Two Stories from Either Side

I was a faithful follower of the Refuser Solidarity Movement in Israel for a long period of time. The many stories I have read of the soldiers who refused active duty in the IDF always moved me to tears. They were stories full of personal horror, bewilderment and anguish. But they were all stories of the IDF Soldiers... I had not till today come across stories from either side. I stumbled on them while trying to search for the RSM site.

Both were stories from the two opposite sides - Israeli and Palestinian, and both gave me hope. Hope for a better world. Most of us in the outside world - the world outside of Israel and USA (because US is controlled by the Jews), would be sympathetic to the Israeli in the story, after all he was a soldier who was defending his national territory, and would easily term the palestinian a terrorist or at the very least a murderer. Yet I ask you to read it with compassion in your heart for both, and maybe you will understand where Terrorism really comes from.

I am reminded of a line from Neale Donald Walsch's celebrated book "Conversations with God - An Uncommon Dialogue" which said - ALL ATTACK IS A CALL FOR HELP.

***

Story of Chen Alon as told in the "Combatants for Peace" gathering in Beit Jala, 16.06.2005

I am a Major in the armored corps and was recruited for the IDF at the very beginning of the first Intifada. I feel emotional now because although I spoke many times in the past of my experiences from the time of serving in the occupied territories, I have never spoken about it in front of Palestinians until today, especially not ones that I may have even fired at.

I would like to briefly describe to you the process that I went through – from being a young Zionist Israeli, who was raised in a normal home and encouraged to become a combatant and an officer, to who I am today. It is important for me to tell my story, not because I seek forgiveness, but because I believe that it is a key to the success of this group.

In 1987-1988, when I began chasing Palestinians, perhaps even one of you, who were throwing stones at us in the refugee camps, I was told, and also told my soldiers, that we were protecting the State of Israel...

In 2001, on my last night in the occupied territories, I demolished a house not far from here, in El Chader. Later on during the same day, we initiated a curfew over the village of Husan and I could see Arab girls, at the same age as my daughter, in the village which in fact became a jail. While looking at these young Palestinian girls on the embankment which blocked the village, I was speaking to my wife on the telephone. She was troubled, telling me that no one can bring our daughter Tamar home from the kindergarten, and that she must find a solution. The memory of my daughter and the reality of the routine and the simple daily problems had shaken me.

I guess I was brought up with paranoia, thinking that everyone is out to get us. At the age of 32, after seeing the Palestinian girls on the embankment in the village which I closed off, and after demolishing a house the previous night, it hit me profoundly that these girls are no different than my own daughter. It was then that decided that I will no longer take part in this situation, no matter what price I would have to pay.

I believe that our voice can make a difference in our societies. I hope that we may be able to turn all those incidents in which we crossed the lines and carried out forbidden actions into means for finally ending the occupation before it ends our societies and leads to their total collapsing. I would like to act upon my realization, translate it into actions together with representatives from the other side and draw red lines for both of our societies.

Story of Suliman al-Chatib as told in the "Combatants for Peace" gathering in Beit Jala, 16.06.2005

I am Suliman al-Chatib from the village of Chizme in northeast Jerusalem. I was raised in a family which was badly affected by the occupation and fought it, according to the outlook that the only possible solution is a military one.

I joined the “Fatah” movement at the age of 12, and was involved in various actions, such as throwing stones, writing slogans, preparing Molotov Cocktails. This was in 1986, before the first Intifada. As Chen pointed out, it is very possible that people who are sitting here today were harmed by my actions.

At the age of 14, I stabbed Israeli soldiers with a friend of mine. We were arrested. I was sentenced to 15 years in jail and my friend to 18 years.

For the first two years, I was in the children’s section in the Hebron jail, where the management and staff were extremely tough. Settlers from Kiryat Arba were among the jail staff, which made the situation more difficult and enhanced the suffering. There were many problems in this jail. For example, often there was a lack of drinking water, and of course there was not enough water for showers. Hitting prisoners, spraying tear gas into prison cells, and stripping prisoners were daily occurrences.

Later on I was transferred to the Janad jail, near Shechem, where I worked in the Jail’s library. This provided me with an opportunity to read a lot, also about the history of the Jewish people. In fact I acquired my entire education and constructed my worldview in jail. I never went to university, but I did attend the learning groups in jail every day. This is when I started having new thoughts about the conflict and the means for resolving it.

In 1997, after 10 years and 5 months in jail, I was freed. The Beer Sheva jail was my last prison. In spite of numerous difficulties, such as the separation wall, the curfews, the settlements and more, some of us, who are here today, have established the Abu Sukar Center for Peace. We believe that combatants, who personally paid a price for their active involvement in the conflict, are the ones who can significantly change the situation.

***

I found many lessons in these two simple stories, hope you find your own too.