My Personal Response to the Middle East Conflict

By James Souder

By coming to the Middle East to study culture, religion, and the ongoing Israeli/Palestinian conflict, I now understand the issues here are complicated. I realize this is not a strong conclusion to arrive at, but "complicated" is the only word I can think of to accurately describe the plight of both Arabs and Israelis in this land. The stories of both people groups cannot be understood without looking at the past and present sufferings each group has faced, and yet for any solution to work both groups must look past their suffering towards a better collective future.

We have seen signs of hope during our semester of people who have begun to move past their suffering to work towards peace. The parents of Bat-Chen speak about their daughter's vision of peace even after she was killed on her birthday in a suicide bombing in Tel Aviv. Hashem Azzah refuses to respond with violence to the Israeli settlers who attack and harass his family in Hebron. Noha Khativ, a Palestinian Arab Israeli, grew up as a minority amongst extreme prejudice. Instead of holding grudges, she decided to try her best to make the lives of her children better than her own childhood. Rather than fearing "the other," Noha set up an organization called Hand in Hand which brings Arab and Israeli children together in a bilingual school system. The children learn Hebrew and Arabic while studying one another's culture and religious traditions. Not only does this provide opportunities for the children to become friends with "the other," but the kids' parents have opportunities to interact with one another as well.

I believe that providing opportunities for Palestinians and Israelis to interact on a human level with one another is one way to break down the barrier between the two cultures. The people here have so many different labels for one another: Jewish, Christian, Muslim, secular, Orthodox, Messianic, Arab, Israeli, Palestinian, zionist, nazi, terrorist, soldier, tourist, student. These labels build up to create preconceived notions which are sometimes inaccurate and frequently difficult to look past. If people are able to see people for who they are rather than who they think others are, then peace is one step closer.

However, many obstacles stand in the way of Palestinians and Israelis interacting with one another. The most noticeable obstacle is the separation wall which falls roughly between the West Bank territory and Israel (favoring the Israeli side). This wall keeps Israelis and Palestinians from interacting with one another on a regular basis, which only entrenches the negative stereotypes over time. If I was a Palestinian and my only interaction with Israelis was with soldiers at checkpoints, I would grow to hate everything associated with the occupying force. Likewise, if I was Israeli and only heard about Palestinians when a suicide bomb attacked my people, I would associate the word 'Palestinian' with 'terrorist.' This is one trend which has the potential to alienate both sides from one another if steps are not made to encourage positive interaction between Palestinians and Israelis.

I am appreciative of the opportunity to study about the conflict from both sides of the separation wall because now I am able to associate faces of people to the words 'Palestinian' and 'Israeli.' It is difficult to match 'terrorist' with 'Palestinian' when I think of Samer Kokaly or Tent of Nations. Likewise, my mind does not jump to 'occupying force' when I think of Jared Goldfarb or Laurie with the Oranim program. Just imagine how the current situation would be different if every Israeli and Palestinian had strong connections with people across the wall. It is easy to hate the unknown because ignorance creates the strongest enemies. But if people can connect with one another, perhaps the message of 'loving ones enemies' can spread.

I believe my role in this conflict as an American Christian (and, more importantly, a human being) is to make as many relationships on both sides of the conflict as I can, then to bring my new insights back to my peers and church. Father Elias Chacour gave our group some fantastic advice: "If by taking our (the Palestinian) side makes you hate the Jews, then we do not need your friendship. What we need today is one common friend." I have tried my best during this trip to avoid becoming one-sided. If nothing else, coming here and studying this conflict has made me realize that every situation has more than one perspective. Not every situation is black-and-white, but every situation has a human aspect. If I can match faces to both sides of a conflict, just as I have done here in the Middle East, I will be less likely to harbor hate towards one side. This does not suggest that I ignore injustice in the world, but rather that I work towards justice with love for all people. I have hope for the Middle East, but I know peace will not come easily. Both sides must be willing to give something up in order to create a common future. But in my opinion, it is better to give something up for peace than to live in fear. I do not have solutions after visiting this land--only small suggestions and large questions. Like I said at the beginning, this conflict is complicated, but my visit has been priceless.

Jesus Trail/Nazareth

We spent the past four days hiking from Nazareth to Capernaum on the Jesus Trail--a fantastic opportunity with incredible views! We had beautiful weather, despite the mud from rain earlier this week. This gave me plenty of time to think about this past semester and how much I have learned both about the region and myself. I cannot believe we only have a little over 2 weeks left, and that TOMORROW is our last day in Israel! Right now I'm just taking one day at a time, but I am looking forward to Greece and Italy.

Each night on the Jesus Trail we slept in completely different locations. Night 1: Cana, an Arab town where Jesus turned the water into wine. Night 2: an Israeli goat farm with many sustainability aspects. Night 3: a high-class Bed and Breakfast on the cliffs of Arbel. The Galilee is packed with cultures, and I find it fantastic that you can walk from one to another. The trail connects people to one another in ways not possible otherwise.

Now we are in Nazareth, staying at the Fauzi Azar Inn. We spend our mornings at Nazareth Village, doing whatever needs to be done. I have mostly been weeding around grape vines and clearing dirt from stone homes, but some other people were able to take care of donkeys and goats. My job hasn't required me to dress in first-century garb--hopefully tomorrow I can!

Most of our projects are coming to an end, and I have finished all my papers for the semester. In my next blog post I plan on writing my "Personal Response to the Middle East Conflict" which I had to write already. Until then!

-James

Blog post from EMU website

Last week was packed with opportunities to learn more about Israeli culture with the Oranim program. We stayed in Kibbutz Ramat HaShofem, one of the first kibbutzim set up in Israel. The original kibbutz system was set up with a mix of socialist and zionist ideals, focused on communal living. This kibbutz has lost many of these original ideals, but still provided a nice setting and guest house for our group to meet and discuss our new perspectives of Israeli culture.

A highlight for many of us was the several “mifgash” (or planned conversations) where we had opportunities to meet with Israelis near our age. On the first evening, we had a chance to talk with four Israeli soldiers. Military service is mandatory for all Israeli youth after high school, which is definitely a contrast to my pacifist upbringings. By the end of our conversation, I was finally able to look past their uniform and gun to see these soldiers as people.

One of my favorite speakers this week was Noha Khativ, an Arab Israeli who grew up as a minority in a Jewish community. She helped set up an organization called Hand in Hand, which has created four bi-lingual schools for Arab and Israeli children within Israel. The classes are taught in both Arabic and Hebrew, which allows the kids to communicate with one another and learn about the other students’ cultures and religious traditions. Not only do the children have opportunities to make friends with one another, but their parents and families are given opportunities to interact as well. These relationships help build understanding between Arabs and Israelis. Hopefully these children will grow up questioning why they are told to hate and fear “the other” and rather build on the relationships they have made through Hand in Hand.

We also met with Tzvika and Ayelet Shahak, whose daughter Bat-Chen was killed in a suicide bombing attack on her 15th birthday in Tel Aviv. Their strength in spreading Bat-Chen’s dream for peace gives me hope for the entire region. Bat-Chen’s Diary has been published in six languages, and I was impressed with her messages for peace even at a young age. Rather than just grieve and become bitter about their daughter’s death, Tzvika and Ayelet converse with other bereaved families, both Israeli and Palestinian, about ending violence.

Other topics of conversation from this week included: the conflict between secular and religious Jews; the post-Holocaust Jewish mindset; and Arab identity as a minority within Israeli society. Being here and discussing Israeli issues has helped me understand the Israeli mindset, however complicated it may be.

Our group also had plenty of opportunities to bond this week over endless cups of tea, random evening card games, a delicious Shabbat dinner in an Israeli home, group presentations on the Arab/Israeli conflict, and a fun-filled Talent Show/Game Night. I am impressed with how much the group has matured and grown since the beginning of the semester, and I consistently gain new insights from them through conversation and discussion. I’m looking forward to our upcoming week in Nazareth and hiking the Jesus Trail to the Sea of Galilee!

-James

Free Travel!

My last blog post was written partway through free travel, where Joe, Tim and I spent two nights at Tim's uncle's place. After these highly informative and entertaining encounters, we set off to the Sea of Galilee for three days of hiking/camping/backpacking along the eastern coast, from the southern tip to the north. We first picked up the last of our gear from Dave Landis in Nazareth, where we happened to run into Janet and Linford as they were setting off to Ashkelon! It really is a small place.

So we carried our 30-pound packs on our backs for three days, set up camp along beach-like terrain as the sun sank, tended our blisters, ate pita with accessories, and typically got around 11 hours of sleep each night. And oh, the stories! Our third day was by far the most adventurous. Because of the recent rains, the stream crossings were thigh-high and at some points the path simply became the stream. We knew our general direction, thanks to our handy Jesus Trail guidebook, but found ourselves wandering through groves of citrus trees. We picked a few "oranges" for a special snack, which turned out to be lemons. This made the grapefruit we found on the ground taste especially sweet! We walked next to a well-marked minefield through waist-high wildflowers and blazed our way through thick patches of reeds. We were blessed with warm weather and clear skies the entire week. On Thursday we hitchhiked several miles up the road to Yehudia National Park, which had gorgeous waterfalls and colorful wildflowers. This was a great opportunity for me to catch up on relaxation and to realize the beauty of this land. (We also came at the perfect time--most of the year this area is completely brown!) The last two days were spent in Tiberias and in Nazareth. I feel refreshed and ready to tackle our last 5 weeks *gasp!* before returning to the States.

Our group is currently staying in Ecce Homo, a convent in the middle of the Old City. It is great to stand on the balcony and overlook the 1-square-kilometer walled city which is home to 37,000 individuals. So much life, and so much culture.

Well, I tried to upload some photos but this internet isn't cooperating. So use your imagination, and hopefully I can upload some later!

Shalom,
James

An update and a very full brain

Our final question on our exam with Jerusalem University College went something like this: "How has experiencing and learning about the geographical history of the Bible been formational to your faith and theology? How will you explain the importance of seeing this land to people back home?" Answer: Being here changes perspectives drastically. By actually sitting on the hill overlooking where David fought Goliath, or floating in the middle of the Sea of Galilee, or seeing what Jesus saw as he taught from the Temple steps, the Bible comes to life. So much of the Old Testament makes sense now, after putting the stories into their cultural context and getting into the mindset of the people in the story. My mind has been stretched, forcing me to reevaluate the Western lens through which we view the Bible. Come, see, experience, and you too can understand.

The purpose of our Jerusalem University College (JUC) program was to put the Biblical stories into geographical and cultural context. We did this by traveling to Biblical sites all across Israel, learning about the trade routes and political forces of the "Land Between", and evaluating the Biblical stories in the context of where it was written. I have so many new thoughts which are difficult to capture in a short blog post, but believe me when I say these past two weeks have been formational.

I am now at the forefront of a new adventure: free travel! Joe, Tim and I have a rough plan of our week, which involves hiking/camping/backpacking along the eastern coast of the Sea of Galilee and into the Golan Heights. Our plans are subject to change, which is the perfect recipe for fantastic stories!

Take the last 24 hours as an example: after waiting several hours for the bus station to open, we took a bus from Jerusalem to Tim's uncle's house, who has lived in Israel for the past 17 years. I couldn't even begin to describe him and his family in a way that you would understand... he's basically an insane 60-year-old genius who talks constantly and verbosely about tangental subjects ranging from politics and theology to lightswitches and traffic jams. His ex-wife is an Israeli Jew, and we are staying at her house which he built. They have two sons aged 19 and 25: the older is a brilliant self-taught scientist and the younger is currently in the military. My brain is so full of conflicting thoughts--staying with Palestinian and Israeli host families in a several-week period will do that to you.

Let the adventure begin!
-James

One word: intense

A Palestinian family living in Hebron whose house is located next to an illegal Israeli settlement.

Three of my host sisters

A mosaic at Tent of Nations

Planting grape vines at Tent of Nations

Two kids "playing" in a Palestinian refugee camp

My host father, Samer, gives our group a tour of a refugee camp.

The separation wall

Where do I even start? I have so much to say, so many thoughts and emotions from this stimulating journey in Palestine, and yet I feel like I can never say enough. I want to encourage everyone back in the States to continue to pray for peace in this area, while actively learning more about the conflict and how America contributes up to 11 million dollars every day to Israel. This money allows illegal settlements and outposts to be built within the West Bank, causing indescribable pain for the Palestinian population. When viewed from a human rights standpoint, regardless of any other factor, the daily injustices here cannot be ignored. Discuss and think critically with open minds full of compassion. The situation is so difficult to understand, and no documentary or news flash can describe everything. I have been here for three days and I feel overwhelmed with information, yet I feel like I am only scratching the surface. It is a painful privelage to be here, seeing and learning, yet I know this is the only way to learn.

Despite the injustice, I see strength. I see strength in Hashem Azzeh, the Palestinian whose family we ate lunch with in Hebron who lives directly beside an Israeli settlement. I see strength in the Israeli youth who refuse to join the military because they see the damage being done. I see strength in the Tent of Nations, who live and farm on land surrounded by Israeli settlements without access to water (they capture rainwater in cisterns), electricity (they use solar panels), or the right to build structures (they live in caves). I see strength in Paulette Schroeder, the CPT volunteer who stands at checkpoints between Israeli soldiers and children walking to school. I see strength in the Palestinians who refuse to be enemies with Israelis, and I see strength in the Israelis who refuse to be enemies with Palestinians. Sometimes this strength seems to be hidden, but it must always be found.

Our group must also show strength as we continue to hear new stories and perspectives. One of our most challenging meetings was with Ardie Geldman, an Israeli living in the settlement of Efrat within the West Bank. He used to live in Chicago, and moved here in 1982. He claims this land has belonged to the Jews for 3000 years, when God gave the Israelites the Promised Land. In his eyes, the Old Testament proves his right to be here. We challenged him with questions, and his responses were quick and well-argued. Needless to say, everything he said sparked more discussions within our group. It has made me wonder: who has the right to own land anywhere and how was that land acquired?

We watched a fantastic documentary called Occupation 101. Find it online and watch it to gain a better perspective of what we are seeing and hearing. The documentary will never be the same as being here, but I guarantee it will make you think.

My brain is so full from everything we learn during the day. Dan and I stay up late having discussions with our Palestinian host father, Samer Kokaly, who is also our tour guide with Alternative Tourism Group. Our week is halfway done, and I hope we can continue to soak in everything we learn.

Today we had the opportunity to plant grapevines at Tent of Nations, the organization surrounded by Israeli settlements. After hearing so much frustrating information, it was good to be able to use our hands and sweat to do something productive. We spent so much time blistering our brains that we forgot how it feels to blister our hands. It was refreshing to hear the message of Tent of Nations. Learn more from their website at www.tentofnations.org/

I will end with a quote from Tent of Nations: Peace must grow like an olive tree: strong from the base, not mandated from above.

As a closing blessing, here is a quote seen on a ceramic tile in Hebron: Shalom, Y'all.

A brief update...

Greetings from Palestine! So much has happened since my last blog post about Lebanon. We finished our time in Syria, spent a week in Jordan, saw PETRA(!!!), stayed in a Bedouin camp, rode camels, raced across the desert in jeeps while boasting keffiyehs, relaxed in a hotel in Amman, and braved the border crossing into Israel/Palestine. I wish I could describe everything for you, but just be satisfied to know that everything has been incredible and has surpassed all my expectations.

The border crossing today was a bit intense, probably because the Israeli guards weren't pleased with us having spent time in Syria. They kept half of us for almost two hours, but we all made it through eventually. I'm currently writing this in my awesome host family's living room while watching an Arabic soap opera set in Damascus. I'm staying with Dan, and our host father's name is Samer Kokaly, the person who is in charge of planning our week. He has four daughters, aged from 6 to 16, and so far we have had a blast making card towers and eating sunflower seeds. I'm extremely excited for this week and all we will learn about this active area of the world.

Keep your thoughts and prayers coming in our direction! A cold is circulating through our group, and it seems I have caught whatever is going around. Hopefully this won't put a damper on this week--pray that everyone can recover quickly and get enough sleep to keep our energy up for a packed schedule.

Shalom!
-James