Activists Talk
The following articles express our nonviolence activists'
opinions and enthusiasm. Their work has been
invaluable to us, and to the Middle East.
Activists Talk - No. 1
Yacoub Rjoub, Coordinator of Active Nonviolence
Network in Izarrya








The Active Nonviolence Network is largely located in the more
well-know cities of the West Bank such as Hebron, Jericho,
Ramallah, and Nablus. Izariyya, the site of Biblical Bethany, is
probably the smallest and least-known location in which the
eight network centres are based.

However, the 15-minute bus ride to Izariyya from Jerusalem,
heading east towards Abu Dis, will take visitors to the site of
some of MEND’s flagship projects. The Izariyya centre is known
throughout the network for its unique programmes and the
dedication of its participants.

Yacoub Rjoub is the Coordinator of the Izariyya network, and is
younger than other coordinators at 30 years-old. His youth may
explain in part his passion for the project he has initiated with
younger participants.

‘Children of MEND’ is a group of 20 children aged between four
and eight years-old, amongst whom Yacoub works to promote
nonviolence and friendship. To this end, the Jerusalem office
provided the group with books and learning materials, such as
the Shara’ Simsim resources – better known to you perhaps as
Sesame Street.

However, Yacoub’s work is by no means confined to this, and he
is known as an energetic activist throughout the network. Last
summer, he coordinated a summer camp for 78 ‘Menders’ with
the ANN Ramallah coordinator, Osama Abu Karsh. Yacoub
mentioned that his work with children came in useful here.

Meanwhile, he has worked hard to join up the provision of MEND
in Izariyya with that of the network in nearby Jericho.
Nevertheless, he found time to attend November’s Regional
Nonviolence Conference in Amman as a MEND delegate.

As unique a figure as he doubtless is, Yacoub is also just a normal
Palestinian. As such, he suffers the ill-effects of the occupation
alongside his compatriots. The struggle to live a normal life is
intensified by the fact that his wife has Israeli papers, whilst he
has Palestinian ID. This means that Yacoub cannot meet her
unless he obtains Israeli citizenship, or by special permission.

These daily realities encouraged him towards active
nonviolence. He recalls his first encounter with MEND in 1998,
the year in which the organisation was founded. A friend invited
him to a meeting between Israelis and Palestinians, organised by
MEND founding Director Lucy Nuseibeh.

Yacoub says he maintained a “good relationship” with
likeminded Israelis up until the outbreak of the second
Palestinian Intifada, and began fulltime work with MEND in 2004.  
He now coordinates 15 Menders and 50 adult volunteers.

According to Yacoub, the quandary in which Palestinians find
themselves is not one of whether or not to engage with the
political process – most people recognise the imperative to do
something. The question is rather “how?” – how to bring about
change? Yacoub read Mahatma Ghandi with profound interest,
and internalised his principle that political ends and means are
inseparable. Hence, one’s political means should be non-
violent, if seeking non-violent results.

According to Yacoub, non-violent methods were more
prominent during the first Intifada, and were a key outlet for
Palestinian grievances. He recalls numerous public meetings
and strikes. So did Palestinians suddenly begin to prefer violence
by the time the second Intifada began? Not according to
Yacoub. “I feel many Palestinians like nonviolence.”

Yacoub is of course one such proponent of nonviolence, and
drew attention to the positive effects of nonviolence in the
adherent, as well as in the wider world. “Nonviolence is very
good for me” he said, “and I aim to continue in this way”.

His dream, shared by volunteers throughout the Active
Nonviolence Network, is to persuade all Palestinians to believe
in nonviolence as an effective foundation for resistance.
Yacoub continues to work for the realisation of this dream: that
after him, his friends, volunteers, youth groups, and all
Palestinians, will follow a path of nonviolence.

This article is based on an interview conducted on March 13th
2007 by Takanobu Nakahara, International Public Relations
volunteer for MEND.
Author: Takanobu Nakahara
Edited by: Mark Calder
Photo credit: Yacoub Rjoub