Last Monday was the first time I
have ever heard of the organization called The Parents Circle. Sitting down and
listening to two of their representatives was very heart breaking and moving at
the same time. Before having them come speak to us I had no idea what the
organization was about besides the fact that I knew a Palestinian Muslim and
Israeli Jew were coming to speak to us about the effects of the conflict on
their families. I wasn’t sure exactly what that would entail but hearing their
stories and how the organization helped them and their families was a life
learning experience.
Before the representatives arrived,
I was eating dinner on the rooftop with some of the other students. While
watching the lights of the city around us I saw a Muslim women wearing a hijab
come out of a car looking a little lost. Within seconds you see a moped park on
the sidewalk and an older man coming off of it while greeting the woman. You
hear each of them saying hello, then giving each other a long hug while saying
it was so nice to one another. While being in Israel I think that was the first
time I have ever seen two adults, one Muslim and the other Jewish embarrass
each other because they truly cared for one another. From that moment I
realized they were the representatives that were coming to speak to us.
Before telling us their stories,
they introduced each other as brother and sister. From the start they were
making a statement. It was an incredible statement that it is possible for a
Palestinian Muslim and Israeli Jew to be close friends and that one day there
will be peace between both nations. As they each told their heart breaking
stories, of one losing his 13 year old daughter from a suicide bomber and the
other losing her husband by being beaten and shot multiple times by and IDF
solider, tears ran down my face. The entire time I had mixed feelings because
both sides of the conflict are guilty to hurting incident people. I felt their
stories were even more touching because you saw as their emotions changed when
they were remembering the happy moments of their loved one and the upsetting moments
of explaining their death. You always hear other stories about incident victims
losing their lives, but they are either through the news or a second source.
Hearing these two representatives made the situations even more tragic because
they personally experienced the awful terror.
They both expressed how thankful
they were for having The Parent Circle as support and in hopes that it will be
one of the answers to starting peace within the Palestinian and Israeli
conflict. Hearing the other activities and programs the organization offers,
shows how important the two hundred families involved need this organization for coping
their loses of loved ones. It’s sad that each family has come together because
of a tragic death of a loved one, but it gives them hope and support to
continue on with life and making peace their goals. I am very thankful to have
heard these stories and they are ones that I will keep close to my heart. All I
could ever ask for is peace between the two nations.
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