January 15, 2007
By Diane Balser and Carinne Luck

It is very difficult these days to be openly identified with peace efforts in the Middle East.

Palestinian factions fight intermittently and militants often violate the Palestinian Authority's ceasefire with Israel, while Israel has conducted military operations in the West Bank and has announced plans for the establishment of a new settlement there.

The Palestinian and Israeli members of Combatants for Peace have a special understanding of these problems. Formerly sworn enemies dedicated to killing each other in combat, these men were once among the first responders to violence such as that seen throughout 2006.

Today, however, the roughly 150 Israelis and Palestinians who make up CFP have chosen to lay down arms in favor of coexistence.

The Israelis were all once combat soldiers, and the Palestinians were militants, planning or executing attacks on Israeli targets in the name of Palestinian liberation.

They now take the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission as their model, meeting regularly, discussing their past with brutal honesty, and searching for common ground.

In simple terms, they no longer believe that the bloodshed with which the two societies have lived for decades can be stopped unless people of good will act together to bring an end to the occupation and stop all forms of violence.

As such, they advocate for mutually acceptable negotiations, leading to the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

In this, they act in the best interests of Israelis and Palestinians alike. Neither community will know real peace or stability until such a solution is achieved. Moreover, coexisting Palestinian and Israeli states would open the door to greater regional stability than the Middle East has seen in the modern age--something of great importance to U.S. interests, as well.

The American Jewish community always has been concerned with the future and well being of Israel.

And now, a growing number of American Jews is coming to see the importance of forging a negotiated, two-state resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. CFP is then a natural ally for those who seek a secure future for all the region's people.

Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace, is delighted to sponsor a Combatants For Peace tour to 22 American cities because we believe their speakers' messages are vitally important for American audiences to hear.

Since 2001, Brit Tzedek has advocated for a Palestinian state next to Israel. We believe that exposure to the activities and beliefs of organizations like CFP can help make this dream a reality.

And in spite of--or perhaps because of--the perilous times in which we now live, there has never been a more crucial time for CFP's message to be received. The international community, especially the United States, must truly understand that all parties to the conflict must be heard, and that talks are the only way out of the violence. Brit Tzedek v'Shalom is bringing Combatants for Peace on this national tour so that their eloquent voices, advocating for peace and an end to violence, will resonate across the United States.

We must all recognize that continuing to punish the Palestinian public for their democratically held elections will not solve the problem. In fact, we can see that by reducing the Palestinian people to desperation, the situation has gotten worse. Israel is not served by chaos on its doorstep; American interests will not be met by running street battles in Palestinian cities.

All American Jews should heed the transformative voices of Combatants for Peace. In the past, these men did not only support the killing--they picked up arms to get the job done. But now they are here to tell the American community it must stop.

Only by ending the occupation, establishing a viable Palestinian state and stopping all use of violence can we hope to build peace in the Middle East.

Combatants for Peace can be seen in Portland on Feb. 5 at Congregation Neveh Shalom at 7:30 p.m., at Portland State University on Feb. 6 at 3 p.m. in the Multicultural Center (228 Smith Center) and in Eugene on Feb. 7 at Temple Beth Israel, Portland Street and 25th Avenue, exact time to be announced. For information call/email the Portland chapter of Brit Tzedek at 503 249-1957, Portland@btvshalom.org.

Diane Balser is the national advocacy chair of Brit Tzedek v'Shalom, the Jewish Alliance for Justice and Peace. Carinne Luck is the group's national director of chapter and grassroots development.