and then he told us
unheard of right now and then he told us
unheard of right now and then he told us his uncle’s story about learning that
his uncle’s story about learning that
his uncle’s story about learning that non-violence was a form of empowerment
non-violence was a form of empowerment
non-violence was a form of empowerment as a way to take control of his life and
as a way to take control of his life and
as a way to take control of his life and then he told us his experiences in the
then he told us his experiences in the
then he told us his experiences in the First Intifada he talked about events
First Intifada he talked about events
First Intifada he talked about events for lack of a better term for people who
for lack of a better term for people who
for lack of a better term for people who would just go to the roof of their
would just go to the roof of their
would just go to the roof of their apartment building and make a lot of
apartment building and make a lot of
apartment building and make a lot of noise for like 15 or 20 minutes at a
noise for like 15 or 20 minutes at a
noise for like 15 or 20 minutes at a time
time
time just to say that they were there and
just to say that they were there and
just to say that they were there and they could organize he talked about
they could organize he talked about
they could organize he talked about Palestinian women who would hang their
Palestinian women who would hang their
Palestinian women who would hang their laundry in the shape of the Palestinian
laundry in the shape of the Palestinian
laundry in the shape of the Palestinian flag because it was illegal to fly with
flag because it was illegal to fly with
flag because it was illegal to fly with so they would put their Reds in a
so they would put their Reds in a
so they would put their Reds in a triangle on the side and then their
triangle on the side and then their
triangle on the side and then their black screens and whites and stripes
black screens and whites and stripes
black screens and whites and stripes coming off so that if you looked from
coming off so that if you looked from
coming off so that if you looked from above or you looked up from below
above or you looked up from below
above or you looked up from below you saw the Palestinian flag he told us
you saw the Palestinian flag he told us
you saw the Palestinian flag he told us about the one in eight teams which is
about the one in eight teams which is
about the one in eight teams which is actually a herd of eighteen cows that
actually a herd of eighteen cows that
actually a herd of eighteen cows that Palestinians bought to challenge the
Palestinians bought to challenge the
Palestinians bought to challenge the Israeli dairy industry in the West Bank
Israeli dairy industry in the West Bank
Israeli dairy industry in the West Bank to him it was not a story of a revolt
to him it was not a story of a revolt
to him it was not a story of a revolt but a movement to reclaim Palestinian
but a movement to reclaim Palestinian
but a movement to reclaim Palestinian lives of course it was a little violent
lives of course it was a little violent
lives of course it was a little violent and we asked him about this the Second
and we asked him about this the Second
and we asked him about this the Second Intifada was much more violent and when
Intifada was much more violent and when
Intifada was much more violent and when we asked him his face fell he said you
we asked him his face fell he said you
we asked him his face fell he said you know the Geneva Conventions say that if
know the Geneva Conventions say that if
know the Geneva Conventions say that if you’re living in occupation it is legal
you’re living in occupation it is legal
you’re living in occupation it is legal to violently oppose that occupation he
to violently oppose that occupation he
to violently oppose that occupation he said it’s really hard to convince people
said it’s really hard to convince people
said it’s really hard to convince people not to when they know that
not to when they know that
not to when they know that internationally it’s legal and that they
internationally it’s legal and that they
internationally it’s legal and that they when they see that violence against them
when they see that violence against them
when they see that violence against them but he also went on to tell us about a
but he also went on to tell us about a
but he also went on to tell us about a program he started to train nonviolent
program he started to train nonviolent
program he started to train nonviolent Palestinian leaders his story was so
Palestinian leaders his story was so
Palestinian leaders his story was so inspiring
inspiring
inspiring listening to him and two other stories
listening to him and two other stories
listening to him and two other stories in Bethlehem I was introduced to a life
in Bethlehem I was introduced to a life
in Bethlehem I was introduced to a life spent resisting oppression
spent resisting oppression
spent resisting oppression I met refugees who still had the keys to
I met refugees who still had the keys to
I met refugees who still had the keys to their old houses and I was reminded that
their old houses and I was reminded that
their old houses and I was reminded that the wars I was learning about affected
the wars I was learning about affected
the wars I was learning about affected the real people around me I could feel
the real people around me I could feel
the real people around me I could feel my perception swinging toward Palestine
my perception swinging toward Palestine
my perception swinging toward Palestine and then two months later my perception
and then two months later my perception
and then two months later my perception shifted again when we went to live as
shifted again when we went to live as
shifted again when we went to live as settlement is a protected Jewish town
settlement is a protected Jewish town
settlement is a protected Jewish town inside the West Bank international
inside the West Bank international
inside the West Bank international courts have ruled them illegal and we
courts have ruled them illegal and we
courts have ruled them illegal and we had been hearing stories and witnessing
had been hearing stories and witnessing
had been hearing stories and witnessing abusive relationships between settlers
abusive relationships between settlers
abusive relationships between settlers and their Palestinian neighbors pretty
and their Palestinian neighbors pretty
and their Palestinian neighbors pretty much the whole trip and at first we
much the whole trip and at first we
much the whole trip and at first we weren’t really surprised a man implied
weren’t really surprised a man implied
weren’t really surprised a man implied that if we’ve supported Palestinians we
that if we’ve supported Palestinians we
that if we’ve supported Palestinians we supported Isis a woman told us that it
supported Isis a woman told us that it
supported Isis a woman told us that it was time the Palestinians were kicked
was time the Palestinians were kicked
was time the Palestinians were kicked out of Israel once and for all and sent
out of Israel once and for all and sent
out of Israel once and for all and sent to live in the Sinai and my hostfamily
to live in the Sinai and my hostfamily
to live in the Sinai and my hostfamily though wonderfully welcoming questioned
though wonderfully welcoming questioned
though wonderfully welcoming questioned my social views they questioned by
my social views they questioned by
my social views they questioned by pacifism and they questioned my faith in
pacifism and they questioned my faith in
pacifism and they questioned my faith in all honesty I was beginning to shut
all honesty I was beginning to shut
all honesty I was beginning to shut down and then against all eyes I made a
down and then against all eyes I made a
down and then against all eyes I made a friend in a synagogue she is that you’re
friend in a synagogue she is that you’re
friend in a synagogue she is that you’re younger than me and at the time that
younger than me and at the time that
younger than me and at the time that meant that she was just starting her
meant that she was just starting her
meant that she was just starting her mandatory service in the military she
mandatory service in the military she
mandatory service in the military she knew we spent time in the West Bank and
knew we spent time in the West Bank and
knew we spent time in the West Bank and so she started off by telling me what a
so she started off by telling me what a
so she started off by telling me what a great relationship her settlement had
great relationship her settlement had
great relationship her settlement had with the Palestinian neighbors around
with the Palestinian neighbors around
with the Palestinian neighbors around them to kind of prove her point she
them to kind of prove her point she
them to kind of prove her point she talked about one of her best friends in
talked about one of her best friends in
talked about one of her best friends in high school who is Palestinian the
high school who is Palestinian the
high school who is Palestinian the janitor obviously there’s a power
janitor obviously there’s a power
janitor obviously there’s a power difference there but I was really
difference there but I was really
difference there but I was really surprised because she really thought
surprised because she really thought
surprised because she really thought that this relationship we had with her
that this relationship we had with her
that this relationship we had with her janitor was a genuine friendship and
janitor was a genuine friendship and
janitor was a genuine friendship and then to explain her confusion with this
then to explain her confusion with this
then to explain her confusion with this Palestinian friend and her dedication to
Palestinian friend and her dedication to
Palestinian friend and her dedication to army service
army service
army service she told another story a few months
she told another story a few months
she told another story a few months before he came she was hitchhiking home
before he came she was hitchhiking home
before he came she was hitchhiking home from Jerusalem and as they approached
from Jerusalem and as they approached
from Jerusalem and as they approached the traffic circle that led into her
the traffic circle that led into her
the traffic circle that led into her community they saw a whole bunch of
community they saw a whole bunch of
community they saw a whole bunch of emergency lights so she told with the
emergency lights so she told with the
emergency lights so she told with the driver she said you can let me off here
driver she said you can let me off here
driver she said you can let me off here I see my brother-in-law over there he’s
I see my brother-in-law over there he’s
I see my brother-in-law over there he’s a paramedic so you can let me out here
a paramedic so you can let me out here
a paramedic so you can let me out here and I’ll just go meet up with him you
and I’ll just go meet up with him you
and I’ll just go meet up with him you can try and avoid the traffic so she
can try and avoid the traffic so she
can try and avoid the traffic so she grabbed her bag got out of the car and
grabbed her bag got out of the car and
grabbed her bag got out of the car and started walking toward her
started walking toward her
started walking toward her brother-in-law he turned around saw her
brother-in-law he turned around saw her
brother-in-law he turned around saw her and yelled run so she ran she had walked
and yelled run so she ran she had walked
and yelled run so she ran she had walked into a terrorist attack violent
into a terrorist attack violent
into a terrorist attack violent Palestinian extremists we’re using the
Palestinian extremists we’re using the
Palestinian extremists we’re using the confusion to stab Israelis she found
confusion to stab Israelis she found
confusion to stab Israelis she found herself in a bus station next to an
herself in a bus station next to an
herself in a bus station next to an armed Israeli soldier waiting until it
armed Israeli soldier waiting until it
armed Israeli soldier waiting until it was safe to go home she remembers that
was safe to go home she remembers that
was safe to go home she remembers that she couldn’t stop shaking for the first
she couldn’t stop shaking for the first
she couldn’t stop shaking for the first time I understood Israelis fear it
time I understood Israelis fear it
time I understood Israelis fear it doesn’t justify the occupation
doesn’t justify the occupation
doesn’t justify the occupation but the occupation doesn’t justify that
but the occupation doesn’t justify that
but the occupation doesn’t justify that stabbing for what must have been the
stabbing for what must have been the
stabbing for what must have been the thousandth time on this trip my
thousandth time on this trip my
thousandth time on this trip my perceptions started to shift again the
perceptions started to shift again the
perceptions started to shift again the finest story I’m going to tell you is
finest story I’m going to tell you is
finest story I’m going to tell you is often silenced Israelis didn’t talk
often silenced Israelis didn’t talk
often silenced Israelis didn’t talk about it
about it
about it Palestinians in the West Bank didn’t
Palestinians in the West Bank didn’t
Palestinians in the West Bank didn’t talk about it and when we asked nobody
talk about it and when we asked nobody
talk about it and when we asked nobody had any answers and so I made a promise
had any answers and so I made a promise
had any answers and so I made a promise that I was not going to contribute to
that I was not going to contribute to
that I was not going to contribute to that silencing when I got back and that
that silencing when I got back and that
that silencing when I got back and that I’m so I’m going to keep telling this
I’m so I’m going to keep telling this
I’m so I’m going to keep telling this story and I’m not going to stop until
story and I’m not going to stop until
story and I’m not going to stop until hopefully one day I won’t need to tell
hopefully one day I won’t need to tell
hopefully one day I won’t need to tell it so I’m going to introduce you to God
it so I’m going to introduce you to God
it so I’m going to introduce you to God that in the distance is Gaza seen from a
that in the distance is Gaza seen from a
that in the distance is Gaza seen from a Jewish farming community right over the
Jewish farming community right over the
Jewish farming community right over the border we spoke I don’t have time to
border we spoke I don’t have time to
border we spoke I don’t have time to tell you everything I learned but I
tell you everything I learned but I
tell you everything I learned but I could tell you a little bit of what one
could tell you a little bit of what one
could tell you a little bit of what one Gaza told us when she managed to get a
Gaza told us when she managed to get a
Gaza told us when she managed to get a permit out for the day in her words life
permit out for the day in her words life
permit out for the day in her words life in Gaza is unpredictable
in Gaza is unpredictable
in Gaza is unpredictable 60% of Gazans under the age of 30 are
60% of Gazans under the age of 30 are
60% of Gazans under the age of 30 are unemployed and suicide rates are rising
unemployed and suicide rates are rising
unemployed and suicide rates are rising doctors have started diagnosing
doctors have started diagnosing
doctors have started diagnosing permanent traumatic stress disorder and
permanent traumatic stress disorder and
permanent traumatic stress disorder and the UN estimates that 300,000
the UN estimates that 300,000
the UN estimates that 300,000 Palestinian children are in need of
Palestinian children are in need of
Palestinian children are in need of psychological care that they don’t have
psychological care that they don’t have
psychological care that they don’t have access to she told us that Godwin’s get
access to she told us that Godwin’s get
access to she told us that Godwin’s get 2 to 4 hours of electricity every day if
2 to 4 hours of electricity every day if
2 to 4 hours of electricity every day if they can afford it and two hours of
they can afford it and two hours of
they can afford it and two hours of water that’s mostly sewage the UN also
water that’s mostly sewage the UN also
water that’s mostly sewage the UN also estimates that Gaza will be unlivable by
estimates that Gaza will be unlivable by
estimates that Gaza will be unlivable by 2022 years since Hamas took control of
2022 years since Hamas took control of
2022 years since Hamas took control of Gaza in 2007 Israel has launched three
Gaza in 2007 Israel has launched three
Gaza in 2007 Israel has launched three offensives into the Gaza Strip 2008 2012
offensives into the Gaza Strip 2008 2012
offensives into the Gaza Strip 2008 2012 and 2014 this is a close-up of the Gaza
and 2014 this is a close-up of the Gaza
and 2014 this is a close-up of the Gaza border wall with a remote-control
border wall with a remote-control
border wall with a remote-control machine
during those offensives Hamas hides in
during those offensives Hamas hides in their extensive tunnel system under the
their extensive tunnel system under the
their extensive tunnel system under the city and most of the casualties are
city and most of the casualties are
city and most of the casualties are women and children our speaker told us
women and children our speaker told us
women and children our speaker told us that everybody has lost something
that everybody has lost something
that everybody has lost something she lost a nephew her cousin lost her
she lost a nephew her cousin lost her
she lost a nephew her cousin lost her legs and her sister lost an eye she says
legs and her sister lost an eye she says
legs and her sister lost an eye she says we have been reduced to numbers they say
we have been reduced to numbers they say
we have been reduced to numbers they say how many people died and not who died
how many people died and not who died
how many people died and not who died she says we are numbers now but we are
she says we are numbers now but we are
she says we are numbers now but we are not numbers she says we are people with
not numbers she says we are people with
not numbers she says we are people with hopes and dreams she says I don’t know
hopes and dreams she says I don’t know
hopes and dreams she says I don’t know what it feels like to not be afraid we
what it feels like to not be afraid we
what it feels like to not be afraid we are living dead in Gaza telling stories
are living dead in Gaza telling stories
are living dead in Gaza telling stories is not the be-all and end-all of peace
is not the be-all and end-all of peace
is not the be-all and end-all of peace building but it is a beginning and it’s
building but it is a beginning and it’s
building but it is a beginning and it’s a vital first step to changing the
a vital first step to changing the
a vital first step to changing the narrative that changes the perceptions
narrative that changes the perceptions
narrative that changes the perceptions that changes action and listening to
that changes action and listening to
that changes action and listening to stories we are held accountable to
stories we are held accountable to
stories we are held accountable to truths that make us feel uncomfortable
truths that make us feel uncomfortable
truths that make us feel uncomfortable it is easier to sit nicely and the
it is easier to sit nicely and the
it is easier to sit nicely and the knowledge that my side is right then to
knowledge that my side is right then to
knowledge that my side is right then to consider the idea that maybe their side
consider the idea that maybe their side
consider the idea that maybe their side is too it is easy to justify occupation
is too it is easy to justify occupation
is too it is easy to justify occupation when all you know is fear and it is easy
when all you know is fear and it is easy
when all you know is fear and it is easy to explain away by the resistance when
to explain away by the resistance when
to explain away by the resistance when all you know is oppression listening to
all you know is oppression listening to
all you know is oppression listening to stories makes us face truths that we’d
stories makes us face truths that we’d
stories makes us face truths that we’d rather ignore and telling our own
rather ignore and telling our own
rather ignore and telling our own stories forces others to do the same
stories forces others to do the same
stories forces others to do the same thing every story has something to add
thing every story has something to add
thing every story has something to add to the conversation so whether that
to the conversation so whether that
to the conversation so whether that conversation is about Israel and
conversation is about Israel and
conversation is about Israel and Palestine and Gaza or whether it’s about
Palestine and Gaza or whether it’s about
Palestine and Gaza or whether it’s about politics and
politics and
politics and right now which I’m kind of more afraid
right now which I’m kind of more afraid
right now which I’m kind of more afraid of than the Middle East or whether it’s
of than the Middle East or whether it’s
of than the Middle East or whether it’s about why your soccer team just can’t
about why your soccer team just can’t
about why your soccer team just can’t get along anymore change the narrative
get along anymore change the narrative
get along anymore change the narrative change the perceptions change the
change the perceptions change the
change the perceptions change the actions go tell your story
”
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