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We know each other as brothers and sisters
Interview by Jane Toby
Jamila, from Beit sahour
I have
been coming to AEI for 2 years with Muslim
and Christian men and women who live here in
Palestine. We know each other as brothers
and sisters, and make celebrations for
Ramadan and Christmas.
AEI
helps us make relations with other people in
the world. We want people to know that we
want peace--not war and killing. We want to
share our customs.
My day
goes like this: I get up in the morning,
make my kitchen, bring food to my family.
Afterwards, I go to my neighbor to drink
tea. She is a Christian neighbor and we
live here like one family.
I do
many activities and work with different
groups: the Arab Women’s Union and the
Center for Women in Beit Sahour. I help
women receive the care they need. I also
teach children in a kindergarten.
At 2 p.m,
I make dinner at home. My husband, who
teaches Islamic religion in the schools,
helps me. He is very clever in my kitchen.
My
grandchildren like to gather round me when I
milk the sheep in our backyard and when I
turn the milk to cheese and yogurt.
I have
met many Israeli women who work for peace.
They come here to Jadal Center in Beit
Sahour. I ask them - “Why do you come here
and we can’t visit Israel?” I speak with
them about how we love freedom.
In 2007,
we had a meeting in Haifa through MASHAV:
Women Building A New Reality: A dialogue
between Israeli and Palestinian women. We
spoke about how we live here and how we feel
in our hearts. Because Israel made that
program, they gave us a permit to come.
Many
Israelis like the Arab people, but not the
government. In 2002, Israeli soldiers shot
at the Nativity Church in Bethlehem. They
surrounded the church for 40 days. There
was barely any food or drink. Several
people died inside and also the 60 year-old
man who rang the bell.
At that
time, there was a curfew and we couldn’t go
to Bethlehem. The baby of my daughter
in law was ready to come. We were afraid
the Israelis would see us go to the
hospital. It was difficult. We had to walk
there at night. No one was in the street.
We were alone and trembling. My
daughter in law was in labor.
My name
Jamilla means “beautiful.” Beautiful are
the names of my children and my children’s
children: “Dana,” pearl; “Amal” hope,
“Sanaa” Dawn.
We live
in hope for peace.
Interview: January 2008
Interviewer: Jane Toby from Catskill, New
York, who worked for many years with Women
in Black and Middle East Crisis Response,
Hudson Valley, NY. Interview in cooperation
with AEI.
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