Holy Land Trust meets with the Dalai Lama: share messages of solidarity

On Sunday February 19th, nine staff and volunteers from Holy Land Trust met with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Jerusalem. For Holy Land Trust, an organization dedicated to building a strong Palestinian nation and resisting the Israeli Occupation through nonviolence, the chance to meet with the Dalai Lama was both empowering and timely. Awni Jubran, Program manager of Holy Land Trust’s Peacebuilding and Reconciliation program explained: “The Dalai Lama is a light for Palestinians. His work on peace and nonviolence gives us hope for the future. He is not just a man who has come to visit, he is history, he is life, and he is a teacher.”

Holy land Trust was deeply honored by the Dalai Lama’s desire to visit Palestine through our office. We knew that there would be obstacles to coordinating this visit. Holy Land Trust’s desire was to have the Dalai Lama visit Bethlehem, where he could see the severity of the Occupation first-hand, talk and interact with Palestinians, and give his message directly to members of our community.

Ensuring the safety and security of the Dalai Lama was an overriding priority that ultimately could not be met without the cooperation of the Palestinian Authority. The Dalai Lama’s office postponed the meeting in Bethlehem, stating the following: “His Holiness the Dalai Lama has been always keen to visit the Palestinians and share with them views and experiences. However, at the present time the Palestinian side felt that a visit to Bethlehem would cause inconvenience, and therefore it was postponed.” In the meeting, both the Dalai Lama and Holy Land Trust representatives shared their disappointment at being unable to coordinate a trip to the West Bank.

Despite external pressure, Holy Land Trust did not back down from its commitment to meet with the Dalai Lama. On Sunday the 19th, members of the delegation conveyed the enormous struggles that Palestinians face living under Occupation; they described some of the actions that are underway to ‘re-engage’ Palestinian communities in nonviolence and popular resistance; and explained how critical international support and pressure will be in any effort to end the Occupation and build a Palestinian nation.

Holy Land Trust’s Executive Director, Sami Awad, explained that since the organization’s inception it has stressed the importance of developing connections between Palestinians and Tibetans who have shared similar experiences living under Occupation. We would like to share some key messages the Dalai Lama had for both Palestinians and Israelis:

“In meetings with Israelis and Palestinians, my message is the same: Nonviolence, Compassion. When there is a problem we have two choices. Either remain indifferent or face it, engage it. To remain indifferent is too selfish, I think, and also eventually you will suffer because you are all of society. You will suffer. We must face or confront with sense of community and sense of responsibility. Once you face it you have two choices. With hatred and violence, short sighted, narrow minded; that’s one choice. Another choice: long-term interest, long-term future, holistic view. Accordingly, nonviolence out of compassion. Respect other’s rights, respect other’s interests. Two choices. The first choice, I think many people do that. Result? Endless bloodshed, endless violence. Violence out of violence, more violence, more violence.”

“The stronger side must extend a hand, then the weaker side let them feel safe, not miss the opportunity. It is wrong to expect a good gesture from the weaker side. The stronger side must extend a hand.”

“The whole area owned by one group is impossible. You have to live together side-by-side. Therefore, violence is illogical. Nonviolence is the only way. It may take time. Sometimes, you may not achieve your satisfaction completely but that is the only way.”

• Sami Awad recently released a statement responding to false allegations that Holy Land Trust “withdrew” their invitation to His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Click here to read the statement.

• For more information on Holy Land Trust’s Peace and Reconciliation program click here.