College Hour

Guest author: Alicia Herrick If anywhere needs conflict resolution and reconciliation, it’s the Middle East, right? For many Americans, the region containing Israel and Palestine is the first place that comes to mind when they think about international conflict and the need for peacemaking. Some Americans believe that this area has always been in conflict, since the “beginning of time” (as one family member told me when they learned about my interest in the area) and will continue to be in conflict for perpetuity. I was curious to visit Israel and Palestine for myself and gain a personal perspective on the events taking place there and was delighted when an opportunity arose through the Center for Peacemaking & Conflict Studies at Fresno Pacific University. As a student with CPACS, I would have a chance to travel with a group of FPU professors and students to meet with individuals directly affected by the conflict. I waited with anticipation for this chance to gain a new perspective on this area of the world so fraught with disagreement and violence. Our group traveled throughout Israel and the West Bank for two weeks at the end of May, and during that time we met with representatives from over twenty different organizations, political parties, communities or historical sites who could provide us with insights on their work and the nature of the conflict. As a student and practitioner of Restorative Justice, I was most curious to learn about any reconciliation efforts that were taking place. I, along with several other members of our group, longed to see people from the different sides of the conflict meeting with each other to gain understanding into the mindset of the other. I soon learned, however, that while there were numerous organizations leading talking circles such as these, some believed that it was not the appropriate time for efforts such as these. Here’s a bit of context for those who may be unfamiliar with the current situation there. In 1993, Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin met with PLO leader Yasser Arafat and together with Bill Clinton they negotiated the Oslo Accords. This agreement arranged for the Gaza Strip and the West Bank to transition into Palestinian control over the following few years. Although the Israeli government has since relinquished the Gaza Strip, they have maintained a significant military presence in the West Bank to this day, which leads many human rights organizations to refer to this region as occupied territory. We took a tour with one such organization, the Israeli Coalition Against Housing Demolition (ICAHD), and the tour leader showed us the separation barrier between Israel and the West Bank as well as sites where the Israeli government had overseen the demolition of Palestinian-owned homes. Despite the opposition from the UN and international human rights groups, the current Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that Israel will never give up security control over the West Bank due to concerns about terrorist attacks. In the midst of this situation, groups such as the Interfaith Encounter Organization, with whom we also met during our trip, work to bring together Jews, Muslims, and Christians of various ethnicities to have constructive dialogue about topics of interest and about the conflict. They hope that through these conversations, relationships and empathy will build, leading to greater understanding and a greater capacity for peace processes between the various groups in the future. As a Restorative Justice practitioner in my mediation work at VORP/CJC, I was particularly intrigued by this group and others like it. However, in our conversation with Ruth, our tour guide from ICAHD, we learned that many in the activist communities working to end the occupation are opposed to reconciliatory efforts between the two groups. This is because they believe the focus on reconciliation is misplaced; as Ruth put it, “how can we work toward relationship building when the occupation is still taking place? Any such efforts simply normalize the current situation.” Another way that she put this was “co-resist not co-exist;” Israelis and Palestinians should be working side by side to end the occupation and bring justice, instead of reconciling with each other before this justice is achieved. I had to wrestle with this perspective, but after some thought, I began to understand it. After all, how could we talk about peace on an individual level when state-sponsored violence was still occurring on both sides? Alternatively, how can peace ever be approached if there are few significant relationships and little dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians? Many of the people that we met with informed us that there is very little interaction between these two groups, despite them living side by side in a region not much bigger than the state of New Jersey. Many cities are ethnically and religiously homogenous and even in cities that are mixed, such as Jerusalem, there is still much segregation. In the end, I concluded that there is a place for these reconciliation efforts. For peace to be achieved, there must be dedicated individuals and organizations working on all levels whether individual or institutional. But, if they only build relationship without also addressing the experiences of injustice that are taking place, perhaps they are missing a key component in moving the peace process forward. There can be no true reconciliation or peace without justice also.

Alicia Herrick is a graduate student with the Center for Peacemaking & Conflict Studies at Fresno Pacific University, pursuing a Master’s Degree in Peacemaking and Conflict Studies. Originally from Holland, Michigan, Alicia completed her undergraduate studies in International Relations at Hope College and then moved to California shortly after graduation. Through her work at a school in Oakland, California, Alicia began to take an interest in Restorative Justice and a curiosity to discover how this alternative philosophy for conflict management can be used to transform punitive school discipline culture and both US and international legal systems. She moved to Fresno to further develop these interests and to gain an understanding in practical applications of restorative justice through studying with CPACS. She has also taken a position as a mediator working with juvenile offenders at the Victim Offender Reconciliation Program/Community Justice Conferencing. Alicia recently traveled to Israel and Palestine to learn about how restorative justice can be understood in the context of international conflict and peacemaking efforts. In addition to Restorative Justice, Alicia loves to study other languages, to read good books and to try new foods. She hopes to travel to Guatemala this summer to work on improving her Spanish, and she is always looking for suggestions of great novels to read or restaurants to visit in Fresno or nearby.

Pivot Questions

1. What is your favorite word?

I don’t know that I have one.

2. What is your least favorite word?

I feel like the word “cute” is really overused.

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?

I think artists that are able to make theology more relatable through modern metaphors and people talking about theology and restorative justice.

4. What turns you off creatively, spiritually, or emotionally?

Patriarchal religious language.

5. What is your favorite CPACS word?

Equity.

6. What sound or noise do you love?

The sound of waves.

7. What sound or noise do you hate?

People filing their nails.

8. What profession, other than your own, would you like to attempt?

Either a hip-hop dancer or a civil engineer (something that's completely in a different direction).

9. What profession would you not like to do?

A vet.

10. If heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?

Something that indicates that he recognizes me.  

  Jasmine Shedrick, Youth ministry Hello my name is Jasmine Shedrick. I am a recent graduate at Fresno Pacific University receiving my bachelors degree in Kinesiology. This is my very first missions trip and it has been such a great experience. I have had the opportunity to go out into different townships throughout Cape Town to share the gospel with youth from Kindergarten to High School. I have also had the opportunity of having small groups with young men and young ladies that were around the ages of 13 to 28. Through my experience I have been an encourager to all the the people I have come in contact with but also very informative on what God has for us on earth and what he expects of us while we are here. They have also helped me to realize that even as we struggle, putting God before everything can turn your life around. This is something I knew already but just seeing it in this way has definitely had an impact on me. I value to much on earth when there are so many people who don't have even close to half of what I have and am blessed with daily. I take life for granted and don't give God what he deserves, which is my entire life. Alexandra Green, Youth ministry Hello my name is Alex Green. When I first found out I'd be coming to Africa for a missions opportunity I didn't know what to expect or how to feel. I was excited and nervous that I'd be entering another continent. As I came and experienced this amazing country I fell in love. This country is beautiful and I love it. It was a blessing to be able to come and preach the word through ABI to the youth as part of the youth mentoring team. Being able to save someone and give them the word of God is the best gift you could ask for. Loved every bit of this trip and these amazing people. ABI deserves the world for being able to create these opportunities and help spread the gospel. Sharon Wilson, Women's ministry director Cape Town 2017 was an amazing work of God. The team was one in the spirit in servant hood in biblical sound teaching and the unity was powerful. This team was truly a dream team. God answered many of our prayers. The power that he gave us to teach as one unified the team, and helped to encourage the church in Cape Town. All that we were desiring was beyond our dreams and expectations as the men and women of God were discouraged, full of despair, and had almost given up hope. The students came with the power of the gospel reminding them that God has enough power to change Cape Town, their townships and their community. My heart was so heavy when I heard about the total despair many of the pastors and church members felt when they looked at their community playing with violence, murder, alcoholism and drug addiction. According to their leaders they felt powerless even though they have the gospel, they were so beat down and oppressed by the enemy that they had forgotten the power of the gospel is still enough. We thank God for the vision of Dr. Angulus Wilson to come alongside the church and encourage the men and women of God in desperate times, and the desperate situations that they may be feeling. This year was amazing we know that the work is only beginning. Many requests are coming and many needs are presenting themselves. I believe the gospel is able to fulfill them all, thank you Cape Town team 2017. Aaron Wilson, Youth ministry Throughout the Trip God was working on my heart. Months before the trip I saw myself as the Parodical Son. I was deeply struggling with my faith and everything around me. I was in the world trying to see if it was really what I hoped for. Sadly it lead me down a long and sad path. But because God lead me to Africa where I can teach to young kids about how bad the world is, I quickly came back home and grew in my relationship with God. Without this trip, I wouldn't be growing like I am now with God. This trip was such a blessing. Esmorelda Hernandez, Youth Ministry In the states we become so caught with ourselves and the latest models that we lose track of ourselves and put ourselves in what's called Alienated Labor. The word of God doesn't just bring hope it empowers the human race to strive for righteousness as we try to live by the word of God. I have had the privilege of witnessing Angelus Bible Institute (ABI) , equip the people of South Africa with The Lords armor. Coming into a third world country I was able to see worship has no price, what I mean by this is that we as individuals all have the ability to worship to the Lord with the Soul. The Holy Spirt is our most valuable possession ...yet we take for granted. We as believers of God no matter the religion come into conflict with ourselves when we begin to fall for the temptations of this world. John 2:17 The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.) My eyes became open to worshiping with my soul when visiting the townships in Cape Town, South Africa. The people there lived in harsh conditions, but lived by faith, as they knew that no matter the situation God would never fail (Psalm 73:26; my flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion.)