I cannot describe the experience of hearing a suicide attack; to hear it- it's the worst thing that can happen to you. My girlfriend lives in Jerusalem and I really am very fearful for her life.
Ofer Shinar
33
Suicide Bombing
How has the conflict affected you personally?
It has had tremendous impact on my life. Having decided to spend all my time doing work to promote peace and reconciliation is because of the conflict, it's directly related. I haven't done it before. When I was teaching in Tel Aviv University I was doing human rights and labor law, which are very important, but when I was in the States, the second intifada erupted and hell broke loose here. I came to the conclusion, and I still remember a friend of mine from Bangladesh, after I had lectured on mental disability rights and my work in the field, which I'm very proud of, he raised his hand in class and said, "you know, Ofer, it's all very important, but I remember that you come from Israel, and in Israel right now there are more important things to do, and if you have done so well in such areas..." It struck me; the impact was unbelievable. These two or three sentences that he told me changed my life because I said, he's right, and I had to leave everything behind to start anew, because of the conflict.And I cannot describe the experience of hearing a suicide attack; to hear it- it's the worst thing that can happen to you. My girlfriend lives in Jerusalem and I really am very fearful for her life.