BREAKING NEWS: Roger Waters, co-founder of the globally successful rock band ‘Pink Floyd’ will be participating in the conference this afternoon.
The eleventh annual Tree of Life Conference offers a rare opportunity to hear from two globally recognized commentators on the Israel-Palestine situation — Gideon Levy and Suhail Sami Khalilieh — at the First Congregational Church in Old Lyme (FCCOL). Both speakers, who are intimately familiar with the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, will make presentations at the Conference during the afternoon of Sunday, Oct. 18. The Conference is organized by the Tree of Life Educational Fund (TOLEF), in partnership with Friends of Sabeel-North America, Jewish Voice for Peace/New Haven, and Kairos USA.
Levy is a distinguished Israeli journalist and former deputy editor of Haaretz — Israel’s oldest daily newspaper. A member of the editorial board of the paper, he has been writing a column for more than 25 years titled “Twilight Zone” covering the Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza.
Although he is described as a ‘heroic journalist’ by some and a ‘propogandist’ by others, it is undeniable that Levy is an engaging, outspoken speaker, who has received numerous awards from both human rights and media organizations. Levy was the recipient of the Euro-Med Journalist Prize for 2008; the Leipzig Freedom Prize in 2001; the Israeli Journalists’ Union Prize in 1997; and The Association of Human Rights in Israel Award for 1996.
The New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman describes Levy as “a powerful Liberal voice” while Israeli journalist Ben-Dror Yemini notes Levy, “may be [one of] the most famous and the most invited journalists in Israel.” Levy has been also profiled in two of the leading French and German daily newspapers, respectively Le Monde and Der Spiegel
In April of this year, Levy gave an impassioned speech to the National Press Club in Washington DC asking the American public to take a more pro-active role in Israel/Palestine policy-making. Similarly, when asked by e-mail why he was participating in this particular conference in Old Lyme, Levy responded, “Any change in Israel must start from the outside.” He added that he hopes his presentation “raises awareness of the crucial part the Americans play in the conflict.”
These responses echo the special emphasis of the conference this year, which is the active engagement of Americans as advocates of universal human rights for Palestinians and Israelis.
In announcing the Conference, the Rev. David W. Good, former FCCOL Senior Minister and now chairman of the non-profit TOLEF, comments, “It’s become increasingly clear that in the long struggle toward justice and peace in the Holy Land, the fulcrum of change must involve the international community.” He continues, “This requires us all to work still more energetically and effectively as agents of change.”
Referring to Levy and Khalilieh, Good states, “Our Conference speakers will remind us that in working together, we can reach the critical ‘tipping point,’ that moment when the tide turns, and positive change gets underway,” adding, “As Archimedes said, ‘Give me a lever and I can move the world!’”
Khalilieh is a leading Palestinian political analyst and writer. He is head of a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the self-reliance of the Palestinian people and sustainable development in the occupied Palestinian territories. A frequent contributor to a number of print and online publications, including the prestigious Ma’an News Agency and the Palestinian-Israeli Journal, he is often consulted for his expertise on Israeli settlement activity and Israeli Army practices and policies in the occupied Palestinian territories. Khalilieh has held management positions with a variety of organizations, in all of which his work entailed concern with human rights violations.
Asked by email why he was participating in the Tree of Life Conference, Khalilieh responded, “It is an opportunity to reach out to a segment of the population in the United States, who are interested to learn about what is happening in our part of the world.” In addition, he says, “travelling, meeting people is a chance to engage in new experiences and be exposed to new ways of thinking and learn more about how people on the other side of the planet perceive us.”
Khalilieh notes, “The Palestinian issue has been around for some time,” and the Conference offers an opportunity “to present our case, culture and way of life according to our narrative.” He states, “Ultimately,” the conference will be “a gateway to explore new opportunities and meet new friends” and “a chance to introduce people to a different side of the conflict; one that is based more on information, facts and statistics.”
Commenting that he would welcome, “an open-ended time to talk about what is happening here in the West Bank,” but due to time constraints and “not wanting to overwhelm people,” he plans to talk about “the Israeli settlements, Jerusalem and the under-construction separation wall.” He says he will focus on the” impact that such issues have on the Palestinian geography and different segments of Palestinians’ lives; socially, economically and their aspiration for a Palestinian state.” In light of the current “turmoil sweeping the entire Middle East region,” Khalilieh anticipates presenting, “an overall review of the conflict and a look at where we stand today and where are we are possibly heading.”
In another email response, Khalilieh says he hopes “all kinds of people” attend his talk regardless of how much they know about the Palestinian issue. He stresses the need to come with an open mind because with that, “anyone who would attend will learn something new.” He adds, “Nonetheless, I will be open to all kinds of questions, as I believe this is also a way to communicate information to people.”
The Conference opens on Saturday evening, Oct. 17, with a concert featuring the ‘Four Corners’ starting at 7 p.m., doors open at 6:30 p.m. The group comprises two young men, Layth Al-Rubaye and Naseem Alatrash, who are both classically-trained string instrumentalists originating respectively from Jordan and Palestine. They met at the Berklee College of Music in Boston and will be joined by a violinist from Palestine, Aleen Murad Masoud, who also sings in both English and Arabic. Their program will celebrate their individual identities, as they explore one another’s musical influences. A reception will follow the concert, and a bazaar featuring Palestinian crafts and olive oil, along with books and publications dealing with the conflict and efforts to resolve it, will precede and follow the concert.
The speaker program on Sunday, Oct. 18, begins at 2 p.m., doors open at 1:30 p.m. A question and answer period will follow each presentation, and at the conclusion of the program, a Middle Eastern dinner will be served, sponsored by the Islamic Center of New London and the Connecticut Council on American-Islamic Relations. The bazaar that opened on Saturday evening will also be open on Sunday, before and after the speaker program.
All conference programs are open to the public. Admission is $10 per person on Saturday; $25 per person on Sunday. Students and attendees under age 21 will be admitted free to the Sunday program. Advance registration and sponsorship commitments can be made online at www.tolef.org, or by calling 860-434-8686.
The First Congregational Church of Old Lyme is located at the intersection of Ferry Road and Lyme Street, Old Lyme, CT.
About the Tree of Life Educational Fund
The Tree of Life Educational Fund (TOLEF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that strives to provide cross-cultural and transnational travel experiences, interfaith conferences and educational opportunities, helping participants to become more enlightened and engaged in making this a more just and peaceful world. Established by the FCCOL in 2002, TOLEF today operates independently, supported by organizations and individuals committed to peace and justice. This year’s Conference speakers and musicians will also be appearing in TOLEF programs at more than a dozen other locations in New England and as far away as Seattle and Portland, Oregon.
About Friends of Sabeel – North America
Friends of Sabeel – North America is a Christian ecumenical organization seeking justice and peace in the Holy Land through non-violence and education. It is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. More at http://fosna.org
About Jewish Voice for Peace
Jewish Voice for Peace is a national membership organization inspired by Jewish tradition to work for the freedom, equality, and dignity of all the people of Israel and Palestine. It is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. More at https://jewishvoiceforpeace. org/
About Kairos USA
Kairos USA is a movement of U.S. Christians – lay, academic and clergy — who believe the time is right for decisive action to end the crisis in Israel and Palestine … in response to the call of Palestinian Christians to stand with them in their struggle for freedom. It is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization. More at: http://kairosusa.org