When I heard we were having a speaker first thing in the morning (right after breakfast), I was concerned I might be lethargic and, therefore, struggle to concentrate. But the very moment Professor Salim Munayer entered the uncomfortably sultry room, he seized my attention; I was thoroughly captivated, holding onto every word. Although some of what the professor said “turned some stomachs,” (as he warned) due to the controversial nature of the topic, he brought up many valid points, and was a very dynamic speaker.
Prof. Munayer primarily spoke on the Palestinian narrative, and his goal of reconciliation, of coexistence between all members of the Middle-Eastern society. He explained that he identifies as a “Palestinian Christian Israeli citizen,” and traces his family back several generations. He acknowledged “indisputable historical presence,” in the land, both Jewish and Arab (specifically Christian). Munayer’s family, tracing back on paper to the twelfth century, had been exiled from their homes; his grandfather’s home became a military base during the Atrocities in Lod. Munayer calls his family “archeological artifacts,” part of the Christian community which was mostly lost. During the early to mid twentieth century, twenty percent of the Palestinian population was Christian. The professor remarked that Christians were more affected by the war of 1948 than Muslims, as the former lived in cities, and the latter, in small villages.
Growing up, Munayer spoke both Hebrew and Arabic. He was educated in the Jewish school system, where he learned about the Jewish narrative—Zionism, tolerance, the Holocaust— and had many Jewish friends. Munayer struggled with his identity—what is identity? How does it define us?
After the army, professor Munayer’s secondary education consisted of town planning, and later Theological Seminary, as well as other subjects. He moved to Bethlehem, which was a completely new experience for the then very young adult. He faced curfew, occupation, checkpoints; he was used to freedom, roaming and wandering, independence. In one of his Palestinian classes, he encountered a (Jewish) friend from the army, which was awkward in front of his students—a Palestinian and a Jew, friends? Unheard of circumstances! What triggered his mission, he said, was something his comrade said: “Occupation is not only harming the Palestinians; it is harming the Jews.” From then on, the professor began connecting his Israeli and Palestinian students, hoping the interactions would expedite the reconciliation process. Unfortunately, his labors were not fruitful, as every “gathering” ended in disaster. He also said that with the Inter-Religious dialogue does, and needs to consist not of the conflict(s), but of religion.
The next portion of our meeting was one of his college lectures. The professor started with several key words and phrases:
• “Us-Them Mentality”
• “Zero-Sum:”
– If we give up one minuscule facet, we will lose everything
• Grassroots Movements
– “Without Grassroots Movements we will have nothing.”
The professor stressed the importance and necessity of reconciliation, which leads to forgiveness, but requires both parties to “lose” their fear, anger, longing for revenge, etc.; he compared the crisis to the Rwandan genocide between the Hutu and the Tutsi peoples. Professor Munayer added that Israel is not only one of the most highly advanced countries in the world, (economically, technologically, etc.), she is also the most stable country in the Middle East. Munayer stated, “[The] average Israeli is not affected by the conflict,” and that “violence is a trap.” He emphasized the conflicts between “haves & have-nots,” the fact that the huge economic gaps created a ticking time bomb. There were several obstacles, the professor stated, such as physical, emotional, and psychological barriers. The physical obstacles include separation walls, checkpoints, and violence; the emotional barriers: fear, anger, rights (or lack thereof). Obtaining equal rights for all living under Israel’s jurisdiction is the bridge, Munayer said, to peace, achieving goals, and prosperity. The Jewish Israeli school Munayer’s children attend is not permitted to teach the Palestinian or Arab narrative, and vice versa. He said, “Racism is a disease in the country;” his son’s former soccer team utilized the slogan, “Death to Arabs.” Psychological obstacles include racism, dehumanization, victimization, etc. People “described Arabs as ‘עמלק’(Amalek, the biblical civilization G-d commanded us to destroy (and remember), the nation from which Haman hailed, and according to some, Hitler).”
Munayer identifies with all Semitic people, saying, “Our people are damaged,” referring to the Israelis/Jews, Palestinians, etc. Tina connected the discussion to the song from Rogers and Hammerstein’s South Pacific, “You’ve Got to Be Carefully Taught,” a reference which I, as a theatre nerd, really appreciated.
I don’t want to bore you, the reader, with my nearly ten pages of notes from this fascinating lecture, and Tina will probably scold me for “writing a great American novel,” so I will wrap this up. Salim Munayer’s lecture was not only highly informative, it was also quite entertaining. His funny anecdotes paired with solid facts provided for a very meaningful micro-seminar. His means of connecting the topics to the outside world were highly effective, and I feel that an entire course with Professor Munayer would be even more eye-opening and intriguing. With regards to his vision for Israel’s next seventy years, Munayer said, “If you build your narrative on wars, that leads to wars… In the future… we’re all going to suffer; everyone will suffer.” “My dream is that Rotem and my son could be be friends.” But he also stated, “ From my experience, the conflict started outside the people (” international powers interfering “)… we were brought in… America Is this conflict … Destructive… America is part of the problem, not part of the solution. They could be part of the solution.”