Palestinian and Israeli Women Discuss National Identities

On the second Monday of May, TRUST WIN (Women’s Interfaith Network) held a meeting of women from varied backgrounds – Palestinians and Israelis – Christians, Jews, and Muslims -who met each other with the intention of getting to know one another as women while getting cosmetics make-overs together. We had students, teachers, mothers, grandmothers, and one seven month old baby. Even though the meeting was held in the midst of all the national holidays – Israeli Independence Day and Memorial Day, and the Palestinian Nakba – events which generated strong reactions, there was no tension felt at the table. Instead, women were eager to share their feelings about these complicated times. After a brief introduction we began to talk about our experiences. Stories poured forth into the accepting arms of the sisterhood. Some women never went for their make-over because they didn’t want to leave the discussion. One Jewish Israeli woman told of her fears of her son’s budding desire to be a soldier, while at the same time expressing an understanding of the importance of a strong national identity. An Israeli Arab told us that, in her opinion, Israelis must accept the Arabs right to a separate feeling and identity, so that they need not be ashamed to sit during the Memorial Day siren. In her eyes, it is the acceptance of the legitimacy of another person’s feeling, without the denial of your own feeling that will bring understanding on both sides. Palestinian women explained to the Israelis about the Nakba commemoration of the “Disaster” they experienced at the founding of the State of Israel. A Palestinian woman laughed as she told of her experience trying to find a taxi in Tel Aviv on Israeli Independence Day that did NOT have Israeli flags flying on it. An Israeli woman shared her sadness to see Arab boys dancing on the street during the siren for Memorial Day. One young Israeli woman told how different it had been for her in the past three years when she was a soldier and was aware on Memorial Day of her friends and comrades who had died or were currently in combat zones. We listened and accepted each other’s feelings and experiences. We also laughed and enjoyed the beautiful transformation that took place as the women were made up as you can see in the attached photographs. People walking by stopped to look at the strange spectacle of Arabs and Jews together. Imagine – twelve women sitting and enjoying each other’s company! Why is this strange? We understand each other’s grief as mothers, sisters, aunts, and friends. We understand each other’s wish to end the conflict and act in a non-violent manner. We understand each other’s hopes, as women. We are an example of the normal behavior which can be practiced in our society.

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