Case Study Analysis of Meta Peace Team Third Party

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

PURSUING PEACE THROUGH ACTIVE NONVIOLENCE IN PLACES

OF CONFLICT: CASE STUDY ANALYSIS OF META PEACE TEAM

THIRD PARTY NONVIOLENT INTERVENTION IN THE ISRAELI-

PALESTINIAN CONFLICT

Sebastian Konekpieri Ziem

PIM 71

A Capstone Paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Masters of Peacebuilding and Conflict Transformation with a concentration in Conflict and

Development at the SIT Graduate Institute in Brattleboro, Vermont, USA.

May 2013

Advisor: Dr. Paula Green

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

Consent to Use of Capstone

I hereby grant permission for World Learning to publish my Capstone on its websites and in any of its digital or electronic collections, and to reproduce and transmit my CAPSTONE

ELECTRONICALLY. I understand that World Learning’s websites and digital collections are publicly available via the Internet. I agree that World Learning is NOT responsible for any unauthorized use of my Capstone by any third party who might access it on the Internet or otherwise.

Student name: Sebastian Konekpieri Ziem

Date: May 28, 2013

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Abstract …………………………… …………………………………………….. 3

Introduction ………………………………………………………………………. 4

Literature Review ………………………………………………………………… 9

1. The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict ……………………….. ……………….. 9

2. Track One Diplomacy …………………………………………………..14

3. Civil Society Intervention ……………………………………………... 18

Meta Peace Team Third Party Nonviolent Intervention ……………………. ….. 27

1. Discussion and Analysis of Intervention Motives……...... 28 2. Intervention Strategies ………………………………………………... 32

3. Intervention Outcomes…………………………………………………. 40

4. Intervention Challenges ……………………………………………….. 43

Conclusion ………………………………………………………...... 46

References……………………………………………………………………….. 50

Appendix ………………………………………………………………………... 53

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

ABSTRACT

Pursuing Peace through Active Nonviolence in places of Conflict: Case Study Analysis of Meta

Peace Team Third Party Nonviolent Intervention in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

This Capstone is a case study analysis of Meta Peace Team (MPT) third party nonviolent intervention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the West Bank and the Gaza. Meta Peace Team trains volunteers for violence prevention and reduction at both international and domestic levels.

The objective of the paper is to analyze MPT’s intervention motives, goals, strategies, processes, outcomes and challenges. Data for the study was obtained from primary sources comprising interviews and survey. Also, secondary sources of data included print materials, audio-visuals and Internet resources. The data was processed using descriptive analysis.

The cardinal motive for MPT’s intervention is to prevent and or reduce the spiral of violence in the conflict. Other motives are to prevent or reduce human rights abuses and economic rights violations. The ultimate goal is to help create safe space for people to take charge of their own lives, and for parties and peacemakers to work together toward peaceful conflict resolution and reconciliation. MPT does not advocate a particular solution but it supports a just one to end the conflict and suffering. It recognizes the occupation as an act of ongoing violence that must end for peace to take root. MPT’s peace teams use nonviolent strategies including peaceful presence, protective accompaniment, interpositioning for violence prevention.

Peace teams live and work in the communities in solidarity with the local populations.

They advocate nonviolent conflict transformation and the weaponry of nonviolent struggle as a desirable alternative for those who seek non-lethal means of conflict engagement. This could help improve upon the odds and pave the way for peace and reconciliation between the parties.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

Introduction

Meta Peace Team, formerly known as Michigan Peace Team (MPT) is a grassroots nonprofit international organization in Lansing in Michigan. It was founded in 1993. At its twentieth anniversary in 2013 the management changed its name to Meta Peace Team.

According to Meta Peace Team (2013) Meta comes from the Greek which means transformation; a higher stage of development; moving beyond; transcending; being more comprehensive; and having undergone metamorphosis. The source states that not only does Meta symbolizes how this organization has grown and evolved over the past 20 years; it also symbolizes their vision of what they see their mission to be: to move beyond borders to transform the world into a beloved community and to help bring about the metamorphosis of Ahimsa, or the power of love through nonviolence. According to the New World Encyclopedia (n.d.) ahimsa means nonviolence, no injury or the avoidance of violence.

Meta Peace Team trains volunteers in active nonviolence and deploys peace teams for violence prevention and reduction at both domestic and international levels. Over the years Meta

Peace Team has deployed international peace teams in many places including Bosnia, Chiapas,

Haiti, Mexico, Gaza and West Bank in Palestine. Peace teams employ Third Party Nonviolent

Intervention (TPNI) strategies for violence prevention and or reduction. In this paper I have used

MPT as an abbreviation for Meta Peace Team. The topic for this project is Pursuing Peace through Active Nonviolence in places of Conflict: Case Study Analysis of Meta Peace Team

Third Party Nonviolent Intervention in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict. The study is intended to address the following main question and sub questions;

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

1. What are the motives for MPT’s Third Party Nonviolent Intervention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in West Bank and Gaza?

i. What are the intervention strategies and processes for violence prevention and reduction in the conflict?

ii. What are the intervention outcomes, challenges and lessons?

This capstone project is limited to MPT’s third party nonviolent intervention (TPNI) in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in the West Bank and Gaza in Palestine. The study is an analysis of the intervention motives, goals, strategies, processes, monitoring and evaluation. It also includes the intervention outcomes, challenges and lessons therein. Other aspects are; what a peace team is, why peace teams, who can serve on a peace team, and what MPT peace teams do.

The report includes brief narratives on the background of the conflict, Track One diplomacy as well as some civil society organizations’ interventions.

Data for the project was obtained from both primary and secondary sources. Primary data was obtained through interviews and surveys with MPT staff members and volunteers who served on peace teams in the West Banks and Gaza. I chose interviews and surveys as data collection tools because I believed they are suitable for obtaining first-hand information from respondents based on their individual personal experiences. The primary sources provided most of the information on MPT’s intervention motives, goal, strategies outcomes and challenges.

Secondary data was gathered from MPT’s print materials including textbooks, journals, articles, newsletters, and audio-visuals and internet search especially on the conflict background. The data was processed through descriptive analysis, and connecting theories to practice within the broader context of conflict transformation and peacebuilding.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

The project is situated in the context of MPT’s peacemaking initiatives as a civil society organization in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has been described by both scholars and practitioners as an historical and intractable one that has ranged on for decades without a glimpse of hope for an amicable settlement. The conflict which started in the early twentieth century and the resultant outbreak of several wars led to Israel’s occupation of

Palestinian territories in the Gaza and the West Bank in Palestine. The occupation has further resulted in a spiral of violence between Palestinian Arabs on one hand and Israeli military and settlers on the other hand. This has brought about a state of insecurity for both people in the occupied territories in particular and instability in the Middle East region in general.

Doubtless to state that Apache helicopters, missiles, machine guns, rocket-propelled grenades, aerial bombardments, suicide bombing, tear-gassing and stoning, home demolitions, raids, invasions, arrests and detentions all have failed to serve the interest of either party in the conflict. Needless to say that violence is the culture of life for many people in the conflict zone.

Accordingly the conflict has cost many lives and caused various degrees of injuries to several people and the destruction of property worth several millions of dollars. Thousands of people have been displaced from their homes and are living in refugee camps. As it were Israeli security forces and settlers risk their lives in the occupied Palestinian territories while Palestinian suicide bombers and many noncombatant civilians lose their lives in the violence.

There have been several unsuccessful diplomatic negotiations for settlement and the conflict and violence continuous to today. The spiral of violence has rendered a resolvable conflict rather highly intractable because violence begets violence. Wellins Calcott states that revenge, like some poisonous plant, replete with baneful juices, rankles in the breast, and

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence meditates mischief to its neighbor. A popular Chinese proverb says, “He who seeks vengeance must dig two graves, one for his enemy and one for himself.”

In a world that becomes increasingly engulfed in violent conflicts over issues that range from scarce resources to identities issues, needless to say that there is an ever growing need to develop appropriate approaches and intervention mechanisms to address such conflicts and violence. Such approaches and intervention strategies should be not capable only in preventing, deescalating, or resolving conflicts, but also with the barest minimum effects on human lives in particular and the protection of property. Peace initiatives and interventions should further aim at transforming the political structures and systems that sustain the conflict. Initiatives and interventions should have components effective to transform the violence, reconcile and improve relationships for peace. It is said that active nonviolence is one of such intervention strategies.

Active nonviolence is not a concept or practice of recent invention. However, it has become the preferred approach for violence prevention and reduction, peaceful conflict resolution and the transformation of relationships. It has been used in the past and present. It was a popular practice and tactic during the political struggle for civil rights in East Germany and

Czechoslovakia. It was used to dismantle dictatorship in El Salvador, in the Philippines, and

Serbia in 2000. In 1916 it was used in France to prevent and end coup d’états, and in the former

Soviet Union in August 1992. Active nonviolence has been used to prevent and end human rights, civil and religious rights abuses. Active nonviolent strategies were used to end genocide in Norway, Denmark, France and Italy, and to resist political, social and economic structures that perpetuated injustices and abuses. The strategies of active nonviolence in the forms of labor strikes and economic boycotts were used during the civil rights movements in the United States.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

Many individuals including Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King Jnr. and Nelson

Mandela are cited always as classic examples of successful nonviolent activists in the fight against political, economic and social injustices at different places and times in history.

According to Tongeren, Brenk, Hellema and Verhoeven Juliette (2005) hope is rooted in the fact that the second half of the 20th century, though rife with violent conflicts, engendered the most prolific advancement of nonviolent conflict transformation activities systematically known in human history, setting the stage for a potential singularity of peacebuilding in the 21st century.

Gandhi (2006) states that just as we are required to create a whole culture of violence to practice violence we need to create a culture of nonviolence around us to practice nonviolence.

Individuals, local and international organizations have become increasingly interested in the concept and practice of active nonviolence for personal life and violence prevention in places of conflict.

The management of MPT gave approval of this project. Management, staff and volunteer peace team members also supported in various ways toward the smooth and successful execution to this project. I believe that this report is a true reflection of my findings through research. I hereby acknowledge my personal biases and accept sole responsibility for any misrepresentations that may be associated with this piece of work.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

Literature Review

1. The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

The emergence of the modern nation-state relates to the ideology of nationalism.

Nationalism is a socio-political philosophy by which various groups of people make demands for self-determination including citizenship within a particular geographical territory with well- defined political boundaries. Claims over territories, demands for self-determination or self- governance and the desire for nationhood may lead to disputes or conflicts between groups or states, and even violence against one another. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict narrates the historical claims by two people over territories, for self-determination and nationhood. It is essentially a clash between a Jewish state of Israel and a Palestinian-Arab state.

According to Friedman (1990), the conflict between Jews and Palestinian Arabs began in the late ninetieth and the early twentieth centuries when Jews from around the world, driven by a modern Jewish nationalist ideology known as Zionism began to migrate to Palestinian territories.

He mentions that Zionism was to reawaken the Jews and promote Jewish immigration to what the Jews called the historic and biblical Jewish homeland of Israel. Friedman mentions that political Zionism called for the ingathering of Jews from around the world into Palestine, and the creation there of a modern Jewish nation-state that would put the Jews like all other nation-states.

According to Mahoney, Jane and Robert (2007), Zionism emerged in Europe in the late nineteenth century. They indicate that the Zionist Organization was formed in 1897 in Basle in

Switzerland and later became the World Zionist Organization (WZO) in 1960. Mahoney et al. mention Theodor Herzl as the founder of modern Zionism and author the article titled The

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

Jewish State published in 1896, in which he argued that the Jewish problem could be solved only by setting up a Jewish state in Palestine or somewhere else for the Jews to live freely without fear of persecution. The source further mentions that the goal of WZO was to establish an exclusive Jewish state in Palestine and to make Palestine as Jewish as England is English, and in order to do that thousands of indigenous Palestinians had to be pushed out and hundreds of thousands of Jews from other countries brought in.

Finkelstein (1995/2001) states that political Zionism rejected the notion of a national identity that was racially, ethnically and religiously mixed. He mentions that Zionism considered the idea of one nation with ethnically and racially different people as bankrupt. Finkelstein states that the Zionists believe that there were more profound bonds that both naturally united certain individuals and naturally excluded others. As such people who were naturally not organically connected could not ideally form a state because of the natural exclusion between them. Each organically connected community ought to be endowed with an independent state; the Jews were a naturally and organically united people who should have an independent state. Finkelstein indicates that political Zionism opposes the assimilation of Jews into other societies where they were alien minorities and suffered from acts of anti-Semitic discrimination, exclusion, and persecution. Thus an exclusive Jewish nation would serve to liberate the Jews.

According to Mulhall (1995), in 1914 about 56,000-60,000 Jews and 659,000 Arabs lived in Palestine. He noted that during World War I (WWI) the present day Palestinian territories including the West Banks, East Jerusalem and Gaza were under the Ottoman Empire.

Mulhall states that Britain and her allies wanted support from the Arabs during WWI and incited them to revolt against their Ottoman ruler. In return Britain pledged that Palestinian Arabs would

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence form independent countries in their territories. Mulhall mentions that Britain further assured

Palestinians Arabs that their independence would be effectively established, and also to facilitate economic development. The source states that Britain wanted support from the Jews. In order to achieve this Britain pledged support for a national homeland for the Jews in Palestine at the

Balfour Declaration in 1917. According to the United Nations ((UN), 2008), in the Balfour

Declaration the British Government declared itself in favor of the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people on the understanding that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of the existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine.

According to Jesse and Williams (2011), Britain took control of the Palestinian territories in 1920 after the war and the collapse of the Ottoman Empire in1917. The source indicates that during the British mandate between 1920 and1948 the Arabs comprised 92% of the population and owned about 98% of the land of Palestine. Jesse and Williams indicate that there was a dramatic increase in immigrant Jews during the British mandate due to increased persecution during Hitler’s regime in Germany. Accordingly the Palestinian Arabs expressed their discontent about the Jewish immigration and subsequently revolted. Britain managed to contain the uprising and thus prevented the outbreak of war.

Jesse and Williams further state that in November 1947 the UN passed resolution 181 which recommended a two-nation solution. Accordingly Palestinian territories would be partitioned to form two states, one for Palestinian Arabs and non-Jews, and the other for the

Jews. Jerusalem and the holy places would be under international protection. Jesse and Williams indicate that Israel accepted the partition plan but rejected the decision on Jerusalem. The source also notes that David Ben-Gurion who later became Israel’s first Prime Minister said that when

Israel became a strong nation it would abolish the partition plan and spread throughout Palestine.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

According to the UN (2008), the Palestinian Arabs and their allies rejected the plan. They argued that it violated the provisions of the UN Charter which granted people the right to decide their own destiny; that the UN Assembly had endorsed the plan under circumstances unworthy of the UN. Accordingly the Arabs of Palestine would oppose any scheme that provided for the dissection, segregation or partition of their country, or which gave special and preferential rights and status to a minority. The partition plan stalled and the struggle for hegemony and control over the territories continued, with neither group willing to give up its assertiveness.

The 1948 and 1967 Israeli-Palestinian wars. According to Jesse and Williams the

British ended their mandate in May 1948 and the Zionists declared the independence of Israel.

The confrontation that ensued between the Zionists and Palestinian Arabs led to the 1948 war.

Jesse and Williams mention that Palestinian Arabs, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria lost the war and the state of Israel was established. Gush Shalom, (n.d.) reports that while the Jews called it the War of Independence or Liberation the Palestinians Arabs called it El Naqba which means a Catastrophe. Segev (1986), states that on the eve of the declaration of Israel’s independence on

May 14, 1948 the country was swept by a wave of terror and bloodshed. He mentions that thousands of people died and thousands, mostly Palestinian Arabs fled their homes.

According to Jesse and Williams Israel launched a preempted attack in 1967 against the

Palestinian Arabs and neighboring Syria, Jordan and Egypt and defeated them. Israel further acquired territories in the West Bank and East Jerusalem (formerly under Jordan), Gaza and the

Golan Heights which were Egyptian and Syrian territories respectively. This war is also known as the Six Day War. Again, while Israel called this the war of defence Palestinian Arabs and their allies called it war of conquests. Accordingly, the conflict had escalated in so far as other Arab

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence states had become direct conflict parties, with increased numbers of reported deaths, casualties and displaced persons. The source states that several thousands of Palestinians were expelled.

Jesse and Williams go on to mention that from neighboring state of Jordan the Palestinian nationalists engaged in cross-border strikes against Israel. Israel responded by striking at

Palestinian targets in Jordan and further mounted pressure on the Jordanian authorities to control the Palestinians. This compelled the Jordanian government to expel the Palestinian nationalists in

September 1970 in what is called the Black September. Accordingly the Palestinian nationalists relocated to Lebanon and continued to strike at Israel which was equally met with severe reprisals by the Israeli army which subsequently invaded and occupied Lebanon in 1982.

The Palestinian Intifada of December 1987. McDowall (1989) explains that intifada is an Arabic word which literally means ‘shaking off’; it stands for an uprising or rebellion. He points out that during the years of occupation Palestinian nationalists continued to demand an independent state with territorial claims over all occupied areas. According to him the

Palestinians described Israel’s policies as brutal and discriminatory. He goes on to mention that the intifada was in response to the deteriorating conditions and increasing hardships in the occupied territories. Ackerman and Duvall (2000), agree with McDowall when they state that intifada literally connotes shaking off one’s laziness. They go on state that the uprising shredded the Palestinians’ tendency to submit to their occupiers. According to Ackerman and Duvall the term was deliberately chosen instead of thawra which means revolt. They further mention that the immediate cause of the intifada was a truck accident in Gaza which killed several

Palestinians and the shooting of demonstrators in the Balata refugee camp.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

Operation Cast Lead 2008. Global Security.Org (2000) describes Operation Cast Lead as an Israeli Defence Force (IDF) operation into Gaza on December 19, 2008 in response to increasing rocket-propelled grenades into Israel. It states that it began with airstrikes against

Hamas security installations, personnel, and facilities in Gaza, followed by ground operations until January 21, 2009. Accordingly the IDF damaged Palestinian materials estimated at $1.9 billion and destroyed over 4,000 houses. The report states that much of Gaza's infrastructure including police stations, mosques, roads, and tunnels allegedly used to smuggle weapons into

Gaza were destroyed. It indicates that Israel lost 10 soldiers and about 1,300 Palestinians mostly women and children were killed and 7000 civilians got injured. Accordingly IDF’s failure to distinguish between combatants and non-combatants in a military operation constituted a violation of International Humanitarian Law as provided in the Geneva Convention IV.

2. Track-One Diplomacy and Interventions

According to the U. N (2008), both Palestinians and Israelis acknowledged the need to reach a compromise after the 1967 war and the 1987 intifada. In December1988 the U. N reiterated its resolution 242 of 1967 requesting Israel to withdraw from the occupation and implement the partition plan. The source mentions that the PLO accepted the proposal in a statement to the U. N General Assembly on December, 13, 1988. Thus the PLO recognized the state of Israel for the first time.

It has been reported that the Madrid Conference of 1991 was the first public face-to-face bilateral talks between Israel, Syria, Jordan and Lebanon, and a Palestinian team from the West

Bank and Gaza as a part of the Jordanian delegation. The conference was to start a peace process between the 3 Arab states and Israel. It would also serve as a forum to be followed by

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence negotiations with the Palestinians for an interim self-government and a permanent status based on the U.N resolutions (Madrid Conference 1991).

The Oslo Accords of 1993. Bennis (2012) states that the Oslo Meeting of 1993 was the first direct negotiations between Palestinians and Israelis which essentially followed the Madrid meeting. Bennis further mentions that some of the Oslo agreements included the return of PLO exiles from Tunisia to the West Bank and Gaza, the establishment of a transitional period of a

Palestinian self-rule over the West Bank and Gaza, and a mutual recognition of the state of Israel and the Palestinian Authority (PA), and the Declaration of Principles (DOP). The DOP was signed in Washington DC, with an historic handshake between Yitzhak Rabin and Yasser Arafat and witnessed by President Bill Clinton. Bennis indicates that Oslo II of 1995 led to an interim agreement for the transfer of security and civilian police powers from Israel to the PA.

The Camp David Peace Negotiations 2000. Jesse and Williams state that the Camp

David negotiations in Maryland was one in which both Palestine and Israel made concessions on their positions, even though both parties had different narratives about the proposed road map to peace. The source mentions that the West Bank would be divided into two or three areas, separated by Israeli settlements, highways, and protected by the IDF. Jerusalem would remain under Israel’s control. According to the source whereas Israel claimed it gave up 99 % of the

West Bank, Palestinians said it measured 5% less. Accordingly Yasser Arafat rejected the offer and the peace process collapsed.

Jesse and Williams state that in the Camp David negotiations Palestine would be only a nominal state with functional autonomy over core Arab villages and neighborhoods without sovereignty over the West Bank. Palestinian settlements will be mere enclaves rather than a

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence contiguous state. It will have no control over its national borders and natural resources. Its economy will be dependent on Israel. Palestine would lack national sovereignty and security.

The Media Education Foundation (2004) points out that in the Camp David negotiations

Israel retained about 85% of the West Bank and all of its settlements including the interlinking roads. Israel also maintained control over the borders and air space of the West Bank, and all essential resources including water. Media Foundation also describes Gaza as having been split into parts and locked up by Israeli security personnel with Israeli settlers at hill tops serving as spies for the Israeli security. It mentions that Gaza is the largest prison in the world, with

Palestinians unable to leave their homes to anywhere without passing through several Israeli security check-points.

The 2000 Intifada. The collapse of the Camp David peace process dashed Palestinians’ hopes and aspirations. This disappointment coupled with the continuous deteriorating conditions in the occupied territories made the situation volatile. According to Bennis on December 28,

2000 Ariel Sharon accompanied by over a thousand Israeli riot police visited the Al-Aqsa mosque at the Haram al-Sharif in Jerusalem, a Moslem holy site. Bennis states that several

Palestinians protested and the Israeli police responded with gunfire which sparked the 2000 intifada. Accordingly the Israeli government instituted further closures to restrict the movement of Palestinians and their goods in the West Bank and Gaza and accused the PA leadership of instigating an uprising in order to gain the upper hand in diplomatic negotiations and sympathy from the international community.

Ackerman and Duvall describe the 2000 intifada was a deviation from the usual violence by Palestinians. According to them although Palestinian activists had used violence over the past

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence forty years they had realized the need for nonviolent action. Ackerman and Duvall mention that the Palestinians had understood that violence against the Israeli forces should be confined to throwing rocks and empty cans only. Ackerman and Duvall give three reasons for Palestinians choice for nonviolent action; that only few Palestinians owned guns or lethal weapons and so armed action would minimize popular participation; the use of firearms would give the IDF an excuse to use tanks and other heavy weapons against Palestinians, also Palestinians believed that nonviolent action might turn the world opinion against Israel, spotlighting the brutality of the

Israeli reaction. Thus Palestinians would be unarmed Davids against the Jewish Goliaths.

Ackerman and Duvall further mention that some nonviolent strategies that were used to create awareness and mobilize the masses for the intifada included circulation of leaflets and solicitation for Palestinians to engage in acts of noncooperation with Israeli authorities. They explain that the leaflets steered the actions of thousands of Palestinians who lent their energies to the uprising. Palestinian masses and working class were entreated to halt the wheels of industry in Israel by stopping to work for the Israelis in any ways possible. They refused to patronize

Israeli goods and withdrew their consent from Israeli administration of the West Bank and Gaza more vigorously than before. Palestinians also withdrew their cooperation with Israeli rule by withholding their taxes and other fees. Accordingly the Israeli authority tried to subdue the uprising by intimidation and other forms of threats but the Palestinians had become a people who had lost their fear of intimidation.

Jesse and Williams have said that there were other peace efforts after Camp David and the 2000 intifada but did not achieve much. These included the Arab Peace Initiative in March

2002 which urged Israel to withdraw and implement the UN resolutions, the Quartet of April

2003 by the U. S, UN, European Union and Russia known as a roadmap to break the impasse

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence and end the violence for peace settlement based on the two-state solution by 2005, and the

Annapolis Meeting in Maryland of November 2007 which aimed to finalize settlement based on the road map and the UN Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs). According to Jesse and

Williams in September 2005 Israel unilaterally withdrew its forces and some settlers from the

Gaza but maintained control over the airspace and all access points on land and sea to the Gaza.

Forer (2010) indicates that Israel’s withdrawal from the Gaza was not a contribution to the two-state solution, or a prelude to further withdrawals from other occupied territories but rather a prelude to further expansion and consolidation of its control over the West Bank. He points out that after the withdrawal 12,000 new settlers from Gaza went to live in the West Bank.

According to him the withdrawal was part of Israel’s attempt to further redraw the borders of

Greater Israel and to shun any negotiations and compromise with the PA.

3. Civil Society Organization Intervention

Apart from the above and other track-one diplomatic interventions there have also been civil society local and international organizations’ interventions in the conflict. These organizations may have different motives, strategies and processes but their common goal is to persuade the conflict parties to avoid the use of violence and seek peaceful means to resolve the conflict. Some of these organizations engage in direct nonviolent action.

Kaufman, Salem and Verhoeven (2006) explain that nonviolent action is a set of attitudes, actions, or behaviors intended to persuade the other side to change their opinions, perceptions and actions. According to them nonviolent actors do not violently retaliate against the actions of their opponent; instead they absorb anger and damage while sending a steadfast message of patience and insistence on overcoming injustice. Kaufman et al. indicate that

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence nonviolence is about active rejection of violence and full engagement in resisting oppression through means that challenge domination and any other forms of injustice without inflicting injuries on the opponent. They further point out that nonviolent methods use peaceful means to achieve peaceful outcomes. Miller (2005) describes nonviolent action as a technique of conflict engagement or prosecution that aims to achieve political objectives through the imposition of sanctions and various supporting methods excluding physical violence.

According to Sharp (1973), nonviolent action is a generic term covering dozens of specific methods of protest and persuasion, noncooperation and nonviolent intervention in all of which the actionists conduct the conflict by doing or refusing to do certain things without using physical violence. He says that nonviolent actionists, without employing physical violence, refuse to do certain things which they are expected or required to do, or do certain things which they are not expected, or are forbidden to do. Sharp explains that while it is not violent, it is not inaction, passivity, submission or cowardice. It can be a combination of acts of omission and commission. He mentions that nonviolence is also termed nonviolent struggle, nonviolent resistance, direct action, nonviolent sanctions, civil resistance and political defiance.

Kaufman et al. state that Palestinians’ nonviolent resistance of Israeli occupation has been going on since 1967 after the Six-Day War. Palestinians have employed many nonviolent activities including demonstrations, sit-ins in streets, joint prayers in streets, and periods of silence in public and stopping all movements in the streets. Other methods are boycotts of Israeli products, joint nonviolent protest with Israeli peace forces, signing and sending protest papers to embassies and international organizations for support in protest against the occupation.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

The source mentions that Palestinians established the Patriotic Front in 1973, Palestinian

National Front, and the National Volunteering Committee in 1974, and the National Guidance

Committee in 1981 to resist the occupation. Accordingly the 1987 and 2000 intifada have historical roots from this period. They mention some civil society local and international organizations that have been involved in direct action including the Palestinian Center for

Rapprochement between People (PCR), International Solidarity Movement (ISM), Grassroots

International Protection for the Palestinian People (GIPP), and Middle East Nonviolence and

Democracy (MEND).

The Palestinian Center for Rapprochement between People was founded in 1988 by activists to lead communities in nonviolent action such as strikes, protests, tax revolt, prayer for peace and burning Israeli identification cards. They launched several campaigns against the establishment of Israeli colonies including Har Homa (Jabel Ghoneim). In December 2000 the

PCR and many internationals and the Israeli peace group called Gush Shalom organized a joint march when Israeli soldiers killed three residents and damaged 200 houses. The protest march which ended in the Israeli military camp where protesters planted a Palestinian flag on the Israeli military watchtower also gave birth to the GIPP and ISM (Kaufman et al.).

Kaufman et al. mention that the GIPP was founded in 1993. The GIPP invited international peacekeepers in 2001 to protect Palestinians due to growing suspicion that Israeli forces had planned to invade Palestine during the U S invasion of Iraq. Accordingly the call was initially meant for diplomats and government officials to witness and monitor Palestinians human rights violations by Israeli military. It attracted over 2000 government officials and other foreigners. The source mentions the GIPP activities including the provision of humanitarian

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence services and observation of human rights violations by Israeli military, control of areas around

Israeli roadblocks in order to allow Palestinians pass, living in communities under threats of ethnic cleansing and home demolition. Others are assisting emergency teams and convoys to distribute medicine, food, water, cocking fuels and clothing in areas under Israeli curfews. They also visited refugee camps, hospitals, demolished homes and Israeli settlements.

The ISM comprises local and international nonviolent groups. It started its activities in

Hares in March 2001. Their aim is to protect local Palestinians from settler and Israeli army brutalities. The ISM members and other civilian peacekeepers provide protection to Palestinians, and raise their morale and lessen their feeling of isolation. Their protest activities include direct confrontation with Israeli soldiers during home demolitions, removal of roadblocks, planting of olive trees, and accompanying Palestinians to their olive fields. In 2001 they protested against the closure and attacks on the Palestinian Orient House in East Jerusalem (Kaufman et al.).

The MEND was set up in 1998 in East Jerusalem to promote nonviolence and democracy through education, empowerment and participation in order to promote peace in the region. The

MEND undertakes community and school education and training on active nonviolence in

Greater Jerusalem, Ramallah and Bethlehem for students, teachers and families. It encourages people to adopt direct nonviolence and promotes better understanding between Palestinians and

Israelis in the West Bank and beyond through the provision of educational materials and other publications in its quarterly Newsletter called IMPACT.

Kaufman et al. mention some challenges for joint Palestinian-Israeli peace groups for direct nonviolent action; the difficulty and lack of co-ordination of supporters, language barrier between the two people, meeting places (on Israeli or Palestinian side), how to negotiate internal

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence organizational power relations, decision-making practices, and the restrictions imposed by the reality of the occupation-what an Israeli can do versus what a Palestinian or foreigner can do.

They also point out one major challenge within Palestinian nonviolent activists in particular; the failure of Hamas to stop using violence for the Palestinians’ resistance. Accordingly Hamas has no limits to the forms of resistance, as it uses all forms of struggle including suicide bombing.

Hamas cites cruelty and inhuman nature of the occupation to justify armed struggle and suicide bombing but Fatah wants to limit violence to Israeli military and settlers. The third group comprises those who persistently call for nonviolent action regardless of the nature of the target.

Jesse and Williams mention that at the diplomatic level the Achilles’ heel of the negotiations is the continuous postponement of the core issues namely the Palestinian refugee problem, the borders of the Palestinian state, Israel’s refusal to dismantle the settlements, and failure to stop new ones, the control over Jerusalem. They concur with David Makovsky that the conflict is often focused on the specifics of control over land while neglecting the core issues which far run deeper. They agree with Jeffery Helsing also that the conflict is a unique ethnic conflict because it has always been a highly internationalized conflict, one born of two world wars and focused on a small area of land with much broader regional and global implications.

Jesse and Williams go on to state out that the conflict has had devastating consequences; several people have died, with a record of higher death tolls on the Palestinian’s. They indicate that during the uprising Palestinians were killed at a rate approximately 7 to10 times that of

Israelis. Some Palestinians strap explosives onto their bodies and in attempt to deliver their bombs in person often kill themselves. Accordingly while the large majority of Palestinians oppose suicide bombings they feel that armed resistance has become necessary.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

It is worthy to note that the U.N partition plan could not be enforced because it was a

General Assembly resolution which had only the force of a recommendation. Moreover, good past experiences have taught peacemakers that peace agreements and accords that have been imposed on conflict parties are tenuous and highly susceptible to collapse within short periods.

Peace requires genuine compromise between parties. This calls for willingness and readiness to hear and understand the other side’s position in this historical conflict and bridge the two national experiences and unify them in a joint narrative.

It can also be argued that Britain played a role in the resultant conflict by way of commission and omission. Britain pledged independent nation states to both Jews and

Palestinian Arabs in the same territory. This put a moral obligation on her after taking mandate over the territories. When Palestinian Arabs protested against the influx of Jew immigrants

Britain quelled it without resolving the conflict. This approach to conflict by containment is also known as conflict prevention. It prevents only the outbreak of war and produces what is known as negative peace rather than actual peace because it neither addresses the root causes of the conflict (conflict resolution), nor transforms the political sources of it and the social relationships-conflict transformation. Thus Britain’s failure to provide a pragmatic solution sowed seed for imminent clash between the Jews and Palestinian Arabs.

As regards David Ben-Gurion’s alleged proposition to dismantle the partition plan it would seem that the Zionist acceptance of the plan was a pretense rather than an honest one.

Suffices to state political Zionism had an agenda for territorial expansion which was later unveiled in Israel’s preempted attack on Palestinian Arabs and their allies in 1967, its occupation and continuous expansion of Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

Furthermore, it can be said that some external players due to their action or inaction contribute to the difficulty in reaching peace. Especially, the United States interest in the Middle

East and her economic, financial and military support make Israel a stalwart. Accordingly the U.

S has severally vetoed the U.N Security Council resolutions that would have stopped Israel’s actions in the occupied territories. Israel ignored all of U.N resolutions to withdraw from the occupation.

According to the narratives the core issues of contention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict include the borders of the possible Palestinian state, the return of Palestinian refugees, the status of Jerusalem, the Jewish settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, and the Israeli security wall. Suffices to say these issues have not been pragmatically dealt with in the peace negotiations over the years. Presumably, they are difficult to address because they are linked to some deeper identity issues. Other dimensions of the conflict which include group identity issues such as Jews versus Arabs, Zionism versus Palestinian-Arab nationalism, and Judaism versus

Islam or Judaization versus Arabization are also difficult to deal with.

The collective identities, security needs and national aspirations of both groups are interwoven are linked to the same territories and shrouded in conflict over land. While the Jews make claims over a historical biblical homeland Palestinian Arabs assert their rights over their indigenous homeland. Zionism is meant more than a need for Jewish identity and security. It is intricately linked to their political and nationalist interest and pursuits of a Jewish state. The

Zionist considers this as inalienable rights, a claim that will never let go.

It has also been argued that political Zionism advocated for the establishment of an exclusive Jewish state. Doubtful as it may be, but if this is its goal invariably it would require

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence the removal of Palestinian Arabs and other indigenes from their homeland. To say the least an exclusive Jewish state would portray racial discrimination which the Zionist sought to fight in

Europe and elsewhere. It would also seem racial nationalism had infused political Zionism.

Palestinian nationalism demands the liberation of Palestine from the Jews. This is to be seen in an end to the occupation, a defined territorial national state with its capital in East

Jerusalem, and the ultimate right of return for Palestinian refugees to their indigenous homeland.

Palestinians’ claim over right to return is supported by international law as expressed in UN

Resolution 194 of 1948. This is the only justice some Palestinians will accept. Palestinian-Arab fundamentalist would not recognize a Jewish state of Israel. Thus Zionism and Palestinian nationalism have become the dominant narratives of each group in the conflict.

For both sides the conflict is marked by perceptions of their structured identity where each group sees itself as a people, and each has formulated goals based on ethno-nationalist thinking. Over decades both people have radically different historical narratives with each group having developed a self-conception as a historical victim. Both people continue to hold enemy images of each other, with concomitant mistrust. This has engendered much mutual hatred, and both groups have perceived a threat from the other, thus creating an ethnic security dilemma.

As Israel currently constructs a wall around Palestinians in the occupied territories, prevents them at check-points from traveling from town to town, destroys their crops, prevents children from traveling to schools, and the sick and injured from getting to the hospitals, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Palestinians to live an approximation of a normal life.

Occupation, suppression, anger, frustration, mistrust and fear are the causes of violence and militancy. This is the context in which the violence is to be understood. However, there are

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence determined groups among Palestinians and Israelis who do not support the occupation and detest the use of violence. Some Israeli military refuse to serve in the occupied territories. In support of these local groups several international peace teams including MPT peace teams come to join

Palestinians and Israelis in their nonviolent resistance to the occupation.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

Meta Peace Team Third Party Nonviolent Intervention

According to Dougherty P. (2012, personal interview) in 1990 various groups of people in Europe, America and other parts of the world decided to explore the possibilities of forming civilian peace teams in response to the imminent threat of war in the Persian Gulf. He mentioned that several peace teams called the Gulf Peace Teams were established in response to growing public opposition to the war and the possibility of stopping the bombing during the war.

Accordingly he and some other individuals were inspired by this idea of civilian peacemakers.

They subsequently established Michigan Peace Team in 1993, now known as Meta Peace Team at its twentieth anniversary celebration in 2013. Dougherty explained that the original aim for establishing MPT was for violence prevention and reduction at the international level but it soon became clear that there was need for domestic peace teams in the U S. Thus the scope of the peace activities was redefined to include domestic peace teams.

Dougherty further disclosed that the idea of peace team came from Mahatma Gandhi’s concept of Shanti Sena, which he explained to mean a Peace Army. He said Shanti Sena was first coined by Gandhi who conceptualized a nonviolent volunteer peacekeeping program dedicated to minimizing communal violence within the Indian populace. Accordingly Shanti Sena was made up of Gandhi’s followers in India but the concept soon spread and is now being practiced by various groups for violence prevention in various situations and places.

MPT’s vision is “we seek a just world grounded in nonviolence and respect for the sacred interconnectedness of all life.” (Michigan Peace Team 2009/10, p.6). Its mission is “to pursue peace through active nonviolence in places of conflict.” (p.6). Accordingly MPT’s organizational goals are; to provide training in active nonviolence that meet the specific needs of participants,

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence convene, support, and participate with local groups and gatherings, recruit, train and place peace teams to areas of violence domestically and internationally, and educate the public to the vision and practice of active nonviolence. In line with its vision MPT believes that peace is possible in families, communities and the world over and this is achievable through people’s creativity and the ability to solve problems in the service of hope and dreams.

According to Michigan Peace Team (n.d.) third party nonviolent intervention (TPNI) is a concept that was adopted from the Metta Center for Nonviolence. It refers to an age-old practice of an outside party intervening in a conflict in an effort to open the space for reconciliation, peacemaking and peacebuilding. The source explains that the nonviolent intervener is not one of the dehumanized others, and as such has a chance to be seen not an object of violence.

Dougherty explains that active nonviolence means courageously intervening and transforming life. He mentions that active nonviolence requires fierce commitment to the truth and honesty.

Accordingly MPT strives to achieve its goal, mission and reach to its vision by working to transform the lives of people through education and training in nonviolent action, and the use of

TPNI strategies for violence prevention and reduction in places of conflict.

1. Discussion and Analysis of MPT Intervention Motives

The study gathered from the respondents that MPT staff members, volunteers and peace teams have similar or common philosophies about active nonviolence. Their responses revealed that staff and affiliates believe that active nonviolence is a way of life rather than a strategy of convenience or an attitude or approach determined by circumstances. The research participants also affirmed nonviolence as a tactic that can serve a central role in preventing and reducing

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence violence and peaceful conflict resolution. Accordingly they disconnect unconditionally with any kind of violence or harm against any individual or group of people or the environment.

The study also found that MPT has a clear perspective and position on the Israeli-

Palestinian conflict. MPT does not advocate any particular solution to the crisis but it supports a just solution to the conflict to end the suffering of people. It supports an end to all forms of violence by all the parties so that peace can take root. MPT supports international law and the

United Nation resolutions that oppose the occupation and Israeli settlements in Palestinian territories and the wall that is being constructed. It recognizes the occupation as an act of ongoing violence that must end for peace to take root in the territories and the region.

Furthermore, MPT recognizes the trauma, emotional and physical pain of both people due to the violence, and the anguish of parents raising children in the midst of violence.

Accordingly MPT’s position on the conflict is linked to its intervention motives and ultimate goal. MPT deploys peace teams only when they are invited by the local community or by one of the conflict parties. Peace teams live and work in the communities who willing to disengage in all forms of violence. They work to meet the needs of conflict parties and toward violent prevention and reduction.

The study found that MPT is motivated by a number of factors. Its cardinal motive is to prevent and or reduce violence. MPT seeks to diminish the cycle of violence and to help create a congenial environment for the conflict parties and other stakeholders to engage in constructive conversations toward peaceful resolution and reconciliation. Suffices to say the conflict has been associated with a spiral of violence, recrimination, attacks and counter attacks. Needless to say in

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence the midst of violence it will be difficult if not impossible for parties and peacemakers to dialogue and initiate action for peaceful conflict resolution.

Another motive which directly connects with this primary one above is to prevent human rights abuses and violations especially of Palestinians by Israeli military and settlers that are prevalent in the violence. The conflict has been associated with a high level of rights abuses including murder and torture. Some respondents mentioned other abuses including arrests and detentions, restriction of movement of people and goods, harassment, intimidation and constant threats. Accordingly these abuses are being perpetrated due to recurring nature of violence.

Respondents also stated that MPT is for human rights and seeks to promote human the human dignity of everyone regardless of which divide an individual or group of persons may belong to. It believes in unconditional respect for the rights and dignity of all persons. It considers violence against any person or group of persons as violence against humanity. It recognizes that peace and justice is to be found in the respect for the rights and dignity of all persons. Accordingly lasting peace can be found only in a just solution. This is embedded in

MPT’s vision of a just world grounded in nonviolence. These motives are further aligned with

MPT’s belief in the sacred interconnectedness of all forms of life.

The third motive is to help protect the economic and property rights of Palestinians in particular. Some respondents mentioned that most Palestinians being the less powerful and the occupied, their economic and property rights are being abused by Israeli military in particular and settlers in general as the occupiers. Respondents cited examples such as home demolition, land confiscation, destruction of farms and farm produce and so forth. They said that such violations affect negatively the economic and social lives and dignity of Palestinians because

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence these worsen their living conditions and threaten their ability to meet their basic needs including food, housing, health, education and security needs.

In circumstances where people are unable to meet their basic needs and their livelihoods are threatened they feel endangered and frustrated. Frustration further causes hopelessness and anger. Anger fuels violence which almost always leads to wanton destruction of life including self, others and property. Violence prompts vengeance thus creating a cycle of violence. Some respondents stated that the occupation, the human rights and economic rights violations are the underlying causes of violence. Accordingly MPT’s intervention is to help break the cycle of violence, prevent these abuses and provide space for work toward peace and reconciliation.

Yet another motive for MPT’s intervention is to demonstrate its solidarity with nonviolent activists, sympathize and empathize with the victims of violence. To be in solidarity and sympathy with activists means to share in their pain and suffering. Peace teams support

Palestinian and Israeli nonviolent activists in their nonviolent struggle and resistance to the occupation. According to some respondents this also provides psychological healing or lessens trauma and pain and further opens a new window of hope for the people that all is not lost yet.

MPT peace teams have the opportunity to share their experiences with local and other international peace teams including the International Solidarity Movement, Gush Shalom and

Christian Peace Teams. MPT Peace teamers described their personal experiences in active nonviolence as transformative. They gave personal testimonies to the bravery of unarmed civilian peacemakers resisting injustices in the power of active nonviolence as against weaponry, militarism and violence. Some team members mentioned that they recognize nonviolent action as powerful strategy if not more powerful and less costly economically than violence and

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence militarism. Accordingly one does not need weaponry such as helicopter gunships, tanks, riffles to attain one’s goal. One does not have to kill or harm in order to meet one’s needs and interests.

Furthermore some respondents said they recognize the hopelessness in many

Palestinians under the occupation and why some Palestinians may resort to such level of violence including suicide bombing. However, respondents were quick enough to condemn violence as a means of dealing with the occupation or a way of conflict resolution because it only exacerbates their situation. MPT seeks to demonstrate that active nonviolence produces longer lasting peace than violence and militarism. They advocate active nonviolence as an alternative to violence and militarism as they seek to instill hope for the future.

From the study it was gathered from respondents that the overall goal for MPT’s intervention is to use proven nonviolent strategies to deter or prevent violence and create a safe space for peacemakers to carry out their peace with justice work. Accordingly this goal is achievable through compromise between the conflict parties and the collaborative efforts of peacemakers and all stakeholders. Breaking the current spiral of violence is absolutely necessary for all parties to work together and take collective action to resolve the conflict and reconcile.

2. MPT Intervention Strategies

In this section I have discussed MPT’s third party nonviolent intervention strategies and processes, and some outcomes and challenges. MPT’s intervention process starts with the selection and recruitment of volunteers for peace teams. This is followed by a three step nonviolent skills training. The study found that MPT training objectives are; to learn and practice the skills of nonviolent peacemaking, listening and communication skills, experience the

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence transforming power for oneself and society, experience working as a peace team, and learn about the work of domestic and international violence-reduction peace teams.

MPT’s nonviolence training curriculum includes concepts and the practice of active nonviolence. Peace teams train in TPNI strategies and tactics including Presence, Protective accompaniment, Interpositioning, Monitoring and public witnessing, Peace modeling, and

Nonviolent communication skills. When MPT is invited by one of the conflict parties it analyzes the conflict situation to establish whether it has leverage. If it determines that it has leverage and can make positive impact in terms of violence prevention and reduction it deploys a peace team.

Accordingly peace teams employ TPNI strategies and tactics in the West Bank and the Gaza for violence prevention and reduction. They work with the conflict parties while recognizing their leverage, what they can or cannot do as third party interveners.

The physical peaceful presence of peace team members is a strategy to prevent and or reduce violence in the conflict zones in the West Bank and Gaza. According to peace teams, as internationals and non-partisan third party interveners their presence helps to break up the polarization of ‘self’ and ‘other’ that conflict always causes and on which it depends. It is presumed that even the most ardent militant often hesitate to inflict violence on an outsider or a member of the international community because such an action will attract huge attention by the media. It is also a presence that says ‘we are watching’. Thus the presence of MPT’s peace teams deters violence in the conflict zones.

Walters (2012) explains that protective accompaniment means walking with threatened individuals, communities, and organizations to deter violence against them and help to create the space they need to continue their human rights and peace with justice work. According to her

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence this requires understanding the situation and the root cause of injustice and violence. She points out that we also need to know the leverage we have and possible shifts in that leverage. Peace teams stand for the power of active nonviolence, as unarmed civilians they choose to accompany citizens or members of unarmed popular movements. She explains that this strategy means standing between perpetrators of violence and the people they target. Thus peace teams stand with people at home and abroad. Walters goes on to mention that when people know that they are not alone it keeps them from growing discouraged.

MPT peace teams provide protective accompaniment for vulnerable people including women and children who feel threatened in the conflict zone in the West Bank and Gaza. Peace teams live in Palestinians homes, accompany them through Israeli security check-points and settler communities. They accompany Palestinians to their farms and their children to schools and back to prevent harassment and other abuses. They join with Palestinian nonviolent activists in nonviolent demonstrations and protests when invited. Accordingly peace teams have been invited by Palestinian communities including Rafah in the Gaza, Nablus and Ramallah in the

West Bank during nonviolent protests and demonstrations. This strategy deters aggressors or attackers from violence against their targets. Peace teams gave testimonies that this has helped to prevent or reduce violence, fear, intimidation and harassment against vulnerable persons.

Interpositioning is another strategy or tactic employed by MPT peace teams. This strategy means peace team member(s) physically stands in-between an attacker or aggressor and the target to prevent the attacker from getting to the target. Accordingly it eliminates or limits the possibilities of direct or physical assaults and confrontation. Peace teams interposition to blockade or prevent Palestinian home demolition by the Israeli military. Peace team members also explained a related tactic called puppy-piling. This means that they pile or hug onto a target

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence or suspect to prevent arrest or assault. Teamers have mentioned that through interpositioning and puppy-piling they prevented attacks, assaults and arrest of nonviolent activists during home arrests and protesters during demonstrations. They also de-arrested others by clutching onto the victims to prevent him from being bundled way.

Peace teams also engage in what they called public witnessing. They explained that this means being present, aware, and prepared to document injustices. Teamers observe and record incidences of violence, human rights abuses and other violations. They use digital cameras, video and voice recorders, cell phones and notebooks. When it is safe enough they make these equipments visible as a way of conveying a message to the perpetrators that the world is watching and hearing. It was gathered from respondents that human rights abuses and economic rights violations that are prevalent include assault, arrest, torture, shooting, home demolition, destruction of farms and crops by Israeli soldiers in particular and Israeli settlers in general.

Accordingly public witnessing is a powerful tool for promoting peace and nonviolence because it dramatizes the seriousness of violence. It is also another way to educate the public about the reality of the conflict situation. It informs the victims of violence that they are not alone in their struggle. Some teamers said this often opens up the oppressed to share some of their secrets and pain because they need to tell their stories which helps them to chill out.

MPT’s teams report on the violence in the conflict zone. These eyewitness’s reports form part of the bulk of the untold stories by other media houses about the violence. Accordingly some mainstream media reports are often skewed because they almost always portray one party as the aggressor, not interested in peace while the other is always compelled to respond to attacks or violence or is acting in self-defense. This sets up the ‘good’ and the ‘evil’, polarizes the

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence conflict or widens the gap in the conflict. The partisan reporting is intended to influence public opinion. This makes peaceful conflict resolution and reconciliation more difficult to achieve.

Hopefully, the public who reads from MPT’s non-partisan eyewitness’s reports might be better informed about the realities. This might help reshape the minds of many readers or even change public opinion and perspective about the conflict and violence. Accordingly many people are becoming aware and are now lending their sympathy or support to Palestinians’ nonviolent struggle. It may also further persuade the powers such as the U. S and the U.N to take more pragmatic measures to help resolve the conflict and end the violence.

MPT’s reports also aim to inform the public about its intervention decisions, nonviolent activities and educate them on its vision, mission and goals. When peace teams return they debrief and do presentations to share their personal experiences and testimonies with the public.

This means those who have been in a conflict or war zone have experienced some traumatic things, and the probability is great that they need to process the effects of trauma that may be pent up or buried inside. Accordingly MPT requires each international teamer to have at least one debriefing session, and encourages those who need more to get further professional help.

Nonviolent communication skills-CLARA method: CLARA is an acronym for Calm and Center, Listen, Affirm, Respond, and Add. MPT peace teams are trained in nonviolent communication skills called the CLARA method for handling actual and potential verbal assault situations in conflict zones. MPT believes that nonviolent communication skills are relevant for actionists because they learn to communicate effectively and in a way that maintains their own power without taking power away from others. Accordingly the basic tenet of change is in the knowing and understanding where others are coming from which is the very essence of listening.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

Rosenberg (2005) explains that nonviolent communication skills are needed to help bridge the gaps and overcome the external strategies that create barriers between people. He points out that people want to meet their needs but are often in conflict with external strategies used to do so. According to him our actions are attempts to meet our needs; people feel satisfied and secure when their needs are met but may feel sad, scared, angry and frustrated because of unmet needs. Rosenberg mentions that nonviolent communication demonstrates self-empathy, sympathy and honest self-expression which can deal with issues relating to miscommunication and misinterpretation, and benefit our personal relationships. He states that nonviolent communication skills are useful in creating social change. This underscores the importance of these skills for nonviolent actionists and civilian peacemakers.

According to Dougherty, in the CLARA method to calm means to put oneself together, to be composed or unruffled. Spiritual centering is a practice that brings our focused attention to the rooted meaning of what we are about before jumping into an issue or action. He explained that in conflict situations it is not uncommon for people to feel both physically and verbally threatened, attacked or pushed on the spot. Actionists need to calm and center to engage in sincere discourse with others without provoking or escalating violence.

According to Meta Peace Team to be able to engage nonviolently requires actionists to listen until we hear the moral principle that the speaker is speaking from, feeling or experiencing so that we are sure of the message. Active listening requires us to be focused and connected with the speaker to understand what lies at the core; the fear, the uncertainty, anger, the frustration, the truth offered by the person, and to consider what part of their question may be considered reasonable by others in the audience. This is different from being timid or passive, or feeling intimidated.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

In the CLARA method to affirm is an action that establishes a relationship between the listener and the speaker. It is an expression of the connection that a listener found in what he listened. It is what the listener finds in common with the speaker, or what he or she listened or heard. It could be a feeling, an experience or a principle that he or she has in common with the speaker. Though the speaker may be exhibiting a variety of human behaviors the listener chooses to listen because he is open to what honesty and truth the speaker may have. Such an expression must be genuine rather than pretense or sham. Affirmation also conveys the message that the listener is not going to attack or hurt the speaker (Michigan Peace Team, 2009/10).

Communication as a two-way process entails sending and receiving messages that convey meaning and explanations to actions. To respond is an important aspect in this process. It is important to answer or respond to the issue(s) that have been raised rather than avoidance. The listener is conveys the message that he or she is not afraid of the speaker, and that the speaker’s question(s) and concerns deserve to be taken seriously. Accordingly peace teams do not engage in debates, arguments or in any give and take affair. They do not decline to respond or answer questions when others seek to know or understand. If you agree with the speaker, do so even if it feels like you giving up some grounds. If you do not know the answer, say so. You respond or react with respect rather than defensiveness or anger even when a question or statement seeks to fluster or attack you. Thus teamers share information aimed at bridging the gap between parties.

In the CLARA method to add means to state whatever facts are relevant to the issues at stake. The listener takes opportunity at this stage to provide information you want to give to the speaker. This may involve correcting any mistaken facts they mentioned or help the other person or audience to consider the issue in a new light or redirect the discussion in a more positive direction. This can help peace team as nonviolent actionists to prevent or reduce verbal assaults

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence and violence. However, nonviolent actionists and CLARA practitioners have cautioned that interpositioning mixed in with equal amounts of CLARA and a pinch of modeling is not a recipe for success in violence prevention, flexibility and creativity are other essential ingredients.

As regards what a peace team is the research found that MPT defines it as a group of people trained in nonviolence, present in places of conflict when invited, where there is potential violence. MPT peace team membership is voluntary and open to all who are interested, able and committed to nonviolence. Accordingly MPT peace teams comprise volunteers from all walks of life including retirees, students, teachers, clergy and business people who are committed to nonviolence as a way of life and a tactic for conflict resolution and reconciliation.

MPT peace teams work in small groups called affinity teams. “An affinity team is a group people who have an affinity for each other.” (Michigan Peace Team, 2009/10, p.34). Affinities are formed both at the domestic and international conflict zones. The formation process at the latter it is more intense and comprises individuals coming together for a couple of weekend trainings and continuing the training by email, Skype and phone calls. When they actually go to the country as a team, they then live and breathe together every day. The whole team may be three people – one affinity team. A team of four might decide to split into two affinity teams of two for a day, going to two different demonstrations and so forth (Dougherty P.).

Dougherty explains further that MPT emphasizes consensus decision making and team work because it will be extremely difficult to be any effective in violence prevention on individual basis or strength. Dougherty goes on to mention that peace teams are also trained in personal safety, security, self-care, co-counseling and trauma management to deal with violence, trauma, stress and tension on the conflict grounds such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

3. Intervention Outcomes

Even though peace team members who served in the West Bank and Gaza and participated in the interviews the survey indicated that it would be difficult to assess or evaluate the outcomes in quantitative terms, their narratives and responses brought into the light some positive outcomes and impacts of the intervention. They described various different scenarios and instances they prevented violence, human rights violations and economic rights abuses.

Many of them recounted messages or comments from their Palestinians nonviolent partners, families and other individuals about their intervention impact.

One peace team member explained the outcome and impact of his team’s intervention by pointing out that on several instances his team and other internationals prevented the arrest of

Palestinian nonviolent activists protesting the occupation and human rights violations. He described a scenario in the Gaza Strip when they interpositioned at a mosque to prevent the arrest of a Palestinian whom the Israeli military accused of being a protest leader and a militant. He said that their peace team and other internationals defied threats by the Israeli military to give way for the arrest. He pointed out that it was a scary but courageous act by the peace teams.

Another respondent mentioned that their team interpositioned and barricaded a road to prevent Israeli tanks and bulldozers from passing through to demolish a Palestinian home in

Gaza. She mentioned that their peace team members and internationals and local members lay across the road to prevent Israeli military bulldozers and tanks from passing. Accordingly the presence of internationals deterred the military from moving their machines through protesters.

She said that their collective intervention was successful; pointing out that but for the presence of the internationals the military would have dared crush the local Palestinian nonviolent protesters.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

A respondent stated that their peace team joined with other internationals and hundreds of locals to prevent the demolition of a Palestinian home in Gaza. The Israeli military had warned the family of the demolition because the military suspected a Palestinian militant lived there. He said that their successful intervention received wide publicity by journalists who visited the scene and took several photos because they heard that a Catholic Priest and a Nun of MPT peace team were among the protesters who prevented the demolition. When their team visited the family the next day the fathers of two babies handed their babies to the two MPT teamers to hold, as an act of gratitude that they were there in solidarity in that dangerous situation with them. He added that MPT office also made a press release on this successful intervention.

Yet another peace team member who served in the West Bank stated that their team prevented the demolition of a Palestinian family home. The respondent said they stayed overnight with the family and the military did not show up presumably because they heard about the presence of the internationals. The respondent said that the family told them that but for the presence of their international peace team their home would have been demolished. She recalled the family’s warm hospitality and words of gratitude to them. She mentioned that the family said it was a wonderful blessing and experience to have their peace team members in their home.

Some team members stated that they provided protective accompaniment. This is a kind of civilian security to prevent assault, harassment and threats in the conflict zones. A peace team member said they gave protective accompaniment to Palestinian family in the West Bank that invited them to stay with them to help prevent the arrest of a family member accused of terrorism and militancy. He mentioned that their team obliged and when the Israeli military arrived at the home the teamers and the family did poppy piling on the target. Accordingly this protected the target from being arrested or tortured by the military and the family commended them.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

Some peace team members said they accompanied Palestinians their farms to plant and or harvest olives. Olive products are a major source of income for the livelihood of Palestinians yet olive farms are often destroyed by Israeli military to establish Israeli settlements. It was reported that fires are often set on Palestinian’s farms by Israeli sellers to punish Palestinians farmers, create economic hardships and or provoke violence which would invite the Israeli military against Palestinians. A peace teamer mentioned they helped to put out fires set on Palestinian olive farms. Accordingly the team made a video coverage of this incident as part of public witnessing and for reporting on economic rights violations.

Some peace team members mentioned that they accompanied Palestinian children in turns through Israeli settlements to their schools and back. A respondent explained that

Palestinian children suffered daily harassment, threats, fear and dehumanizing acts as they walk through Israeli settlements to school. Others mentioned that they provided similar protection to other vulnerable Palestinians through Israeli security check-points during their peace missions.

Reports about peace teams’ success stories on violence prevention and reduction go endless. Another teamer mentioned that they prevented an eminent violence and physical abuse by Israeli securities against Palestinian nonviolent activists and demonstrators. According to her the peaceful presence deterred violence because any such acts against internationals would attract huge coverage by both local international media. She said that sometimes their peace team would build human shields to deter the Israeli military from using brutalities such as rubber coated and life bullets to disperse unarmed protesters. The respondent said that the some local activists and demonstrators told them that if the internationals were not present the Israeli military would always inflict pain and even death on Palestinian nonviolent activists and demonstrators.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

Some peace team members also reported that they participated amidst tear gas, in the demolition of what they described as illegal roadblocks by Israeli military in Palestinian territories. Particular mention was made of a road used by Palestinian students to Bir Zeit

University in the West Bank. According to the respondents such road blocks inhibit the free movement of Palestinians and their goods, and to especially compel them to pass through Israeli military check-points where they are harassed, dehumanized, held up for several hours or even prevented from moving through. A respondent noted that roadblocks hindered the daily social and economic life of Palestinians and impacted negatively on their livelihoods.

Another success story is on peace modeling. According to one MPT peace model a group of Palestinian children threw stones at Israeli military tanks that came into a Palestinian neighborhood. He said the children told him they threw the stones so because the tanks had no right to come there. He said he explained to the children to do something else different than throwing the stones. The children decided to play soccer on the streets which deterred the tanks from moving through the street and prevented reaction from the military.

The above personal testimonies illustrate that MPT’s peace teams’ presence and their nonviolent strategies are effective in preventing or reducing violence, human rights abuses and economic rights violations in the conflict zones. Accordingly they received commendations and appreciations for peace teams’ protection, accompaniment, solidarity, sympathy and empathy.

3. Intervention Challenges

Many respondents mentioned about the difficulties and frustrations involved in getting into the conflict zones in Gaza and the West Bank as one major challenge. Some respondents

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence pointed out that the Israeli authorities have tightened immigration laws to make it impossible or extremely difficult for internationals get into these territories. Accordingly the aim is to prevent the internationals from joining with Palestinians nonviolent activists. This is an attempt to further prevent internationals from witnessing or reporting on the violence and human rights violations.

A respondent recounted her experience when Israeli securities prevented her team members from entry, and another group called ‘Doctors without Borders’ from getting into Gaza to provide medical service to Palestinians, including wounded children at the hospitals during the

Operation Cast Lead. According to the respondent it is one of many instances that the Israeli securities violated international humanitarian laws which prohibit economic sanctions including denial of medical services, food and other essential needs to civilians during military combat.

With regard to nonviolent intervention strategies some team members said that these are very high risk tactics. A respondent stated that the Israeli military are heavily armed and often use disproportionate force against unarmed protesters at the least resistance. Some respondents were quick to recall a horrible incident involving an ISM international member called Rachel

Corrie who was crushed by an Israeli military bulldozer in 2003 in the West Bank when she interpositioned to prevent a home demolition. This incident attracted a wide coverage by local and the international media. This requires awareness of ones leverage in a conflict zone.

Yet another challenge in the conflict zone many peace team members mentioned is the arrest of international peace team members by the Israeli security. Internationals who are arrested are deported and banned from re-entry into Gaza and West Bank. An international member of

MPT 2012 summer peace team in the West Bank was arrested, molested and detained for eight days during a nonviolent demonstration to boycott Israeli commodities. One team member said

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence he suffered a tear gas attack in the conflict zone. According to some respondents the aim is to deter internationals from joining with Palestinian nonviolent activists in their nonviolent resistance to the occupation and human rights violations.

Another respondent recounted her experience with her local Palestinian team members.

She mentioned that she exchanged pleasantries with an Israeli soldier in Gaza and some local team members expressed discomfort because they felt she was being nice to an ‘enemy’. She said she explained to them she exchanged greetings because she does not hate the soldier per se, though she did not agree with the soldier’s decision to accept duty in the occupied territories. She added that you do not hate a person but you can dislike or disagree with his or her actions. She said that the military duty post was blown up that night by suicide bombers and killed all the soldiers. The incident led to a swooping and disproportionate attack on the community as collective punishment for the Palestinians. In my perspective the MPT teamer’s action is peace modeling because separating people from issues enables us to address the issues. This can help resolve conflict nonviolently and pave the way to peace and reconciliation between the parties.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

Conclusion and Reflections

MPT as a nonpartisan third party intervener in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict has well- articulated motives and a goal. The principal motive is to break the spiral of violence for peace work to take root. MPT does it advocate a particular solution to the conflict but it supports a just one to end the conflict. It does not support any form of violence, it supports active nonviolence as an alternative. MPT is not neutral; it is on the side of human rights, justice and peace. It recognizes power asymmetrical in the conflict and stands by those who are disempowered. Its peace perspective is made public through the deployment of peace teams who use TPNI strategies for violence prevention and reduction. Peace teams’ reports are available at MPT’s website and blog. They write letters to local newspapers to educate the public about the conflict.

One important lesson from the study is the high level of insecurity or risk in nonviolent action in general and the use of TPNI strategies in particular in violence prevention and reduction. Peace teams are unarmed civilian peacemakers who come face to face with heavily armed military who wield deadly and sophisticated weapons like tanks, machine guns, live bullets and tear gas. TPNI experiences are transformative but they are equally daunting and traumatic. This can cause the team’s energy to dissipate and loss of enthusiasm in their missions.

Furthermore, the spiral of violence makes it difficult for peace teams to maintain steadfastness in the conflict zones. Obviously it is a challenge to maintain one’s unwavering nonviolent stance. One is tempted to either respond with violence or resign one’s faith in active nonviolence in such circumstances. Doubtlessly, TPNI requires bravery, courage and commitment by actionists even in the face of horror and brutality that threatens one’s very life.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

Obviously the spiral of violence has caused numerous deaths, severe pain and suffering, destruction, mistrust, fear, anger and frustration of a people under a foreign military occupation for several decades. This situation requires that actionists demonstrate understanding, patience, sympathy, empathy and solidarity that give hope to all and the victims of violence in particular.

In light of the spiral of violence and associated high risk in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict it is of absolute necessity to be aware of your leverage before deploying peace teams in the conflict zone. Active nonviolence is equally expensive in terms human safety and security. One must keep in mind both real and potential dangers and challenges in the practice of active nonviolence and the use of TPNI strategies in particular order to avoid loss of lives, injuries and the temptation for vengeance. These dangers and challenges notwithstanding, active nonviolence has been proven as a powerful strategy that can produce longer lasting peace than violence.

MPT advocates nonviolent conflict transformation and the weaponry of nonviolent struggle as desirable for those who seek non-lethal means of conflict engagement. Peace teams are needed for violence prevention and reduction in places of conflict and potentially violent situations. Thus MPT and other organizations still make relentless efforts to bring peace between

Israelis and Palestinians by supporting nonviolent action, demonstrations and resistance to the occupation. Hopefully these activities might help to develop the culture of nonviolence and change many more from both sides. This can improve the odds for reconciliation and further pave the way for peace in the occupied territories and the Middle East.

I have been associated with MPT since last August 20, 2012. Prior to this I had some knowledge of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict but i had no idea about MPT’s pursuit of peace through active nonviolence. I had no idea about MPT’s interventions in the conflict in particular

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence or about the transforming power of nonviolent action. Neither did i have an idea about nonviolent skills nor any personal experience in nonviolent peace team work. MPT truly cares about every participant during training and their experiences in peace work in the conflict zone.

MPT is transforming the lives of many individuals and groups in different ways and places. My learning experiences at MPT has deepened my knowledge and understanding about the concept of active nonviolence and TPNI strategies for violence prevention and reduction as well as the real and potentials challenges associated with them. Through participation in their nonviolent training programs and domestic peace team work in violence prevention I have gained skills and personal experience through hands-on practice. These learning experiences have added tremendous value to my personal and academic development. Through this project work I have deepened my knowledge about the political and social context of the conflict.

My learning experiences have been very transformative. Personal transformation is the one thing that MPT looks for in nonviolence training and peace teams’ experience. I understand active nonviolence as both a way of personal life and a tactic for violence prevention and reduction. I recognize that one needs to be at peace with one inner self to be able to make peace with others-peace from the heart not in the mind or by might. I believe that this personal transformation starts with being truthful and courageous enough to deal with personal violence, and respect for the human rights and dignity in order to appreciate and practice active nonviolence.

If a person is truly able to reflect not only as a peacemaker but also as a catalyst for conflict and violence they are in a better place to understand the roots of social conflicts and violence, and can now act to resolve conflict nonviolently. Once this foundation is laid it is

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence possible for individuals to build on towards nonviolence as a way of life and a tactic. Active nonviolence gives me a sense of hope and belief that another way is always possible. I have been greatly influenced by MPT as an organization, and the people that comprise it.

MPT takes on a great deal on process, action and initiatives toward transformation, and building a culture of nonviolence in promoting justice and peace. It works hard to make these experiences beneficial as possible to its peace teams and volunteers. It is truly and directly interested in the human rights of all peoples. MPT does not want people to be pacifists who never choose action. It wants people to be active and supportive of others who are treated unjustly. It demonstrates that active nonviolent approaches to injustice are morally superior and more effective forms of creating meaningful and long-lasting solutions to global problems of inequality.

Yet in a world with large segments of pessimists, increasing militarism, weaponry and the race for arms MPT faces a huge challenge for reaching its vision of a just world grounded in nonviolence. Increasing competition and conflicting goals, interests and needs between individuals, groups and nations at large is also a monumental challenge to MPT in peacemaking.

Finally, some pragmatic initiatives that MPT will need to undertake to sustain its existence and to make strides include the following; a more structured funding program for its activities, a more vigorous and expanded public education program to increase awareness of its vision and mission in particular and active nonviolence in general to empower people, promote social justice and peace. Rapid response peace teams for violence prevention will be desirable. It also needs a more structured program for volunteers and interns who want to learn more and acquire hands-on experience in active nonviolence for personal life and violence prevention.

Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

References

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Finkelstein, N. G. (1995/2001). Image and Reality of the Israel-Palestine Conflict. Verso. London.

Forer, R. (2010). Break Through: Transforming Fear into Compassion: A New Perspective on the Israel-Palestine Conflict. Insight Press, Albuquerque. New Mexico. Friedman, T. L. (1990). From Beirut to Jerusalem. Anchor Books Edition. August 1990. Gandhi, A. (June 07, 2006). Nonviolence: The Only Way. From: http:// June 07, 2006)/nikhil- thoughts-feelings.blogspot.com/2006/06/nonviolence-only-hope-by-arun-gandhi.html Global Security.Org: Operation Cast Lead. (2000). http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/war/operation-cast-lead.htm

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Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

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Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

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Meta Peace Team Pursuit of Peace through Active Nonviolence

Appendix

Interview/Survey Questionnaire

Pursuing Peace through Active Nonviolence in places of Conflict: Case Study Analysis of

Meta/Michigan Peace Team (MPT) Third Party Nonviolent Intervention (TPNI) in the Israeli-

Palestinian Conflict in the West Bank and Gaza

Name (optional):

Section I: MPT Staff Only 1. What is your history with MPT? 2. Explain briefly the motivation for founding MPT 3. Explain briefly the Vision and Mission of MPT 4. What is your perspective/MPT’s perspective on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? Section II: MPT Staff and Peace Team Members 5. Which team(s) did you serve with? (a) West Bank (b) Gaza (c) Both 6. What is your personal/MPT philosophical stance on active nonviolence? 7. Did anything or anyone influence you in the practice of active nonviolence? 8. What are MPT’s motives and goals for intervention in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict? 9. What is Third Party Nonviolent Intervention (TPNI)? 10. How would you explain TPNI strategies for violence prevention or reduction in conflict? 11. Would you say that TPNI strategies are effective for violent prevention? Explain. 12. How would you assess or evaluate the outcomes of MPT interventions in the conflict? 13. How do peace team’s monitor and report on the conflict, and why? 14. What are some of the challenges associated with TPNI and how did you overcome them? 15. Would you say you have had any personal transformation from your experiences? Explain.

You are welcome to make your final comments on MPT intervention and TPNI.

Thank you for your time and participation