itemsheet Erets Shalom, 'Land of Peace'
reporters: Henk Valk, Annet Röst
camera: Dror Lebendiger
editing: Mariëtte Faber
introduction:
Jewish settlers who are in favor of a Palestinian State. In fact, they even want to live in it. They form a young and, as of now, a small movement of second generation settlers that strives for good relations with their Palestinian neighbours.
Whereas all peacetalks between Israel and the Palestinians have halted, because of Israel's refusal to stop further construction of houses for settlers, these settlers do not see themselves as an obstacle for peace. On the contrary.
length: 02:00-21:54
music cue sheet:
U2 - Magnificent
track 2 - Album: No Line on the Horizon - Label: Island - EAN: 0602517960374 - tijd: 01:12
U2 - One Step Closer
track 9 - Album: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - Label: Island - EAN: 0602498678299 - time used: 0:46
Ben Harper - Faded
track 1 - Album: The Will to Live - label: Virgin - EAN: 0724384417826 - time used: 0:59
The Idan Raichel Project - A Time to Live, A Time to Die
track 11 - Album: Idan Raichel's Project - Label: Helicon Records - nr: HL8202 - time used: 01:07
Explosions in the Sky - What Do You Come Home To?
track 4 - Album: All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone - label: Bella Union - EAN: 5033197442723 - time used: 0:58
Introduction
quote: Menachem Froman, rabbi and spiritual father of Erets Shalom
"You have to love your neighbour as you love yourself, as you love yourself. What you like for yourself you have to try give your neighbour. The Palestines are our neigbours, so it is only plain for me that if I have independence, if I have a state, so also they have to - it is my responsibility to take care that they will also have their state."
quote: Nachum Pachenik, settler from Sde Boaz, co-founder of Erets Shalom
"He is the inspiration. 35 years he talked. He is alone. One man alone talked about peace between the settlers and the Palestinian people. And most of the people who hear him, laugh at him."
00:03:48:00
voice over 1:
This is the Jewish settlement of Tekoa, on the West Bank. We're in a meeting with rabbi Menachem Froman. The room is filled with young settlers who have come to hear this fragile old man.
Froman has devoted himself for years to a remarkable cause: peace between the Palestinians and the Jewish settlers. Now a small group of second generation settlers is following his lead. One of them is Nachum Pachenik.
Nachum Pachenik in the illegal settlement of Sde Boaz
quote: Nachum Pachenik, settler from Sde Boaz, co-founder of Erets Shalom
(band 13, 05:19) “Wij hebben deze grond bezet. Dat klopt. De Arabische landen begonnen de oorlog wel overigens, net als in 1948. We hebben ons verdedigd en dit toen veroverd. En juist de plek waar de Palestijnen wonen, en waar ze zich verbonden voelen, juist hier hebben wij ook onze wortels. Wij, het Joodse volk.”
00:04:11:23
It is true.
We have conquered this territory.
00:04:14:24
But the Arabs really shouldn't use
the word 'occupation'...
00:04:21:02
...because it wasn't Israel, but the Arabs
who started the war.
00:04:25:04
Israel had to defend itself and then
conquered these territories.
00:04:30:14
The tragedy is that the Palestinians also
feel attached to this land.
00:04:38:06
The same land where we, the Jewish people,
have our roots. That's the problem.
00:04:48:08
This settlement is illegal even according to Israel.
00:04:50:21
But before we came here, I checked
if this was anyone's private property.
00:04:56:04
If someone can prove to me that this land
belongs to him, I will pack my things...
00:05:00:20
... and I am out of here by tomorrow.
scene with daughter at the fence of a Palestinian orchard
00:05:07:16
Did you ever pick figs here?
00:05:09:19
What do you think of it that each year
when Summer begins...
25: 00:05:15:03 00:05:18:17 03:14
...I have to ask the Palestinian owner whether
we are allowed to pick figs?
00:05:18:20
What does he say?
- He says we are allowed to do it.
00:05:22:23
Right. And what do you think of it...
28: 00:05:24:22 00:05:29:08 04:11
...that after that you have to ask me
for permission?
00:05:29:11
You are right.
00:05:31:11
We should ask, because we also
have orchards...
00:05:37:24
... and we wouldn't want others to pick
fruit without asking permission.
00:05:41:17
So I won't do that to others.
00:05:44:01
Come on.
00:05:53:00
voice over 2:
Nachum used to be an extreme settler, as he says so himself. But when one day his neighbour was murdered, this marked the beginning of a change.
quote: Nachum Pachenik, settler from Sde Boaz, co-founder of Erets Shalom
00:06:02:19
Twelve years ago my neighbour was driving
to Jerusalem...
06:07:23
...without her husband.
00:06:11:24
Two Hamas terrorists stopped the car...
00:06:16:23
...and shot het from close range.
00:06:20:07
In front of her children.
00:06:22:12
Some of the children were injured.
One died.
00:06:29:10
Then I started to ask myself all kinds of questions.
'What are we doing here?'
00:06:34:10
I know just a little bit of Arabic and
I hear the imams preach from the mosque...
42: 00:06:41:10
... just as the rabbi's do, that there is only room
here for one people.
00:06:48:16
And I think that's the problem.
44: 00:06:50:13
We need religious leaders who believe
there can be peace.
00:07:05:14
Erets Shalom, 'Land of Peace',
is a new political movement.
00:07:10:05
A movement of settlers of the second
generation.
00:07:15:13 00:07:21:12 05:24
Most of us were born here in Judea and
Samaria.
00:07:21:15 00:07:24:09 02:19
This is the situation in which we were born.
49: 00:07:24:12 00:07:29:03 04:16
Maybe it is exactly because we were born here,
because we are not from outside...
50: 00:07:29:06 00:07:34:11 05:05
... that we want to stay here.
But we want to stay and live in peace.
Meeting Ziad Sabatin in his house
00:07:37:20
voice over 3:
Not only Jews take part in Erets Shalom, also Palestinians. Since some time now Ziad Sabatin is working alongside Nachum for the 'Land of Peace'.
quote: Ziad Sabatin, Palestinian member of 'Land of Peace'
00:07:47:21
When I first saw Nachum...
00:07:51:10
... to me he seemed a settler like
all others.
00:07:56:14
But when I heard him...
00:07:59:08 00:08:01:12 02:04
...and after talking to him for hours...
00:08:01:15 00:08:04:20 03:05
...I sensed he is a brave person.
00:08:06:08
He chooses the way of peace
even if everybody is against him.
00:08:10:08
He has received death threats several times.
00:08:13:10
They wanted to kick him out of
his settlement.
quote: Nachum Pachenik (sitting next to Ziad Sabatin)
00:08:21:08
I soon realised Ziad is a man of peace.
00:08:27:09
This is not just a matter of words.
00:08:32:07
You can see it in his eyes.
It's from the heart.
00:08:36:17
When it comes to making peace
he shows more courage than I do.
00:08:39:24
He invites me to his house.
00:08:43:05
But I can't invite him to mine.
00:08:46:15 00:08:50:17 04:02
Because my neighbours are against it.
They are afraid.
quote: Ziad Sabatin (sitting next to Nachum Pachenik)
00:08:50:20
For the Arabs the settlements are the core
of the problem.
00:08:56:01
But if you live here
and if you see them every day...
00:09:01:24
... you have to be in contact with each other.
00:09:06:14
You should not turn your back on them.
You have to touch the heart of the problem.
00:09:15:09
voice over 4:
Ziad specifically wants to get in touch with settlers, because they are the very enemy with whom peace has to be made.
quote: Ziad Sabatin, Palestinian member of 'Land of Peace' (sitting on the couch next to nachum Pachenik)
00:09:23:10
It is better to make peace with my direct neighbours
than with the people in Tel Aviv.
00:09:28:10
Better to make peace with the settlements here in the
neighbourhood.
00:09:32:15
They are the ones with whom I have to make peace.
I live with them and they with me.
00:09:37:00
voice over 5:
The political solution that should follow from this approach is a Palestinian state in which the settlers would continue to live as a Jewish minority.
quote: Ziad Sabatin, Palestinian member of 'Land of Peace'
00:09:45:04
Nachum is prepared to live in
a Palestinian Land.
00:09:50:22
Those who want to stay and agree to live under Palestinian
authority, they are welcome. No problem.
quote: Nachum Pachenik (sitting next to Ziad Sabatin)
00:09:57:09
People say: 'Are you crazy? You want to live in a Palestinian
state? They will kill you.'
00:10:02:10
But then I say: 'That's how you think.
But what do the Palestinians think?'
00:10:07:07 00:10:10:23 03:16
'If you talk like that, it says more about how you think.'
00:10:11:01 00:10:15:05 04:04
But I know them from up close. If you show respect,
you'll be treated with respect.
00:10:15:08
You can make peace with such people.
And with people like Ziad.
00:10:18:18
He invites me to his house.
He doesn't give me a cigarette, but I do get coffee.
Ziad's town Husan
00:10:26:14
voice over 6:
The next day, Ziad shows us around in his town. It seems as if in Husan peace between Jews and Palestinians is already a reality. Settlers from the nearby settlement come to Husan, for example to have their cars fixed.
De volgende dag laat Ziad ons zijn dorp zien. In Husan lijkt het alsof het allang vrede is tussen Joden en Palestijnen. Want kolonisten uit de nabij gelegen nederzetting komen gewoon naar dit Palestijnse dorp, bijvoorbeeld om hun auto te laten repareren.
Quote: Oz Avizov, settler from Betar Illit, settlement next to Husan
00:10:43:17
Yea, I brought my car here.
And I want to tell you antoher thing.
00:10:47:04
I have a computer store in Jerusalem.
Bassam is the manager of this garage.
00:10:53:03
He comes to to buy in my store a computer.
I sell him computers, he fixes my car.
00:10:58:15 00:11:00:06 01:16
We work together.
00:11:00:00
voice over 7:
The town of Husan may be in the Palestinian territories, but it is not administered by the Palestinians. It is the Israeli army that is in charge here.
quote: Oz Avizov, settler from Betar Illit, settlement next to Husan
00:11:07:16
I think this situation - in Israel we call it the status quo - ...
00:11:12:10 00:11:17:07 04:22
... it's something in the middle.
00:11:17:10 00:11:21:21 04:11
The Israeli army doesn't get inside,
The palestinians don't get inside.
00:11:21:24
It's something in the middle.
00:11:25:20
And because of this situation, we can get inside,
they can get us...
00:11:29:07 00:11:32:00 02:18
... we get a good relationship.
00:11:32:03
So you kind of like the status quo?
- I like it.
00:11:35:05
I think that they like it too.
00:11:37:00
Voice over 8:
But this bird cage on the wall turns out to be a silent protest against the occupation.
quote: Bassam Rabia, manager of garage in Palestinian town of Husan
00:11:42:08
We are like those birds.
We are caged.
00:11:44:05
No one can get in or out.
00:11:50:03
Because of the roadblocks
and the whole situation.
quote: Oz Avizov, settler from Betar Illit, settlement next to Husan
00:11:55:03
- Did you hear that?
I know Bassam for quite a few years.
00:11:59:11
We belong to the same society.
In a positive way.
00:12:05:11
It hurts me that I can't visit him
in Betlehem.
00:12:12:03
And he can't come to me in Betar Illit.
00:12:14:15
We both think that's not a good situation.
- Indeed.
Ziad's story
quote: Ziad Sabatin (speaking while driving in car)
00:12:23:15
[interviewer:] What do you think of what this Jewish man
in the garage said...
00:12:31:10
... about the status quo?
00:12:32:22
I know him from town.
00:12:36:01
He can get in and out of town
without any problem.
00:12:39:02
But I can't go to his town Betar Illit
when I want to.
00:12:43:21
His life is a thousand times easier.
[Ziad gets out of the car]
00:12:48:24
This is the area of Betar Illit.
00:12:53:03
There, near that big building,
we have a piece of land.
00:12:56:17
We used to have over 5000 trees there.
00:13:01:06 00:13:03:12 02:06
It was owned by my family.
00:13:03:15
Then soldiers came,
the trees were cut...
00:13:08:11
... and houses were built.
On our land.
00:13:10:23
The soldiers beat my mother and
broke her hand.
00:13:13:24
My father and my brothers
were also beaten.
00:13:17:13
voice over 9:
After these events Ziad fully engages himself in the first intifadah. He is arrested and spends five years in an Israeli prison.
quote: Ziad Sabatin, Palestinian member of 'Land of Peace'
00:13:29:08
[interviewer:] You went into prison with so much hatred.
00:13:33:02
What has changed?
What happened to you.
00:13:36:14
I have come to the conclusion that terror
leads only to more terror.
00:13:41:10
Terror does not lead to peace. On the contrary.
Terror doesn't lead to anything.
00:13:47:03 00:13:50:08 03:05
So let the violence stop.
We have walked that road.
00:13:50:11
Now let's live as good neighbours
and work for a better life.
00:13:59:13
'Land of Peace' organises meetings between the
two families.
00:14:04:24
Arab families and Jewish families from
the settlements.
00:14:09:05
Then you learn about one another's religion.
00:14:13:10
When you meet each other,
you come closer to each other.
00:14:16:09
If you get to know each other,
the fear disappears.
00:14:21:06
That's why we work especially hard
on these meetings.
00:14:24:11
We have had meetings, also here at this well,
with as much as 60 people.
00:14:32:09
From both sides, Israeli and Arab.
00:14:35:18
We talked together.
00:14:37:10 00:14:40:19 03:09
Most of the Jews were very scared to
meet the Arabs.
With Nachum to Palestinian town of Bayt Umar
quote: Nachum Pachenik, settler and co-founder of Erets Shalom
00:14:47:06
These meetings are not public and
we didn't want any media attention for them.
00:14:50:21
Because you have to build up trust.
00:14:53:20
voice over 10:
We're heading for the Palestinian town of Beit Umar. Unlike Ziads town Beit Umar is administered by the Palestinian Authority. Jewish settlers are not popular around here. For safety reasons Nachum changes his Jewish 'keppel' for a Palestinian head covering.
In Beit Umar we want to talk to some other participants in the confidential meetings.
quote: Nachum Pachenik, settler and co-founder of Erets Shalom
00:15:21:04
This is Beit Umar, these are the first houses of Beit Umar
00:15:26:15
'Ahlan wa-sahlan.'
From now on I am a Muslim.
00:15:32:07
You give me hope.
00:15:34:11
Do you believe that?
You give me hope.
00:15:38:14
There is always hope.
- This man gives me hope.
00:15:42:07
Welcome.
- He is a hero.
00:15:52:24
'Salam aleikum.'
- Do you remember me?
00:15:56:14
Abuayash keeps on laughing at me.
00:15:59:09
He says I look like a Hamas fighter.
00:16:05:03
Just say you're with the Islamic Jihad.
00:16:09:00
voice over 11:
We're in the house of Mohamed Abuayash, just like Ziad a Palestinian who is involved in 'Land of Peace'. And besides Nachum another Jewish settler has come.
quote: Assaf Harel, Jewish settler, participant in 'Land of Peace'
00:16:19:04
I can tell you the first time that I came to Beit Omar I was scared, I was very scared.
00:16:25:15
I saw the big sign: do not enter.
00:16:28:05
This is a violation of Israeli law. You might be arrested.
00:16:31:20
And you start thinking: am I betraying my own nation? You know?
00:16:35:22
What will my parents say? What if I get kidnapped?
00:16:40:18
voice over 12:
The father of Mohamed Abuayash was six months old when his father was shot and killed by the Israelis at the time the state of Israel was established.
quote: Mohamed Abuayash, Palestinian participant in 'Land of Peace'
00:16:49:17
We lost the land and people that day. A big tragedy.
00:16:59:11
voice over 13:
Yet now Mohamed is striving for settlers and Palestinians to engage in a dialogue.
quote: Mohamed Abuayash, Palestinian participant in 'Land of Peace'
00:17:05:20
I was more interested to talk to settlers because they are the core of the conflict.
00:17:12:20
Not just the Israeli who is behind the wall.
quote: Assaf Harel, Jewish settler, participant in 'Land of Peace'
00:17:15:08
[interviewer:] He describes you as being the core of the problem...
00:17:18:08
I accept it. We live here. We live in the middle of the lands they used to live in, they used to work in.
00:17:25:10
There is no denying that.
00:17:27:17
The question is: what do we do about that?
00:17:31:03
[interviewer:] People could simply say: well Asaf, you don’t belong here.
00:17:36:09
Go to the other side of the green line.
00:17:38:13
I understand that. I am completely aware of the international discourse regarding the situation.
00:17:45:06
But I think if you really want to solve the problem...
00:17:49:09
...you really need to get truly the insider point of view.
00:17:53:00
[interviewer:] So what is that insider point of view?
- The inside point of view is...
00:17:58:08
...that when the rest of the world says you don’t belong here, it plays upon certain jewish notion.
00:18:03:24
You think you do belong here?
- This is not even a question.
00:18:10:09
The question is – first of all the difference between belonging and owning. Right?
00:18:14:18
This is one switch that we have to make. I don’t own this place.
00:18:18:19
I belong to this place.
00:18:20:10
[interviewer to Mohamed:] He says: we belong here. How do you feel about that? Do you feel the Jews belong to this land?
quote: Mohamed Abuayash, Palestinian participant in 'Land of Peace'
00:18:25:12
I have not much difference with what Asaf says.
00:18:29:02
I almost completely agree with what he says.
00:18:32:04
But the difference is: we all belong to the earth.
00:18:36:17
And the earth belongs to God. This is the main thing.
00:18:40:15
The second part: ok you have the right to be here.
00:18:44:04
This is the holy land. This is international holy land.
00:18:47:19
Not just for jews, for muslims, for christians.
00:18:50:13
And to be here, we need to respect the land.
00:18:53:04
Not to divide it, not to control it. Or to own it.
00:18:54:20
voice over 14:
Nachum, Mohamed and Assaf more or less agree with each other. But certainly not all the people they bring together do.
00:19:08:08
quote: Assaf Harel, Jewish settler, participant in 'Land of Peace'
Not all the people who come to the group share the same visions.
00:19:11:23
In fact I know that both on the Palestinian group there are people who very different visions about the future...
00:19:17:20
...the relationship with settlers. The same among the settlergroup.
00:19:20:24
However, there is a basic human need for recognition.
00:19:25:11
From the other, and for the self.
00:19:28:06
quote: Mohamed Abuayash, Palestinian participant in 'Land of Peace'
Of course we have many difficulties to bring people from Palestinian side to meet with settlers.
00:19:34:18
Not because they don’t want to make peace.
00:19:37:24
But because they are afraid: if we come to meet with settlers, we sit...
00:19:43:02
...to recognize them on the land. Or to give them more rights, or to stay on the land.
00:19:49:12
quote: Assaf Harel, Jewish settler, participant in 'Land of Peace'
You have people who are completely against a Palestinian state.
00:19:54:06
Nonetheless it is very important for them to get to know the Palestinians and to have the Palestinians knowing them.
00:20:00:01
quote: Mohamed Abuayash, Palestinian participant in 'Land of Peace'
What we are doing is very important. It may look like small and not very effective...
00:20:06:03
...but I am sure everyone who come to this meeting, he returns with hope.
Meeting rabbi Menachem Froman
00:20:12:13
voice over 15:
That evening we once again go to Tekoa. This is where the spiritual father of the 'Land of Peace' movement lives. He is seriously ill, but agrees to speak to us anyway. Froman believes that just like there is a Palestinian minority living in Israel, so there will be a Jewish minority living in a Palestinian State.
00:20:30:04
quote: Menachem Froman, rabbi living in the settlement of Tekoa
The way that I see it...
00:20:32:17
...is that if it will be obvious to the Palestinians...
00:20:37:12
...that their state will be as a parallel to the state of Israel...
00:20:44:24
... not a Judenrein state...
00:20:51:18
...but a democratic state...
00:20:55:05
...that will enjoy the benefits of Israeli minority...
00:21:05:11
...the more they understand it we are closer to peace.
00:21:09:22
voice over 16:
According to Nachum there won't even be true peace if Jews will not continue to live in a Palestinian state.
quote: Nachum Pachenik, settler from Sde Boaz, co-founder of Erets Shalom
00:21:21:16
For me it's not about keeping the land...
00:21:26:05
... it's about achieving real peace.
00:21:28:15
If I knew we'd achieve peace by leaving,
I would already have left.
00:21:35:05
But I know separation will not
lead to peace.
reporters: Henk Valk, Annet Röst
camera: Dror Lebendiger
editing: Mariëtte Faber
introduction:
Jewish settlers who are in favor of a Palestinian State. In fact, they even want to live in it. They form a young and, as of now, a small movement of second generation settlers that strives for good relations with their Palestinian neighbours.
Whereas all peacetalks between Israel and the Palestinians have halted, because of Israel's refusal to stop further construction of houses for settlers, these settlers do not see themselves as an obstacle for peace. On the contrary.
length: 02:00-21:54
music cue sheet:
U2 - Magnificent
track 2 - Album: No Line on the Horizon - Label: Island - EAN: 0602517960374 - tijd: 01:12
U2 - One Step Closer
track 9 - Album: How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb - Label: Island - EAN: 0602498678299 - time used: 0:46
Ben Harper - Faded
track 1 - Album: The Will to Live - label: Virgin - EAN: 0724384417826 - time used: 0:59
The Idan Raichel Project - A Time to Live, A Time to Die
track 11 - Album: Idan Raichel's Project - Label: Helicon Records - nr: HL8202 - time used: 01:07
Explosions in the Sky - What Do You Come Home To?
track 4 - Album: All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone - label: Bella Union - EAN: 5033197442723 - time used: 0:58
Introduction
quote: Menachem Froman, rabbi and spiritual father of Erets Shalom
"You have to love your neighbour as you love yourself, as you love yourself. What you like for yourself you have to try give your neighbour. The Palestines are our neigbours, so it is only plain for me that if I have independence, if I have a state, so also they have to - it is my responsibility to take care that they will also have their state."
quote: Nachum Pachenik, settler from Sde Boaz, co-founder of Erets Shalom
"He is the inspiration. 35 years he talked. He is alone. One man alone talked about peace between the settlers and the Palestinian people. And most of the people who hear him, laugh at him."
00:03:48:00
voice over 1:
This is the Jewish settlement of Tekoa, on the West Bank. We're in a meeting with rabbi Menachem Froman. The room is filled with young settlers who have come to hear this fragile old man.
Froman has devoted himself for years to a remarkable cause: peace between the Palestinians and the Jewish settlers. Now a small group of second generation settlers is following his lead. One of them is Nachum Pachenik.
Nachum Pachenik in the illegal settlement of Sde Boaz
quote: Nachum Pachenik, settler from Sde Boaz, co-founder of Erets Shalom
(band 13, 05:19) “Wij hebben deze grond bezet. Dat klopt. De Arabische landen begonnen de oorlog wel overigens, net als in 1948. We hebben ons verdedigd en dit toen veroverd. En juist de plek waar de Palestijnen wonen, en waar ze zich verbonden voelen, juist hier hebben wij ook onze wortels. Wij, het Joodse volk.”
00:04:11:23
It is true.
We have conquered this territory.
00:04:14:24
But the Arabs really shouldn't use
the word 'occupation'...
00:04:21:02
...because it wasn't Israel, but the Arabs
who started the war.
00:04:25:04
Israel had to defend itself and then
conquered these territories.
00:04:30:14
The tragedy is that the Palestinians also
feel attached to this land.
00:04:38:06
The same land where we, the Jewish people,
have our roots. That's the problem.
00:04:48:08
This settlement is illegal even according to Israel.
00:04:50:21
But before we came here, I checked
if this was anyone's private property.
00:04:56:04
If someone can prove to me that this land
belongs to him, I will pack my things...
00:05:00:20
... and I am out of here by tomorrow.
scene with daughter at the fence of a Palestinian orchard
00:05:07:16
Did you ever pick figs here?
00:05:09:19
What do you think of it that each year
when Summer begins...
25: 00:05:15:03 00:05:18:17 03:14
...I have to ask the Palestinian owner whether
we are allowed to pick figs?
00:05:18:20
What does he say?
- He says we are allowed to do it.
00:05:22:23
Right. And what do you think of it...
28: 00:05:24:22 00:05:29:08 04:11
...that after that you have to ask me
for permission?
00:05:29:11
You are right.
00:05:31:11
We should ask, because we also
have orchards...
00:05:37:24
... and we wouldn't want others to pick
fruit without asking permission.
00:05:41:17
So I won't do that to others.
00:05:44:01
Come on.
00:05:53:00
voice over 2:
Nachum used to be an extreme settler, as he says so himself. But when one day his neighbour was murdered, this marked the beginning of a change.
quote: Nachum Pachenik, settler from Sde Boaz, co-founder of Erets Shalom
00:06:02:19
Twelve years ago my neighbour was driving
to Jerusalem...
06:07:23
...without her husband.
00:06:11:24
Two Hamas terrorists stopped the car...
00:06:16:23
...and shot het from close range.
00:06:20:07
In front of her children.
00:06:22:12
Some of the children were injured.
One died.
00:06:29:10
Then I started to ask myself all kinds of questions.
'What are we doing here?'
00:06:34:10
I know just a little bit of Arabic and
I hear the imams preach from the mosque...
42: 00:06:41:10
... just as the rabbi's do, that there is only room
here for one people.
00:06:48:16
And I think that's the problem.
44: 00:06:50:13
We need religious leaders who believe
there can be peace.
00:07:05:14
Erets Shalom, 'Land of Peace',
is a new political movement.
00:07:10:05
A movement of settlers of the second
generation.
00:07:15:13 00:07:21:12 05:24
Most of us were born here in Judea and
Samaria.
00:07:21:15 00:07:24:09 02:19
This is the situation in which we were born.
49: 00:07:24:12 00:07:29:03 04:16
Maybe it is exactly because we were born here,
because we are not from outside...
50: 00:07:29:06 00:07:34:11 05:05
... that we want to stay here.
But we want to stay and live in peace.
Meeting Ziad Sabatin in his house
00:07:37:20
voice over 3:
Not only Jews take part in Erets Shalom, also Palestinians. Since some time now Ziad Sabatin is working alongside Nachum for the 'Land of Peace'.
quote: Ziad Sabatin, Palestinian member of 'Land of Peace'
00:07:47:21
When I first saw Nachum...
00:07:51:10
... to me he seemed a settler like
all others.
00:07:56:14
But when I heard him...
00:07:59:08 00:08:01:12 02:04
...and after talking to him for hours...
00:08:01:15 00:08:04:20 03:05
...I sensed he is a brave person.
00:08:06:08
He chooses the way of peace
even if everybody is against him.
00:08:10:08
He has received death threats several times.
00:08:13:10
They wanted to kick him out of
his settlement.
quote: Nachum Pachenik (sitting next to Ziad Sabatin)
00:08:21:08
I soon realised Ziad is a man of peace.
00:08:27:09
This is not just a matter of words.
00:08:32:07
You can see it in his eyes.
It's from the heart.
00:08:36:17
When it comes to making peace
he shows more courage than I do.
00:08:39:24
He invites me to his house.
00:08:43:05
But I can't invite him to mine.
00:08:46:15 00:08:50:17 04:02
Because my neighbours are against it.
They are afraid.
quote: Ziad Sabatin (sitting next to Nachum Pachenik)
00:08:50:20
For the Arabs the settlements are the core
of the problem.
00:08:56:01
But if you live here
and if you see them every day...
00:09:01:24
... you have to be in contact with each other.
00:09:06:14
You should not turn your back on them.
You have to touch the heart of the problem.
00:09:15:09
voice over 4:
Ziad specifically wants to get in touch with settlers, because they are the very enemy with whom peace has to be made.
quote: Ziad Sabatin, Palestinian member of 'Land of Peace' (sitting on the couch next to nachum Pachenik)
00:09:23:10
It is better to make peace with my direct neighbours
than with the people in Tel Aviv.
00:09:28:10
Better to make peace with the settlements here in the
neighbourhood.
00:09:32:15
They are the ones with whom I have to make peace.
I live with them and they with me.
00:09:37:00
voice over 5:
The political solution that should follow from this approach is a Palestinian state in which the settlers would continue to live as a Jewish minority.
quote: Ziad Sabatin, Palestinian member of 'Land of Peace'
00:09:45:04
Nachum is prepared to live in
a Palestinian Land.
00:09:50:22
Those who want to stay and agree to live under Palestinian
authority, they are welcome. No problem.
quote: Nachum Pachenik (sitting next to Ziad Sabatin)
00:09:57:09
People say: 'Are you crazy? You want to live in a Palestinian
state? They will kill you.'
00:10:02:10
But then I say: 'That's how you think.
But what do the Palestinians think?'
00:10:07:07 00:10:10:23 03:16
'If you talk like that, it says more about how you think.'
00:10:11:01 00:10:15:05 04:04
But I know them from up close. If you show respect,
you'll be treated with respect.
00:10:15:08
You can make peace with such people.
And with people like Ziad.
00:10:18:18
He invites me to his house.
He doesn't give me a cigarette, but I do get coffee.
Ziad's town Husan
00:10:26:14
voice over 6:
The next day, Ziad shows us around in his town. It seems as if in Husan peace between Jews and Palestinians is already a reality. Settlers from the nearby settlement come to Husan, for example to have their cars fixed.
De volgende dag laat Ziad ons zijn dorp zien. In Husan lijkt het alsof het allang vrede is tussen Joden en Palestijnen. Want kolonisten uit de nabij gelegen nederzetting komen gewoon naar dit Palestijnse dorp, bijvoorbeeld om hun auto te laten repareren.
Quote: Oz Avizov, settler from Betar Illit, settlement next to Husan
00:10:43:17
Yea, I brought my car here.
And I want to tell you antoher thing.
00:10:47:04
I have a computer store in Jerusalem.
Bassam is the manager of this garage.
00:10:53:03
He comes to to buy in my store a computer.
I sell him computers, he fixes my car.
00:10:58:15 00:11:00:06 01:16
We work together.
00:11:00:00
voice over 7:
The town of Husan may be in the Palestinian territories, but it is not administered by the Palestinians. It is the Israeli army that is in charge here.
quote: Oz Avizov, settler from Betar Illit, settlement next to Husan
00:11:07:16
I think this situation - in Israel we call it the status quo - ...
00:11:12:10 00:11:17:07 04:22
... it's something in the middle.
00:11:17:10 00:11:21:21 04:11
The Israeli army doesn't get inside,
The palestinians don't get inside.
00:11:21:24
It's something in the middle.
00:11:25:20
And because of this situation, we can get inside,
they can get us...
00:11:29:07 00:11:32:00 02:18
... we get a good relationship.
00:11:32:03
So you kind of like the status quo?
- I like it.
00:11:35:05
I think that they like it too.
00:11:37:00
Voice over 8:
But this bird cage on the wall turns out to be a silent protest against the occupation.
quote: Bassam Rabia, manager of garage in Palestinian town of Husan
00:11:42:08
We are like those birds.
We are caged.
00:11:44:05
No one can get in or out.
00:11:50:03
Because of the roadblocks
and the whole situation.
quote: Oz Avizov, settler from Betar Illit, settlement next to Husan
00:11:55:03
- Did you hear that?
I know Bassam for quite a few years.
00:11:59:11
We belong to the same society.
In a positive way.
00:12:05:11
It hurts me that I can't visit him
in Betlehem.
00:12:12:03
And he can't come to me in Betar Illit.
00:12:14:15
We both think that's not a good situation.
- Indeed.
Ziad's story
quote: Ziad Sabatin (speaking while driving in car)
00:12:23:15
[interviewer:] What do you think of what this Jewish man
in the garage said...
00:12:31:10
... about the status quo?
00:12:32:22
I know him from town.
00:12:36:01
He can get in and out of town
without any problem.
00:12:39:02
But I can't go to his town Betar Illit
when I want to.
00:12:43:21
His life is a thousand times easier.
[Ziad gets out of the car]
00:12:48:24
This is the area of Betar Illit.
00:12:53:03
There, near that big building,
we have a piece of land.
00:12:56:17
We used to have over 5000 trees there.
00:13:01:06 00:13:03:12 02:06
It was owned by my family.
00:13:03:15
Then soldiers came,
the trees were cut...
00:13:08:11
... and houses were built.
On our land.
00:13:10:23
The soldiers beat my mother and
broke her hand.
00:13:13:24
My father and my brothers
were also beaten.
00:13:17:13
voice over 9:
After these events Ziad fully engages himself in the first intifadah. He is arrested and spends five years in an Israeli prison.
quote: Ziad Sabatin, Palestinian member of 'Land of Peace'
00:13:29:08
[interviewer:] You went into prison with so much hatred.
00:13:33:02
What has changed?
What happened to you.
00:13:36:14
I have come to the conclusion that terror
leads only to more terror.
00:13:41:10
Terror does not lead to peace. On the contrary.
Terror doesn't lead to anything.
00:13:47:03 00:13:50:08 03:05
So let the violence stop.
We have walked that road.
00:13:50:11
Now let's live as good neighbours
and work for a better life.
00:13:59:13
'Land of Peace' organises meetings between the
two families.
00:14:04:24
Arab families and Jewish families from
the settlements.
00:14:09:05
Then you learn about one another's religion.
00:14:13:10
When you meet each other,
you come closer to each other.
00:14:16:09
If you get to know each other,
the fear disappears.
00:14:21:06
That's why we work especially hard
on these meetings.
00:14:24:11
We have had meetings, also here at this well,
with as much as 60 people.
00:14:32:09
From both sides, Israeli and Arab.
00:14:35:18
We talked together.
00:14:37:10 00:14:40:19 03:09
Most of the Jews were very scared to
meet the Arabs.
With Nachum to Palestinian town of Bayt Umar
quote: Nachum Pachenik, settler and co-founder of Erets Shalom
00:14:47:06
These meetings are not public and
we didn't want any media attention for them.
00:14:50:21
Because you have to build up trust.
00:14:53:20
voice over 10:
We're heading for the Palestinian town of Beit Umar. Unlike Ziads town Beit Umar is administered by the Palestinian Authority. Jewish settlers are not popular around here. For safety reasons Nachum changes his Jewish 'keppel' for a Palestinian head covering.
In Beit Umar we want to talk to some other participants in the confidential meetings.
quote: Nachum Pachenik, settler and co-founder of Erets Shalom
00:15:21:04
This is Beit Umar, these are the first houses of Beit Umar
00:15:26:15
'Ahlan wa-sahlan.'
From now on I am a Muslim.
00:15:32:07
You give me hope.
00:15:34:11
Do you believe that?
You give me hope.
00:15:38:14
There is always hope.
- This man gives me hope.
00:15:42:07
Welcome.
- He is a hero.
00:15:52:24
'Salam aleikum.'
- Do you remember me?
00:15:56:14
Abuayash keeps on laughing at me.
00:15:59:09
He says I look like a Hamas fighter.
00:16:05:03
Just say you're with the Islamic Jihad.
00:16:09:00
voice over 11:
We're in the house of Mohamed Abuayash, just like Ziad a Palestinian who is involved in 'Land of Peace'. And besides Nachum another Jewish settler has come.
quote: Assaf Harel, Jewish settler, participant in 'Land of Peace'
00:16:19:04
I can tell you the first time that I came to Beit Omar I was scared, I was very scared.
00:16:25:15
I saw the big sign: do not enter.
00:16:28:05
This is a violation of Israeli law. You might be arrested.
00:16:31:20
And you start thinking: am I betraying my own nation? You know?
00:16:35:22
What will my parents say? What if I get kidnapped?
00:16:40:18
voice over 12:
The father of Mohamed Abuayash was six months old when his father was shot and killed by the Israelis at the time the state of Israel was established.
quote: Mohamed Abuayash, Palestinian participant in 'Land of Peace'
00:16:49:17
We lost the land and people that day. A big tragedy.
00:16:59:11
voice over 13:
Yet now Mohamed is striving for settlers and Palestinians to engage in a dialogue.
quote: Mohamed Abuayash, Palestinian participant in 'Land of Peace'
00:17:05:20
I was more interested to talk to settlers because they are the core of the conflict.
00:17:12:20
Not just the Israeli who is behind the wall.
quote: Assaf Harel, Jewish settler, participant in 'Land of Peace'
00:17:15:08
[interviewer:] He describes you as being the core of the problem...
00:17:18:08
I accept it. We live here. We live in the middle of the lands they used to live in, they used to work in.
00:17:25:10
There is no denying that.
00:17:27:17
The question is: what do we do about that?
00:17:31:03
[interviewer:] People could simply say: well Asaf, you don’t belong here.
00:17:36:09
Go to the other side of the green line.
00:17:38:13
I understand that. I am completely aware of the international discourse regarding the situation.
00:17:45:06
But I think if you really want to solve the problem...
00:17:49:09
...you really need to get truly the insider point of view.
00:17:53:00
[interviewer:] So what is that insider point of view?
- The inside point of view is...
00:17:58:08
...that when the rest of the world says you don’t belong here, it plays upon certain jewish notion.
00:18:03:24
You think you do belong here?
- This is not even a question.
00:18:10:09
The question is – first of all the difference between belonging and owning. Right?
00:18:14:18
This is one switch that we have to make. I don’t own this place.
00:18:18:19
I belong to this place.
00:18:20:10
[interviewer to Mohamed:] He says: we belong here. How do you feel about that? Do you feel the Jews belong to this land?
quote: Mohamed Abuayash, Palestinian participant in 'Land of Peace'
00:18:25:12
I have not much difference with what Asaf says.
00:18:29:02
I almost completely agree with what he says.
00:18:32:04
But the difference is: we all belong to the earth.
00:18:36:17
And the earth belongs to God. This is the main thing.
00:18:40:15
The second part: ok you have the right to be here.
00:18:44:04
This is the holy land. This is international holy land.
00:18:47:19
Not just for jews, for muslims, for christians.
00:18:50:13
And to be here, we need to respect the land.
00:18:53:04
Not to divide it, not to control it. Or to own it.
00:18:54:20
voice over 14:
Nachum, Mohamed and Assaf more or less agree with each other. But certainly not all the people they bring together do.
00:19:08:08
quote: Assaf Harel, Jewish settler, participant in 'Land of Peace'
Not all the people who come to the group share the same visions.
00:19:11:23
In fact I know that both on the Palestinian group there are people who very different visions about the future...
00:19:17:20
...the relationship with settlers. The same among the settlergroup.
00:19:20:24
However, there is a basic human need for recognition.
00:19:25:11
From the other, and for the self.
00:19:28:06
quote: Mohamed Abuayash, Palestinian participant in 'Land of Peace'
Of course we have many difficulties to bring people from Palestinian side to meet with settlers.
00:19:34:18
Not because they don’t want to make peace.
00:19:37:24
But because they are afraid: if we come to meet with settlers, we sit...
00:19:43:02
...to recognize them on the land. Or to give them more rights, or to stay on the land.
00:19:49:12
quote: Assaf Harel, Jewish settler, participant in 'Land of Peace'
You have people who are completely against a Palestinian state.
00:19:54:06
Nonetheless it is very important for them to get to know the Palestinians and to have the Palestinians knowing them.
00:20:00:01
quote: Mohamed Abuayash, Palestinian participant in 'Land of Peace'
What we are doing is very important. It may look like small and not very effective...
00:20:06:03
...but I am sure everyone who come to this meeting, he returns with hope.
Meeting rabbi Menachem Froman
00:20:12:13
voice over 15:
That evening we once again go to Tekoa. This is where the spiritual father of the 'Land of Peace' movement lives. He is seriously ill, but agrees to speak to us anyway. Froman believes that just like there is a Palestinian minority living in Israel, so there will be a Jewish minority living in a Palestinian State.
00:20:30:04
quote: Menachem Froman, rabbi living in the settlement of Tekoa
The way that I see it...
00:20:32:17
...is that if it will be obvious to the Palestinians...
00:20:37:12
...that their state will be as a parallel to the state of Israel...
00:20:44:24
... not a Judenrein state...
00:20:51:18
...but a democratic state...
00:20:55:05
...that will enjoy the benefits of Israeli minority...
00:21:05:11
...the more they understand it we are closer to peace.
00:21:09:22
voice over 16:
According to Nachum there won't even be true peace if Jews will not continue to live in a Palestinian state.
quote: Nachum Pachenik, settler from Sde Boaz, co-founder of Erets Shalom
00:21:21:16
For me it's not about keeping the land...
00:21:26:05
... it's about achieving real peace.
00:21:28:15
If I knew we'd achieve peace by leaving,
I would already have left.
00:21:35:05
But I know separation will not
lead to peace.