About the Book
"Refusing to be Enemies: Palestinian and Israeli Nonviolent Resistance to the Israeli Occupation" presents the voices of over 100 practitioners and theorists of nonviolence, the vast majority either Palestinian or Israeli, as they reflect on their own involvement in nonviolent resistance and speak about the nonviolent strategies and tactics employed by Palestinian and Israeli organizations, both separately and in joint initiatives. From examples of effective nonviolent campaigns to consideration of obstacles encountered by nonviolent organizations and the special challenges of joint struggle, the book explores ways in which a more effective nonviolent movement may be built. In their own words, activists share their hopes and visions for the future and discuss the internal and external changes needed for their organizations, and the nonviolent movement as a whole, to successfully pursue their goal of a just peace in the region.
A foreword on the definition and nature of nonviolence by Canadian author Ursula Franklin, analytic essays by activists Ghassan Andoni (Palestinian), Jeff Halper (Israeli), Jonathan Kuttab (a Palestinian activist lawyer with international experience) and Starhawk (an 'international' of Jewish background), and an epilogue from the author, round out the book. Andoni offers an analysis based on his long experience of nonviolent activism in Palestine, while Halper postulates 'Six Elements of Effective Organizing and Struggle' as a conceptual framework for the interviews. Kuttab argues that, even given the Palestinians' legal right to armed struggle, 'nonviolence is more effective and suitable for resistance', and Starhawk describes the unique challenges faced by Palestinian nonviolence.
About the Author :
Maxine Kaufman-Lacusta lived in Jerusalem for seven years and has written widely on Palestinian and Israeli nonviolent activism and related topics. Ursula Franklin is a Quaker physicist, co-founder of Voice of Women for Peace (VOW-Canada) and author of "The Ursula Franklin Reader: Pacifism as a Map" (Between the Lines, 2006). Ghassan Andoni is a cofounder of the Palestinian Center for Rapprochement and the International Solidarity Movement (ISM). Jeff Halper is cofounder and coordinator of the Israeli Committee against House Demolitions. His most recent book is "An Israeli in Palestine: Resisting Dispossession, Redeeming Israel" (Pluto, 2008). Jonathan Kuttab has practised law in Palestine, Israel and New York State. His activism spans the realms of human rights, social and church advocacy, and he has written and lectured widely. His legal/human rights writing includes co-authorship of "West Bank and the Rule of Law" (ICJ, 1980). Starhawk - a peace, environmental and global justice activist whose books include "Webs of Power: Notes from the Global Uprising" (New Society Publishers, 2002) - has volunteered with the ISM four times in the Occupied Territories.
Review :
axine Kaufman-Lacusta's new book offers us a compelling invitation to consider non-violent activism as a path to peaceful resolution in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In a series of interviews, essays and commentaries, and with contributions from notable peace activists such as Ghassan Andoni, Ursula Franklin, Jeff Halper, Starhawk and others, she explores many forms of creative non-violence and its powerful effects. Refusing to be Enemies culminates Kaufman-Lacusta's extensive activism and experiences living in Jerusalem for seven years. In their own words, activists share their hopes, experiences, challenges and dreams for the future. In part one of the book, Kaufman-Lacusta asks the question, "Why nonviolence? Why anti-occupation activism?" Part two explores strategies and applications of nonviolent action through interviews with both Palestinian and Israeli organizations, notably focusing on the issues, attitudes about and challenges to Palestinians and Israelis working together and joining forces in the struggle. The second half of this very readable book invites us to learn from the past and to build hope through concrete strategy for the future. Successful nonviolent strategies and practices such as Israeli military refusal are explored. Kaufman-Lacusta begins her exploration by sharing personal accounts of 26 Palestinian and Israeli activists who describe their political choice to engage in non-violent resistance to the Israeli occupation of Palestine. Interviewees poignantly describe their experiences with the struggle, and for many, the decision to abandon violence as a way to achieve justice. One young Palestinian activist, Mustafa Shawkay Samha describes his feelings this way, "We, Palestinians and Israelis, are as if we are in a boat in the middle of the sea. So we have the responsibility to protect this boat, to reach the beach. And we cannot reach this beach by hating each other, by killing each other. We can reach this beach if we feel deeply our humanity, if we believe that we have to live together and we both have the same right to be alive." Advertising Furthering the idea that nonviolence is possible, Kaufman-Lacusta explores the historical and philosophical evolution of several Israeli organizations decision to engage in the joint struggle for the emancipation of Palestine. Three campaigns that she describes as standing out as "examples of best practice in terms of participation by Israelis in Palestinian nonviolent struggle", are the Beit Sahour Tax Strike and the building of and Israeli support network via the PCR/Rapprochmement -Jerusalem dialogue, as well as the ongoing joint struggle in Bil'in by villagers and their Israeli and international allies against the expropriation of Palestinian land. These are not soft stories about a desire for peace and justice based on unrealistic ideals. Rather, they elucidate the political edge of the conflict and make clear through concrete examples that non-violence is indeed the path to peace. Through their personal narratives and lived experiences, we see how the joint struggle of Palestinian and Israeli activists is able to bring together people of diverse beliefs, faiths and cultures, uniting them in the common purpose of ending the occupation of Palestine by non-violent means. The book concludes with thoughtful commentary by thinkers such as Starhawk, a Jewish activist who explores some of the unique challenges of Palestinian resistance by drawing on her extensive participation in the peace movement as well as her own personal story. This important book has not come a moment too soon. Refusing to be Enemies is not only for activists, however. Nor is it only for those of us who make a personal investment in the promotion of peace and justice for Palestine. Refusing to be Enemies is for all of us as it pushes us to stretch beyond the easy path of violence, coercion and oppression and to instead imagine a humanity of peace, understanding and love. As we continue to hear about and live through extremely violent and acts where lines of communication are delineated through the sights of a gun, as we continue to live in a world where innocent children are suffering and dying before they have had an opportunity to live their truth, as so many of us cling to the hope for peace but don't know how to achieve it, Maxine Kaufman-Lacusta, and contributors allow us to dream of another world of possibility. Wendy Goldsmith is a Social Worker and Peace Activist who is active with local groups such as People for Peace London. From Interviews: Listen to an interview with Maxine Kaufman-Lacusta By Wendy Goldsmith, rabble.ca
