Originally published at crisis magazine

I lived with my family in Israel from 1982 to 1989 while working for Save the Children (SCF) and Catholic Relief Services (CRS), mainly in the West Bank and Gaza. I managed a CRS-sponsored “Health Education” project there from 1984 to 1989. The five-year project provided training programs in 160 villages in the West Bank and Gaza. As a result of the recent violence there, many have asked me whose side I am on. This is a complicated question that I can’t answer without relating some of my experiences there that formed my opinion.

Going with Israel?

During my work in the West Bank (WB) and Gaza, I often had to take public transportation. I also frequented small shops, delis, and people’s homes. As soon as people recognized that I was an American, the conversation usually went to politics: “Why does America hate Palestinians?” “Does America understand what we are up against?” These were typical questions which I couldn’t answer since I witnessed their plight daily and had no idea what was driving the U.S. policies toward Israel. 

During these conversations, I always asked them this one question: “If you had a choice to go with Israel or Jordan, which would

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