Very soon we should know what the UN General Assembly has decided as far as Palestinian State recognition is concerned. Among people I've spoken with, there seems to be a fear that no matter what, there will be violence in the West Bank.
The optimist in me hopes that there isn't. Unfortunately, it appears that lots of people never learned to 'play nice' in the sandbox--and that means they probably won't play nice when their lives, and the lives of others, are involved.
As far as work on my documentary and thesis related things are concerned, here's the latest:
I just got a job freelancing for TRIBE magazine (O&O by Jewish Journal). My first story and podcast will be about the facade of the peaceful protests in Israel; basically, the idea that although solidarity is swell, no real change will come regarding social issues until there is serious violence. As an outsider, I was under the false impression that people actually believed in the peace. (I know. I'm young, impressionable, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, and naive.) I'll post a link when the stories are up (probably in December.)
I've also learned a valuable lesson when trying to get interviews about anything Jewish/International/Israeli: say the words, "I was in Sderot in August," and people have this new-found respect for you. Or maybe they think you're insane and therefore not someone to be messed with. Either way, it gets their attention long enough that you can generally set up an interview with them. Who knew going to conflict zones was the same as celeb name-dropping in Hollywood?
Well, now you do.
Sorry I've been MIA for so long--being a working grad student does take a bit of a time commitment.
Anyway, I'll keep you all up to date with the PA bid at the UN. Let's raise a glass to a non-violent solution!
