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SUMMER 2023
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terrorist acts committed by the settlers and soldiers. Kisan is one of many small and remote vil- lages, with the EAs the only inter- national team offering protective presence. The community deeply appreciated our efforts and pro- vided us with hospitality on our visits.
As an EA, I recall being told by residents in the OPT that, bad as things are for them, their situation would be even worse without the presence of human rights monitors. How effective is the EAPPI and similar organiza- tions?
We were the only human rights monitors on the scene most of the time. Since Covid, EAPPI was the first observer group to return. I cannot imagine how the people inside Bethlehem suffered during the pandemic, on top of the occu- pation, which meant more restric- tions on movement and desperate economic difficulties. According to Mohammad, our driver and co-worker, he was very grate- ful that the EAs came back right after the pandemic in early 2022. I was overwhelmed when people remembered me by name when I returned 13 years later. The people always welcomed and thanked us for being with them. They know we do not have much power to stop the occupation, but being there to accompany, listen and advocate for their situation is always deeply appreciated.
News reports from Israel de- scribe the protests against the current far right government. How are the policies of this government affecting living conditions in the OPT and the prospects for peace and recon- ciliation between Israel and the Palestinians?
According to the Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac of the Christmas Evangeli- cal Lutheran Church in Bethle- hem, where I worshipped, the situation seems to be deteriorat- ing rapidly. The new extremist government has destroyed every sign of hope. The previous gov- ernment was just as extremist, but this new one is more public in what it is saying and doing. Pal- estinians are expressing a sense of hopelessness that the ongoing oppression of military activity and settlement expansion will only continue to worsen.
At this year’s General Assembly, representatives of the Parents Circle – Families Forum received the Cutting Edge of Mission Award. This organization of par- ents from Israeli and Palestinian communities is composed of parents whose loved ones have died in the conflict related to the Occupation. They work to pro- mote reconciliation and peace. What do you know of this and other organizations in Israeli civil society who advocate for an end to the Occupation?
I learned about the Parents Circle
– Families Forum during one of the lectures in my mid-term ori- entation. I was deeply touched by the narrative of an Israeli father who lost his daughter during her army duty. He searched for an- swers about her tragic death and was filled with hatred, seeking ways to take revenge. He found the PCFF, a group of bereaved families from both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which led him to change his mind and pursue peaceful processes of reconciliation. His testimony was powerful and touched us deeply. When I returned to Bethlehem, I initiated a visit for our team to the PCFF’s Palestinian office in Beit Jalah, near Bethlehem.
On December 26, 2022, we had a meeting with Osama Abu- Ayash, Co-General Director of the Parents Circle – Families Fo- rum (PCFF), with the assistance of Salam Sbitan, who translated our conversation. Osama had lost four family members to the Israeli occupation, including his grand- father, father, and two brothers- in-law. In his twenties, he was wrongfully imprisoned by the Is- raeli military and was subjected to daily torture, resulting in severe weight loss and illness. After his release, he initially sought re- venge, but instead found the PCFF and changed his focus to promot- ing reconciliation and peace. His story, along with that of the Israeli father we had previously heard, deeply touched and inspired us.
Osama’s work involves speaking to groups of Israeli students and other groups about the reality of the occupation, and he expressed surprise at how many of them were unaware of the situation. We were grateful for the opportunity to meet with the PCFF members and to learn from their experi- ences.
During my previous time with EAPPI, I contacted “Machsom (Checkpoint) Watch” for assis- tance at Checkpoint 300. They were one of the most influential Is- raeli human rights organizations. As a group of Jewish mothers and grandmothers, they were of- ten able to handle many incidents at the checkpoints by interceding with the young Israeli soldiers on duty. However, Hanna Barag, one of the leaders, is now 88 years old, and the massive technology changes have reduced opportuni- ties for interaction.
“Breaking the Silence” is one of the most active Israeli organi- zations that I encountered dur- ing my time in the region. It is an organization of veterans who have served in the Israeli military whose goal is to expose the Is- raeli public to the reality of eve- ryday life in the Occupied Territo- ries. Former Israeli soldiers who belong to “Breaking the Silence” lead tours in the city of Hebron several times a month. During these tours, they break their si- lence on their military service in the occupied territories and ex-
plore the harsh consequences of the policy of separation and the military presence in the city. It was a highlight of my experience to walk with the Israeli Breaking the Silence team and learn about the painful reality of life in the city of Hebron.
Why do you think it is important for The Presbyterian Church in Canada to continue to send participants in the EAPPI? Why would you encourage individual Canadian Presbyterians to par- ticipate as EAs?
The PCC strongly believes that peace cannot be achieved without justice. The concept of protective presence is rooted in the belief that an international presence has a positive influence and can help prevent or reduce instances of human rights violations. Ca- nadians can use their voices and presence to accompany their Pal- estinian brothers and sisters, and relating firsthand accounts of hu- man rights abuses can be power- ful in advocating for just peace.
The Rev. Dr. Munther Isaac ob- serves that while many churches pray for both sides and for peace, they may unknowingly contribute to the oppression by not chal- lenging Israel on its human rights abuses, breaking international law, and treating the conflict as if it were a conflict between equals. This enables and empowers the occupier, rather than promoting justice and peace.
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Children in Palestine.