Last night in Newtown I co-organised an event. We hosted Sulaiman Khatib from the Al Quds Association for Democracy, a Palestinian ex-combatant turned peace activist. Though not in the hateful socialist and resistance group sense, or the BDS (boycott, divestment and sanctions) sense, but a REAL peace activist.
Based in Ramallah, Khatib has the courage, together with others to speak out and challenge violence and advocate another way: bringing Israelis and Palestinians together, out of an understanding that fear and hatred of the other is best resolved by getting to know the other, understanding we are all human, and we all want to live in dignity and be able to thrive as human beings.
As an Israeli, this is significant to me, because Israelis seldom have the chance of meeting Palestinians. And in Sydney, when all you hear about the conflict from the Palestinians so-called perspective is screaming radicals with a mad look of hatred in their eyes, the majority of whom are not even Palestinian, it is partly a novelty, and partly a breath of fresh air. Sulaiman is here as a part of the AFL Peace Team, a joint initiative with The Israeli Peres Centre for Peace, bringing together Israelis and Palestinians in the one team to cast aside differences and focus on commonalities through sport. He brings an inspiring message, one that doesn't sugar coat the complexities and problems faced by the Palestinians, but at the same time, a rational message, one where Israel is not to blame for all the world's problems, and not all of the Palestinian's problems either. Basically, bringing to Australia the realisation of the majority of moderates on the Israeli and Palestinian sides, that we don't want to hate, we want the day to arrive when peace is possible, we want peace and we want to focus on achieving it, not on hating one another.
This is what the BDS crowd in the comfort of their far-removed, middle class Aussie lives don't understand. Spreading hatred, separating the two sides only leads to polarisation, and withdrawal of well meaning people who have to "pick a side". It's a natural psychological reaction to then toughen your stance. Easier to dehumanise the conflict and distance yourself emotionally from the "other side" when you don't know them and don't have to face them. The fears, the suspicions, the fighting and loss of lives in Israel and the Palestinian territories is tragic enough, without the BDS movement trying to import the conflict to otherwise calm communities where people just want to live their lives in harmony.
Last night in Newtown was an achievement. In that hall, 7 months ago to the day, a group was founded. To provide a voice for Jews and their friends in the Inner West, and have our voices heard. In opposition to BDS and in favour of dialogue and bringing people together. We wanted to fight the policy introduced by Marrickville council in late 2010, to boycott and disinvest from Israeli companies and products with which the council does business. Councillors said they didn't even know there were any Jews living in the area. By last night, some of those BDS advocates, including from council, knew we existed. They sat in that same hall where it all began, for us, and listened to what we had to say.
Where any minds changed last night? Probably not, that wasn't the purpose. But last night it was clear that our views and presence cannot be ignored. Approximately 80 people came together from within our tiny Inner West Jewish community, with less than a week's notice, and the message was clear. We have a voice. We want to understand the Palestinians and support grassroots efforts for peace. We are not extremists, we are not haters, we want to talk and we are willing to listen. Loving Israel, is not something to be ashamed of. Being a Zionist is not a dirty word.
Last night in Newtown, our voices were heard.
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