Reflections on the boarded boat

I've waited until now to write anything about the issue of the botched Israeli attempt to board the activists' boat going to Gaza because I've been very busy and out of town, and, I wanted to let things "play out" a little in the media before commenting. Even though this blog is somewhat in retirement for the moment, I still try to keep to the spirit of it by only posting things that you might not be able to get from the mainstream media.

That being said, I watched in amazement, as many of you did, at the whole blundered military operation to take over the activists' ship. I was surprised at the uprising that took place on the ship (keep in mind the Israeli Navy has boarded activists' ships in the past without incident), and I immediately thought, "I bet that's the ship that has the most Turks on it." On the surface, this thought may sound racist or at least an over-generalization, but this thought came to me out of experience with incidents similar to this. First of all, many Muslims (especially those residing in the Middle East or the vicinity) very rightly have a lot of anger toward Israel, and sometimes this anger is expressed in violent ways (in addition, some of the international activists respond out of anger and with some level of violence as well). Secondly, I knew that many of the Turks aboard had not been as thoroughly trained in nonviolent tactics. There is a lesson here for those who would work in solidarity with other peace activists: we need to be able to know and trust those around us and their responses; we need to know that they are just as trained and committed to nonviolence as we are. I've been at many protests where a few more violent people (i.e., rock throwers) have spoiled an entire protest because of their violent acts.

The next thing I thought about the incident was that the activists need to make a decision about future attempts to break the Israeli blockade: Do they want the attempts to be based solely on nonviolent principles, or do they want to claim the right to use violence in self defense? It is completely in keeping and allowed within international law for people to defend themselves when being attacked, and all the more so when those being attacked are in international waters (in this case, Israel's boarding ships is actually piracy). The activists certainly did not go out of their way to hunt down Israeli ships and attack them; regardless of how you spin it, the Israeli Navy is the one who initiated the attack. However, if the activists choose to claim their right to self defense, they need to know that Israel will not continue to treat them the same ways as Israel has in the past--the activists will then be seen as a paramilitary force, or terrorists, guerrillas, etc. The activists cannot have it both ways (being nonviolent and claiming the right to self defense), and they must choose which way they will go. Being unclear about this will tempt Israel to automatically place them into the more violent camp.

Finally, a lot of time has been wasted in the US media trying to figure out who initiated the "first acts of violence" in this incident. Focusing on this question reveals the US bias, because it is completely obvious how one-sided the "fight" was. Nine people are dead and many more wounded, and all of the dead are activists, not Israelis. If this does not show the balance of power, I don't know what does. It doesn't matter who started it, the Navy has no right to fire and kill people when no lethal force has been used on them. It is obvious that the Navy overreacted, regardless of who threw the first punch. Of course, the other side to this question shows another bias--that the US believes it's ok to preemptively strike and ignore and trample on international laws (since the US does this, we also support Israel in doing it). Simply the fact of boarding a ship in international waters is an act of aggression, so the fact that Israel did this BEFORE the activists responded shows who started it. And, this all boils down to the other fact that Israel is patrolling another countries border and instituting a siege, which is an act of war.

As I have stated over and over, I don't support any of this violence, and that's the reason why I choose not to associate myself with activists who will tolerate or try to justify a violent response of self defense. The tragedy of the people who were killed is bringing the spotlight on Israel, however, and this may bring some changes. One change that has already happened is that Egypt has re-opened its border with Gaza, and this is a start (though it does not end the blockade since Egypt's crossings are limited in the amount of aid that can enter--the crossings are mostly for people and not large semi-trucks, etc.). Egypt's response is welcome and very late, as there is no way Israel's blockade of Gaza can continue without Egypt's cooperation (ironically enough, it's not just Israel that's to blame for this misery). Now it's time to revisit the issue of Israel patrolling Gaza's waters. If Israel wants to keep it's land border's with Gaza closed, that Israel's decision, but it is not lawful for Israel to patrol Gaza's sea borders.

This incident in international waters gives the US and the rest of the world another chance to pressure Israel on its violations of international law. Let's hope that the Obama administration will not just apply a little pressure when all this is in the media, but that they will actually increase the pressure for a just resolution to all of this, regardless of whether the Israeli/Palestinian conflict is making the news.

Video on Inequality for Arabs in Israel

Check out this short 15 min. film on the drastic inequality between Jewish and Arab Israelis. This film really highlights how untenable the current situation is for minority "citizens" of Israel.

http://vimeo.com/10302596

Presentation at Eastside Quaker meeting, Seattle

On April 18, from 11:30--12:30 pm, I will be giving a presentation on Palestine at

Eastside Friends Meeting

4160 158th Ave SE

Bellevue, WA 98006


Please join us if you can!

Palestine Presentation Online

Since it is taking me soooo very long to schedule presentations, I have posted online the Power Point presentations I hope to start giving very soon. You can download the three Power Point files here. Of course, the pics will hopefully be enhanced by the verbal presentation.

I still continue to be very busy with full time work, so I am struggling to find time to devote to this important passion. It is quite frustrating, but I'm trying to learn to be more patient :)

Ad for Gaza Journal Reading

Dear Friends,

It's been way too long since I've posted anything. I have been quite busy, but that's not a good excuse. I have finished my presentation and am ready to start giving it, but I will probably wait until after the holidays, as it will be easier to schedule then.

For now, I'd like to pass along an advertisement for something I had a very small hand in developing:

SEVEN DAYS FROM A GAZA DIARY

passages from the diary of Khulood Ghanem

adapted and edited by Edward Mast

SUNDAY, December 6, 4PM

Kings Books

218 St Helens Ave in downtown Tacoma free admission

With post-performance Q&A with playwright Ed Mast and a friend of the diarist

A riveting personal account of the first seven days of Israel’s assault on Gaza, written by a young woman living under the bombing.

Excerpts from the diary of 27-year old Khulood Ghanem, who wrote about her experiences throughout Israel's 22-day assault on Gaza last winter.

The first seven days of her diary have been adapted for reading performance by Seattle playwright Edward Mast. Featuring actors Meg Savlov, Teresa Kennedy, and Juliana Meira Do Valle.

A rare insight into a young woman's attempt to grapple with extraordinary events.

“ . . . . at this moment I could see nothing, all I remember was the biggest explosion I have ever seen, I started to run away but to where? The sound of bombs and explosions was horrible, the ground was moving up and down, I said, it is not a joke, it is a real, the war has started . . . . “

Update on life, presentations, etc.

I apologize for not writing more on this blog recently. It takes more time and energy than I anticipated to get settled again (find housing, work, etc.) after being overseas for a year. I have only just now moved into a new apartment, and this week, I am starting my normal full-time work schedule.

I am enjoying my new work as a phone counselor to people try to quit tobacco use, and the job is challenging. I'm looking forward to being able to work from home after about the middle of July.

So far, I have no specific plans to return to Palestine, as it is taking me sooo very long to get settled and stable again in the US. But, Palestine is always on my mind.

I am noticing that I had more culture shock (both going and returning to Palestine) than I realized, but I am recognizing the culture shock only as I start to lose it. Specifically, I can now see that I have been more irritable than usual in my personal life over the last months (in Palestine and upon returning). I am thankful that that irritability was only temporary, and I'll be more conscientious of that the next time, I suppose.


I have pretty much finished preparing my Palestine presentation, but I am waiting to schedule speaking engagements until I'm a little more settled and people have returned from their summer vacations. I'll post updates about this on the blog as all of this develops. I am sorry that I have not been able to give presentations sooner, but I hope the quality of them will outweigh the delay.


Finally, a few action items below. I have some friends who are planning trips to Palestine and the Middle East. One person you can read about below; the other is very close to me, but I don't think she has a website. Let me know if you're interested in supporting some other local peace workers in Palestine.

http://students.washington.edu/sjpal/Jehadsparticipation.htm


http://www.cpt.org/node/7716
Also, an action item for the people of At-Tuwani, Palestine, to help them bring electricity to their village.

BBC article: UN: Freeze Jerusalem demolitions

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8028564.stm

UN: Freeze Jerusalem demolitions

The UN has asked Israel to freeze all pending demolition orders in East Jerusalem and to do more to provide for the housing needs of Palestinians.

Almost a third of all Palestinian homes in East Jerusalem have been built without a permit, says a UN report.

This puts 60,000 Palestinians at risk of having their houses demolished by Israeli authorities.

The mayor of Jerusalem, Nir Barkat, has acknowledged a planning crisis for all of Jerusalem.

The report, produced by the UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, says the root of the problem in a lack of adequate urban planning by the Jerusalem municipality which controls East Jerusalem.

Children, who represent over 50 % of the Palestinian population, are particularly affected by the displacement of their families UN report 'The Planning Crisis in East Jerusalem' Demolitions build Jerusalem tension Obstacles to peace: Jerusalem

Palestinians wanting to build a home can only seek permission to do so in a small area. It comprises about 13% of East Jerusalem and is already densely populated.

As a result at least 28% of all homes have been constructed illegally.

Out of the quarter of a million Palestinians living in East Jerusalem, the UN says, 60,000 are at risk of having their homes demolished by the Israeli authorities.

Plans promised

Israeli officials reacted to the UN report by saying that building codes are enforced even-handedly across the city.

Jerusalem's municipality has said all Jerusalem residents are treated equally whether built to house Jewish or Palestinian families it says, all illegal buildings must be pulled down.

The office of the mayor of Jerusalem, Mayor Nir Barkat, disputed the figures given in the UN report.

But Mr Barkat admitted that there was a planning crisis in all of Jerusalem that "affects Jews, Christians and Muslims alike".

HOUSING CRISIS In 2009, 19 home demolitions carried out, displacing 100 Palestinians Palestinians can apply for building permission in 13% of East Jerusalem Application process complicated and expensive 28% of Palestinian homes illegal 1500 demolition orders pending 1,100 housing unit shortfall per year for Palestinians (Source: UN Ocha)

A spokesman said, a master plan for the city would be announced in the coming weeks.

The UN report says that approximately 1,500 demolition orders have been issued and are pending. If carried out they would make 9000 people homeless, half of them children.

Overall the UN estimates a gap of about 1,100 housing units per year in the Palestinian community in east Jerusalem.

Those who build illegally not only risk losing their home, but also "face heavy fines imposed by the Jerusalem municipality and, in some cases prison sentences".

Hardest hit are the children, says the report.

"In the immediate aftermath of demolitions, children often face gaps in education and limited access to basic services such as health care and clean water. Longer-term impacts include symptoms of psychological distress."

Israel has occupied East Jerusalem since 1967. It has annexed the city and declared its east and west Israel's eternal capital.

This is not recognised by the international community, with the east of the city considered occupied territory.

Palestinians hope to establish their capital in East Jerusalem. They say Israel uses demolition orders to try to force them out of their homes.

Support Conscientious Objectors in Israel

Please take a look at this website and consider supporting conscientious objectors in Israel:

http://www.refusersolidarity.net/


Specifically, recently Israel has rounded up a bunch of conscientious objectors, threatened them, and harassed them. The main action item on the page above asks you to write to the Israeli military to protest the harassment of these conscientious objectors.

Welcome Back Party this weekend; Pres. @ King's

Please consider attending a Welcome Back Potluck for me at University Friends Meeting in Seattle this Saturday, May 2, at 6:30 pm. I'll try to have some pics available from my year in Palestine, but mostly, I'm looking forward to seeing everyone there!

UFM address: 4001 9th Ave NE Seattle, WA

Please contact me if you have any questions or need directions.

In other news, all apologies for not advertising this, but last Friday, April 24, I did a small presentation (along with two other presenters) of my year in Palestine at Tacoma's King's Books. I am just now finishing work on a complete slide presentation of my year in Palestine, and I hope to begin scheduling these presentations soon.

However, I will only be available weekends to give presentations, as I have secured a full-time job in Seattle, starting May 4. I am still trying to figure our my housing situation, so I am not completely settled yet, but I'm looking forward to having more stability back in my life soon. I am very thankful to have gotten employment so soon after returning to the States!

Interview in Magazine

Please see the link or below for an interview of a friend and me about our work in Palestine. Much more discussion about the year in Palestine to come later!

http://www.spectrummagazine.org/articles/spectrum_interview/2009/04/02/peacemaking_palestine#comments

Peace-making in Palestine

By Rachel Davies

Treye & Janelle with a Palestinian child

Treye McKinney and Janelle McIntyre* are two extraordinary young people committed to non-violence through active engagement with the needs of Palestinians in the West Bank. Together they served at the Palestinian Aida Refugee Camp in Bethlehem from February 2008 through March 2009. Treye has also volunteered with Christian Peacemaker Teams and has participated in various protests against the unjust treatment of Palestinians and the Israeli violence in Gaza.

Question: Treye, you mention on your blog biography that the way you experienced violence as a child directed your journey into active pacifism. Can you talk about that a little? What other texts and models have helped shape your philosophy?

Treye: Yes, the physical abuse I witnessed and experienced as a child actively influenced and still influences my pacifism. I don't believe my past experiences were the deciding factor in convincing me of the truth of pacifism, but they were an influence; now that I have accepted pacifism as a belief and way of life, my childhood memories give my beliefs a personal side. They are not just heady theories. Perhaps the greatest lesson I learned from my childhood was that responding to violence with violence never helps or improves any situation: it only exacerbates and escalates it.

I have not always been a pacifist. Growing up, my father was physically abusive. When I was about 15, I decided that I would not tolerate violence from my father anymore, so I started fighting back to "defend" myself, my brother, and my mother. The situation at home went from bad to worse, and eventually I realized that one of us, either my father or I, was literally going to kill the other person. Someone had to leave. At 16 I left home and haven't spent much time there since. It takes time to heal from years of observing and receiving violence, and it wasn't until I was 21 that I was really able to ponder the question of pacifism and nonviolence.

The greatest influence on my decision to become a pacifist was my reading of the New Testament and Jesus’ words and example of love and nonviolence. Other influential figures for me were Tolstoy, Gandhi, and Martin Luther King, Jr., but all of these characters cited the New Testament as the basis for much (if not all) of their pacifism. There are few clearer exhortations than "Love your enemies" and few stronger examples of applied pacifism than Jesus' and the early church's example of turning the cheek--refusing to fight back against the Romans and others, even at the risk of their lives and the lives of those they loved. The Sermon on the Mount has always haunted me, and I happened to be reading this text around the time of 9/11/01. The US response to the attacks struck me as blatantly contradicting Jesus’ words, and that sent me on a personal quest to develop my own beliefs about war and violence.

It was several years before I finally took the stand as a pacifist, but after I made the decision, peace work seemed to find me. I remember the evening when I became a pacifist. Previously I had supported nonviolence, but believed that there were times when it might be necessary to use violence on behalf of the oppressed. A college professor asked me, "Would you want someone to violently liberate you from an oppressor?" "No," I answered. "So then why would you do that for someone else? If God is the defender of the oppressed, let Him do that. Don't do the job for him." These words deeply impacted me, and from that point forward, I fully embraced pacifism.

After this decision, I went on to organize a club and many different antiwar activities on the Walla Walla College campus to raise awareness about violence in our society and nation. After college, I volunteered with at-risk school children and the homeless for several years, while also continuing to work and protest against much of US international policy.

Question: Violence and injustice are a reality in many parts of the world. Why the interest in Palestine/Israel?

Treye: As I watched the run-up to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq several years ago, I realized that these wars were really symptoms of an utterly failed half-century long US foreign policy in the Middle East. At the heart of this was America's blind support for Israeli policy, regardless of its effect on other local populations. If there could be a peace between Palestinians and Israelis, this would likely result in Israel making peace with the rest of its Arab neighbors. And if the US could be seen as a more equal-handed force in the region, then there would be much more peace in the world in general. Right now, Israel is the largest recipient of American aid dollars (mostly military), and the Palestinians are the largest and longest running refugee crisis in the world. Finding a just peace for Palestinians and Israelis would greatly impact other conflicts in the Middle East, both current and future.

I have wanted to live in Palestine since about 2003, so having the opportunity to spend a year there recently was a dream come true. The Palestinian situation is personal to me, as Palestinians are caught in a cycle of violence similar, in some ways, to my own story. My father was physically abused by his father, and although my dad swore never to repeat his father's mistakes, he did continue them. On a much larger scale, Jews received persecution for hundreds of years in Europe, and after the Holocaust, they swore never to allow that type of persecution to happen again. However, Jews in the state of Israel are now repeating many of their oppressor’s mistakes by persecuting the Palestinians. To really break free from these cycles of violence, a person or group must say, "Enough! I will not continue the violence, regardless of the cost. I will not respond to antagonism, violence, or aggression with my own violence. The buck stops here. I want to be governed by love, not hatred."

Janelle: I came to Palestine to complete the Field Practicum portion of my Masters in Public Health, Global Health, from Loma Linda University. I chose this region because of my interest in social justice and how it relates to overall health. The Israeli presence and current political situation significantly affects the health of Palestinians. Many social, economic, and political barriers affect the access Palestinians have to health care.

Question: Treye, you participated in quite a few Palestinian protests during your time overseas. What happened at some of those protests? Why did you decide to abandon them?

Treye: What I witnessed at Palestinian protests (anti-Wall, anti-Occupation) greatly disturbed me. There is propaganda on both sides of this dispute, and one of the pieces of propaganda coming from some Palestinians is that the protests are completely peaceful and nonviolent. While the Palestinian demonstrations are not as lethal as Israeli responses (with soldiers carrying M-16s, body armor, and supported by tanks and fighter jets), the protesters display much anger and hatred. Rock throwing, which can also be very dangerous, is a traditional part of most demonstrations. The situation is very much a David vs. Goliath scenario, only the giant is better armed and protected than the original giant, while David is still slinging rocks with slingshots.

While I think I understand why some Palestinians are angry and resort to violence, as a nonviolent pacifist I do not support responding to any situation or person with violence or hatred. Ultimately, I had to withdraw my support of the protests.

Question: Both of you worked at the Aida Palestinian Refugee Camp in Bethlehem, West Bank. What kinds of people did you work with there? How do residents arrive at the camp and for how long do they stay? Where do they go when they leave?

Treye: I went to Aida Camp to teach computer skills and English to children in grades 2-9. Refugees at Aida, like most other Palestinian refugees, fled to the camp in 1948 because of violence and pressure from Jewish militias that helped establish the modern state of Israel. Altogether, there are about 7 million Palestinian refugees (total Palestinian population is about 10 million), coming mostly from two wars: the war for the establishment of Israel in 1948 and the Six-Day War in 1967 (when Israel conquered the West Bank).

Because unemployment is extremely high in the camps (70-80%), most Palestinian refugees never leave them. There are now several generations of refugees that have all lived "temporarily" in camps supported by the United Nations. Once in a while, a person or family manages to save enough money to move away from the camp, and usually when this happens, they move into a city in Palestine or overseas (many Palestinians, if given the choice, would chose not to live in Palestine because of the violence and oppression).

Janelle: Treye and I also volunteered at the Al-Rowwad Cultural and Theatre Training Center, a local community center serving the 4,000 residents of Aida, 66% of whom are under the age of 18. Al-Rowwad supports drama, traditional dabka dance, and choral music.

Question: Janelle, together with another volunteer you started the Health and Environmental Education Activities Program (THEEAP) for children at Aida. What sorts of activities does THEEAP provide for Aida residents?

Janelle: As Program Coordinator for the Environmental & Health Unit at Al-Rowwad, I helped develop and implement THEEAP for 50 Aida camp children. Prior to this, there was no structured health or environmental education program for children.

THEEAP is a 12-week program providing children with daily workshops and drama, craft, and physical activities. It teaches oral health, nutrition, physical fitness and environmental awareness. For example, to teach kids about recycling we have them make crafts out of discarded materials they can find around the camp. We also coordinate presenters for women’s fitness classes and facilitate nutritional classes, weight-loss and oral-health workshops, focus groups, kids educational and recreational field trips, and more.

Question: What was the health condition of the children you worked with?

Janelle: Children in the camp suffer from problems related to bad oral hygiene, lack of nutrition, and obesity. Their seemingly endless consumption of candy is a major contributor to these problems. Even though candy is more expensive than healthy food such as fruit, a local mother explained that kids buy sweets as a status symbol: as soon as they get any money they spend it on sweets.

Another issue is the lack of safe space for kids to be physically active. There are no parks near the camp, and the Israeli Wall separates children from the olive groves in which they used to play. Even though most families are very poor, every household has at least one television. Because it can be dangerous for children to play in the streets, most girls are not allowed to. They stay inside watching Arabic soap operas and music videos.

In July another volunteer and I were finally able to take 28 out of the 50 children that participated in THEEAP to a nearby dental clinic run by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). Prior to our first visit, it took six weeks for three Palestinian women (who work in health fields) to determine from UNRWA that it could give the children free cleanings.

I was amazed that people from the Aida Refugee Camp (for whom the clinic is specifically designed to help) did not know they could get their teeth cleaned for free. It is true that the clinic is severely understaffed, but my coworker and I had no problem taking the children each morning. None of the 50 children in our program had attended the clinic before, and the 15 women in our focus group had never taken their children for a dental check-up or cleaning.

Question: What is the future of THEEAP?

Janelle: Due to a lack of funding, volunteers, and local initiative (which is the basis of sustainability), THEEAP has not continued in its ideal form. But it has been simplified to deal with these constraints. Last fall, the second session of THEEAP incorporated graduates from the first session as “student teachers,” who performed a drama on the importance of oral health.

Question: How do you see humanitarian service as integral to the work of peacemaking?

Treye: Humanitarian service is a basic component of peacemaking because there are certain things people need in order to survive and act human. When people are deprived of their basic necessities (such as the people of Gaza, who have been suffering from a severe Israeli blockade against humanitarian supplies), they lash out like animals. They become desperate to regain dignity, respect, and the elements needed for survival.

When people have their basic needs met, however, they are much less likely to resort to violence in order to solve problems. It is usually only in periods of calm and health that people can reflect upon the questions of violence and peacemaking. In my own personal situation, I could not reflect properly about peacemaking until I had spent several years away from the violent situation in which I was raised. Only then could I make a mature decision to follow a different path. People need to have their basic needs met before they can really step outside of the cycle of violence and live differently.

Question: You inspired a good following where you both studied at Walla Walla College. But Walla Walla is a conservative Adventist school, and your passion for Palestine undermines the “traditional,” one-sided, rigid Christian support for the state of Israel. How do you see younger generations of Christians responding to the ideal of non-violence, especially in Israel/Palestine?

Treye: There is some hope that younger Christians will one day realize that the support of Israel's violent policies is not only bad for Palestinians, but also extremely damaging for Jews around the world. These policies actually threaten the future existence of Israel.

There is a possibility that the Christian support for Israel will start to change slightly in the coming years. However, I do not see much hope for today's Christians returning to the nonviolent pacifism of their past, exemplified by Jesus and the first Christians. Christian history is wrought with violence, and I fear it will continue to be such. There will always be a few people in various religions who believe in and are committed to nonviolent pacifism, but I do not see that tradition becoming popular in mainstream Christianity again.

Question: Treye, you spend active time each day in private meditation and prayer. How does this prepare you for the work of peace-making?

Treye: My private meditation and prayer is the bed-rock of my peace work. Without it, I do not think I would have become or stayed a pacifist. The time I spend each day seeking the Spirit prepares me for life's frustrations.

For me, nonviolence is not just about the absence of war or fighting, but about continually preparing myself to respond to each person and situation with love and nonviolence. I do not consider myself to be a nonviolent person (nonviolence is not something one fully attains, but a lifestyle one attempts). I try to be nonviolent, and by continuously seeking the Spirit, I pray that I can live a life of peace, pacifism, and patience.

Question: What about when non-violence doesn’t bring about change? How do you see efforts for non-violence working and not working for Palestinians?

Treye: For me, nonviolence is not foremost about bringing change. I am not nonviolent because I want to manipulate a situation; nonviolence is not a tactic, but a way of life. I am nonviolent because I have to be, because it is the right thing, what God requires.

We pray that nonviolence will change things, and that above all, the situation will not be worsened because of nonviolence. To my knowledge, there is no significant nonviolent movement in Palestine at the moment. But there are individuals and small groups that act nonviolently.

I think nonviolence could be quite effective in the current situation because Israel is very concerned with its international image. If Israel was seen by the rest of the world to be abusing nonviolent Palestinians on a regular basis, it could threaten Israel's ongoing occupation of Palestine. However, much work will have to be done in Palestine before the masses adopt nonviolence. Their struggle is one for dignity and freedom, and it is very difficult for an oppressed people to react nonviolently to their oppressors. We continue to pray that there will be a change of heart on both sides, that all people will realize the futility of violence and embrace the more peaceful way of coexistence.

Question: Early Adventism preached pacifism and encouraged its church members in the military to enlist as conscientious objectors. How do you see modern Adventism relating to its non-violent heritage?

Treye: I do not see much in modern Adventism relating to its nonviolent roots. To be a legitimate prophetic voice, Adventism needs to reclaim this struggle for nonviolence. Adventism was originally not only nonviolent, but also anti-American imperialism. But today, modern Adventism supports both the military and many of America's imperialistic tendencies.

Question: Treye, your last blog entry states that you return from Palestine less idealistic, less hopeful for the situation in the Middle East, and with less belief in the ability of humans to do good. This is depressing. What hope is left for those longing for peace and wholeness in our battered world?

Treye: Yes, I am depressed about the situation in Israel and Palestine, and I do not have much hope that the conflict will be resolved quickly or easily. Peace work is slow, frustrating work, and we cannot concentrate only on seeing results.

I suppose that I will continue trudging on with peace work at some level or another, not because I believe I will always see results, but because God has called us to be peacemakers. Jesus said that the poor will always be with us, but he didn't add to that, "So, don't help the poor." Instead, he spent all his time helping them. Similarly, Jesus said that in the end there will be wars, but that he and we should spend our time loving our enemies, praying for them, and working against all forces that plant seeds of destruction.

Treye McKinney graduated from Walla Walla College in 2004 with majors in Theology and English. His blog can be accessed at www.palestine-delegation.blogspot.com.

Janelle McIntyre* graduated from Walla Walla College in 2004 and completed her Masters in Public Health at Loma Linda University in 2008.

*Janelle McIntyre is a pseudonym.

Back Safe

I have now returned to the US safe and sound, and I am looking forward to reconnecting with everyone after I've recovered from a little jet lag.

Good-bye Palestine

This will almost certainly be my last post from Palestine for this trip. I want to reiterate how thankful I am to have had this opportunity! I have learned much about the situation here, other cultures, and myself.

Palestinian society is a broken society. Some of the dysfunction stems from Israel's brutal occupation, but some of the hurt also comes from problems almost universal in Arab culture. Part of the dysfunction in the Arab world may be a result of Western colonial influence for more than a century, but I believe Arabs also need to take some responsibility, pause from placing blame, and work together to resolve these issues.

I carry home with me some scars and brokenness from living here for a year. My pain for this culture is nothing compared to what people experience here who do not have the luxury to leave. I return to the US less idealistic than when I left and less hopeful for the situation in the Middle East. After what I've witnessed, I have a little less faith in the ability of humans to do some good.

Sometimes we must criticize the things we love. This is true for me and Palestine, and it is true for me and Judaism as well. I do not mention my frustrations with Palestinians out of a desire to do damage; rather, I critique in hopes that one day things will change for the better. If I were silent in the face of injustice or oppression, wherever it exists, especially with those I love, I would only be hurting the cause. We do no good, only damage, by keeping silent when those we love do harm.

For all of my frustrations in Palestine, I leave believing as strongly as ever that the Israeli Occupation of Palestine must end, for the benefit of both Israelis and Palestinians. I believe strong than ever in the Palestinian right to live in freedom and security, exercising self-determination. The fight here is for humans rights and freedoms--to be seen as human--just as much as it is a fight for anything else.

Please continue to keep this land and peoples in your prayers. There is a word from the Prophet Jeremiah in the Jewish Scriptures: "Pray for the peace of Babylon, for in their peace, you will have peace." These words are almost unprecedented in Jewish Scriptures because they ask Jews to pray for the peace of their enemies. Today, I think we, both in the US and Israel, should pray for the peace of the Middle East, for our peace is directly tied to the peace here. Prayer is empty, however, unless it is backed up by action: we cannot pray for peace while profiteering from the wars in the Middle East. We must stop our support of these wars that terrorize the people of Palestine and the Middle East, and instead, seek a real, just peace.

Funds; Classes; Injury; Right of Return, etc.

NOTICE: AS OF APRIL 1, 2009, UNIVERSITY FRIENDS MEETING WILL NO LONGER BE ABLE TO RECEIVE DONATIONS FOR MY WORK IN PALESTINE. Please do not send UFM donations after this date. If you wish to make further donations after April 1, please contact me directly.

In this post: Finished classes in Hebron; friend's brother almost kidnapped; activist critically wounded; reflection on history of right of return; Thank You! for a great learning experience in Palestine.


This week I finished teaching my English classes in Hebron. The students were sad to see me leave: they threw a party, gave gifts, asked me when I'm coming back, and continue to express that they want more Englishes classes if/when I return. My return to the US is bitter-sweet for me: I am anxious to reconnect with family and friends, but I also will miss Palestine and the friends I've made here.

Last week, when I arrived at work, my co-worker, a girl born and raised in the States but whose family comes from Hebron, was very upset, shaking and confused. She told me unknown men in Hebron had just tried to kidnap her 8 y.o. brother. The only reason the boy wasn't successfully taken was that the neighbors heard the boy screaming and saw his arms and legs dangling out of the get-away car. It sounds as if at least some of the perpetrators were caught, but my co-worker's wealthy father believes the man responsible for the crime was someone who owed him money. Locals of Hebron did not express much faith in their police force to get to the bottom of this crime, and they said kidnappings like this are all too common there.


Last week also brought other sad news, as an activist from the US was critically injured at a protest in Ni'lin. As readers might recall, Ni'lin was the main protest I frequented last summer, and the violence there, from both sides, is one of the reasons why I left the protests. Tristan, from CA, was struck in the head by tear gas canister fired by Israeli soldiers. His injury and its seriousness are particularly personal to me because last summer I was slightly wounded by a tear gas canister that hit me in the neck; if the weapon had stuck me a few inches higher, I could have suffered the same fate Tristan has. If you watch the video taken right after the tragedy (see: http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=36435) you will notice that Tristan was hit in the city of Ni'lin itself--this is well away from where most protests take place (in the fields outside of the town), and it shows just how indiscriminately Israeli forces fire lethal weapons in civilians areas, even when the threat posed by the protesters are, at the very worst, rock-throwers (this is not to diminish the serious injuries rocks can cause, however: they can be just as lethal as a tear gas canister. The rocks are thrown at combat soldiers who wear body armor; the rocks are difficult to aim). I can personally attest that the soldiers fire the tear gas to injure people--they shoot the canisters right into a crowd, meaning to hit people; this is in contrast to how tear gas is supposed to be used, where the gas is fired next to crowds, to force them to disperse.

Please keep Tristan and his family in your prayers. He was rushed to the hospital and had emergency surgery to remove part of his brain, and doctors are unsure if and how fully he will recover. His injury highlights how dangerous the protests here can be; for me, I was not willing to continue to take the risk at the protests, so long as some Palestinians continued to throw rocks and use low-intensity violence and hatred to combat the occupation.

Tristan's injury occurred almost to-the-day of the anniversary of Rachel Corrie's death in Gaza. Please read about Tristan's story here, then take action for him. Also, please see the news section below for info on Rachel Corrie and events to commemorate her sacrifice.


I have a friend who was just denied participating in Israel Birthright, a program that gives young Jews living outside Israel the chance to visit Israel for free. Birthright Israel is a program that seeks to indoctrinate young minds to be right-wing, pro-Israel, and the trip is full of propaganda, never attempting to show the participants the other side (Palestinians or Palestine). My friend's story reminded me of the reasons why I strongly dislike any notion of a "birthright": that people should receive special favors or treatment merely because they were born to a particular family, race, religion, etc. While young Jews who have never visited Israel can obtain a free trip here, most Palestinians who were born and raised in this land have no chance whatsoever of making the 20 minute drive to Jerusalem to pray at their holy mosque, much less get a free trip to their homeland (i.e., homes that were destroyed in 1948 to make room for Jews to return). The whole idea of some people being allowed, encouraged to return to a place, simply because they were born into a particular religion, while others born into a different religion are kept out, this idea really grates on me. Many of the Jews who return have much less of a claim to the land than people who have already been living here for centuries. I am not discounting the right of Jewish people to live in this land; I just don't believe that should happen at the expense of other people: Jews are encouraged to immigrate, even given free places to live, while non-Jews are discriminated against and actively forced to leave.

Many of the reasons for why Jews are encouraged to return to Israel center around the myth that all the Jews were expelled from Israel in 70 AD. A careful reading of history will show that Jews were expelled only from Jerusalem, not all of the Holy Land in 70 AD. To my knowledge, there never was a time when Jews were expelled from all of the Holy Land. I was surprised some months ago to even find this admitted (that Jews were only expelled from Jerusalem in 70 AD) in an Israeli national museum (Tower of David) in Jerusalem. The Holy Land has always had people living in it, and always had people of Jewish ancestry living in it. Some of the Jews remained religiously Jewish, while others converted to Christianity, or later to Islam. That so many Jews do live outside of the Holy Land is a testament to the scattering of Jews, but also (and perhaps more importantly) to the inherent evangelistic nature of the religion (Judaism being one of the great evangelical faiths). So, ironically, many of those Jews who now can freely "return" to Israel never came from this place (at least biologically) to begin with, and many of the people (Palestinians) being forced from the land may, in fact, have closer biological ties to Judaism (although perhaps having converted to Christianity or Islam). The whole situation is even more complicated when one considers that modern Judaism only represents 1-2 of the original 12 tribes of Israel--the other 10-11 tribes were assimilated into various empires before the time of Jesus (and thus, perhaps a majority of the people living here could originally hail, in some way, from on of these 10-11 Israelite tribes).


All of this is to say that the situation here can be incredibly complex. However, the solutions can also be made easier when our starting point is a respect for each person's freedom, dignity, and right to live here in peace, regardless of race, creed, or religion. This starting point is in stark contrast to Zionism's starting point: that only Jews have a right to live in this land.

My time here in Palestine is quickly coming to an end. I hope to make at least one more post before I return to the US. Please continue to keep this region in your mind and prayers, even after I leave. Although I will not be making news updates from this region like before, I want to encourage everyone to stay up to date with the happenings in the Holy Land, as events here have enormous consequences for the rest of the world. I will, of course, be making announcements and occasional other posts of this blog when I return to the US, so please stay tuned . . .

Wish me a safe return. I plan to start making presentations approximately one month after I return to the States (before I speak formally, I want to reflect on all I have seen here).


My time in Palestine has been a tremendous learning experience for me, and I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to have lived here. Thank you to everyone who has supported me, checked in with me, followed the blog, prayed for me, and given in so many different ways. I hope some people have learned a little from my learning experiences in Palestine.


Peace&Love




News from the region you might have missed:

http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=36290
To avoid the high costs of the Israeli gov.'t and military demolishing his home, this man hired his friend to demolish his family home.


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1069303.html
In a rare slip, the US actually names Israel as a nuclear power (it is Israeli and US policy to not comment on whether Israel has nukes).


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1069308.html
The US says it won't recognize a Palestinian gov.'t without the currently appointed (not elected) prime minister Fayyad remaining as PM, despite who the Palestinian people actually elect. Here's to more of the same US policy of propping up unelected officials against the will of the people.


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1069314.html
The US is putting more pressure on Israel over the issue of settlements.


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1069750.html
Israeli rights group says Israel should stop mining W Bank rock quarries, that the action is raping the land.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ewF7AXn3dg
A very important video to watch from AFSC on the map of the W Bank and how Israeli actions are severely limiting movement and making a 2 state solution impossible.


http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123672847973688515.html
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1070041.html
Charles Freeman, nominated by Obama to the Security withdraws from the post citing a smear campaign by pro-Israel groups in the US of anyone who says anything critical of US policy toward Israel.


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1070318.html
US officials assure Israel the US won't cut military aid, regardless of Israel's actions.


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1070450.html
After all the hype at the conference, the truth comes out: US aid to Gaza comes with the string that Hamas must recognize Israel. Is this political money or aid money, is it meant to help ordinary citizens or twist politicians arms?


http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090311/wl_nm/us_palestinians_israel_usa
The US complains about Israel's policy of not allowing toilet paper into Gaza.


http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=36398
Gaza's sewage, which has already caused massive damage and drowned multiple people in the past, is now visible from space.


http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=36417
Diabetes increased by 27.5 % in the W Bank in 2008


http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=36441
Israeli court temporarily halts demolition of Jerusalem school.


http://www.endtheoccupation.org/article.php?id=1895
http://www.rachelswords.org/rachels-emails/
Some actions and reading to commemorate the anniversary of Rachel Corrie's death in Gaza.


http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=36472
Israeli settler Leiberman to become foreign minister in new Israeli gov.'t. A little history on this guy.


http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-ehrenreich15-2009mar15,0,6684861.story
A great article in the LA Times from a Jewish writer who explains that Zionism is the main problem in the Middle East.


http://www.agenceglobal.com/Article.asp?Id=1941
A good article on the power of words from the US. Instead of naming Israeli actions as illegal (which they are under all intl law), Condi Rice and now Clinton have started calling Israel's actions "unhelpful"--even the US used to describe the same actions as illegal.


http://www.maannews.net/en/index.php?opr=ShowDetails&ID=36495
Israeli crew attempts to demolish part of Pal house they say was built without permits. More of the same idea of legalizing ethnic cleansing.


http://www.closedzone.com/
See the animation from the lead animator of "Waltzing with Bashir" on the situation in Gaza.


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1070628.html
Israeli book that questions the origins of the modern Jewish people wins French prize.


http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1072040.html
Soldiers in Gaza dispute IDF's account of legal warfare there.