Palestinian voices

I am about to report on two VERY FULL days of visits with individuals who are strong advocates for justice. The last person was Sam Bahour, an American born in Youngstown, Ohio, who is Palestinian, married to a Palestinian, with two teen girls and all live in Ramallah. He is a business consultant and realist/writer on relations with America. He has been a force in economic development and is a supporter of a growing international movement for boycott, divestment from Israel companies until the occupation of the West Bank is ended. Now that was a loaded sentence and phrases I've learned about during trips into Palestinian cities and the countryside.
We visited Ata who lives close to settlers who regularly threaten his family. We visited the Christian Peacemakers Team in the Old City of Hebron - and my eyes could pick out the ring of settlements (400 Jewish settlers embedded in a city of many thousands). Then we heard from two family members who have set up a Tent of Nations on the top of a hill (their family land), for a children's camp and touchpoint for internationals who wish to show solidarity with peace and justice. Tired as we were, the conversation with Sami Awad, Director of the Holy Land Trust, was riveting as he talked about leadership and community empowerment and understanding the needs of the "other side." In no case was hatred for Jews evident - but identifying political practices of Israel that are destructive to Palestinian people and telling firsthand stories of incredible inequity - yes, I too will call the conditions in the West Bank an occupation by a foreign power.
On Wednesday (today) we went to Ramallah which is a cultural and political center for Palestinians. We heard from Defense for Chilren International about children in prison, recruited as informants, and used as shields for soldiers. Again settler violence was described and depicted in film. And we met with a PLO staff person in the Negotiating Support Unit - to hear about and ask questions about PLO perspectives and dynamics. This fellow was born in Australia from refugee Palestinian parents. The men who have returned to this country to serve are very impressive and persuasive. What they say reinforces what we have seen.