The stereotypes of Israelis and Arabs that we acquire through constant exposure to our media and culture are dangerously false. 

We had many positive and encouraging experiences in our encounters with both Palestinians and Israelis that have radically altered many of our assumptions and expectations. Here are just a few:

• Far from the radicalized and angry society many warned us against, we received unfailingly warm welcomes and gracious hospitality from the Palestinians we met, whether through scheduled meetings or random encounters on the street.

• Israelis are not all Zionists. As in other nation-states, small and radical minorities wield influence out of all proportion to their numbers. The commitment to justice among the Israelis we spoke with at several organizations was heartening and helped offset the negative experiences we had elsewhere (e.g., being told by an ex-soldier that Israel “would finish what we started in the War of 1967.”)

• Both Palestinians and Israelis have suffered tremendous personal losses as a result of the conflict. Peace is not a benefit for just one side.

• We were humbled by the perseverance of people of faith working for reconciliation and justice under seemingly hopeless conditions. The largely unreported collaborative efforts of many Muslims, Christians, and Jews could serve as a model for inter-faith initiatives in the West.

• There are cutting-edge peace-building experiments going on in Israel and the Occupied Territories. We have a great deal to learn here. For example, our participation in non-violent resistance was a wonderful learning experience, and one way for the group to feel we were contributing to the furtherance of justice in a small but concrete manner.

Reading scripture through Palestinian lenses and listening to their culturally-informed interpretations gave us a whole new perspective of biblical stories and teachings.

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