The Question of Palestine and Israel

The objectives are two-fold: comprehending as well as possible the conflicts in Israel-Palestine, delving into multiple narratives, and developing proposals for Quaker reflection and action to help bring peace with justice to the region.

I expect participants to interact with my experience as a socially engaged photographer—thru the photos and stories in the presentation that I made with an open heart— and then raise questions that help us all deepen our understandings of the realities and challenges of the Israeli, Palestinian, and US peoples. I’ll provide historical context. Through this process I will guide the group towards formulating proposals for Quaker reflection and action, using the following steps:

Using research, analysis, discernment, and discussion, we’ll strive to comprehend the conflict.

I'll present a list of possible proposals, each participant selecting one to fill out with more detail, crafting it thru discussion and reflection, to end with an action-awareness proposal that can later go to meetings across the country.

The list of possible proposals include educating one’s own Quaker and larger community; organizing study tours to the region; selling Palestinian products like olive oil; distributing maps showing the effects of occupation; sponsoring visitors from Israel-Palestine, especially peace and justice makers, both Israeli and Palestinian; forming local Israel-Palestine interest or action groups; organizing or co-sponsoring vigils; visiting legislators; forming coalitions with similarly minded partners; and offering training in compassionate listening and nonviolent communication (two initiatives founded and promulgated by groups including Friends).

My slide shows deal with youth; non-violent resistance to the occupation; the politics of water; holy sites; the occupation, its history, rationale, effects and mechanisms; Gaza; Bethlehem; and Quaker activity and history in the region (primarily the AFSC and the Ramallah Friends School). I examine these topics from several points of view, Palestinian and Israeli Jewish. I have a point of view. I hope to encourage participants to develop their own perspectives.

I will supplement materials with suggested readings and videos, expecting that participants will at least make a start on digesting them. I may also use videos showing a variety of approaches, for example Thich Nhat Hahn’s listening work about Israel-Palestine, and Seeds of Peace, an organization bringing together Palestinians and Israelis for community building.

Worship sharing will play a major role. Possible seeds are: What connects you most personally to the issues of Israel-Palestine? What are the grey or uncertain areas for you? What do you worry most about regarding Israel-Palestine? What was your first awareness of the region? What emotions do you remember attached to that awareness? Where do you experience hope, if you do? If you don’t experience hope, why not? What is your vision for the future of the region? In league with other Quakers, how will you commit to act to help bring this vision to reality? I’ll also offer meditations on land, water, rights, sovereignty, etc. to encourage people to think more deeply beyond mass media and preconceptions.

I estimate worship (silent meditation with vocal ministry) as 10% of the workshop time, worship sharing 10%, my slide shows 30%, participant presentations 20%, and discussion 30%.

I highly recommend, virtually require as advanced reading, The Lemon Tree, by Sandy Tolan, about a Palestinian and an Israeli Jew living in the same house but not at the same time. They eventually meet. The house now is a site of reconciliation. Also Jean Zaru’s Occupied with Nonviolence (she’s the clerk of Ramallah Friends Meeting) and Alan Dershowitz ‘s The Case for Israel. I’ll post readings on my website for later examination that span a range of topics and perspectives, from extremist Israeli Jewish to extremist Palestinian.

Participants should bring with them a set of questions about the region—its history, politics, demographics, terrain, travel arrangements, and organizations involved in the struggle. This will help ground the workshop in participant concerns and backgrounds.

This is obviously an ambitious undertaking. I realize not all folks will be able to do the outside work, the reading and reflecting, and that we’ll need time in the sessions to process volatile feelings. So I approach this workshop plan experimentally.

My photographs, movie, and writing are at teeksaphoto.org, eyewitnessgaza.net and skipschiel.wordpress.com.

A cardinal principal that I hope to emphasize:

"All life is sacred; all beings are related. Because some power hates this principle there is war. Where this principle is embraced and struggled for, nothing can prevail against it—even though it might take some time."

—Dan Turner