Many around me were thrilled to know that the internationally famous Hollywood star was visiting Bethlehem. I won't hide it and say that I was excited as well; I had every reason to be as I was invited to meet with him. Yet, my excitement was focused on what it is that I wanted to say to him that would truly represent the Palestinian voice. Richard Gere was in town to hear the people's voice and learn about the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to help push Peace in the region.

The Buddhist student of the Dalai Lama was mostly interested in hearing about the non-violent means Palestinians are considering using to bring down the apartheid wall, which the above-all-laws state of Israel is erecting now, a tangible injustice segregating people on all sides of the conflict. Sitting there-very close to him-listening to all comments and points of views from the various local and international guests, I started feeling tension rising high inside of me. Tension which I know stems from my continuous fear and rage when I hear statements, discussions and arguments minimizing and simplifying the whole Palestinian-Israeli conflict to a clear case of black and white: Palestinian suicide bombers versus Israeli insecure citizens; deliberations which usually fail to clearly state that Occupation is the core of all sore outcomes that we, everyday people (bombers and insecure citizens included), are experiencing.

As an all for peace activist, I understand that non-violent resistance to injustice is a long and hard process. It requires a lot of patience and sacrifice. I also know that there are specific elements that have to coincide in order for non-violence to become an unbeaten tool that meets the aspirations of the people involved.

One of the most important factors to a successful non-violent movement is a leader. Peace seekers need a leader who has a clear vision, a charismatic character and a consistent agenda. This leader also has to be one who can take the higher moral grounds in a conflict. Neither on the Palestinian side nor on that of the Israeli does this leader exist, at least not yet.

Another factor that would reinforce non violent solution to the Palestinian-Israeli problem is a significant international role. Fortunately, this factor exists. However, at a time when many international efforts are being exerted in goodwill to resolve the conflict, most of them tend to fall short in bringing the conflicting people closer together. That failure usually stems from the fact that internationals, as well as many local activists, consume their energy addressing the effects of the problem overlooking the causes of it. By so doing, Palestinians often get discouraged and unenthused by new initiatives and campaigns since they feel that those who are behind them are neither capable of recognizing the foundation of the problem nor interested in coping with the different complex factors involved in the disparity.

In his speech on receiving the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, The Ocean of Wisdom Dalai Lama said that the realization that we are all basically the same human beings, who seek happiness and try to avoid suffering, is very helpful in developing a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood; a warm feeling of love and compassion for others. This, in turn, is essential if we are to survive in the ever-shrinking world we live in. For if we each selfishly pursue only what we believe to be in our own interest, without caring about the needs of others, we not only may end up harming others but also ourselves.

With this perspective in mind, those who are involved in bringing harmony to the region should reflect on their role and strategies towards sowing the seeds of peace. Only through a process of ridding ourselves, as much as possible, from our ethnic, religious, political, social and economic allegiances we would be able to focus on the humane dimension of the conflict and succeed in not only planting the seeds of peace but also harvesting its fruitful produce.
 

Meeting Richard Gere, I would say, was a thrilling experience to me not only because of his renowned fame, but also because of the sense of hope that he provides with his approach in understanding the conflict in question. In fact, I very much appreciated that Gere is one of the few celebrities who have come so sincerely close in trying to understand the calamities and hear the voices of the Palestinians.

Carol Sansour Dabdoub
Dar Annadwa - Bethlehem