Israel Reflections 2015–Day Two (Last One!): Gershon Baskin and IPCRI

gershonbaskin2130_800Late in the evening on Sunday, March 8, we met with Gershon Baskin and Riman Barakat.

This was our last (official) meeting of a long day involving talks about peace and conflict resolution, and it way it was, as student Kelsey Mader called it, “the perfect way to end.” The rest of Kelsey’s recap follows:

We met Gershon and Riman at The Israel Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI), an organization in Jerusalem that focuses on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict with a focus on peace and coexistence.  IPCRI supports a two-state solution in which both the Israeli and Palestinian people would have a nation and place to call home.  Gershon and Riman were both on the founding team of this organization and are still working unwaveringly toward their goal of peace.  You can visit IPCRI’s website for more information: http://ipcri.org/httpdocs/IPCRI/Who_We_Are.html.

Gershon Baskin has been involved in many negotiations on behalf of Israel – very notably, Gershon negotiated on behalf of Israel for the release of Gilad Shalit from Hamas’s control in the Gaza strip.  Gershon had many pieces of insightful information to share with us regarding his experiences and his opinions about how Israel and Palestine should move forward, but what stood out to me most was the list of eight things he shared as vital elements to a peace resolution.  Those eight elements were: (1) Palestinian statehood; (2) borders; (3) Jerusalem; (4) refugees; (5) physical link between Gaza and the West Bank; (6) economics; (7) national resources; and (8) security arrangements.  This was the first time I remember someone so clearly articulating their thoughts about a peace resolution.  It hit me how complex and emotional this issue is – eight large, heavy, sensitive elements that must be a part to a successful agreement.  It struck me how idyllic peace seems – are we crazy to strive for it when there is so much that seems to stand in the way?  Or are we crazy not to?

Cross-posted at http://www.indisputably.org.

 

Continue ReadingIsrael Reflections 2015–Day Two (Last One!): Gershon Baskin and IPCRI

Israel Reflections 2015–Day Two (Still!): Getting Handsy at Hebrew University

Even though we were not in the comforts of Marquette University Law School, I had to put the students back a classroom during a few stops on our trip. The first classroom experience came at Hebrew University, in a class led by Professor Avi Kluger, an expert in listening. (And the title of this blog came from one of our students describing the first exercise in which we had to follow the hand motions of our partner.)  As I was paired with my rather tall RA Sean McCarthy (and many of us were mismatched in this way), this particular exercise was really rather funny and started all of us off laughing.  A great classroom icebreaker.

Continue ReadingIsrael Reflections 2015–Day Two (Still!): Getting Handsy at Hebrew University

Israel Reflections 2015–Day Two: Parent’s Circle

We have met with the Parent’s Circle each time we have gone to Israel for an amazing meeting, and this time did not disappoint either.  My favorite part was how they ended — “Do Not Be Pro-Israel; Do Not Be Pro-Palestine; Be Pro-Peace.” From student Jennifer Sosa:

Prior to going to Israel, I never quite understood how much the Israeli and Palestinian conflict actually affected all citizens, even those who are not directly involved. Consequently, due to territorial disputes, innocent people are victims of crimes from both ends. Disputes that date back hundreds of years are the cause of such victimization. For years now, religion and politics have been the predominant reasons that prevent the conflict from ceasing.

Ben and Moira [spoke to us.] Ben was an Israeli who lost his daughter, a young woman who was serving her country through the military. Upon finding out that his daughter died because of a Palestinian, nothing but hatred filled Ben and the only thing he sought was revenge. Moira, a Palestinian who was originally from the United States, lost her husband due to a misjudgment on behalf of an Israeli soldier, and through the soldier’s ability to use his authoritative power, her husband was wrongfully killed. Her husband was shot multiple times by this soldier and nothing was done to aid or save him. Moira was left angry and hurt.

Continue ReadingIsrael Reflections 2015–Day Two: Parent’s Circle