Two weeks ago, a Palestinian Christian living outside Bethlehem snuck past the Jewish settlements in the Jordan River Valley in order to catch a plane that would take her to the United States.
On Wednesday, Amira Hilal's trip to America took her to the White Dog Cafe, where she was joined by Roni Hammerman, a Jewish Israeli, and Sherene Abdulhadi, a Muslim Palestinian, both from Jerusalem.
On their ten-city tour, ranging from Waco, Texas to Washington, D.C., the three women spoke at colleges, churches, synagogues and even on Capitol Hill in an event organized by Congressman Tom Davis (R-Va.).
They discussed the Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the dividing wall Israel is building and the bombings and assassinations that have plagued both sides. The presentations were accompanied by a slide show of photographs of Israel and Palestine which had been taken by the women.
There were also stories of personal experience. Hilal told of soldiers coming to arrest her father when she was a young girl, and of a colleague who was recently stopped at a checkpoint and sentenced to six months in prison under "administrative detention," which is scheduled to end in January.
Abdulhadi was more focused on the politics of the region. She argued that the conflict is based on economics, not religion, citing the centuries of peaceful coexistence in Palestine before the occupation.
"We are semites like the Isreali Jews," said Abdulhadi, who has had to confront charges of anti-semitism in her tour of the United States.
The women came as part of a project organized by non-profit Partners for Peace. This is the 11th group of multi-faith women the organization has brought to America.
Their talks, however, haven't always gone smoothly, and sometimes have been canceled completely.
According to Abdulhadi, the Israeli Embassy attempted to shut down their talk at George Washington University. The group was also unable to speak in Ft. Worth, Texas, because of protests.
Hilal said that she has enjoyed being in America, but is counting the days until she can return to Palestine. "I know that Israel wants me to leave, and because of that I love my country more."
Attendees, some of whom were high school students, seemed happy with the event.
"I learned about the political issues in class," said Nicole Husbands, a senior at a local Quaker High School. "I came because I wanted to learn more about the people."
