Reflection
It was 03/03/2011 when Mahmoud was released , It took him three weeks to reflect to this special incident in his life, in which he had to test his ability to bear the mission of being journalist and peace activist. On March/28/2011, and three days after his online speech at the Global Teen Leaders Summit in NYC, he released his Press Statement, which represents his official attitude regarding this incident.
On Friday, February 25, 2011, I prepared myself to cover the Palestinian demonstration that was supposed to take place at that date at noon.
The demonstration was to urge officials to open Al-Shuahada street, which is a common street between Palestinians and the Israeli settlers .
My decision to cover that demonstration was as normal as any other decision I made during my two years as a youth journalist, covering action in Hebron.
It was very sad that this demonstration turned violent; It was supposed to be peaceful, as was stated in the release that journalists and activists received by e-mail. But, as a journalist always has to deal with the unknown, I stayed in my role as a journalist and tried to keep myself safe while recording the story. I stood aside and avoided being in the violent clashes, so I was surprised when I was arrested by Israeli policemen, as I thought that they were to deal with the violence and not the people reporting the demonstration and the violence. After I was arrested, I was detained for six days.
It was a hard experience since it was unfair. At the same time, as a journalist and peace maker, I understand that I have to expect anything can happen in such actions. My detention was a chance for me to reach new stories and to feel the real necessity of peaceful life for both of us: Israelis and Palestinians. Meanwhile, I was proud of the very human duty I was performing as a youth journalist who aspires to see his people living peacefully, side by side with the Israelis, learning about each other and understanding each other partly through the work of journalists. Our world needs free journalism to help nations understand each other, and to bring nations to a common ground of human spirit that unifies efforts for a shared goal: To help make this earth a better place, where people love each other and care about each other.
I am proud to say that this experience has not affected my motivation and my will to bring peace and understanding to our world, side by side with youth from all nations, because my belief in peace is linked to my understanding of the difficulties all peacemakers have to face, personally and professionally. As for my attitude toward the policemen who arrested me: I was asked by the Israeli police if I want to file complaints about them or keep complaining about them. I have informed them and I announce it as an attitude of mine that I have decided to forgive them since I am sure that one day peace will prevail on this earth and every human will have a chance to change their hearts and souls and correct any harm done to others. I have this attitude because I believe in tolerance and in our ability as humans to overcome what gets in the way of understanding each other, so we remember all that can bring us to one table.
I want to thank all my friends from around the world who are my global family for their incredible and admirable support for me. It was so meaningful to me and it reminds me of the principle we hold: That we are an interdependent global family where all our members love and respect each other and support each other based on a human soul that unifies us forever.
And while I am now away from photojournalism and reporting news, I want to wish all journalists around the world are blessed and safe, and that freedom of press will be always protected. I wish myself a good luck in my academic life which I will focus on the coming years of studies, which will be enriched by my experience as a youth journalist.
In closing, I want to express my special thanks to: Seeds of Peace , International Education and Resources Network , Peace it Together, Three Dot Dash Global Teen Leaders ,We Are Family Foundation, The Daniel Pearl Foundation, PBS News Hour Extra, Mattie J.T Stepanek Foundation and Relief International and the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Sincerely Yours:
Mahmoud W. Jabari
" Peace is Possible”
The demonstration was to urge officials to open Al-Shuahada street, which is a common street between Palestinians and the Israeli settlers .
My decision to cover that demonstration was as normal as any other decision I made during my two years as a youth journalist, covering action in Hebron.
It was very sad that this demonstration turned violent; It was supposed to be peaceful, as was stated in the release that journalists and activists received by e-mail. But, as a journalist always has to deal with the unknown, I stayed in my role as a journalist and tried to keep myself safe while recording the story. I stood aside and avoided being in the violent clashes, so I was surprised when I was arrested by Israeli policemen, as I thought that they were to deal with the violence and not the people reporting the demonstration and the violence. After I was arrested, I was detained for six days.
It was a hard experience since it was unfair. At the same time, as a journalist and peace maker, I understand that I have to expect anything can happen in such actions. My detention was a chance for me to reach new stories and to feel the real necessity of peaceful life for both of us: Israelis and Palestinians. Meanwhile, I was proud of the very human duty I was performing as a youth journalist who aspires to see his people living peacefully, side by side with the Israelis, learning about each other and understanding each other partly through the work of journalists. Our world needs free journalism to help nations understand each other, and to bring nations to a common ground of human spirit that unifies efforts for a shared goal: To help make this earth a better place, where people love each other and care about each other.
I am proud to say that this experience has not affected my motivation and my will to bring peace and understanding to our world, side by side with youth from all nations, because my belief in peace is linked to my understanding of the difficulties all peacemakers have to face, personally and professionally. As for my attitude toward the policemen who arrested me: I was asked by the Israeli police if I want to file complaints about them or keep complaining about them. I have informed them and I announce it as an attitude of mine that I have decided to forgive them since I am sure that one day peace will prevail on this earth and every human will have a chance to change their hearts and souls and correct any harm done to others. I have this attitude because I believe in tolerance and in our ability as humans to overcome what gets in the way of understanding each other, so we remember all that can bring us to one table.
I want to thank all my friends from around the world who are my global family for their incredible and admirable support for me. It was so meaningful to me and it reminds me of the principle we hold: That we are an interdependent global family where all our members love and respect each other and support each other based on a human soul that unifies us forever.
And while I am now away from photojournalism and reporting news, I want to wish all journalists around the world are blessed and safe, and that freedom of press will be always protected. I wish myself a good luck in my academic life which I will focus on the coming years of studies, which will be enriched by my experience as a youth journalist.
In closing, I want to express my special thanks to: Seeds of Peace , International Education and Resources Network , Peace it Together, Three Dot Dash Global Teen Leaders ,We Are Family Foundation, The Daniel Pearl Foundation, PBS News Hour Extra, Mattie J.T Stepanek Foundation and Relief International and the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Sincerely Yours:
Mahmoud W. Jabari
" Peace is Possible”
