| People ask me all the time why I went to | | | | only Christian in a room filled with American |
| occupied Palestine-not just once-but five | | | | Jews and Palestinian Muslims. I was in awe of |
| times since 2005 and why do I care so much | | | | all of them as I prayed, "Jesus Christ! Will |
| about such a small plot of real estate. | | | | you look at all these Muslims and Jews doing |
| | | | exactly what you commanded your followers |
| I reply, that I went the first time to meet a | | | | must do; forgive, love and bless ones |
| little boy of Bethlehem who changed my life | | | | enemies. Imagine when all we Christians do it |
| and to be the Christian delegate amongst the | | | | too!" |
| Palestinian and Jewish co-founders of the | | | | |
| Olive Trees foundation for Peace [ an | | | | It was that fateful day that led me to travel |
| interfaith non-profit dedicated to raising | | | | two hours every Tuesday afternoon for many |
| awareness and funds to purchase trees to | | | | months in order to listen and write down Dr. |
| replace those that have been destroyed by The | | | | Diab's memoirs, with the intention that it |
| Wall. | | | | would be for his grandchildren. |
| | | | |
| But, my last four trips to occupied Palestine | | | | But, being an Irish story teller, dissident |
| were driven by the fierce urgency of now and | | | | and spiritual creative, I had no control over |
| a sense of calling; to go-bear witness-and | | | | the six fictional characters that welled up |
| report about the lives of regular people | | | | within me and who began to converse with Dr. |
| living under military occupation and to learn | | | | Diab during the days that followed our |
| about and support the grass root efforts of | | | | Tuesday meetings. Not until I completed, KEEP |
| Israeli, Palestinian and International | | | | HOPE ALIVE did I even realize that my |
| nonviolent activists against the occupation | | | | 'imaginary friends' also represented six |
| of Palestine. | | | | different ways to intuit, love and serve God. |
| | | | |
| I also left hearth and home for occupied | | | | KEEP HOPE ALIVE is also an historical fiction |
| Palestine five times because injustice | | | | based on the memoirs of a 1948 Palestinian |
| anywhere reverberates all over the world and | | | | Muslim refugee who became an American citizen |
| American taxpayers are culpable in where | | | | with Top Secret Clearance during the Cold War |
| their money is laid down. Annually, over 3.2 | | | | and founded the non-profit interfaith Olive |
| billion USA tax dollars are sent to Israel to | | | | Trees Foundation for Peace as a positive |
| support the now 40 years of military | | | | response to THAT DAY we call 9/11. |
| occupation of the indigenous peoples of the | | | | |
| Holy Land. | | | | Because of my connection to the OTFFP, I |
| | | | journeyed the first time to occupied |
| It was at an Olive Trees Foundation for Peace | | | | territory in June 2005. I wrote down |
| meeting, that I met a Catholic woman who | | | | everything I experienced, felt in my gut and |
| showed me a photo first published by the | | | | wondered about. I went places I had never |
| Florida Catholic in 2000; a photo that | | | | imagined existed and I did things I never |
| irrevocably changed my life. | | | | thought I would or could; such as leaving |
| | | | Ramallah for Jerusalem late at night with a |
| Photographer Debbie Hill, captured three year | | | | driver I did not know and who only spoke |
| old George [it is his photo that adorns the | | | | Arabic. |
| banner of my website] of Beit Jala, a once | | | | |
| peaceful Christian village a five minute car | | | | That morning, I rode along with Dr. Diab and |
| ride from downtown Bethlehem, the morning | | | | his driver to Ramallah from Jerusalem, and |
| after the Israeli army destroyed his | | | | witnessed the Wall in full frontal, brutal |
| sanctuary. | | | | view. On my left was a thirty foot high wall |
| | | | of concrete; on my right, only rows of |
| Israeli forces had retaliated against a few | | | | bankrupt businesses. |
| hopeless militants who had infiltrated | | | | |
| George's neighborhood to snipe across the way | | | | "Financed with U.S. aid at a cost of $1.5 |
| into the illegal settlement/colony of Gilo, | | | | million per mile, the Israeli wall prevents |
| about a mile from the top of the hill not far | | | | residents from receiving health care and |
| from George's home. | | | | emergency medical services. In other areas, |
| | | | the barrier separates farmers from their |
| The shrapnel that blew apart the wall of | | | | olive groves which have been their families' |
| George's bedroom read 'Made in USA ' and was | | | | sole livelihood for generations." [Washington |
| delivered via American made Apache | | | | Report on Middle East Affairs, Page 43, Jan |
| helicopters. | | | | Feb. 2007] |
| | | | |
| The second I saw George's eyes, in that | | | | Dr. Diab and I had an appointment at the |
| photo, my heart said "DO SOMETHING!" | | | | Palestinian Authority's compound, where |
| | | | Arafat is now buried. |
| What could I possibly do I wondered, but I | | | | |
| did make a copy of the photo, put it in a | | | | We met with Rafiq Husseini, chief of staff to |
| frame and placed it upon the altar [a bar | | | | President Abbas who informed us, "We have |
| high table] in the upper room of my home. | | | | lost more than 1.1 million fruit-bearing |
| Dozens of times a day, I stop and gaze into | | | | trees in Palestinian territories. Trees are |
| the eyes of that little boy of Bethlehem and | | | | about food, the environment, and life. |
| wonder what it will take to end the insane | | | | Ancient trees have been demolished by tanks, |
| cycle of violence in the Holy Land; which is | | | | and we thank the Olive Trees Foundation for |
| in pieces-bantustans. | | | | Peace for addressing the need to replace them |
| | | | and rebuild the faith of our people. |
| When I met George for the first time in June | | | | Palestine has always been tolerant to people |
| 2005, I vowed to him that the rest of my life | | | | of all religions. The Jews came here out of |
| would be dedicated to doing all I could to | | | | Spain along with many Arabs - and then came |
| help bring about the end of the occupation of | | | | Zionism. When one wants to take over another, |
| Palestine. | | | | war happens. President Abbas is a very bad |
| | | | politician; he does not lie! He is ready to |
| Of course I had no clue as to what I would or | | | | move on from the past. We have quit crying |
| could possibly do, or how much of an | | | | over our losses; we must move on. Live and |
| 'impossible mission' I had promised a little | | | | let live is the motto of this administration. |
| child of Bethlehem. But, every morning I wake | | | | We can not carry on a battle; it must stop. |
| up and wonder what I can do today in the | | | | Peace can only happen with peace, not force. |
| pursuit of peace and justice; equal human | | | | President Abbas has promised, 'We will do |
| rights for all, for that is the only way | | | | whatever it takes to show the world we want |
| Israel will ever be secure. | | | | peace.' We need America to help us. The best |
| | | | thing would be for Americans to come and see |
| A month after my first return home from | | | | the truth of the situation for themselves. I |
| occupied territory, I put up my website and | | | | encourage Americans to come and see the Wall; |
| became a civilian journalist; which is best | | | | it has nothing to do with security, but |
| understood as one who goes out of their | | | | everything to do with grabbing water and more |
| comfort zone to report for the benefit of we | | | | land. When Americans understand the real |
| the people, without orders or censorship from | | | | situation, things will change for the better. |
| editors or paychecks from conglomerates. | | | | The humiliation at the checkpoints is beyond |
| | | | belief. It can drive anyone to desperation. |
| The first civilian journalist may well have | | | | We condemn all terrorism, but resisting |
| been Rachel Corrie, the altruistic young | | | | occupation is necessary." |
| American and volunteer with ISM/International | | | | |
| Solidarity movement who was run over and | | | | After that meeting, Dr. Diab set off for his |
| killed by the weight of a Caterpillar | | | | home village in the Galilee and I explored |
| bulldozer in Gaza in 2003, four days before | | | | Ramallah with a friend who was born and lives |
| America bombed Baghdad. | | | | there. Just before midnight, my friend walked |
| | | | me through the checkpoint to where the cabs |
| Rachel and other NONVIOLENT activists had | | | | waited. I cringed when I saw the watchtower's |
| spent hours protesting against the demolition | | | | small window lit up, and I considered how |
| of the home of a pharmacist with five | | | | easy it would be to be shot at and never see |
| children in Gaza. The Corrie family has | | | | it coming. The ground was rocky, uneven, and |
| sought but has yet to receive justice; an | | | | littered with debris and the only light was |
| open Congressional investigation and | | | | from the moon. |
| admission of accountability by the | | | | |
| Caterpillar Company which continues to reap | | | | My friend bargained with a cabbie in Arabic |
| profits from manufacturing products that | | | | and I marveled that I, who hated to fly |
| further the military occupation of Palestine. | | | | before 9/11 and with absolutely no sense of |
| | | | direction at all, who only speaks and |
| On February 7 2003, Rachel wrote: | | | | understands English, was traveling alone |
| | | | through occupied territory without any fear |
| "…no amount of reading, attendance at | | | | at all. |
| conferences, documentary viewing and word of | | | | |
| mouth could have prepared me for the reality | | | | After two weeks of traveling through Israel |
| of the situation here. You just can't imagine | | | | Palestine with ten other Americans connected |
| it unless you see it - and even then you are | | | | with the OTFFP, I remained alone in Jerusalem |
| always well aware that your experience of it | | | | for the following three days and once again, |
| is not at all the reality…Nobody in my | | | | my life was irrevocably changed. |
| family has been shot, driving in their car, | | | | |
| by a rocket launcher from a tower at the end | | | | On the third Tuesday in June of 2005- six |
| of a major street in my hometown…When I | | | | days before I returned to the USA- after an |
| leave for school or work I can be relatively | | | | excruciatingly painful day in Hebron, I |
| certain that there will not be a heavily | | | | crossed paths with Vanunu for the first time. |
| armed soldier waiting…at a checkpoint | | | | |
| with the power to decide whether I can go | | | | In April 2005, two months before my first |
| about my business, and whether I can get home | | | | trip to Jerusalem, I turned the TV on that |
| again when I'm done…I am in Rafah: a | | | | had last been tuned onto the History channel. |
| city of about 140,000 people, approximately | | | | They were broadcasting a show called, |
| 60% of whom are refugees - many of whom are | | | | "Sexpionage" all about Russian female spies |
| twice or three times refugees. Today, as I | | | | and one from the Mossad. |
| walked on top of the rubble where homes once | | | | |
| stood, Egyptian soldiers called to me from | | | | The very first clip that ran before my eyes |
| the other side of the border, 'Go! Go!' | | | | was of Vanunu being transported to his closed |
| because a tank was coming. And then waving | | | | door trial depicting his inspired move to |
| and [asking] 'What's your name?' | | | | write upon his palm: "HIJACKED" and the Rome |
| | | | flight number he had been on. That was |
| "Something disturbing about this friendly | | | | followed by a clip of Shimon Perez in 1986 |
| curiosity. It reminded me of how much, to | | | | stating that Israel would never be the first |
| some degree, we are all kids curious about | | | | in the Mid East to possess nuclear weapons. |
| other kids. Egyptian kids shouting at strange | | | | |
| women wandering into the path of tanks. | | | | Then, a black and white photo of a bearded, |
| Palestinian kids shot from the tanks when | | | | unkempt and disheveled Vanunu filled the TV |
| they peak out from behind walls to see what's | | | | screen and I thought his eyes looked just |
| going on. International kids standing in | | | | like George's of Beit Jala's, and again, I |
| front of tanks with banners. Israeli kids in | | | | heard in my heart: |
| the tanks anonymously - occasionally shouting | | | | |
| and also occasionally waving - many forced to | | | | "Do Something!" |
| be here, many just aggressive - shooting into | | | | |
| the houses as we wander away…There is a | | | | I did email Vanunu after that show to thank |
| great deal of concern here about the | | | | him for what he had done in 1986 and to let |
| "reoccupation of Gaza". Gaza is reoccupied | | | | him know that I and nine other Americans |
| every day to various extents but I think the | | | | would be in his territory in two months and |
| fear is that the tanks will enter all the | | | | we would like to take him to dinner or lunch. |
| streets and remain here instead of entering | | | | But, just days before that trip, a |
| some of the streets and then withdrawing | | | | Palestinian American warned me not to contact |
| after some hours or days to observe and shoot | | | | Vanunu as Israel had denied him the right to |
| from the edges of the communities. If people | | | | speak to not just foreign media but also |
| aren't already thinking about the | | | | ordered him to not speak to any foreigners at |
| consequences of this war for the people of | | | | all. |
| the entire region then I hope you will | | | | |
| start."[1] | | | | Only because a friend from Ramallah happened |
| | | | to be in Jerusalem on the third Tuesday in |
| It was the events of THAT DAY we call 9/11 | | | | June 2005, and invited me out to dinner, did |
| topped off by President Bush's advice a few | | | | I venture out again. I had no hunger for food |
| days later to we the people that we should | | | | after my day in Hebron but as we walked |
| all go shopping if we wanted to help, that | | | | towards the Old City and neared St. Georges |
| drove my curiosity to learn "about the | | | | Cathedral where Vanunu had been living, I |
| consequences" of USA foreign policy in the | | | | asked my friend if he knew about Vanunu. He |
| Middle East. | | | | recalled hearing about Vanunu's release from |
| | | | prison in 2004, but he did not know Vanunu |
| Being a Christian, I also was driven by the | | | | was a Christian who had grown up in an |
| need to forgive, love and do good to my | | | | Orthodox Jewish home but rejected the faith |
| 'enemies' that led me to connect with the | | | | at 14 years old. |
| interfaith non-profit OTFFP/Olive Trees | | | | |
| Foundation for Peace during the summer of | | | | As we entered the courtyard, Vanunu was on |
| 2003. | | | | his way out to a meeting and a few minutes |
| | | | difference and we would have missed him |
| I connected with the OTFFP after reading two | | | | completely. |
| oped's published in the Orlando Sentinel | | | | |
| written by the Palestinian Muslim and | | | | Instead I was startled by his physical |
| American Jewish Co-Founders of the OTFFP | | | | presence, for I had imagined Vanunu to be |
| regarding the need for open dialogue that | | | | dark eyed and much taller than I at 5'4". |
| recognizes, respects and empathizes with the | | | | Vanunu is not much taller or heavier than I, |
| pain of the other; for when that happens, | | | | but what knocked me for a loop were his light |
| anyone of good will, will be moved by | | | | green-blue eyes that immediately reminded me |
| compassion to do something to alleviate the | | | | of the eyes of an old woman I met in 1998, |
| pain of the other. | | | | who irrevocably changed my life. |
| | | | |
| The OTFFP organization united American and | | | | Her name was Bernice and I crossed paths with |
| Israeli Jews, Christians and Muslims after | | | | her for the first time just a few weeks after |
| THAT DAY we call 9/11 to literally extend the | | | | I began visiting someone at a local nursing |
| olive branch of peace to all the cousins in | | | | home. As I walked down the hallway, Bernice |
| Father Abraham's family in Israel Palestine | | | | called out, "Help me. Help me." |
| by providing the funds to purchase fruit | | | | |
| bearing trees on both sides of The Wall. So | | | | I had been a registered nurse for twenty-five |
| far, 30,000 have been rooted. | | | | years and when ever I hear someone ask for |
| | | | help, I am compelled to do something, or at |
| After a few phone calls and emails to the | | | | least try. All Bernice wanted was for me to |
| OTFFP organization, I committed to attend a | | | | change her position, for she was completely |
| Sunday afternoon OTFFP meeting in south | | | | paralyzed. From a distance I thought her eyes |
| Orlando following the final third of my first | | | | were dark, but as I approached her, I was |
| year of weekend retreats for students in a | | | | startled at how light green-blue they were. |
| two year formation program for Spiritual | | | | That day was the beginning of my now ten year |
| Director's. | | | | nursing home ministry, and although I have no |
| | | | clue what color Jesus' eyes may have been, in |
| During 2002-2003, I participated in a central | | | | that moment, I sensed/experienced the |
| Florida, Episcopal-Methodist Formation | | | | presence of The Other; that mystery we call |
| Program for SD/Spiritual Director's/SD's. | | | | God, for lack of a better word. Crossing |
| SD's are not counselors or therapists, but | | | | paths with Bernice was the first time I had |
| are centered and prayerful people who have | | | | known a visceral, intuitive experience of the |
| learned to listen with their hearts to any | | | | presence of God within another. It happened |
| other speaking of their struggles with God. | | | | for the second time in the courtyard of St. |
| | | | George's Cathedral in 2005, during the chance |
| I knew going into the program that I would | | | | crossing of paths with Vanunu, who inspired |
| NOT be hanging out a shingle as an SD, I was | | | | me to do something I had not yet imagined I |
| drawn to be there for the curriculum; | | | | would or could. |
| studying the saints and various ways of | | | | |
| prayer. That is also when I began to write | | | | During our third meeting, while Vanunu was |
| creative spiritual literature. | | | | telling me about growing up in Marrakech, |
| | | | Morocco he asked me if I had ever seen the |
| But on a Sunday afternoon in the summer of | | | | "Dorothy Day" movie, "The Man who Knew Too |
| 2003, after concluding my final weekend | | | | Much" for the beginning scenes were shot |
| retreat I attended my first OTFFP meeting and | | | | where he grew up. |
| my life was irrevocably changed, and it began | | | | |
| that morning during a guided meditation. | | | | He meant to say Doris Day, but in that moment |
| | | | I realized my childhood dream of being Brenda |
| The workshop leader instructed my class to | | | | Starr had matured, for Vanunu's slip of the |
| close our eyes and breathe deep and slow as | | | | tongue was the catalyst for me to begin to |
| she invited us to enter into a long corridor | | | | imagine following in the footsteps of Dorothy |
| with many closed doors; and then, she went | | | | Day, the 20th century socialist muckraker who |
| silent. Immediately, I imagined myself | | | | became a Christian and a voice for the |
| skipping, jumping, dancing and running past | | | | voiceless in her newspaper The Catholic |
| miles of closed doors as I headed to the end | | | | Worker, which persists today. |
| of that long corridor. I was aware of, but | | | | |
| not interested in any of the closed doors on | | | | Dorothy Day understood that, "Love is not the |
| my right and left. I headed straight ahead | | | | starving of whole populations. Love is not |
| although it was a while before I saw the | | | | the bombardment of open cities. Love is not |
| enormous cathedral sized double doors at the | | | | killing......Our manifesto is the Sermon on |
| very end of the hallway. As I approached the | | | | the Mount, which means that we will try to be |
| wooden doors they slowly opened into the | | | | peacemakers." |
| inner space and I could see trees and | | | | |
| mountains. After crossing the threshold, I | | | | During my travels through occupied Palestine |
| realized I stood upon a mountain top and I | | | | and after listening with my heart to the |
| could see for miles. There were people of | | | | people who shared their stories with me, I |
| every color and creed, in diverse dress and | | | | asked everyone, "How can I help? What can I |
| all were at rest and in peaceful harmony | | | | do to try to be a peacemaker?" |
| under those trees. | | | | |
| | | | Everyone responded, "Tell our stories." |
| When the workshop leader interrupted my | | | | |
| reverie, I did not want to leave that | | | | Dorothy Day and Rachel Corrie told the |
| mountain top. I also had no clue if I had a | | | | stories of the oppressed. They both are dead, |
| glimpse of heaven or a possibility for this | | | | but as long as I can do something and have |
| world, but as I was on my way to meet some of | | | | breath, I too will tell the stories as I try |
| the Olive Trees for Peace people I thought | | | | to be a peacemaker by seeking justice; equal |
| that had something to do with my imaginative | | | | human rights for all, and persist to hope for |
| meditation. | | | | the best. |
| | | | |
| I was the first to arrive at Dr. Diab's home | | | | Might you do something too. |
| for the meeting, and on that Sunday I was the | | | | |