FFIPP comes to an end… kind of
For our final session of meetings as FFIPP interns, we met in the Ibda’a Center in the Deheisheh Refugee Camp in Bethlehem. Our first night was a debriefing followed by a dinner and pool party. We were asked by the coordinators to split into groups and discuss what we liked about FFIPP and want to see continued, what we disliked and thought needed to be improved upon, and any ideas for next summer.
For a while we were very negative - the program was way too expensive, and we hadn’t been informed accurately as to the cost. We hadn’t been told about the nature of our internships until the week before, or even a few days before, they began. Some of us were extremely happy with our work, while others felt that their jobs hadn’t been a good match. The program was disorganized, as were some of the NGO’s we worked with. FFIPP is a relatively new organization, and it has a lot of aspects that need improvement.
But when we got to the positives, I was overwhelmed by how much I felt I had gotten out of the program. I met the most amazing people. During our internship period, we received insight into all different aspects of Israeli-Palestinian society. I had never heard of Israelis girls being thrown in jail for refusing to serve, or Palestinians who are changing communities through micro-lending projects. FFIPP also found a way for us to experience first-hand the culture and activist landscape here, even though we only had a month to help and some of us had less experience than others (such as myself, with only a year of university finished so far).
Each and every intern helped me learn more about myself, the conflict, and the many different approaches people take in their attempts to help. Some were in law school, and felt that they could battle Israel’s injustices through the legal system. Others were more leftist than most I’ve ever met - anti-Capitalists, Marxists, and others - who filled me with more questions about my own beliefs. A Jewish intern who had also been on Birthright helped me understand the Jewish Israeli perspective a little better. As corny as it sounds, I made life-long friends on this trip.
It was just such a relief to be surrounded by people who know what it’s like to stand up for Palestinian rights. We can all relate to being called an anti-Semite, and having friends or even family who think we’re insane for speaking up on this controversial issue. People write us off almost immediately. Instead of questioning why we are so passionate about this issue, they would rather explain it away by reasoning that we’ve just gone off the deep end. It was also helpful to see the nuances in reasoning among activists. At school and at home, people are divided (in my eyes) by those who know what’s going on and those who don’t. Black and white. In FFIPP, though, everyone knows what’s going on - so then you begin to differ on tactics and ideology, which made me rethink how I approach the issue and what tactic is the most effective use of my limited time and energy.
The program also made me wonder how oblivious I am to other issues going on in the world. I’ve become very attached to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, thus I know a lot more than the average media consumer in the US. Seeing how much the media screws up on this issue makes me want to learn more about other conflicts as well, since I’m sure I’m oblivious to the true situation on the ground.
Our last day of meetings was dedicated to our plan for continued work in the US. We’re organizing a reunion in the fall to discuss bringing speakers from Israel/Palestine for speaking tours, and to map out effective ways to increase awareness in the US. Even though our internship has ended, it was inspiring and has given us all the energy and motivation to continue with our activism in the US.
