Dear girls and women allies of Palestine and Israel,
Salutations of peace from Bangladesh. I am writing from a country that you may not have heard of before. Situated miles away from your region, Bangladesh has not recognised the State of Israel which means that we cannot expect to meet each other directly in our homes and other social institutions.
As for Palestine, while my passport is valid there, and although Palestine does have a diplomatic presence in Bangladesh, I have not had the privilege to visit the land yet. The Palestinian embassy in Bangladesh is quite inactive and does not provide much exposure to Palestinian culture.
I believe a much more practical means of fulfilling my dream of interacting closely with you is through journalism or social work. I will gladly speak of the surreal moment when I came across, by chance, an elderly lady from Israel in the UK, where I was undergoing training on journalism. She was the first and the only Israeli I have met so far in these twenty years.
I also cherish the time I met a Palestinian girl for the first time at a youth conference in Indonesia. As you can see, we can overcome geo-political barriers to connect with each other. And right now, through this letter, we can correspond even further.
I will not inquire about your state of being because the world is witnessing the Israeli-Palestinian hostilities and we are therefore not oblivious to the routine uncertainty and suffering that you face.
I cannot imagine myself living in an environment where the threat of rocket shells or heavy bombardment looms every day. I cannot imagine going days without food, water, and electricity – basic necessities which I sometimes take for granted.
Some of us have not lived under such dire circumstances and forgive us when we – the privileged few – do not remember you in the daily hustle and bustle of life. This letter is my way of expressing solidarity with your pursuit for peace.
Although one day of remembrance does not compensate for the many days of forgetfulness, I write this letter in the hopes that my words inspire feelings of eternal peace and happiness.
Over the years, I have learnt that happiness is not a destination or even an emotion. It is more of an attitude. It is what we make out of our circumstances. You will be happy if you want to be happy. This is what I remember during my difficult times.
You will find solace in knowing that around the world, people of various backgrounds, irrespective of religion (which is usually purported to be the cause of this division), gathered in hordes to form human chains and the likes to protest the atrocities of all war-mongering forces.We are all pressing for a sustainable ceasefire, as well as a lasting peace agreement, which will put an end to this age-old conflict once and for all.
We strongly believe that both Israel and Palestine can and should co-exist. It is not a remote possibility; but a long overdue obligation. We want our future generations to read about this conflict only as bad history and not as a recurring reality that cripples the lives of so many people who had nothing to do with this chaos in the first place. At every congregational prayer in my country, you are remembered.
Take heart also in the fact that many media professionals are striving to provide an objective and responsible coverage of these events and are also attempting to project the everyday lifestyle of your region.
We feel that your region is mostly highlighted, usually from a political perspective, when a catastrophe strikes. We yearn to know more about your culture; what an average day is like when there’s peace. We are here to tell your stories.
One journalist named Leigh aptly pointed out that we need to stop taking sides or prove a political point out of this tragedy. Right at this moment, we do not want to know who started it or who is right. We can keep these discussions for later when another child in that region is not bleeding because of war. A citizen journalist named Maya shares photos of the turbulent times, starting from the ringing of the siren to the bits of rocket shells that land inches away from a civilian woman.
You have a crucial role in affecting and upholding the peace process. Persevere as you always have to reach out to the wider world with peace. It is wisest for women of all ages in both Palestine and Israel to focus on education, work, and friendship.
With these, you can hope to actualise your vision of peace quickly and easily. They will open up creative outlets for you to express your emotions in a non-violent, harmless manner.
With this frame of mind, you can bring in a new era of peace. You are also responsible, just as your partner is, for the upbringing of the next generation who will detest war. You can create a political revolution through a strong family base.
My Palestinian acquaintance Rand showed me a different side of Palestine — one that is not characterised by poverty and violence. At the youth conference, she was dressed in a comfortable tee and a pair of jeans.
She was outspoken about reproductive and sexual rights. Although she solemnly recounted the tales of hostilities in the region, she was strong and did not appear to be a helpless victim of war-torn zones.
Your culture intrigues me and I am most interested in hearing from you about how you spend a “normal” day.
I close this letter with my earnest prayers for peace in your region and for your wellbeing.