An Israeli and a Palestinian, both former combatants now touring the United States to advocate for a peaceful two-state resolution to the region’s troubles, will be speaking at 3 p.m. today in the Multicultural Center in Smith Memorial Student Union.
The Palestinian, Suleiman Al-Himri, and the Israeli, Shimon Katz, are both part of Combatants for Peace, an organization founded in 2005. Combatants for Peace is composed of Palestinians and Israelis who were once actively involved in the conflict but now “fight for peace” through education, advocacy and organization of meetings between veterans on both sides.
“On their brochure they quote Nelson Mandela,” said local organizer Sandy Polishuk. “‘If you want to make peace with your enemy, you have to work with your enemy. Then he becomes your partner.'”
At present, the Combatants for Peace are on a 22-city tour of the United States sponsored by Brit Tzedek v’Shalom (the Jewish Alliance for Peace and Justice). They have been speaking to predominantly Jewish audiences about the need for a peaceful two-state resolution to the region’s conflicts.
Al-Hamri, the Palestinian coordinator of Combatants for Peace, spent four and a half years in Israeli prisons for organizing demonstrations against the occupation. Katz is a former officer of the Israel Defense Forces who became interested in nonviolence after studying meditation in the Far East.
Polishuk said that the Jewish Alliance has co-sponsored their tour in the hopes of spurring American interest in peace talks.
“Brit Tzedek and many others understand that the U.S. has a powerful role in bringing about peace talks between the Israelis and Palestinians, and I imagine the Combatants for Peace understand this too and want to bring their message of peace to Americans,” she said.
Polishuk said she is anticipating a good evening. “Reports from the coordinators in the other cities have been glowing.”