Former Enemies Make a Pitch for Peace

Each speaker told the club about growing up with distrust of the other, feeling a sense of unfairness in the situation, blaming the other for their lot and even strong hatred for the other. How then did these polar opposites come to join together for a common cause while remaining faithful to their countries?

Nour, speaking through an interpreter, spoke about the hardships and desperation that shaped his views - the abject poverty, the incessant harassment, the unfairness of the occupation - all of which led him to join the Palestinian Resistance. During this time, he had no compunctions using whatever means that were available, including violence, to attack Israelis, military and civilians. He was arrested several times and even had a bounty on his head. Then, his brother was severely injured and on the way to the hospital, the ambulance was intercepted and his brother taken away by the Israeli authorities with no regard for the wounds. This was a watershed moment for Nour. He could let his hatred grow or find another way. He had an epiphany, chose peace, and joined CFP. He stays because he has realized that only through nonviolence can he help establish Palestine as a country; only through nonviolence can he remove any excuse for Israel to continue the Occupation; only through nonviolence can he assure that both Palestine and Israel can have mutual security; and only through nonviolence can he give hope and a better future to his children and the children of Palestine.

Erez spoke eloquently about growing up in Israel, under constant threat of attack from the Palestinians, ever worrying about his own safety and that of his family and friends. This land was theirs as decreed by the UN and what the Palestinians were trying to do was unfair. He described himself as a Zionist, fiercely pro-Israel, and a patriot. As soon as he was of age, he joined the Israeli Army, went to officer school, and soon rose to the rank of Captain - a rank he still holds as a Reserve. When he was a cadet in training, his unit was deployed to the Occupied Territories to quell unrest. What he experienced there shocked him. He saw first hand the underbelly of the Occupation. While, based on his upbringing, he expected the Palestinians to disregard law and values, he was not prepared for his fellow Israelis to be equally uncivilized and barbaric. His views on the Occupation changed that night when he realized that it was corrupting his beloved Israel. Still, it took him several years before he felt strong enough in his convictions to speak out and join CFP. He stated that only through nonviolence can Israel be assured of security; only through nonviolence can the less than palatable acts be cleansed; only through nonviolence can can Israel regain its moral standing; only through nonviolence can he give his children and other children of Israel a better future free of threat.

When questioned, both speakers emphasized that looking back towards the causes for this conflict was fruitless and may even be harmful as it evokes the old hatreds and distrust. Instead, both insisted that the only way forward - towards peace - was to work together as partners, through nonviolent means. Since joining CFP, both men have been excoriated by their own people as traitors, have received death threats, and have been the targets for attacks. Nevertheless, despite the temptations of past habits and the possibility of acceptance once more into their own communities, they have held fast to this new ideal. In a private moment, Erez spoke about visiting India, being inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Schweitzer, and Rev. Martin Luther King and that he is trying to walk in their footsteps. Nour emphatically agreed.