Cody O’Rourke | Gladwin County, Michigan
Peace is not simply the absence of violence, but rather an intermingling, a cooperation of people of diversity sustaining and advancing each other’s welfare. Fulfilling each other’s needs requires getting to know each other, understanding where we come from and where we are going. It requires discussing how we feel about each other.
The diverse group of people working at this year’s Israeli Committee Against House Demolition summer camp exemplifies how this dialogue should transpire. The international group of volunteers are comprised of Christians, Jews, Muslims and even atheists from around the world, all working together to rebuild Palestinian homes.
Whenever a group like this comes together with the intention of restoring what they consider to be peace or justice, two questions often come up: Who are you and why are you here?
John Karlik
Cody: What brought you here to Israel/Palestine?
John: In the spring of 2006, I heard Salim and Jeff Halper speak in Washington, D.C. I wanted to come to see the situation firsthand.
I have done a lot of traveling, and have enjoyed being with the people. Demolishing people’s homes is appalling to me, so it all fit.
Cody: How does your Jewish faith affect this experience?
John: To me one of the most appealing aspects of Judaism is justice, which translates into human rights. I am still trying to find for myself what it means to be a Jew, but righting wrongs is important. I don’t have any special attachments to the land.
Cody: What do you think about Christian Zionism?
John: It is a disaster. I participated in a lot of interfaith groups. A lot of my friends who are Christians feel the same way – they are doing a lot to counter Christian Zionism.
Cody: Do you think anyone should feel accountable for this conflict?
John: There are degrees of accountability. I am American. I am required to pay taxes. It is quite possible without the massive support of American tax dollars, this conflict wouldn’t have lasted as long.
As a human being, I am not rich but I am pretty well off, so I feel obligated to help. As far as being Jewish, early in 2006 my wife and I left our synagogue for several reasons. One of the factors that motivated me was I felt it wasn’t exposing teenagers at all to the Palestinian narrative, which I feel is essential if there is to be a solution to this conflict.
During the high holidays we chant this prayer that justice shall role down like a mighty stream. This is what we want to happen. The injustices that are happening to the Palestinians are so blatant and so obvious, and this synagogue wasn’t picking up on it.
Rose Mishaan
Cody: Why did you come Israel/Palestine?
Rose: I came to Palestine to support the Palestinian struggle against the occupation. I have been working for solidarity for many years and wanted to get a better understanding.
Cody: Does being Jewish have any special significance on your time here?
Rose: Yes. I started working with a Jewish organization for native Indian rights, then started working with an organization called Jews against the Occupation. Being Jewish at times prevented me, but other Jews supporting me helped me to reconcile the struggles. It is important for the Jewish community to speak out against the state of Israel because it gives the struggle legitimacy.
Cody: How did it make you feel to watch the family move back into their home so quickly?
Rose: Not many things get to me anymore. I helped them move their belongings out, and shortly after I helped them move their belongings back in. It is such a rare occurrence to be part of something this big. Although we can’t end the occupation, last week they were scared and without a house – to see them sincerely happy and with a home again was special.
Ya’een
Cody: How have you enjoyed your summer camp experience so far?
Ya’een: Excellent…I feel like I am with brothers, I have a good feeling to see these people coming to help. Words can’t express my feelings.
Cody: Have you had many experiences working with internationals?
Ya’een: This is the first time working with internationals. I respect what they are doing. They can tell their countries the truth of what they seen. Look at the occupation, look at the mothers and fathers, tell about the Palestinians’ hospitality.
Salim Shawamreh
Cody: What does it mean to you that Jews are helping build this home which was demolished by Israeli order?
Salim: To see Jewish people helping to build demonstrates that there are people willing to live in peace. Many Jews want peace, but the government isn’t working with them. The government is working to plant hate in the nation…they are surviving on this because of the economy.
Most people want to be in a good situation. They want a peace with justice. The big problem is the Israeli government. What do you expect when most of the government is essentially the military?
Cody: How do you feel about the internationals working here?
Salim: This is the flower in the desert. As soon as we see the internationals coming to help, we feel that the world still has good people, wanting and looking for justice…never mind nationality, what you are, what your religion is.
They don’t even know who the guy is that they are helping to return to his house. There are no words that give them thanks. I hope these kind of people will grow and grow and grow and change their governments’ opinions.
From my view as a Palestinian, the world is deaf and blind. When the Israelis are hurt, the world stands up. But when hundreds of Palestinians are killed, nobody says anything. We are people living under occupation. We are people who have lost thousands of homes, who have lost thousands of mothers, fathers, children in jail. Who can say who the victim is? We have to look in all directions.
Cody: Can you say a little bit about the Christians working here?
Salim: Our nature is to live with each other in peace. We believe in Jewish people, we believe in Jesus. This is the nature of Palestinians. We have one religion coming from the sky. When I talk about Jesus, I talk with respect. As Jesus benefits you, it benefits us all. Christians have rights in all Arab countries. Our problem is that other people don’t respect our religion. There is no difference between the religions.
Stephen Aberle
Cody: Why are you here at the camp?
Stephen: I am here because a grave wrong has been done to the Palestinians and I feel I have an obligation to help right it.
Cody: Where does the obligation come from?
Stephen: I am Jewish, my religion teaches me “Justice, justice shall you pursue.”
As a Jew I feel like I have some connection to this land. I am part of a collective responsibility of the Jewish community because much of the injustice has been done in the name of Judaism.
Cody: What do you think needs to change in America to facilitate more peace in this region?
Stephen: I don’t think that America has a sole responsibility for this conflict. Canada has played a big role in the formation of Israel. Canada does have a history, and it does have a voice.
I do think that a huge amount of military aid to Israel is mistake. It allows for the continuation of the occupation. I think strangling the Palestinian Authority is a bad idea by refusing to release aid and tax money – their own tax money.
I notice with shame, that Canada was one of the first countries to boycott the Palestinians after the elections, which was a terrible misdeed and crime.
Cody: When you sit here at the camp, and see the diversity of people here, what does it make you think?
Stephen: I think it is great – encouraging, exciting. The people that I have met here have come with all kinds of curiosity. We have different levels of knowledge of different things.
People are asking each other about their religions, their countries, their histories…the openness between people is amazing. Sometimes with really motivated political people, there can be a tendency to close down because we have worked hard on our views. But here there is a lively, respectful debate; interesting ideas.
And the great thing is that at the end of day, the bricks have to be laid, the mortar has to be mixed. At the end of the day, it is about making the abstract concrete.
