I am back to Earlham after a rewarding break. With the help of Encounter Organization, I had the opportunity to speak to different Jewish communities in Boston and New York with the amazing Areen Bahour, who is an impressive and inspiring young Palestinian leader, studying Chemical Engineering at MIT. The audiences were diverse. There were people who have been supporters of Israel since they were born, and found it very challenging to even accept the fact that occupation exists. There were also people who have been supporters of the Palestinian cause for decades. To many, Areen and I were the first Palestinians they have ever met. Needless to say, I learn a lot from meeting with American Jews who are invested in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. I want to share some of the comments and thoughts with you just to debunk the idea that having a conversation is all what it takes to create change. It is also to show how stereotypes contribute a lot to shaping the dominant pro-Israel narrative. Here are few comments I have received and that have really provoked my thoughts and deepened my understanding of the different American perspectives on the conflict: 1- It is very nice to meet educated young Palestinians like you. What are your friends and your communitys reaction to the work you are doing?. This implies that s/he is surprised that Palestinians are highly educated; that they are people who have a strong work ethic and a commitment to building a good understanding of their own cause and the world through education. This question is also followed by the question: how the curriculum in Palestine helps invoke violence in the region. They are ignorant of the fact that Palestine has one of the highest rates of education in the region. Almost 90% of the residents of my refugee camp are college-educated. Plus, with an educational system that is controlled by Israel and international organizations, our schools are prohibited from teaching us the Palestinian cause. 2- I am very disappointed that Israel is oppressing you and your people. It is self-destructive for Israel to do that. For many Jews, Israel is the symbol of victory after decades of horrific suffering around the world especially in Europe. The propaganda machines in the US, funded by the Zionist lobby, try to cover all of the injustices that Israel commits in the region to maintain this image of Israel as the final solution for the oppression of Jews. Some of the attendees shared their disappointment in Israel and that it became an oppressive state, with very little light shed on the fact that I am the oppressed. And a lot of hesitance to sympathize or even acknowledge that. I believe that the change in perspective starts when the question is not whether Israel is being self-destructive or not because this question limits the understanding of the conflict to an Israel-centric one.This tells us a lot about how the media in the US works effectively to portray Israel as the only democratic state that is the space for displaced and oppressed Jewish people. 3- Throughout the tour, I have met people who opened their hearts and minds to my story and the Palestinian perspective, who are committed to better understand the Palestinian story. It goes without saying that these people just warm up my heart and challenge me to become more understanding and considerate of peoples experiences and how they shape who they are. The speaking engagement has only reassured my commitment to try to raise awareness about my peoples struggles, but it has also made me question the work I am doing. How hard and how long is it going to take to deconstruct these stereotypes about Palestinians? How long is it going to take for the supporters of a Jewish State to realize that surrounding yourself with walls will only isolate you more? that separating yourself from the rest of the world, especially the region you live in, will only separate you from them? Is it my responsibility as a Palestinian to raise awareness and speak up against these stereotypes? If it is not mine, then what is my role going to look like in the struggle for justice in Palestine?
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 22:02:24 +0000
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