Hometown Weekly

Peace Abbey honors Combatants for Peace
By ABIGAIL DAVIDSON, Hometown Weekly Staff
March 19, 2009

As sunlight sparkled through the windows of the Quaker Room of the Peace Abbey, a group of social studies students from Dover- Sherborn High School sat in rapt silence listening to former Israeli soldier Yaniv Reshef speak softly of his desire to bring the same peace and quiet found at the Peace Abbey, and all across America, to his homeland.

"I chose the way of non-violence because I feel it is the better way," said Reshef. "For me, I prefer this way."

Last Friday, the Peace Abbey honored Reshef and his friend, Bassam Aramin, a former Palestinian fighter, with the Courage of Conscience Award for their work with Combatants for Peace, a Jerusalem-based group dedicated to bringing former Israeli and Palestinian fighters together to work for peace.

The Courage of Conscience Award was established by the Abbey to honor those who dedicate themselves to promoting peace, and, in doing so, inspire others to follow suit. Previous recipients of the award include Mother Teresa, Muhammad Ali and Sir Ben Kinglsey.

The work of Combatants for Peace is remarkable in that it brings together two groups of archenemies to search for a peaceful solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. The group was co-founded by Aramin, a former Fatah fighter, who was sentenced to seven years in jail at age 17 for planning an attack against Israeli soldiers. Since that time, Aramin has renounced violence.

In 2007, his commitment to peace was tested when, on her way home from school, his 10-year-old daughter, Abir, was hit with a rubber-coated bullet shot by an Israeli soldier patrolling the neighborhood. In the days after Abir's shooting, Israeli members of Combatants for Peace stayed with Aramin round the clock at the hospital. After three days, Abir died.

Aramin's loss has only strengthened his commitment to the cause of Combatants for Peace. Since Abir's death, he has founded a new program, Abir's Garden Project, dedicated to creating safe places to play for children in Aramin's hometown of Anata, in the West Bank.

"I'm not going to lose my common sense, my direction, only because I've lost my heart, my child. I will do all I can to protect her friends, both Palestinian and Israeli. They are all our children," explained Aramin.

Reshef was inspired to join Combatants for Peace after serving as an infantry soldier in the sabotage unit of the Israeli army. While he grew up in the heart of the conflict, in an agricultural community just 19 km from Gaza where missile attacks are a frequent occurrence, since his time with the army, Reshef has renounced violence, and is now committed to working towards ending the Israeli occupation of Palestine and for a two-state solution in the region.

Most recently, Reshef's work has included organizing Combatants for Peace meetings in the Israeli city of Sderot, giving residents there the opportunity to hear from voices on both sides of the conflict.

In honor of their work and to promote their message, the Peace Abbey, along with September Eleventh Families for Peaceful Tomorrows and the Rebuilding Alliance, have organized a Courage of Conscience Speaking Tour for Aramin and Reshef, from Massachusetts to D.C. The two men already met with Senator Kerry last week, expressing their wish for peace and assistance from the United States in promoting a two-state solution in the region.

<br> Reshef explained to social studies students from Dover- Sherborn High School who had just wrapped up a unit on the Israeli- Palestinian conflict that they could help bring peace to the Middle East by getting involved and urging their representatives to take action.

"We just met with Senator Kerry last week. He listened to us and asked us some of the same questions you have been," related Reshef. "You can be effective in this (conflict), you are his voters."

Students questioned Reshef about his childhood in Israel, time with the army and what he believes is the best solution to the Israeli- Palestinian conflict. Reshef explained to students that he felt the only way forward for both the Israelis and the Palestinians is a two-state solution, adding that he felt it would also be best for the American government to stop supplying weapons to the Israeli government.

The former Israeli soldier added that most Israelis and Palestinians also hope for a two-state solution, however, they have grown accustomed to life the way it is.

When asked what made him different from other Israelis, Reshef replied simply, "The only difference is I am more informed. If I could bring one Israeli to live like a Palestinian they would come back and say, 'I am so ashamed.' The problem is people get used to war and pain. Israelis and Palestinians treat war like the weather.

"65 to 70 percent of Israelis and Palestinians are moderate and for a two-state solution," added Reshef. "The problem is the Israeli and Palestinian governments only understand power."

Aramin and Reshef are currently in New York City, addressing the UN Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information, Kiyo Akasaka, and are then on to Washington D.C., where they will meet with members of the House and Senate next week.