Freedom

The theme of freedom kept surfacing in my travels today.

I started the day in Ramallah, the administrative capital of the Palestinian Authority, ten kilometres north of Jerusalem. Today is the five-year anniversary of Yasser Arafat's death. There were numerous parades and rallies in the street to commemorate him. For many years he was considered a terrorist. But for the Palestinian people, he was the leader of their freedom struggle.

In the afternoon, I attended a workshop in East Jerusalem about whether the European Union is helping or harming the Palestinian cause. The two Palestinians at the table kept repeating that unless the Palestinian people gain their freedom, in other words, establish an independent State and end the Israeli occupation, then nothing that anybody does will help them. "Without freedom, nothing matters," remarked one of the Palestinians.

My night ended with the Matrix, which for those of you who do not know, was the film with Keanu Reeves, about human beings freeing themselves from the control of machines. Will you take the red or the blue pill?

Freedom is the foundation for a more meaningful existence. On a personal level, I have flourished when I was free to make my own choices. On a spiritual level, I have found a path that encourages openness and diversity. Freedom is a central theme in the Jewish religion. My favourite Jewish festival is Pesach, which celebrates the exodus of the Jews from slavery in Egypt. Today, after endless struggles and countless catastrophes, Jews have freedom.

But I wonder: can there be peace for the Jews without freedom for the Palestinians?

50 days to go...