The
ancient Hebrew prophets cast a vision of a nonviolent society when they urged
their hearers to beat their swords into plowshares.
author Miko Peled will cast a vision for a peaceful Middle East when he speaks
at St. Olaf on Nov. 2, 2013, about his and his father’s metaphorical “beatings” from
militant Zionists to advocates for Palestinian rights.
Peled’s free lecture, “Beyond Zionism—A New Paradigm for Israel-Palestine,” is 7 p.m.,
Nov. 2, 2013, at Tomson Hall 280 on the campus of St. Olaf College in
Northfield, Minn. Peled is the author of “The General’s Son: Journey of an
Israeli in Palestine” (Just World Books, 2012). He will take questions and sign
books—available at the event—after his presentation. The event is co-sponsored
by Northfielders for Justice in Palestine/Israel, Oles for Justice in
Palestine, the Department of Political Science, the Department of Sociology/Anthropology
and the Middle East Studies Program of St. Olaf.
Peled is the son of one of Israel’s most celebrated generals, Matti Peled, and the
maternal grandson of Avraham Katznelson, a signatory of Israel’s Declaration of Independence.
In “The General’s Son,” Peled tells the story of his remarkable journey from
patriotic supporter of Israeli domination to determined critic of its brutal
treatment of the Palestinians and a committed advocate of Palestinian rights.
His transformation, which parallels that of his hawkish father, is largely the
result of his encounters with and subsequent deep friendships he forms with
Palestinians. These often painful glimpses into life in the Occupied
Palestinian Territories reveal to Peled the awful truth of Israel’s oppression
of the Palestinians.
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hopefully of a future where Israelis and Palestinians enjoy equality and peace
in a single state in historic Palestine.
Born and raised in Jerusalem, Peled is a professional martial artist trained in
Israel, Japan and the United States. He founded and led a martial arts school
dedicated to teaching leadership skills and nonviolent conflict resolution in
San Diego, where he lives with his wife and children. Peled now dedicates
himself full time to writing, speaking and activism focused on the
Palestine/Israel issue.
NJP is an ecumenical group of community members who organize
local events to educate and advocate for justice and peace in Palestine/Israel.
For more information about the event or NJP, contact
committee member Allison Schmitt at 651-403-0657 or by e-mail at
info@njpmn.org.