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| I Believe In Nonviolence The Israeli occupation use of excessive force against Palestinian people, and being born at times of occupation, has made me absorb many violent actions. I was among the most prominent leaders of the first Intifada; it strengthened my concepts of violence even when it came to my relationship with other people. However, the second Intifada, where violence was even more prevalent, had a good impact on my life because during the second Intifada I was introduced to MEND, it was in 2002. At that time I did not believe in nonviolence; however, I joined a training course, run by MEND, about alternative resistance. I had rows with the trainer. As time went by and becoming familiar with the concepts of nonviolence, I was convinced that I had been wrong. I apologized to the trainer and started absorbing the concepts of nonviolence. Now they are part of my life. I have realized that I have to change the life I lead. Now I know that we the Palestinians must seek a new way of struggle especially that we have spent more than 40 years using violence but to no avail. My belief that nonviolence will help us realize our aspirations increases everyday. The [Palestinian] revolution use of violence made us violent deep inside; this is a threat to the state-building phase because we need a democratic state. Now nonviolence has become my way of life and I am proud of it thanks to MEND, which has reached out to me and taught me the civilized concepts of nonviolence. Well, I always liked peace, I believe in peace. When I joined MEND and was introduced to the concepts of nonviolence, I discovered that they embody more active resistance than using violence; nonviolence can help me realize my aspirations without human or material losses. - Violence can only cause more bloodshed: People unable are unable to solve their problems using nonviolent means; I lost friends during the Intifada. - Nonviolence is active resistance that enables me to achieve what I aspire without losses. Noor al Deen Shihada Coordinator Tulkarem Center |
| We, at MEND, feel so honoured that we are able to help men and women from all over the Middle East, and we are humbled by the commitment and kindness that they have shown this organization. : |
First I would like to explain a couple of important issues
before I go into details:
- I live in a poverty-stricken household
- My homeland in under occupation
If a person lives under such conditions, it will be normal to
become a rebel. Such conditions leave a bitter taste of
oppression and deprivation and create fertile grounds for
those who rebel against a painful situation; hence was the
start.
I became a rebel at early school days. Signs of differences
were obvious at school; there were different clothes and
different meals. Such differences made me run from school.
My family beat me to go to school. Violence then became a
major part of my life; I used it against pupils especially those
whom I felt were better than me.
Since the community where I was born and bred in sanctifies
individual acts of heroism, I unconsciously aspired to
become one of the heroes at school (the way people
sanctified heroism). This went on until I became a teenager
and politics, or rather political violence, became part of my
life. I threw rocks at the occupation vehicles patrolling the
streets of my city. I was arrested for three days when I was 14.
I was badly tortured during incarceration. I became more
violent against the occupation. My violence developed as
a vengeful reaction. I was arrested several times and
violence was used against me. I became more and more
violent. I was wounded in my left leg when I was 16 and
wounded in my right leg at the age of 17; I was detained
several times; 7 and a half years in total.
I achieved what I wanted during the first Intifada when
everyone was a rebel. I was my people's hero. I was
subjected to the policy of "bone-breaking" and I was shot
and wounded several times; I was almost killed in one
incident. This went on and had its impact on my social life
when I solved my problems using violence, which was an
acceptable method of solving problems in the community.
This also went on during the second Intifada until I had a new
experience: Leading a children summer camp in 2002.
Transformation started between an old and a new
experience; however, I was still undecided. Then I joined a
MEND training course in Nablus. I did not expect a change to
happen so fast due to old experiences. With the opening of
MEND center in Nablus and being appointed as its head I
work hard with children and the work team in reviewing
democracy and nonviolence. Questions about social and
political conflicts rained on me. It was the first time in my life
to contemplate causes of conflicts. My MEND experience
has made me aware of several positive ways of solving
problems without the use of violence. Since I was a victim of
violence, I do my best to help people especially
impoverished children to avoid what I went through. I have
become a role model for many young people who want to
know more about me.
Qais Awayis
Coordinator
MEND Nablus center
before I go into details:
- I live in a poverty-stricken household
- My homeland in under occupation
If a person lives under such conditions, it will be normal to
become a rebel. Such conditions leave a bitter taste of
oppression and deprivation and create fertile grounds for
those who rebel against a painful situation; hence was the
start.
I became a rebel at early school days. Signs of differences
were obvious at school; there were different clothes and
different meals. Such differences made me run from school.
My family beat me to go to school. Violence then became a
major part of my life; I used it against pupils especially those
whom I felt were better than me.
Since the community where I was born and bred in sanctifies
individual acts of heroism, I unconsciously aspired to
become one of the heroes at school (the way people
sanctified heroism). This went on until I became a teenager
and politics, or rather political violence, became part of my
life. I threw rocks at the occupation vehicles patrolling the
streets of my city. I was arrested for three days when I was 14.
I was badly tortured during incarceration. I became more
violent against the occupation. My violence developed as
a vengeful reaction. I was arrested several times and
violence was used against me. I became more and more
violent. I was wounded in my left leg when I was 16 and
wounded in my right leg at the age of 17; I was detained
several times; 7 and a half years in total.
I achieved what I wanted during the first Intifada when
everyone was a rebel. I was my people's hero. I was
subjected to the policy of "bone-breaking" and I was shot
and wounded several times; I was almost killed in one
incident. This went on and had its impact on my social life
when I solved my problems using violence, which was an
acceptable method of solving problems in the community.
This also went on during the second Intifada until I had a new
experience: Leading a children summer camp in 2002.
Transformation started between an old and a new
experience; however, I was still undecided. Then I joined a
MEND training course in Nablus. I did not expect a change to
happen so fast due to old experiences. With the opening of
MEND center in Nablus and being appointed as its head I
work hard with children and the work team in reviewing
democracy and nonviolence. Questions about social and
political conflicts rained on me. It was the first time in my life
to contemplate causes of conflicts. My MEND experience
has made me aware of several positive ways of solving
problems without the use of violence. Since I was a victim of
violence, I do my best to help people especially
impoverished children to avoid what I went through. I have
become a role model for many young people who want to
know more about me.
Qais Awayis
Coordinator
MEND Nablus center
Dear Mend,
My name is Emma Biermann and I am part of the organising
team for an event called One World Week which is
beginning 19th January 2007. One World Week is the
world's largest student-run international event and
celebrates internationalism and appreciates the world's
mosaic of cultures. We are holding a forum focus event on
the Israel-Palestine conflict and we were hoping you could
support this event with material such as leaflets,
posters or similar from your organisation that you could send
to us for our external exhibition. This means that students
who attend the event can access
further information about the issue or have ideas of
practical action that they can take as a result of the event.
To find out more about One World Week, please log onto
www.oneworldweek.net
It is clear from your website that Mend is an excellent
organisation trying to achieve a wonderful vision for the
Palestinian-Israeli
conflict through peaceful and innovative means, which is
extremely
admirable and we really hope you will be able to send us
some material.
I look forward to hearing from you very soon and happy new
year!
Thank you and best wishes,
Emma.
(One World Forum Team Organiser)
My name is Emma Biermann and I am part of the organising
team for an event called One World Week which is
beginning 19th January 2007. One World Week is the
world's largest student-run international event and
celebrates internationalism and appreciates the world's
mosaic of cultures. We are holding a forum focus event on
the Israel-Palestine conflict and we were hoping you could
support this event with material such as leaflets,
posters or similar from your organisation that you could send
to us for our external exhibition. This means that students
who attend the event can access
further information about the issue or have ideas of
practical action that they can take as a result of the event.
To find out more about One World Week, please log onto
www.oneworldweek.net
It is clear from your website that Mend is an excellent
organisation trying to achieve a wonderful vision for the
Palestinian-Israeli
conflict through peaceful and innovative means, which is
extremely
admirable and we really hope you will be able to send us
some material.
I look forward to hearing from you very soon and happy new
year!
Thank you and best wishes,
Emma.
(One World Forum Team Organiser)