Women of Jerusalem discuss differing views

Three women who call the same place home but believe in drastically different things came to IU for the weekend to share their world views.\nThe Committee for Peace in the Middle East, Students for Justice in Palestine and Partners for Peace presented a lecture entitled "Jerusalem Women Speak: Three Women, Three Faiths, One Shared City" Sunday in the Monroe County Library Auditorium.\nThe event featured three women from Jerusalem -- a Jew, a Christian and a Muslim -- who expressed their views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.\nJerri Bird, president of Partners for Peace, a non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., introduced the speakers, each of whom lectured for 10 minutes.\n"These women have one commonality: they are willing to speak under the banner of three women, three faiths, one shared city," she said. "We want to let people in the United States know that in Israel, there are three religions, two peoples and one land. The conflict is over how and if that land will be shared."\nRawan Damen, a Muslim who in June graduated from Birzeit University in the West Bank, described the hardships she experienced as a Palestinian.\n"My family watches the news every night, but when reports of our situation come on the air, my brother turns them off because they are so depressing," she said. "Many Palestinians are living below the poverty line, and many Israelis don't know anything about the Palestinian people. "\nMichal Shohat, a Jew who serves as secretary general of the Meretz Party in Israel, stressed the importance of peace in the region.\n"This is a very complicated conflict," she said. "We've reached a time where we need to find a solution. I served in the Israeli Army for three wars, and I know the horrible violence that war brings. Israel must leave its settlements and occupied territories in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank for there to be peace."\nJean Zaru, a Christian and vice president of Sabeel -- a grassroots organization that campaigns for an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict -- accused the Israeli government of ignoring United Nations resolutions and demonizing the Palestinians.\n"I come with a heavy heart," she said. "I leave a nation held in captivity. Israeli occupation has hijacked security, and has denied human security to the Palestinians. Palestine is a handicapped nation, and our children are handicapped for life."\nThe lectures were followed by a question and answer session moderated by Bloomington City Councilman David Sabbagh.\nRabbi Sue Shifron, Hillel director, questioned the objectivity of the program.\n"I really don't understand why, at this time of difficulty and national tragedy, any group is trying to be divisive," she said. "They presented a one-sided portrait of a complicated situation. I was told by one of the organizations that endorsed the event that they would not have advertised it if they had been given a realistic view of what it was."\nShe also responded to accusations of Israeli cruelty toward Palestinians that were put forth during the lectures.\n"In reality, the Israeli government is doing everything it can to respond to terrorism the best way it knows how and with the best intentions," she said.