Peace of the Action

Every Friday, at the Israeli Consulate, protesters demonstrate against Israeli occupation of the West Bank.

By Trish Boppert

Friday is the day, and 15th and Locust, near the Israeli Consulate building, is the place to raise your voice against the Israeli occupation of Palestinian-controlled territory. According to its answering machine, Jewish Mobilization for a Just Peace (JMJP) has ongoing plans to gather there and speak out against the occupation every Friday at noon, joined by Bubbes & Zaydas for Middle East Peace.

Last Friday, like the Friday before, they were there, handing out literature and parading placards, including "We Refuse to Be Enemies," "Militarism Hurts Us All," " Israeli Settlements in West Bank Must Go" and "Not in My Name." The gathering dissipated an hour later, signs and flyers folded away until next time.

Not long after, police officers in civilian garb joined the uniformed cops in front of the consulate building, fanning out across the street to await another demonstration. At the corner, two cop cars idled.

A man stopped and unfurled a sign, joined by another, and another, and several young women in headscarves, until 45 or so had gathered.

Voices rising, they chanted: "No justice, no peace!" "End the occupation now!" "Stop the genocide!" "Stop the violence!" "Stop Hitler now!" "Stop Sharon now!" "Stop killing little kids!" "Stop killing our women!" "You will take our lives, but you will never take our freedom!"

One demonstrator’s handmade sign depicted a Star of David, followed by the equals sign, followed by a swastika.

According to Iftekhar Hussain, a founder and board member of the American Muslim Society (AMS) serving the tri-state area, the demonstration was a combined effort by the AMS and the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC). "The official position of the AMS is that the occupation is illegal and must end," he says, "and non-Muslim people, the Friends community and many others agree with that theme."

Hussain notes that "the demonstration was a free event, and we could not control the slogans that were expressed by everyone who participated. The theme we put forth was ‘end the occupation,’ and that was the message."

Kathy Bergen, the national coordinator for AFSC’s Middle East Peace Education Program, whose headquarters are in Philadelphia, notes that "as a national office, it is unusual for us to do a lot of local work, but there was such a need for this in light of recent events that we felt it was important to get involved. Iftekhar Hussain initiated the idea and together we organized the demonstration, designed to protest the occupation and say that it must end."

The AFSC, says Bergen, also co-sponsored the day’s earlier demonstration by JMJP. "Both JMJP and the AMS have the same core message, which is ‘end the occupation.’ Both support the withdrawal of Israel to the ’67 borders," she says.

When asked about the sign likening the Star of David to a swastika, she pauses. "We, the AFSC, don’t condone that. You know, you never have complete control over what people will do or say at any demonstration and, of course, that kind of symbolism we would not condone."

Hussain, a Muslim American, reports experiencing "a spectrum of responses" since September’s terrorist attacks. "Every encounter has been more intense than before the attacks. Ill will has been more intense, and good feelings expressed toward me have been more intense."

Regardless, he does not hesitate to speak his mind about Palestinian and Israeli tensions. "Unless the U.S. puts its foot down and stops [Israeli Prime Minister Ariel] Sharon, the occupation will not end anytime soon. The American support of the last two decades is part and parcel of the current situation. The majority of the U.S. media is biased in its coverage. No one underscores that it is an occupation and that it is illegal. It is assumed instead to be the status quo, though it is illegal under international law.

"Israel must withdraw to the ’67 borders and participate in a two-state solution with security and fairness for both states," he continues. "Violence on both sides is wrong, however the violence of the Israeli Defense Forces is far more severe than that of Palestinians. Israelis have damaged homes, have attacked, but when Palestinians retaliate, it is terrorism," says Hussain.

When asked about Palestinian suicide bombers, Hussain says, "It is a tragedy to reach a level of despair that says you have no value here, and so whatever you have left, you give. Palestinians are not so well-funded as Israelis, so perhaps they use themselves to deliver bombs."

"I don’t believe that American media coverage will change," he says, "but Americans should know what is happening." Perhaps, he suggests, by working to more fully understand the causes of the current situation, Americans can hasten the peace process.

The Israeli government, of course, disagrees with Hussain’s assessments.

"I would remind people that Palestinian terrorism has always been aimed at civilians," says consul Rachel Feinmesser. "These days they attack kids in pizzerias, in discos. How is this not terrorism, when it is aimed at hurting or killing as many civilians as possible? Palestinian terrorism is not aimed at the military. We are working to stop terrorism. [Yasser] Arafat is not doing so, so we have no other option."

Does AFSC’s Bergen foresee an end in sight to the current tensions? "It’s going to take a very long time," she says, "The two sides have to negotiate. There is no military solution. We believe that there is way to work out a nonviolent solution/resolution to this situation."

Which may not have been furthered, she notes, by Vice President Dick Cheney’s Tuesday visit to Jerusalem, where he met with Israeli but not with Palestinian leaders. "The U.S. sees itself as a mediator, but I can’t imagine a mediator who does not meet with both sides," she says, adding that "it certainly does not help build trust."

"The goal of the AFSC Israel-Palestine Peacebuilding Program is to support a just peace," says Bergen. "We believe that there has to be a just solution because if it is not just, it will not last. We support self-determination for both sides. Whatever both sides decide, be it two states or one state, they have to live as equals with full human rights. To make these things possible, the occupation must end," Bergen states.

Will she continue to organize demonstrations with the AMS? "We will probably continue to, but with certain conditions, such as the types of placards that are displayed. The core message of our joint demonstration must remain ‘end the occupation,’" she says, "Though, of course, as with any public demonstration, it is ultimately impossible to have complete control over every aspect."

And what of the demonstrators who come out week after week to lift their voices in protest?

"They are probably pretty seasoned activists, and they are dedicated to a just peace for both sides," says Bergen.

Feinmesser says protest is one thing, finding answers another.

"It is a free country and everybody is entitled to demonstrate," says Feinmesser, "but I regret that the demonstrators have no positive suggestions as to how to solve the problem. I would hope that all groups who demonstrate would first condemn terrorism. ‘End the occupation and live happily ever after’ I find a bit simplistic. The situation is certainly more complicated than that. We have two parties involved in this situation. Demonstrators are free to criticize and I can relate to that, but when people say, ‘If you end the occupation, all will be wonderful,’ well, I find that approach just a little simplistic. To move this situation forward, mutual steps on the parts of both parties are needed."