Southern Maine Community College held an informal conference on November 18th at Jewett Hall auditorium, exploring the history of Palestine, and discussing the current state of the Israel-Palestine War. Dr. Wendy Love, one of the presenters, used raw images, and first hand knowledge of the time she served in Palestine with the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, and Physicians for Peace during two medical missions over the last two decades.
She’s traveled extensively through Israel and Palestine as a delegate with the Interfaith Peacebuilders, and Christian Community Peacemakers Team, and has worked closely with the Franciscan Missionary Sisters at the Italian Hospital in Haifa, Israel. She’s a strong advocate, and voice for the citizens of Palestine.
Rich Pitre, another speaker representing decades of study and lived experience, teaches Ethics as a professor at SMCC. He served as a member of the Pontifical Mission for Palestine throughout the late 80’s, and helped aid Palestinian refugees during his time spent in Jordan, and other occupied areas of the Middle East as a Jesuit priest. He taught language informally at the College of Islamic Science to future Imams. Rich has dedicated his life to higher education, and helping those in crisis in the Middle East. He is a fervent defender of the Palestinian people, and works devoutly to this day.
The information shared during the presentation included graphic images and videos. A series of presentations were made, including the origin of Zionism, and current statistics surrounding the war of Gaza. Most of the photographic documentation was presented by Dr. Wendy Love during her excursion through the West Bank. Images show the bits and pieces of normality once for Palestinians in the West Bank. Palestinian lands have been illegally taken by Israel for the purpose of settling those lands with Israeli Jewish citizens which over decades has resulted in Palestinians being displaced into ever smaller enclaves, cut off from each other by an extensive Israeli only road system, and miles of 30 foot concrete barriers, all illegal under international law.
She expressed the importance of “everything being documented of the war on Gaza”, despite “the uncomfortable feelings that it may bring up”. When asked if she felt any fear when visiting Palestine she responded, “there’s always a risk in these missions. But, we’re aware of the risks that go along with it”. “When I traveled with the Christian Peace maker Teams and Interfaith Peace Builders,” she added. “The Israeli army believes Israel security tends to pay less attention to our entry into the country because many groups come to Israel for Holy Land tours.”[It’s] “easier to say you’re a member of a Christian based group. They’re less likely to interrogate you with questions”.
Even being accompanied by a mission group it is not necessarily easy to get in and out of the West Bank. Dr. Love said, “It can be difficult to enter if the government suspects you are part of a mission to support peace by going to Palestine as a witness to the occupation and upon leaving, at the airport, you are questioned about where you have been. If you mention any place in the West Bank, you will be questioned further regarding what you did there and possibly be searched.” The conference lasted a mere two hours, and covered a substantial amount of information on the history of Palestine, as well as the current state of the Israeli war on Gaza. The evening ended by emphasizing the importance of staying informed on Palestine, and provided the audience with some suggested websites which are shared below.
https://www.middleeasteye.net/
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