Israel Peace Alternatives
Events, activities, and discussions.
Pursuit of justice and peace for the preservation and strengthening of a democratic Jewish Israel .
Join us at Israel Peace Alternatives events!
Combatants for Peace on January 29th, featuring the following speakers:
Ismail Assad (Palestinian)
Ever since Ismael was young, he was determined to work for freedom and equality for his people. During the first Intifada he was shot by an Israeli bullet in the face and lost his eyesight for three months as a result. In response, he joined the resistance and was captured for hanging the Palestinian flag on electricity wires (which was illegal at that time). He was arrested nearly ten times and imprisoned on and off for seven years. In jail he had the opportunity to read and educate himself about the conflict, the occupation and the resistance. He realized that his activity was only bringing more loss and pain into his life, and not bringing his people any closer to freedom. He has since become a nonviolence activist, working together with Israeli partners to bring peace and reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis.
More about Ismail is on the Stony Point (Presbyterian multifaith retreat) webpage:
https://stonypointcenter.org/about-us
Yoni Kallai (Israeli)
Yoni is a former Israeli Military combat officer who served in the army for five years, and later as an officer in the reserves. His unit was active in all fronts between the northern borders, Gaza and the West Bank. Growing up in Jerusalem during the mid 90’s, he suffered directly from terror attacks, including the loss of two schoolmates when he was 15 years old. He grew up believing that the military was the only way to protect his society, but after serving in the army came to realize that never-ending militarization and war was only hurting both peoples. He came to this realization largely through his work in a peer counseling group, where he was able to understand the operation of oppressions in society which includes men’s oppression in which men are coerced into armed service and situations of kill or be killed. The effects of this permeate into life and don’t stay on the battle field. He joined Combatants for Peace when he was 26 and spent time as an activist in CfP’s Jerusalem-Bethlehem group.
More about Yoni is on the Parents Circle website:
http://center.theparentscircle.org/Content.aspx?ID=139
Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement on February 13th
Israel Peace Alternatives (IPA) consists of partners of Congregation Bet Haverim dedicated to the preservation and strengthening of a democratic Jewish Israel through the achievement of a negotiated settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and adherence to the principles of freedom, justice and equality for all Israeli citizens, as articulated in the declaration of independence of the State of Israel.
We are impelled by the obligation to pursue justice and peace, placed upon us by our sacred writings as well as the best Jewish secular traditions of the past three centuries. Our programs, which are open to all congregational partners and the public, are designed to advance these objectives through information, education, discussion and advocacy.
To be added to our mailing list please contact elbiberstein@ucdavis.edu.
For programming information please contact sfpattison@gmail.com.
