Other Voice
“Not in my name. Not for my security” wrote Nomika about the Israeli invasion of Gaza. Nomika is an Israeli who lives in Sderot, the town which has suffered from rocket attacks from Gaza every day for many years. Some of her friends have been killed. The children’s playground in Sderot contains a bomb shelter disguised as a huge dragon. Yet still she believes that war solves nothing. She is unpopular with most of her neighbours, but she is part of a small network of Israelis called “Other Voice”. They advocate friendship as a crucial element of peace-building with the Palestinians. “The government has spent millions to equip every house, bus stop and playground with bomb shelters,” said Nomika, “but not a penny on building relationships between people in Gaza and Sderot.” Nomika and her colleagues have deliberately made friends with people in Gaza by ’phone, and they have brought together groups of people from both sides. Their courage is astounding.
New Profile
Ruth was amazed when her son told her that he planned to refuse to go into the army, even if it meant prison. She was forced to re-think everything. Now, although she remains a committed Zionist and a believer in Israel, she is seriously concerned about the militarization of Israeli society. Most 18-year-old Jewish Israelis do military service for two or three years . The men also serve as reservists for three weeks every year until age 44. Children have a military number from birth and they are introduced to military organisations from age 16. Many school geography field trips go to battlefields. Most Israelis (justifiably) feel threatened and believe that they need a strong army. So armed soldiers are visible everywhere, in Israel as well as in the West Bank. Fighter planes and submarines are part of public art. The army is an everyday part of life, a fact that cannot but contribute to violence. And it encourages young people to leave their consciences at the door. Ruth works with “New Profile” whose aim is to work for the de-militarization of Israeli society. Without advertising or inciting, they offer counselling to refusers, and to the parents of refusers. Hundreds approach them for help. Like Nomika, Ruth has experienced bitter opposition from her peers, but she is determined to continue.
An Amazing Kibbutz
Dov Avital lives in Kibbutz Metzer, right by the separation barrier. Hetold us the amazing story of cooperation between the kibbutz and neighbouring Palestinian villages on both sides of the border. The kibbutzniks argued successfully that any services provided for them by the government should be provided equally for Macer village. Metzer and Macer struggled together against Israeli beaurocracy to gain permission for joint agricultural projects. They have negotiated together with the Israeli army over the routing of the separation barrier. The kibbutz argued that the land needed for the barrier should be taken equally from their land and from the land of of Qaffin village. Sadly they were ignored, and only Qaffin’s land was taken. Don believes that the present government’s policy towards the West Bank and the Palestinians is “crazy”. Such people are rare in Israel, although according to Arieh, a leader at Kibbutz Ziqim, near Gaza, 40% of Israelis want peace.
But what about the other 60%?
Miriam was our Israeli guide on a tour to Masada and the Dead Sea. As we drove through military check points she steadfastly made no comment. When asked about the general situation, she said “Things are OK at the moment.” Many Israelis take this view. They just want to get on with their lives, bring up their children and enjoy a good life. The status quo is fine because the occupation hardly impinges on daily life, and they prefer not to think about Palestinians at all. They shut out the fact that a few miles from their front door, there is an occupied country and there are people whose lives are severely restricted. If pushed, many would say that they see no prospect of living in harmony with Palestinians because the two cultures are so different. Just build a wall and forget what’s on the other side.
My Swedish colleague, Per, met David on a bus in Israel. David pointed to Per’s Lonely Planet Guide to Israel and the Palestinian Territories. “You can remove the last name,” he said. “It’s all Israel. Palestine is a figment of the imagination.” He spoke of how he came to Israel from Latvia, and how both he and his sons served in the army. “But,” said Per, “international law recognises Palestine as occupied territory.” The reply was terse. “International law was invented by European countries that haven’t been at war for a long time. As far as I am concerned, might is right.” Scary stuff, but typical of many Israelis.
A few religious Israelis go further. They believe the whole of Israel/Palestine was given to the Jews by God. Palestinians are welcome to live in “Israel” so long as they are willing to accept this. If not they should go somewhere else. “Jews have only one country. Arabs have nine”. This common attitude ignores the fact of Palestinian identity. It’s rather like suggesting that there is no difference between Britons, Irish, Americans, Australians, New Zealanders and Canadians. There is a also a tiny minority of Israelis who favour expelling the Palestinians by force.
Solutions?
A “Two-state solution” is the favoured option for many. This would involve a Palestinian state in the West Bank and Gaza, and mutual recognition between Israel and Palestine. One huge obstacle is the half million Israeli settlers living in the West Bank. In order to provide enough land for a viable Palestinian state, many (if not all) of the settlements would have to be evacuated, which could lead to civil war within Israel itself. Another obstacle is the reluctance of some Palestinian groups to recognize Israel explicitly.
Others advocate a “One-state solution” with Israelis and Palestinians living as equal citizens of a single country, perhaps involving some sort of federation. One big obstacle to this is the Israeli insistence on a specifically Jewish state.
The only certainty is that the seeds of peace will not germinate for many years to come.
Peter Balaam. 26 March 2010