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Interview Questions for Itamar Shapira

What is your name and where are you from?

How did you reach Combatants for Peace?

What do you mean, recognizing things recognized through formalities but never experienced emotionally?

Who participates in your meetings?

Are the Palestinian participants former members of the militant wing of Fatah, or former Fatah members? Are the people still active with Fatah?

Where do you meet?

Which language do you use in your meetings?

How do people join your meetings?

Who is considered terrorist by whom -- aren’t you defined by the fact that all your members are former militants from both sides?

How do you deal with the term “terrorist” in your organization?

Can you give such an example?

What do you mean, to emphasize your sense of national identity [as an Israeli]?

You said before that combatants enjoy a special status in both societies, respectively. Why do you think this is?

Do women participate in your meetings?

What are you referring to?

Were these women combat soldiers?

You said that you recruit participants through your army units, friends from the army. How can you reach women who were combat soldiers?

If you are relying so much on your status as a combat soldier, aren’t you in a way reinforcing the value that you say both societies place on militancy?

Are there Orthodox Jewish participants among the Israeli participants?

Why did you join Combatants for Peace?

What made you realize that it wasn’t like that?

Does that mean that you are not holding what you say is the weaker side accountable?

You said that Israelis perceive that the Palestinians cannot rise above militancy. Do you agree?

What do you need from the Palestinian side in order to be able to work together?

Victims of what perception are you referring to?

Are you saying that Jews brought on the Holocaust themselves by being fearful?

Do you do reserve service?

Are all the Israeli Combatants for Peace refusing to serve in the Territories?

Why? Do you have a policy on this as an organization?

Are there participants who don’t refuse?

What did you say when you were called to reserve service in the Territories and refused?

You said you would refuse to serve in checkpoints on the green line because they are as problematic, why?

But what about the argument that says, if you don’t do reserve service someone else will?

Did you ever receive such an order during your army service?

Some will claim that the Israeli Army is careful not to hurt civilians, more than Palestinian military organizations who specifically target civilians.

Please tell me about Shovrim Shtika.

Is the strategy then to emphasize the detrimental impact on soldiers, instead of sending the message that the behavior is morally reprehensible?

Did your family ask you questions during your army service?

What kind of activities did you take part in with Shovrim Shtika?

Is that example real?

What do you think would happen if people in Israel saw such pictures?

What challenges does your work with Combatants for Peace pose for you?

Do you encounter negative responses to your work?

How do your friends from the army react to the work you are doing?

You finished your army service. Do you view yourself as a fighter?

How do you intend to proceed with your activities in the future at Combatants for Peace?

You said that the economy affects national stances. Do you think a boycott might increase nationalism in Israel?

Please tell me about the lectures at Combatants for Peace.

Who is it important for you to reach in Israeli society?

What do you expect Palestinian audiences to leave with?

You said that you became involved after a long period of feeling that you were going to become involved. Was there a certain event that underlined the fact that the situation is problematic for you?

How is your work affected by the political situation?

Are there Israeli participants who are afraid to travel to your meeting places?

Do you encounter prejudices in your meetings?

How do you deal with prejudices in the group?

What is this conflict about?

You talked about the Palestinians being aggressors to the Zionist settlers at the start of the century - do you think the Palestinians were historically the only aggressors?

What do you think about former peace processes?

What is the ideal situation you want to see here?

Is that kind of peace possible?

What does the word peace mean to you?

Do you think there will be peace here?

What does that depend on?

Are international actors important in this conflict?

Why is the US’s impact on the conflict negative?

What do you want international audiences to know about the conflict?