I would like to tell you about a quite extraordinary event that happened to me during the ,,walk" organized by Tovana, the group of Vipasana (Buddhist) meditation in Israel. What happened was a very personal experience but I feel it is important to share it with other people. The Walk took place on the first week of April. lt intended to give an opportunity for Palestinians and Israelis to walk together, to develop dialogue and self introspection, inspired by the ancient traditions that guided people like Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King.What I experienced on the last day was very much in the spirit of peace and coexistence, of calm and serenity created by the walk in the midst of the atmosphere of insanity and violence around us. During 8 days, participants walked together from Tel Aviv-Yaffo to Jerusalem, passing by Jewish and Arab towns and settlements, in silence and awareness, declaring a commitment to deep listening and non-violence.

I joined the Walk with a group of Palestinians and Israelis who practice meditation and mindfulness together according to the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh, a Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk and famous peace worker. I participated in several days of the Walk. Monday 8th of April, the last day of the Walk, was the eve of the Holocaust day, a day of deep emotion for the Jewish community.

The bus arrives, the Jewish man boards the bus and the situation seems to have settled down. Then, a Jewish woman who was there in the queue from the beginning of the argument, and who did not get into the bus, takes upon herself to start insulting the Arab who reacts immediately. The police have gone and I am left alone to try to calm the situation. I give my attention to the Arab who would have stayed quiet if he was not continually provoked by the woman. I try from a distance to reason with her without success. She stops a passing police car and says something to the policeman who walks up to the Arab. I explain him what is going on and he goes back to the woman. I am so happy that all the policemen in this situation act so calmly and help to restore peace.

This whole situation is greater than the two of us and takes on proportions beyond our present meeting. She shouts out her sorrow about what is going on now in the territories, the military incursions into Palestinian towns. She talks in particular about Jenin where some terrible fighting is now taking place. She has family and friends there and she says that our soldiers are war criminals. She is convinced that we want to kill them all. Why do we hate them so much? They are not responsible for the Holocaust, why should they be paying the price? She tells me about the refugees and their constant suffering for which we are responsible! Pointing at the Jewish woman, she assures me that this Sephardic woman was treated with honor, as a human being, in an Arab counrty from where she comes, and look at how she behaves with Palestinians now!

It goes on and on; she shouts and spews her hatred for Israel at me.I dont try to argue with her at all. I dont show any reaction to all these accusations. I feel a huge compassion and an intense need to listen to her, only listen to her.

My patience is nourished by understanding that behind this overwhelming hatred is a deep suffering and pain aggravated by the present situation of war. It must express itself in some way so that healing can take place. I am ready to listen to what appears to me as the worst accusations, distortions or calumnies, without reacting.I am aware that what reinforces my strength at this moment is that I have absolutely no doubt that the suffering and pain of the Israeli people is not less real and legitimate. I don't let myself get tempted or trapped into guilt or anger. I am sorry for the tragedy on both sides. My compassion for her is not on the account of the compassion and sense of loyalty I have for my own people, for myself. For me this is not an issue of who is right and who is wrong. I feel very very calm and peaceful deep inside. I know that it is the only way to calm her fury.

They are in a line, a hundred of them, one after the other walking in silence, slowly, quietly, aware of each step, creating an atmosphere of peace and safety around them. They are very present. They radiate calm and warmth. I point them our to her and explain that this is the reason I came here, to join a walk of peace in which Palestinians and Israeli are together. I teIl her about the Walk, its message of coexistence and peace; peace at every step, here and now. I suggest that she come into the line with me. She hesitates and rejects my offer. At this moment they reach us. Several people I know shake my hand warmly as they go by. A young woman very active in a group of rapprochement between the two peoples, approaches her and gives her a kiss. It appears that they know each other. I notice that she is very moved by the Walk and the atmosphere it radiates. She seems to me calmer and calmer. Nothing like the furious woman I met only several minutes before. The end of the line passes by us and I want to join it. Again I invite her and again she declines. I teIl her that I understand and respect her decision.