Why read a Hope Equals blog?

Simple. Because no one at Hope Equals has all the answers about the politics, the history, or the social dynamics that mire the way to a just peace between Israelis and Palestinians. Because chances are you don’t either. Because this blog will be a space in which Israeli human rights watchdogs, Palestinians committed to non-violence and North American peacemakers, will explain their perspectives to you and to us. Because through this blog they will tell us stories that we don’t hear on the news. Because there are hopeful stories that get no press. Because nobody at  Hope Equals has the only, or the best, or the most informed voice out there. Because we want to invite you to explore these issues with us.

Who’s behind it?

Hi, my name is Mariano Avila and I have managed Hope Equals since it was just a conversation in January of 2009. But I know I have much to learn and much yet to explore. I learn best from interacting with others and I love to explore the issues with others. So, as this blog takes shape, I won’t be the only one wrestling with the complexity of the occupation or the history of the people groups in the land. No, there are many people out there who have inspired the work of Hope Equals, and who inspire us daily. I’m thinking of Israeli organizations like B’Tselem, ICAHD and Combatants for Peace. I’m thinking of Holy Land Trust, the Diyar Consortium and Musalaha. I’m thinking of CPT, MCC and Paidia International to name a few. These are the folks who work on the ground, and get their hands dirty in the mess of seeking justice, of loving mercy and of making peace.

So, what can you expect?

Dialog and respect. One of the toughest parts of Hope Equals is the amount of hatred and bile that this issue stirs up. Being pro-people means that we will not give a forum to anyone who promotes violence, in any form, against any people group. It means that comments and discussions will be conducted with respect or be deleted. It means that we will try to safeguard a core belief, which Christianity shares with the Jewish and Muslim religions: that all human beings carry the image of God. Some of our Israeli and Palestinian partners carry this concept in their mission statements and even in their name, and we hope to do them honor by maintaining our own space as free of hatred as we can. We invite you to disagree with our beliefs, to prove us wrong, to teach us something. We also want to know if you agree and we certainly want to hear your support. But if you want your voice to be heard in our forum, please respect the inherent value, which we call the image of God, in those who disagree with you in posts and in the comments. We look forward to learning with you.