Inbal Avnon
Sergeant with Israeli Defense Force
To serve as a woman in a combat position is a big honor. Military service has always been important to me. Even at an early age I knew I wanted to join a combat unit. I had to cope with people asking, “Why?” and making fun of me because women weren’t in combat units then. But it is one of the most challenging things open to women in the army, and has given me a lot.
Noa Epstein
Coordinator for Peace Now
Politically, I’ve always been motivated, active, and opinionated. Whenever women have an opinion, they are considered to be opinionated. At least in Hebrew, it has a negative connotation. I have tried to translate words into action—happiness, compassion, care, and love. [...]
Molly Malekar
Director of Bat Shalom of The Jerusalem Link
As a peace activist, you have chances every day to feel angry. You deal with peace, but you deal with violations of peace and human rights. I’ve tried to build an internal discipline not to be angry. One thing that relieves me is—maybe it’s age—knowing that peace will not be achieved within my lifetime. We have a long way to go and will not necessarily see the fruits of our work. It’s a marathon—and anger destroys energy.
Hekmat Bessiso Naji
Project Assistant with Medico International for health services
The world hides its ears and eyes from the miserable life of the refugees in the camps in Gaza and the West Bank. The issue is not just living here, but who’s responsible for this and when will this change. For refugees, all our lives have been under a question mark. [...]
Bushra Mukbil
Consultant with Office of the United Nations Special Coordinator
I was having lunch with a friend and her young son in Ramallah when Israeli soldiers attacked a café across the street. They had guns, shattered windows, threw gas bombs and sound bombs. The kid asked his mom, “What’s happening?” She told him, “It’s a Hollywood movie.” I said, “You have to tell him the reality.” She said, “No, I don’t want my kid to live in fear. At one point he will know it himself.” [...]
Muna Salim Saleh Mansour
Member of Palestinian Legislative Council (Hamas party), Nablus
My husband joked, “What would you do if I were killed?” I said, “I would cry.” He said, “It is okay to cry.” I said, “The house is too small to accommodate mourners.” Mourners arrived in busloads. The march on the day of his death was the largest ever in Palestine. People from surrounding towns and villages joined the funeral even though the Israeli occupation placed roadblocks. [...]
Reem Alshareef
Principal of Cordoba School in Hebron
I adore Hebron, my city, my people, my children, and the school. I refuse to leave. Whatever the circumstances, I insist on staying. My roots are here even though we are now under Israeli control. [...]
Sawsan Shaheen
Law student and former political detainee
All of my family, we are active in the Fatah party. We are under occupation. There are settlements on our land. We must have our land, and a special situation with Jerusalem. It belongs to the Palestinians, to Muslims, because of Al-Aqsa Mosque. We cannot see our families inside Jerusalem. [...]
Barbara Sofer
Journalist and Director of Public Relations for Hadassah
I’ve been in rooms where people are taking care of terror victims while everybody around the table had to worry that day about being blown up as well—and at the same time, a terrorist would be taken care of. When people come into these hospitals, they move a switch inside and elicit their best selves. We’ll never have a future unless we switch off the static of all the anger and conflicts to move ahead to peace.
Tirza Moussaieff
Psychologist, writer, and imagery worker
The Torah says Redemption will come from women this time. Women give birth to children and are more open and sensitive. They see reality. Men are little boys. But there is hope because women have a lot of power over men. If they guide men with respect and knowledge, I think men will be happy to receive it because they are more lost than women. They are little boys with toys. When they are impotent, they love to use a gun. If you look at the profile of major generals, I wouldn’t be surprised if you find a background of impotency.
