Metamorphosis

You will not believe this story, I hardly do. It's crazy, it's drastic, it will blow your mind. I met two men in the past two days, one Israeli the other Palestinian. They defy all logic, all stereotypes, and well, basically any pre-conceived ideas you might have had about the human race.

The Palestinian was a terrorist. When he was fourteen years old he regularly threw stones and molotov cocktails at Israeli soldiers and civilians. One day, he tried to stab to death two Israeli soldiers at a checkpoint. The attempt failed and he ended up in prison for ten years.

The Israeli was a settler. A religious orthodox Jew, part of the settler movement, whose family lived in settlements in Gaza and who still has a sister living in a settlement in East Jerusalem. When he went to the army, he served in the West Bank (mainly in Hebron), where he committed acts against Palestinian civilians that violated military law.

Now I am not trying to compare terrorists with settlers, there is no comparison to be made. Instead, what I find powerful in their personal stories is the human potential for transformation. The power to choose a different path.

Both men had an awakening in their early twenties. The Palestinian while he was in jail, the Israeli while he was serving in Hebron. Both men felt that something was not quite right with the status quo. They started to question their beliefs, re-examine their acts, and take responsibility for their future.

On his release from prison, the Palestinian, who had learnt Hebrew while in prison, started reaching out to Israeli peace activists. He wanted to build a joint movement for peace. He was responsible for mobilising the Palestinian side and he found an Israeli partner who was responsible for the Israeli side. Since then, he has set up numerous peace initiatives, including a recent initiative to build "peace villages" in the West Bank and Israel, working in partnership with Israelis and Americans.

On his release from the army, the Israeli decided that it was time for the Israeli people to understand what was happening in the Palestinian territories, what soldiers were doing in their name. Together with a group of other veteran soldiers, he travels around Israel giving lectures and holding exhibitions, to raise awareness about the military occupation in the West Bank and Gaza. They also take groups of Israelis around the Palestinian territories to show them what is happening.

The two men know each other and have worked together. They are truly inspiring. Their drive and ambition for peace is intoxicating. Most importantly, they instill a sense of hope, that people can change and conflict can be resolved.

41 days to go...