Timothy Stoner

Nationwide Nonviolence Tour: Wayne State University

Posted on 11. Oct, 2010 by Tim Stoner in Blog, Screening Tour

We have been waiting to hear word about the progress of the Jewish Boat to Gaza. This morning it arrives. The Irene, Yonatan’s boat was intercepted by the Israeli Navy 18 miles away from Gaza. This is the first-hand report written by Glyn Secker the captain:

“There then developed a sight which will remain with me for the rest of my life – with the frigate in the background, two gunboats, two landing craft and four high powered ribs spread out in a semi-circle speeding towards us at perhaps 35 knots, with their bow waves and wakes flashing in the sunshine. It was surreal, it was like an action movie, and entranced by the sight “There then developed a sight which will remain with me for the rest of my life – with the frigate in the background, two gunboats, two landing craft and four high powered ribs spread out in a semi-circle speeding towards us at perhaps 35 knots,

Then as planned Itamar [Yonatan’s brother] addressed the commandos in Hebrew and English, calling on them not to obey the orders to take actions which are illegal under international law. The ribs closed in, and the boarding commenced. . . .

On the opposite side of the cockpit Yonatan Shapira and his brother Itamar had been identified by the IDF commander in charge. He sought to separate them from the others. Yonatan clasped Rami [the father of Elik who has been traveling with us] in a hug to prevent himself being removed. The senior officer then moved one side [sic] Yonatan’s lifejacket covering his left breast, placed a Tazer gun in contact with his clothing and fired it directly into his heart. Yonatan let out a dreadful scream and the force of the Tazer caused him to lose control of his muscles. He was pulled off Rami and across the cockpit to the middle. He was then hit twice more by the Tazer gun, screaming out again.” 

Yonatan and ltamar were taken to the frigate then to shore where they were released on bail without any charges being filed. The commandos tore down all the banners on the Irene, including the British flag, and drove at high speed to the Southern Israeli harbor of Ashdod. After a day in a detention center the crew was taken to Ben Gurion airport and flown back to England.

These reports are a sobering reminder that the hostilities between occupiers and those resisting the occupation are very real, and they continue without let-up. They reinforce the conviction that, according to all appearances, only a miracle will bring peace to this troubled region by President Obama’s deadline of September 2011.

The screening tonight is being hosted by the Peace and Conflict Studies at Wayne State University in Detroit. Dellashon Di Cresce is the very enthusiastic program director. She and her assistant Yuridia Garza, a sophomore at the school, have organized the event. They have been joined by Kensington Church and University of Michigan-Dearborn as co-sponsors. Their efforts have been successful as the auditorium in the Welcome Center is soon filled to capacity and extra chairs are needed. We count over 180.

We had hoped for a large Arab turn out since there are approximately 350,000 Arabs living in Detroit, more than any other city in the U.S. The size of the population has prompted some to refer to Detroit as the Arab Capital in North America. When we look around at the audience we are not disappointed.

As is our custom during the screening, the team heads to a room to eat dinner that has been catered in by the host school. I have eaten more Middle Eastern food during these past eight days than in my entire life. And my appreciation for it has increased dramatically. The buffet this evening is exceptional–we are in the “Arab Capital” after all. Rabbi Avi joins us. He is a conservative Jew who keeps kosher. So he brings his own food in plastic baggies. I feel bad that he is missing out on some of the best food of the trip.

During the Q&A a student critiques Little Town of Bethlehem for its attempt to create “a false center, as if the two sides are equal.” I had heard that during its premier screenings last year this was a common criticism by Israelis viewers in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and by Palestinians in the West Bank. It is the first time this view has been voiced during the tour.

There is a disproportion of violence,” the student says. It is the Israelis who bear responsibility for the majority of the violence, implies the questioner. “There are no rockets coming in from Gaza for two years, so why should there be an entire siege contrary to international law exerting physical, moral and psychological violence on the refugees in Gaza? It is time to concentrate on the Israelis to get them to resist their own government’s violence.”

Rabbi Avi wades in. “I don’t think the missile attacks [from Gaza] justify the embargo,” he says, agreeing with the student. “There is no symmetry of violence.” However, he does not believe that the film was attempting to strike a false balance. “Neither do I support a blockade of Israel. He expresses his opinion that the U.S. has great influence over the conflict in the region. “What we should have is a serious conversation with Islamic leaders. That dialogue would be critical for the U.S and would create a different language between these two sides.” An added benefit to this civil conversation is that it would bring out into the open that “there are important voices in Israel crying out for help as a nation and admitting that we are in great trouble.”

Sami, as usual, brings in a moderating voice. “The Palestinians overplay the victim card. While it is true that the occupiers want to destroy us, violent resistance will not liberate us nor will it build the dream nation that we desire for the future.” He then says something that makes it clear why he is regarded as a threat by Palestinians as well as Israelis: “The current leadership in Palestine which supports violent acts wants to retain its hold on power above all things. If it was legitimized and allowed to form a nation “it would also suppress democracy rather than affirm and respect it.”

By empowering the people to resist, he explains, nonviolence is a threat to all who would seek to control and dominate. “It empowers people to no longer remain silent. When you are not silent you are not silent about all forms of injustice. This is what makes the movement a danger to the Palestinian Authority as well as Israeli authorities.” However, he believes there are great grounds for hope. “Though we are in for a very difficult and long process, the foundation is being planted and the potential for it is tremendous.” But for hope to continue, “international support and solidarity is necessary.”

Rabbi Avi states that the biggest issue that must be addressed is fear.”Nonviolence is the best vehicle to change this paradigm. It creates a new kind of language to address the fear on both sides. It motivates people much more than competing ideologies.”

Dr. Braverman responds to a question about the role of the church. “The church in the U.S. could be tremendously influential on this issue,” he states. “My expectation is that there will be a growing receptivity to say, ‘it’s okay to criticize Israel without being anti-Semitic.’” But, he sounds a somber warning. “Even if that is what you are labeled, it is still the right thing to do.“ He also sees positive signs. “The other piece is the evangelical church. They are absolutely on board with this issue. That is an extremely hopeful sign. They can bring the new energy to the old tired peace activists.”

“Be prepared to lose friends over this issue,” affirms Sami. He is speaking from personal experience as a Palestinian and as a Christian. “You must be ready to put yourself on the line and be willing to lose your closest friends. When you do, then you are ready to engage in this discussion.” His words carry weight. He is a man who lives what he speaks. “We need to be able to stand up against those who stand for violence.”

He continues, “We have wasted all these years trying to prove that our narrative is the best narrative. Forget it. There are breakdowns and failures on all levels. What we need to do is to honor and respect the other’s narrative and then realize that, in the future, establishing equal rights for all will have to be independent of the painful narratives of the past.” He says this is the core of the Holy Land Trusts Non-linear Leadership Development. “For this to succeed we must liberate each other from being victims, from  blaming and complaining. We must be empowered to break free from the controlling narratives of the past and create new fresh narratives.”

At this point the Rabbi turns to Sami and makes an impromptu remark; “I respect everything you say. I look at you and I know that with you I have a partner.” For me it is one of the most significant moments in the tour. I am very conscious that a conservative rabbi has just blessed an evangelical Christian. “Part of the challenge when you have been oppressed is not to re-oppress,” he continues. “But we can’t create peace in this way. You must make sure your voice is heard loudly and clearly, but in doing so you must make sure you don’t rob the other of their dignity.”

Afterwards I meet Mariano Avila from Christian Reformed World Mission (CRWM). He has brought 8 students from Calvin College in Grand Rapids to the screening. He represents Hope Equals, a new initiative of the CRWM, an organization that has traditionally been committed exclusively to church planting. Its goal is to connect North American college students with the peace and reconciliation movement between Israel and Palestine.

It is apparent that times and organizations are definitely a changin’. It supports Dr. Braverman’s hopeful observations–there is a movement coalescing around this issue and it is extending across religions, denominations, cultures and ages, even into traditional, conservative denominations.

We are facing another early morning flight tomorrow. The bus departs from the hotel at 5:30am for the Detroit Airport en route to Oklahoma City, EGM’s base of operations. 

Tags: Add new tag, BDS, evangelical nonviolence movement, freedom from Victimization, Hope Equals, Irene, Israeli/Palestinian nonviolent movement, Jewish boat to Gaza, Little Town of Bethlehem, non-linear leadership, Rabbi Avi, violence, Yonatan Shapira