Local Stories by Local People

Santa Barbara Resident Returns from Interfaith Delegation to Israel and Palestine
Source: Jacob Pace, Interfaith Peace-Builders Communications Coordinator

Frank Williams, a retired businessman and past president of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara, has returned from a two-week delegation to Israel and Palestine. The tour was co-sponsored by Interfaith Peace-Builders and the National Peace Foundation. The purpose of this delegation, the 26th to make the trip since 2001, was to educate North American citizens about the region and deepen their understanding of its conflicts.

The delegation came amidst a crucial time in the Middle East. Last November's peace conference hosted by the US Administration in Annapolis set the end of 2008 as the timeline for a peace deal between Israelis and Palestinians. However, the situation on the ground continues to worsen. As a result, a greater responsibility has fallen to everyday people in Israel and Palestine. Interfaith Peace-Builders and National Peace Foundation delegates had the unique experience of learning about the Middle East through the eyes of those who live there.

Frank Williams is a former owner and operator of Speedy Office Systems in Santa Barbara. For 25 years he worked in the electronics industry with Hewlett Packard and other companies. Now retired, he is an active community volunteer in Santa Barbara. Mr. Williams serves on the Allocations Committee of the Santa Barbara Foundation, is a member of the Cottage Hospital Auxiliary, is a past Board member and Visiting Nurse with Hospice Care of Santa Barbara, and sits on the Board of Directors of his local homeowners association. Mr. Williams has been involved in civic affairs for many years and is also past president of the Rotary Club of Santa Barbara.

"I am afraid that while many Americans appreciate Israel's unique position, most don't understand Palestinians' major concerns," Mr. Williams explains. "As a result of this delegation, I have learned not to depend so much on the national media for international news. In an area as complex as Israel- Palestine, the personal perspectives and individual experiences are much more meaningful."

Mr. Williams and twelve other members of the delegation entered Israel on April 1 to begin the two-week trip around the conflict zone. The delegation met with a diverse array of Palestinians and Israelis who shared their observations on the current situation, the effects of United States foreign policy in the region, and the possibilities for a just and sustainable peace.

The group toured the Israeli town of Sderot which has been targeted by Palestinian militants from within the impoverished Gaza Strip and visited Yad Vashem, the Israeli Holocaust Museum. Bassam Aramin, a Palestinian whose daughter was killed by an Israeli soldier, also addressed the delegation. Mr. Aramin is a founder of Combatants for Peace, a joint Palestinian and Israeli organization which has rejected violence and promotes reconciliation between the two peoples.

In addition, the delegation heard from the nonviolent peace movement in Israel and Palestine. The group visited the Palestinian village of Bil'in, which organizes weekly nonviolent demonstrations and recently won a high-profile case in the Israeli High Court challenging the route of Israel's Separation Wall and the confiscation of their village lands. Delegates also participated in a weekly vigil by the Israeli organization, Women in Black, which takes place every Friday in West Jerusalem.

Interfaith Peace-Builders and the National Peace Foundation believe in the power of eye-witness experience and transformation. Given the opportunity to speak directly with Israelis and Palestinians, delegates return to North America better informed, more energized, and with a deeper understanding of the possibilities for tru

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