Thursday, November 29, 2007

Jerusalem, Day 2

This was a full day of meetings with various individuals and a tour led by a volunteer for the Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions (UCAHD).  We met with Salim Munayer, a Palestinian Christian and leader of MUSASHALA, an organization to promote relations between Muslims, Christians and Jews; Jonathon Kuttab, a Christian attorney and human rights activist; and a rabbi, who moved to Israel from Australia.  
Salim sees the land conflict as a symptom of identity conflict.  He contends that two nations are living in the same house.  Both Jews and Palestinians want to keep a distinct identity.  He believes that each is a threat to the other just because of who they are--not what they do.  In a attempt to find a method to work on conflict resolution, he took 30 Israelis and Palestinians into the desert.  When he put one Palestinian and one Israeli on a camel, each had to depend on the other.  The desert didn't belong to either one and they were forced to share food and water.  Salim believes the imbalance of power disappears when people are on the same level.  
More on the events of this day will have to be shared on another day.

4 comments:

Wonderingviestion said...

Ann, great information. I was wondering how you respond to these people. Their situation is truly sad and should not of happened. Do the people you talk to think peace between the Isralies and Palestinians is possible and what must their leaders do to achieve this peace?

Wondering

Ann said...

The Palestinian Christians we have talked to do seem to have hope for peace. They believe Israelis must stop taking over Palestinian land and tear down the walls dividing Palestinians from Palestinians and from Jews. Most are not hopeful of anything significant coming from Annapolis because the U.S. administration is so supportive of Israel without requiring their support of human rights for Palestinians. Ann

Teri said...

What a full day. It sounds like you have met with some people who really understand what makes for peace...now if only the people in power could meet these same people!

I hope you have a chance to meet Naim Ateek from Sabeel. He too does great work.

peace, Teri

Wonderingviestion said...

You stated that you are talking to the Christians in Palestine. Are these people also conveying what the Arab Muslums and Jews think. I will suspect that Christian passion and Jewish passion may be different.