Letters About Tours

Daniela and Nava,

The tour was well organized; all the arrangements adjusting how we set out and fixing the course of the trip worked perfectly. The guidance was professional. It was clear that you have long experience in the topic of the CPs, especially those in the West Bank. The meetings with local people at the stops added a human dimension to the general picture and facilitated our understanding of the human difficulties that the residents, mostly farmers, have to deal with. We gained  a broad  perspective on the problems of the Palestinian villages, especially from the very  focused explanations of narrow local aspects and from the pointed information that was given.

In my opinion, these tours should be recommended to everyone who is interested, people on the political right as well as those on the left, because it has no connection with the colonies, with political attitudes or with any kind of political arrangements for  the state. The only connection is with the military rule in the occupied areas and the basic humanitarian aspect of our relationships with the neighbors who are closest to us now and in the future. We have no others, these are our neighbors forever.

Thank you,

Oded Yanon

Monday, 24 March 2014

 Pitzi and Nurit, shalom,

The work you’re doing is sacred, humane and moral.  It cleanses us, removes from the Israeli public the taint of silence, denial and escapism.
The tour was fascinating. I consider myself one who knows what’s going on, involved in the issue:  I was an active participant in the Paris talks after the Oslo agreement as the coordinator of the Israeli delegation to the negotiations.
I read B’Tselem’s reports and the newspaper accounts by Amira Hass and Gid’on Levy.  But there’s no substitute for seeing and hearing at firsthand. 
By showing us the awful sights, the dreadful sounds, the tremendous despair through which we drove you made this trip meaningful and significant, and you deserve the greatest respect for doing so. I keep telling friends and acquaintances about the tour.  I hope some of them will take it also.

All my best, and thank you,

Yisrael Oz

I went along to a Machsom Watch tour in January 2014 and it was a real eye-opener for me. While I thought I had an understanding of what everyday life might be like for people living in the West Bank, I really didn't. This tour showed me aspects I hadn't considered.

Our tour guide Daniela had extraordinary energy providing information and historical facts throughout the day, as well as fielding challenging questions from the group, which was made up of people with varying political views.

Machsom Watch clearly states it is opposed to the Israeli occupation of the Palestinian Territories, so as Daniela said at the beginning of the day, do not expect this to be a "balanced tour" (she suggests you also do a settler tour if you are looking for the view from the other side). But you will definitely walk away knowing a lot more about life in the Palestinian Territories than you will learn from watching nightly news bulletins.

I highly recommend this tour for anyone who is keen to move beyond the tourist spots on a trip to the Holy Land.

Suzi Butcher

Dear Daniela,

back home in Germany I still think a lot of our tour to the West Bank (December 29th) and everything I have learned about the difficult situation. Thank you very much again! A few days after the tour took place Bernhard and I met a very interesting young Israeli in Jerusalem who works for the military waves radio station as part of his army service and is in charge of everything happening in the West Bank. He showed us Eastern Jerusalem which was again very interesting. We also talked a lot about what we had experienced on the tour and he told us that just recently a Palestinian in Kfar Qadum had died. It must have happened maybe two or three days after we were there. He said that it is being discussed whether it was natural death or whether the man died because of gas in his home that had been employed by the Israeli army… I was very moved by this.
Well, I just wanted to tell you that without the tour I would never have understood as much. Thank you! Next time I will be in Israel I would like to get into contact with you again.

With kind regards,
Claire

Boker tov, Daniela, 

Yesterday was an important, sad, and upsetting day. Yet your brilliant leadership — humor, intellect, patience, passionate belief in human rights for all creatures, and love of your homeland helped reframe the experience from total despair to understanding, bridge building, and glimmers of hope for change. Claudio and I have been on related tours, and this was the first where the leader was not pushing an agenda with eyes that can only see a black-and-white world. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel said, "Some are guilty, all are responsible." I think this principle drives MachsomWatch. 

Tamar Orvell

Greetings,

I want to give you some of my impressions of the tour in Jerusalem on 21.12.13.  Machsom Watch’s activity is, on the one hand, a sacred endeavor, and, on the other hand, does Israel an injustice.  The fact that a mature person stands at the checkpoints, trying to insure that they operate appropriately, ethically, that basic human rights are not violated, is very worthy and very good for Israel.  But, on the other hand, you publish your photographs and show them to the media in Israel and abroad, though Israel has been vilified for a long time even without your efforts.  Don’t forget the lynch in Ramallah when you show the Qalandiya checkpoint, because the lynch demonstrates that every passerby seeks our sons’ blood.  Don’t forget, as you show the checkpoints, all the bereaved families mourning their relatives – how their lives have become joyless.  Think about the possible consequences of the material you publish, about the pressure and the sanctions that the UN could impose on Israel, think about what crossing permits could lead to.  When you show the areas Israel annexed think about where your children and grandchildren will live, where they would be able to buy an apartment in Israel.  And after you remember all that – your work is truly worthy of admiration, the fact you rise so early to uphold human rights.  Remember, because you’re truly compassionate women, the suffering of your own people, and don’t be so angry at those young, inexperienced soldiers standing there for hours, at all hours of the day and night.  Remember, above all, to do what’s best for Israel – and, in fact, when you notice inhumane treatment of minorities by the authorities, that’s very helpful to Israel.  But you should first notify the Israeli authorities, and only then, if the problem persists, publicize it more widely so that others may respond.

Thank you for hearing me out.  I wanted to express this after the tour, which was extremely interesting and educational.

Thank you,

Ilana

Translated by Charles K.

Our tour of the seam zone and checkpoints in the central West Bank has changed our understanding of what it’s like in the occupied territories, in particular because of what we experienced there.  Apparently you have to see for yourself.

Pitzi guided the tour and provided information professionally, comprehensively and even-handedly.  I was very impressed by her ability to navigate the fine line between the mixture of fear and national pride every Israeli feels when dealing with security issues, and understanding and empathy regarding the Palestinians’ daily lives.

It was moving and unnerving to meet residents of the occupied territories.  And it was also frustrating to be unable to alter the reality (???).

So…first of all, I want to thank you for your efforts, and ask you to thank Pitzi for us.  And second, if you have a project or a challenge with which you need help/assistance – let us know.

We’ve very supportive of, and sympathetic to your struggle – we’re with you…

Bless you!

Eitan

(translated by Charles K.)

These tours are essential for every Israeli who cares about the country’s future. Even if you know what goes on there, follow the news, there’s nothing like seeing it first-hand. The shame at being Israeli is greater when you see what’s happening with your own eyes.

Ending the occupation and establishing a Palestinian state should be Israel’s greatest interest, but unfortunately it isn’t on top of the Israeli governments’ lists of priorities. We’re paying with blood, and will continue doing so, literally.

Your work is extremely important and blessed, and the way you’ve been demonized is scandalous.

In gratitude,

Asher Nachmias