Peace Activist Extarordinare

First, an introduction..

Steve: Gila, I must start out by saying that I was just fascinated when I read your Website. We are of the same generation and I met very few activists like yourself that did not come from parents who were also activists. We both grew up in the era of the Cold War, a time when young people were not encouraged to think for themselves, yet you managed to become a 'peoples activist' when you moved to Israel. How did that process come about?

Gila:  Actually, my mother was quite the activist – for Zionism.  She moved to Jerusalem from Europe in 1935 and lived here for 2 years, until she married my father (who was in Jerusalem visiting his parents) and moved with him to the US.  For me, the process of change was long and gradual, and part of the growing breakdown of consensus in Israeli society.  This change began in the early 1980s with the first Lebanon War, when many Israelis began to realize that our government was lying to us about the war and terrible things came out – the bombing of Beirut, Sabra and Shatilla, etc.  There was growing distrust of the authorities and a questioning of prior givens.  Over time, especially with the first Intifada (which began in 1987), I also became aware of the terrible situation of the Palestinians under occupation – and things were much more benign then compared with today.  So once you know about an injustice, it's really immoral to ignore it, hence my activism.

Steve: The organisations you are/were involved in are most impressive. Women in Black, especially, has made a name for themselves by their consistent dedication to ending the occupation. To stand at a busy corner in Jerusalem every Friday morning bringing attention to the occupation for over twenty years truly takes dedication. In all of that time were there any particular incidents that stand out in your mind?

Gila: I think of the increased violence toward us over the years – from name-calling (especially that we are 'whores', 'Jewish anti-Semites', "traitors', or all three) to physical attacks against us.  Strangely our views are now mostly accepted by the mainstream – that the occupation must come to an end – but we are still hated by the extremists.  Maybe it also has to do with women 'not knowing our place' in society, but daring to disagree with their views.  I think that the opposition to us is a combination of hating our views and hating women, too.

Steve: When you changed your course of life from religious woman to activist, what were the reactions of your family and friends? Do you maintain contact with them?

Gila: In terms of family, my mother hated my views and after many years of arguments, we agreed not to discuss politics anymore.  My father was more moderate.  One of my brothers is far right and the other might be called 'centrist', though both think of me as a radical.  I consider myself a moderate, and think of them as promoting aggressive policies that assume war is inevitable and we (alone) are the good guys.  They don't get the point that there's some truth on both sides.  That sounds like a moderate position to me.  As for friends, as I grew more secular and left-leaning, I parted ways with most of my religious-Zionist friends, though today I deeply appreciate the religious friends I have who share my views.

Steve: Have you seen many positive changes in Israeli society since you became an activist? Were there times that you just felt like giving up. What made you continue?

Gila: It was a very long and difficult haul until 1993 when Rabin launched the peace process.  That gave us a burst of energy and legitimacy that we had long lacked.  I was no longer fearful of being overheard talking peace in public places.  Then when Rabin hemmed and hawed, stalled, and then was killed, allowing for the election of Netanyahu, another dark period enveloped us from which we have not yet emerged.  What makes me continue is my two grandsons:  I will fight like a lionness to protect them from having to kill and be killed in this senseless conflict.  This is not my war.  I refuse to consider the Palestinians my enemy.

Steve: Thanks so much for your time Gila. If there is anything you want to add, please do so.

Gila: Well, maybe just this:  Stop giving credence to politicians who draw their power from conflict.  Start supporting peacemakers.

Recommend this article...

Did you enjoy this article? Please bookmark it onto:

Be first to comment this article

Write Comment

Please keep the topic of messages relevant to the subject of the article. Personal verbal attacks will be deleted. Please don't use comments to plug your web site. Such material will be removed. Just ensure to *Refresh* your browser for a new security code to be displayed prior to clicking on the 'Send' button. Keep in mind that the above process only applies if you simply entered the wrong security code.
Name:
E-mail
Homepage
Title:
BBCode:
Comment:
Code:*
	I wish to be contacted by email regarding additional comments

Powered by AkoComment Tweaked Special Edition v.1.4.4