< Back | Home

Anna Baltzer talks about her experience living in the Israeli-occupied Palestinian territories Tuesday in the SLC. Baltzer traveled in the West Bank while working with the International Women's Peace Service.

Jewish author lectures, defends Palestine

By: YASMIN YONIS

Posted: 3/5/08

he granddaughter of Holocaust survivors and a former West Bank resident spoke against Israel's occupation of Palestine Tuesday night.

Hosted by Athens for Justice in Palestine, Anna Baltzer's lecture was one of many in her book tour.

She wrote the book, "Witness in Palestine: A Jewish American Woman in the Occupied Territories," to bring attention to the plight of Palestinians.

While teaching English in Turkey, Baltzer first learned the extent of the conflict when she traveled to other countries in the Middle East. She said at first she was shocked and angered by propaganda from the displaced Palestinian families, but Baltzer decided to see for herself if the stories were true.

She joined the International Women's Peace Service and is now speaking against what she calls human rights violations in Israel.

"As a Jewish American, I have been invited all over the country, all the world, to tell stories of Palestinians because I am Jewish," she said. "If a Palestinian said what I said today they would be called a terrorist and anti-Semitic."

Baltzer said Israel's actions are not reflected in the teachings of Judaism. She highlighted concerns about the high death rates of Palestinians and ethnic segregation by a wall built by the government around Palestinian settlements.

Security walls, check points and violence are just everyday struggles Palestinians face, she said.

During her time living in the West Bank, Baltzer said she saw pregnant women and children dying after being stopped for long periods of time at checkpoints.

Palestinians and Israelis take part in non-violent movements by marching, protesting and holding sit-ins, she explained.

"It is these kinds of things that give me hope and keep me going," Baltzer said.