All people for peace

“Solidarity is the political version of love.”

Melanie Kaye/Kantrowitz (Jewish Voice for Peace)

Two fair trade principles that we have been holding close while we watch the news from Palestine are: creating opportunity and respecting cultural identity. Fair trade gives opportunity and a sustainable income to farmers and artisans, providing them with access to markets around the world. They work hand in hand, and are able to promote peace between their neighbors and in their communities. Fair trade prioritizes human rights and values human lives.

We all rise when we life others up! By respecting everyone’s cultural identities and protecting traditional production methods, artisans produce handcrafts with pride. They show the world a piece of their story. Artisans can work from their homes and close to their families—this is where they want to be most in times of crisis.

We were given permission to share heartfelt and heartbreaking updates from two fair trade groups in the region. Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans include Palestinian Arabs and Israeli Jewish artisans. They work side by side to sustain their shared cultural traditions of crafting ceramics and woodwork.  Sindyanna of Galilee is a unique non-profit organization led by a team of Arab and Jewish women working to create social change and also produces high quality olive oil. In areas of conflict, fair trade is a bridge to cooperation and a road to peace.

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From Bethlehem Fair Trade Artisans, dated May 15, 2021:

Greetings to you from the holy city of Bethlehem, the city of peace – but as I write, no peace is being realized.  The Promised Land, where two nations live side by side – but separated by a concrete wall and hundreds of checkpoints.  A small country, usually visited by millions of people from all over the world – but not today. Today our cities, this land, this country of ours, is under attack. Both sides are bombing each other to death and killing so many innocent human lives.  As if we do not have enough of a crisis due to the COVID19 pandemic that has taken so many lives, hopes for normal living is now far away from reality.

We are attached to our TV’s and our mobiles and are monitoring the situation and escalating violence in Jerusalem and throughout Israel/Palestine very closely. We grieve the loss of life and call for an immediate end to all violence. The escalation comes at a time when tensions were already quite high. During the final days of Ramadan, as our Palestinian Muslim friends and neighbors worshipped at al-Aqsa Mosque, Israeli forces and settlers stormed the holy site. In the neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah in occupied East Jerusalem, Palestinian families are always under threat of forced expulsion at the hands of Israeli settlers. The violence and potential evictions in East Jerusalem are huge efforts to further displace Palestinians throughout the West Bank. All these illegal actions have led to this dreadful bombing from both sides, destroying homes and killing so many innocent people.

We need the wider world and especially the U.S. Government to do everything in its power to help stop the ongoing aggression toward Palestinian people and bring an end to this violence. 

We have artisans from Jerusalem who are unable to reach their workshops in the Old City and are afraid to get to their workshops. We have tried to call our women’s groups in Gaza who make the most beautiful children’s toys, but could not reach any of them. I am so worried about them all and pray to God they are safe.

My city of Bethlehem has not been affected by the bombing, but we are having daily demonstrations. 

So many of the international media when reporting about the situation state the Palestinians as the terrorists, but talk little about how aggressive the settlers are toward the civilian Palestinians. I watch Facebook and see how supportive social media is toward Israel and do not understand how so few people realize that Palestinian people want to just live in peace and dignity. We are all humans created by the same God who does not care if you are black, white, blonde, wear a head covering or not – we are all humans and have the right to live the life offered to us through the sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Today I believe strongly that women are powerful and can make positive change. I have joined hands with strong International women, Jewish women and Palestinian women to stand together and speak out against this ongoing aggression from both sides. Enough is enough. We are fed up with both governments who are not caring for the wellbeing of their own people.

Keep humanity in your prayers, and think of us at this difficult time.

Your friend,
Suzan Sahori
CEO BFTA
Against the Bombing

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From Sindyanna of Galilee (growers and producers of olive oil), dated May 17, 2021:

We were waiting for the flames to go down, but unfortunately the fire has only intensified. Therefore we would like to share with you some thoughts and updates about our situation. Please feel free to share it with your customers and friends.

In this dark time of violence and hatred that sweeps our country, the Arab and Jewish women of Sindyanna are committed to our unity and are resolved more than ever to fight for humanity and sisterhood beyond national and religious borders. We feel stronger in this position with your friendship, the solidarity of our Fair Trade movement, and the support of our partners and friends around the globe.

Indeed, we face a cruel reality. Israeli provocations against Palestinians in East Jerusalem have finally let the genie of pent-up resentment out of the bottle, while awarding Hamas the false glory of defending al-Aqsa. Hundreds of rockets launched into Israeli cities have so far killed ten people on the Israeli side, injuring dozens. Massive bombings by the Israeli Air Force have killed hundreds of people in Gaza and injured thousands in just a few days, destroying infrastructure and countless homes. In the West Bank, IDF repressed with force demonstrations and killed dozens, at least 9 of them in one day on Friday May 14.

But what makes things more complicated and worrying is the level of internal violence by both Arab and Jewish extremists. Haifa, my home city, and a model of peaceful coexistence between Arab and Jewish communities, has become the focus of riots against civilians. The Jewish gangs are organized, supported by Netanyahu government and protected by the police; while the Arab rioters are not organized, seeming to be made up of groups of young people without clear aim who play into the hands of the fascists and Jewish supremacists.

On Friday May 14 the Israeli police clashed with hundreds of Kfar Kanna residents when large armed police forces arrived to the village to arrest an Islamic leader. No one from Sindyanna’s staff was hurt. Our warehouse in the industrial area of the village is also safe, although the situation in the village is very tense.

Faced with this wave of violence and hate, Sindyanna’s board, management and staff call for a halt of the war and all military actions on both sides. We join the call of growing number of civil organizations, community leaders, medical staff (like the one of Haifa’s Rambam Hospital) and many others – Jews and Arabs – who have gone out to demonstrate, opposing incitement and calling for better relations between Jews and Arabs.

Religious fanaticism, nationalism, and racism on either side, will drag us all into oblivion. We must not let that happen! Stop the War! Stop the violence and hatred between Jews and Arabs!

Yours as always,
Hadas Lahav

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To learn more, here is a list of suggested reading from Decolonize the Classroom:

• Justice for Some by Noura Erakat
• Freedom is a Constant Struggle by Angela Davis
• Against our Better Judgment by Alison Weir
• The Hundred Years’ War on Palestine by Rashid Khalidi
• On Palestine by Ilan Pappé and Noam Chomsky

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Browse our Collection of Palestinian Ceramics