As Israel Elects a New Government, Friends of Israeli and Palestinians Roots Organisation is Launched in the UK

UK, November 15th 2022: As Israel Elects a New Government, Friends of Israeli and Palestinians Roots Organisation is Launched in the UK

Roots an Israeli-Palestinian grassroots initiative for understanding, nonviolence and transformation is based in Judea & Samaria/The West Bank (also known as The Occupied Territories).

The topic of Israel and Palestine is highly emotive and politicised. For many the conversation between Palestinians and settlers should not happen and sadly history shows both parties will be labelled to shut down the debate. The tour however is pressing ahead and gives a platform to both. 

There are many long standing grass roots peace initiatives in the Holy Land, however Roots is unique in that it is the only one to engage settlers with Palestinians in the West Bank face to face. These conversations are challenging yet critical, through the process of meeting, common ground is reached, and in a time of rising right wing extremism genuine partnerships and solidarity are being forged.

Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger founder of Roots said: 

“Since 2016, Roots has created and now operates the only joint  community centre in the entire West Bank/Judea & Samaria. This safe space hosts social, religious, and educational activities, bringing together hundreds of Palestinians and Israelis of all ages who begin to realise that there are two stories – not one – in this land, and that the only way forward is to hear and understand both. Hearing the other side’s story and coming to recognise its legitimacy brings us to see how our own side’s behaviour often tramples on the dignity and the human rights of the other side. This in turn galvanises us to advocacy for Palestinian rights and active opposition to allforms of violence, injustice and inequality.

“Some of the Jewish members of Roots emphatically state that they learned from their rabbis that, if it becomes clear that peace can be achieved through territorial compromise, they would be willing to dismantle the settlements and all of the religious institutions that have been built within them, brick by brick and transport them back within Israel proper. This they would do with a heavy heart and with tears in their eyes, sadly leaving behind what they believe to be central regions of their ancestral homeland. However as important as the Holy Land is to them, peace is even more important.”

Noor Awad Roots ambassador added: 

“At Roots, local people are taking personal responsibility for making change. By speaking openly and from the heart, we are building trust with one another and creating a new discourse around the conflict in our respective communities. Working in the grass roots we have created a joint vision for a better future for us all.

“The ultimate aim is for justice and fairness to be established for all through understanding the identities of both sides, including the settlers’ feeling of connection to the whole of the land as well as the belonging of all Palestinians – including refugees – to the whole of the land.

“Roots’ goal is not to create coexistence with settlers or to convince them to leave, it’s about redefining what peace means when both sides feel strongly connected to the entire land. We believe any resolution that doesn’t involve settlers and Palestinian refugees will be fruitless.

“Changing settler’s attitudes can make a real difference to Palestinian lives. The Palestinian members of Roots are not part of a process of ‘normalisation’ that accepts the settlers and their settlements as they are. Rather they are part of a nonviolent Palestinian resistance movement, having come to the conclusion that the best way to resist the injustices of the settlement movement is to engage with and to confront the settlers with the truth of Palestinian indigeneity, humanity, dignity, identity and rights face to face. Furthermore, our Israeli partners in Roots themselves actively work to protect Palestinians and to reduce settler violence.”

Steven Longden Co-Chair of FoRUK said: 

“Intercommunal conflicts are only resolved when communities at a grassroots level step into their own agency, build trust and come together in solidarity. FoRUK recognises this is not an easy process but the path to peace rarely is. If neighbours from across the divide in such a conflicted part of the world can begin a peace movement, then that serves as a potent example to us all. We admire the peace process undertaken in Northern Ireland where the commitment of ordinary people to join together as co-partners in peace and to say ‘not in my name’ was critical. 

“It is not for us to dictate the solutions, but it is our aim to assist in the challenging journey to peace. Being separate is easier than coming together in dialogue and we admire the courage that takes from both sides. After hearing Hanan and Noor we will explore strengthening our solidarity to help promote peace and justice in Israel and Palestine.”

Ruth Jacobs Co Chair of FoRUK stated: 

“At FoRUK we have zero tolerance to racism and lazy generalisations. Too often we are fed a diet of alarming news from a sensationalist media that is devoid of nuance and stereotypes result. Through learning about one another’s history and dealing with one another with open minds and hearts we are able to see we have far more in common than that which we perceive divides us.”

Jess Foster CoChair of FoRUK added:

“Accusations that these interactions ‘normalise’ occupation, stops dialogue that has the potential for promoting realistic and just solutions. For instance, not discussing what occupation means between Israelis and Palestinians stunts an understanding of the impact of occupation both psychologically, socially, religiously and politically. Discussing the unevenness of life for Palestinians living under occupation leads to empathy, humanisation, a reduction in ‘othering’ and violence. These conversations are harder than avoidance but are critical to peace.” 

The Roots Two Stories, Two People – One Land UK tour begins in Edinburgh at the Scottish Parliament on Weds the 16th November and includes visits to London, Luton, Cambridge, Oxford, Warwick, Birmingham, Huddersfield, Manchester, Salford and Trafford. The Launch of Friends of Roots UK will be online on Monday 21 November.