Israel's Palestinian partner is ready and waiting
Abdallah Abu Rahma, a Palestinian peace activist in the West Bank, and his story exemplifies the complexity of the current situation.
By Libby Lenkinski FriedlanderFor most Israelis, who have had little or no interaction with Palestinians for at least the past decade, the "Palestinian partner" remains an abstract concept. As a result, we spend a lot of time seeking a clear definition of what that ideal partner for ending the occupation would be: Who would be acceptable? What is the ideal profile? As a civil society worker, I have a face for the Palestinian partner that I want to see, in the abstract and in flesh and blood. I have met him. But my Palestinian partner is now in jail as a "security prisoner" - convicted of illegal acts and facing a harsh sentence to be determined by a military judge in the coming weeks.
I met Abdallah Abu Rahma in 2009 when I was handling media for Physicians for Human Rights-Israel. Among other activities, PHR provided first-aid training to Palestinian, Israeli and international activists after the death of Bassem Abu Rahma, who was killed in Bil'in that April after being shot in the chest with a tear-gas canister at one of the weekly protests that have been held in the village since February 2005. Abdallah, a 39-year-old high-school teacher and father of three, and a distant relative of Bassem's, was Bil'in's media coordinator, and thus my direct counterpart and partner in the project. We were in touch daily and met several times. Abdallah was always in his trademark suit and tie, an outfit that is a source of affectionate attention among the Israeli activist crowd.
One of the first things that struck me when I attended a pre-sentencing hearing at Ofer prison for him last week was that he was no longer in his suit. A brown prison outfit and ankle chains replaced the usual tie, starched shirt and handkerchief. Abdallah, a dignified, formal man, was now being tried and sentenced by a military court system that lumps legitimate and illegitimate protest together - that is, violent and nonviolent, legal and illegal. This system does not see the partner that I worked with - it sees only a threat. Palestinian activism - violent or not - is always perceived as threatening to Israeli security.
Israelis say they have been wondering for years when Palestinian leaders who preach nonviolence will emerge. But when Palestinians began a civil protest against the separation barrier that sliced through their lives, Israel resurrected Military Order 101. That deems any gathering of more than 10 people illegal unless they obtain a permit from the military commander of the West Bank. Abdallah and organizers like him - who have chosen, both in principle and through their actions, the route of nonviolence and civil disobedience - are the kind of partners we said we wanted. And now they are being arrested for doing just the thing we said we hoped they'd do.
And why did Israel start using 101? "Stone-throwing."
"Stone-throwing" is a term that categorizes all Palestinian civil disobedience as violent, makes protests impossible long before the first stone is thrown, and has given Israeli military officials carte blanche for implementing a range of policies that seem to be aimed at quashing any political organizing in the West Bank.
Like so many policies of the occupation - segregated roads, curfews, etc. - Israel has thus chosen a sweeping policy that limits the basic rights and liberties of all because of the perceived risk posed by a few - in this case, the stone-throwers. The sweeping nature of 101 a priori categorizes all demonstrations under the occupation as illegal. And while the military has the authority to arrest stone-throwers, it prefers to make legitimate, nonviolent protest impossible.
Abdallah organized protests because the separation barrier, which is built on his village's lands, and whose route the High Court ordered to be changed in its decision of September 2007, still stands where it was originally erected. He says that his political struggle has not ended and that, as a committed activist and human rights defender, he will not be deterred by arrests and jail time from carrying out the organizing work that still needs to be done. The prosecution has said it wants to make an example of him, and wants him to be sentenced to more than the usual two years that come with these charges.
I want him and other Palestinian grass-roots nonviolent organizers to be free to carry on their political struggle together with Israeli partners and supporters. For the past nine months, while he has been on trial for organizing illegal protests and incitement to violence, Abdallah Abu Rahma has been in detention, torn away from his wife, three children and the young students he could be teaching, because Israel has apparently decided that civic activism, nonviolent protest or any kind of dissidence in Palestine is illegal.
On my way into the pre-sentencing hearing last week, I braced myself, expecting to see a shell of the Abdallah that was imprisoned nine months ago. But the same upright person walked in. He was greeted by a room full of Israelis, foreign diplomats and family members - and insisted on speaking at the end of the hearing. He stood and said: "I was raised to believe in peace, coexistence and nonviolence. This is what I have passed on to my children and my students."
This is our Palestinian partner.
Libby Lenkinski Friedlander is the director of international relations for the Association for Civil Rights in Israel.
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I know many Palestinians who seek to build civil society and work for peace. Several of them studied with Israelis in McGill University's Program on Middle East Civil Society and Peace Building. Israelis and Palestinians bonded at a very personal level. What a shame Israelis and Palestinians cannot meet back home. Without personal contact people stereotype the other, especially noxious in war like situations.
Otherwise the only ones that read them are the Israelis that do not want to see them or the few international observers that are following the situation.
Israel continues to shoot itself in the foot by its deeds of injustice. This is a noble man whom Israel should have embraced and listened to, rather chain and imprison. And the comment from the prosecution to make 'an example' out of this man, damn near made my stomach turn. You are breeding hate on a daily basis...keep up the good work!!
Once again, ACRI reveals itself as a political organization with a political agenda. You may agree or disagree with that agenda. Honesty demands, though, that they acknowledge that a radical left wing political agenda is what drives them and not a real concern for "civil rights."
He is a Palestinian activist whom the author claims is non-violent. Non-violence does not in any way imply that he recognizes any Israeli rights. More likely it means he will work with fools like the author to undermine the State of Israel
If the current palestinian leadership had been our peace partner, then they would recognize Israel as the Jewish State. They would also stop incitement against Israel AND they would stop calling streets and squares after suicide bombers.It's time for the Israeli left to take their heads out of their behinds and stop abetting Israel's enemies under the guise of anti-zionism.Since the Israeli left forms a political minority in Israel, they find nothing better to do than to cooperate with anti-Israel elements, such as Goldstone. Every Israeli wants peace with the pals, but the Israel left insists on peace at any price, which is tantamount to national suicide.The pals will never respect Israeli leaders, who are ready to make too many concessions, such as Olmert and Barak.This is a lesson our leftist leaders still have to learn.
That is what we have seen of Arab leaders, not non-violence and this man of violence is no difference. I think five or ten years will make this man think his crimes over.
If you keep ignoring those Palestinians who are living abroad , you will never achieve any thing . Strong Partners are also exist across the borders. Believe it or not !
about time we picked up the reins. good to hear from an intelligent voice.
Sadly, Abdallah is not the only partner for peace continually placed in prison for non-violent, legal activities. You are right, Israel is very afraid of strong, peace-centered, leadership among the Palestinians. This is why I am so frustrated when I hear people say that there are no partners for peace - There are, and Israel knows exactly who they are. If the Israeli government really wanted peace, this would not happen; if the Israeli government (read: military) really wanted peace, these people would be supported and brought forward as the leaders they are - not hidden and criminalized.
Even among Nazi regime there were opponents to Hitler. Likewise many Iranians or Palestinians are good people on a personal basis. But we are dealing with organizations here, not personal behavior. If we look at the facts and declarations, we get a totally different picture. For sixty years Palestinians tried to wipe out Israel. The only reason they are not free today is because they keep pledging Jews have no rights to live here. In Gaza they freely elected Hamas. Every beginner film producer knows that on a personal basis things are often different. We all know the movies about strangers on a deserted island adapting their behavior. We all share the same DNA. Thus among all nations are the same proportions of thin, fat, bad and good people. But the differences are in the organizations controlling these individuals. I am sure your Palestinian friend is very nice on a personal basis, but the organizations controlling Palestinian life are different. Your nice friend is surrounded by a Billion and a half, world wide Islamic movement ranging from 9/11 terror, to Afghanistan and Iran. They won't let go now. They even didn't start the war of Islam. And they certainly won't let Abbas to destroy what they see a successful campaign of Islam against Europe, Israel and now the USA. This is the real world, grow up.
These demonstrations at Bil'in are rarely peaceful, they almost always turn violent, they throw rocks, and attack soldiers. The protesters are experts at playing for the cameras, provoking Israel soldiers and then getting a picture of themselves getting arrested or dragged away. This is one big sham
the evidence is in: the vast majority of arabs living in the former west bank of the hashemite kingdom of transjordan would be delighted to become our partners and become residents of israel. israeli arabs get hysterical when they are told that they will become part of the PA. they do not want to live in a terrorist state under fatah or most probably hamas. how many israeli arabs moved to nablus to live under arafat? none! the PA elite, funded by Iran and the EU have a vested interest in an enduring conflict. abu mazen's term ended in january 2009 and he now represents nobody. why not end the travesty, annex all of Y&S and grant full civil and religious rights to all law abiding residents. maintaining a state of limbo just generates hate and violence. of course, israel indecision and weakness confuses everyone including israeli arabs and haaretz opeditors.
Great Piece! In sum, the only partner Israel is really interested in is another Israeli, and preferably a settler... Israel continues to defy justice, reason and democratic principles in its ongoing staunch opposition to peace and human rights.
This is the policy that Israel has always adopted vis-a-vis the conflict with the Palestinians. It is reflected in the Israeli narrative: We have to break their bones The Palestinians are cockroaches The Palestinians are not humans The Palestinians are terrorists The Palestinians do not belong in the 'Land of Israel' Transfer them ... the list is endless. If violent expression of resistance is considered terrorism and non-violent demonstration are illegal and every activity is a threat to the security of Israel and the West fully supports Israel politically and militarily WHAT OTHER OPTIONS ARE THERE FOR THE PALESTINIANS? Thank God there are decent people like Libby Lenkinski Friedlander. I would hasten to add that the struggle is manifesting itself now not as a dispute between two claimants to the same spot in this wretched Holy Land, but rather a struggle between right and wrong, good and evil.