When entering specific areas of the Occupied West Bank, you encounter a large red sign bearing a threatening warning in Hebrew, Arabic, and English: “This Road leads To Area “A” Under the Palestinian Authority The Entrance For Israeli Citizens Is Forbidden, Dangerous To Your Lives And is Against The Israeli Law”
Although this is Palestinian territory, the State of Israel has posted these signs and placed gates that it can close, preventing Palestinians from free travel on their land. The language of the sign conveys the exact opposite of the welcome we received while travelling in the West Bank from Palestinians, whom Israel warns as so dangerous.
Elana Kaminka, an Israeli, travels often into “Area A” to the Palestinian office for Parent Circle – Families Forum in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem, where we met up with her and Mohammad Awwad. Both volunteer with Parent Circle – Families Forum, an organization that was the recipient of the Cutting Edge of Mission Award at the 2023 General Assembly.
During our visit to The Parent Circle, Mohammad shared with us the difficult story of his cousin, Amjad Awwad, who was 17 when he was killed on July 1 this year. Amjad was shot in the chest by an Israeli soldier sitting in an armoured military vehicle about 50 metres away, while travelling through a roundabout in Ramallah. The heartbreaking loss of his cousin has left a deep wound in Mohammad’s life, yet it has also strengthened his resolve to pursue peacebuilding and dialogue. Mohammad provides leadership in a summer camp for Israeli and Palestinian youth to build friendships and foster peaceful relationships.
After we heard Mohammad’s story, Elana shared hers. Her son, Yannai Kaminka , a 20-year-old Israeli soldier, was on duty when he was killed during the October 7 attack by Hamas. Elana was active in groups committed to fostering empathy and dialogue between Israeli Jews and Palestinians before and since the death of Yannai. Since the heartbreaking event, Elana has increased her engagement in working towards peaceful co-existence in her work with Parents Circle – Families Forum. She told us how horrified and dismayed she was over the State of Israel’s wholesale killing of Gazans who were not responsible for the October 7 attack. She protests the Netanyahu government, which she holds accountable for her son’s death.
Elena wears a t-shirt that conveys one of the messages the Parents Circle often conveys – “Enough” written in Hebrew, Arabic, and English.
You can hear Mohammad and Elana share their stories and the work of Parents Circle here .
