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Occupied with Nonviolence: A Palestinian Woman Speaks
Jean Zaru , the longtime activist andQuaker leader from Ramallah, herebrings home the pain and centralconvictions that animate Christiannonviolence and activity today. Zaru vividly paints the complex realitiesfaced by all parties in Palestine - Jewsand Muslims and Christians, Israelisand Palestinians, women and men. Yeteven as Zaru eloquently names thecommon misunderstandings of thehistory, present situation, and currentpolicies of the parties there, she vividlyarticulates an a religiouslymotivated nonviolent path to peaceand justice in the world's most troubledregion.
168 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 2008
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161 people want to read
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May 19, 2025I would encourage every person with a Zionist news feed to read this book. It comes from a thoroughly Palestinian perspective, but with a pacifist approach.
"Non-violence is threatening to the powers that be because non-violence undermines their pretense to moral authority. Non-violence reconceptualizes power and it gives the ordinary person power to effect change. Non-violence exposes and then challenges the structures of domination and not just the overt symptoms. It then, in turn, requires the oppressor to examine how they, too, are victims of the very violence that they impart.
"Non-violence is threatening to the powers that be because non-violence undermines their pretense to moral authority. Non-violence reconceptualizes power and it gives the ordinary person power to effect change. Non-violence exposes and then challenges the structures of domination and not just the overt symptoms. It then, in turn, requires the oppressor to examine how they, too, are victims of the very violence that they impart.
September 9, 2025
Preached too much christianity and not enough nonviolence but I liked
August 13, 2016
Jean Zaru writes this personal account as a genuine person who cannot but share her account. Her reflection is necessary: she talks about the context with emphasis on the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza, and with some focus on the segregation of the map and fragmentation of the people.
I identified with this book to the point of smiling, because even though I am not sure I ever met Jean Zaru in person, she nevertheless seems very familiar; like a new friend, of perhaps a neighbor, from Ramallah. Her voice is that of a person who knows the meaning of inner peace, and it stays simple and loving, despite the harshness of reality.
While Jean Zaru's book may target a foreign audience in the sense that she explains the dispossession of the people of Palestine, her witness to the reality of refugees, her struggle of living not just in a highly-tense place politically but also socially within a patriarchal system that may choose to undermine her voice as a woman, as well as her clarification, perhaps with emphasis to a Western audience, of her gradual understanding of Islam from a Christian perspective, and her sharing that some of her closest friends and neighbors have been Muslim. She addresses the reality of displacement, inequality, injustice, and some of the personal atrocities she has had to endure (like the disappearance of her brother who they had never heard back from).
Her book, however, does speak to the local context and is relevant to Palestinians as well. She manages to describe, in a way that may seem simple, how she feels as a Palestinian woman, but describing this is by no means an easy task. There are bits and pieces she shares that have deep connotations and that shed light to the state of loss and dilemma that most Palestinians feel but that have not been documented to full extent. Great examples can be found in this book, such as the sense of loss that Palestinians feel due to the changing geography and history: "My home in Ramallah is ten miles north of Jerusalem and I used to go to the city two or three times a week for meetings or lectures. [In fact all her children and grandchildren were born in Jerusalem]. Today, I cannot go to Jerusalem for any reason, including worship, work, education, or medical treatment. I cannot drive my car there. If I do manage to get a permit to enter Jerusalem, I feel like a stranger in my own country. I don't recognize the new roads. I don't recognize the Hebrew names that have replaced all the traditional names."
Moreover, she shares nuances that are very pertinent to Palestinian society, and those are also quite reflective:
"Year after year, facing the challenges of land and water, political freedom and freedom even to move from place to place, some of my people have opted to withdraw. They either withdraw internally from the conflict or they physically leave Palestine and withdraw externally. Many have responded in this manner because they truly perceive their situation as intolerable and hopeless. Regardless of the motivation, withdrawal cushions us from feeling the full impact of our situation. But it also cuts us off from the information and the observations vital to our survival as a people. When we withdraw, our gifts and our perceptions get buried. The realities of domination go unchallenged, leading neither to inner nor outer transformation."
"Some people, of course, have chosen to accommodate, comply, or manipulate. When we manipulate, we have the illusion of being in control. We can reap some rewards, but in doing so we are accepting the system's terms, its unspoken rules and values, including the often negative values it accords to us. Manipulation does not challenge the low value the system places on us as individuals and as a people. In order to manipulate the system of Israeli power, we cannot be ourselves, express our true feelings, or share our real perspectives; we literally mask ourselves. Manipulation may get us some of the system's rewards, but it neither liberates us individually or transforms the structures of domination."
"The alternative is to resist."
By resisting, she suggests different ways for nonviolent resistance. Zaru sometimes presents solutions in a didactic manner, and perhaps that is the 'teacher' in her that comes off in some parts of the book, but the fact that she keeps her superiority in check and stays true to her message of inner peace make us not only forgive the instruction, whether or not we entirely agree, but also deeply appreciate the wisdom she shares:
"Nonviolence should not, however, instill feelings of moral superiority, because we know how soon we may stumble when we are put to the test. We may talk about peace, but if we are not transformed inwardly, if we still are motivated by greed, if we are nationalistic, if we are bound by beliefs and dogmas for which we are willing to destroy others, we cannot have peace in the world."
It is refreshing to read these honest takes from a person who admits to being the product of society, and respects the society in all its different elements, but who nevertheless does have her own voice, knows the value of her own voice, and makes use of her voice:
"As Palestinian women, we have a special burden and service. We are constantly being told to be peaceful. But the inner peace of which I speak is not simply being nice, or being passive, or permitting oneself to be trampled upon without protest. It is not passive nonviolence, but the nonviolence of courageous action."
And she is not shy to point out to some of the deep issues and problems that come with religion. Her notes on Jerusalem are especially interesting in this respect, my own city which I refer to as the city of lunatics:
She quotes Lucas, who writes, "it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem" (13:33). And Matthew: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" (Matt. 23:37)
While Jean Zaru admits that religion may well be a problem, seeing that this is a highly-religious context as is, she stresses that religion could actually be seen as the solution. "We need prophets of justice rather than the prophets of judgement!" Her understanding of religion is not one that limits, rather that it opens up horizons, and in that sense she is respectful of all religions. "I cannot feel superior and assume that our light is the only light. The light did not come from ourselves. When we make ourselves the judge and master, we fall into the great illusion we call sin. This is what is happening in all of us. Each becomes centered on herself or himself, in conflict with the neighbor, forgetting the light we share with all humanity, with all creatures. Sin is the failure of love - a failure to respond to the movement of grace that is ever drawing us out of ourselves into the divine life, into the light."
This book is an easy-to-read and quick-to-finish book, and is recommended for those who wish to understand more about Palestine and what has become of it from a personal point of view.
Additional paragraphs to reflect on and appreciate:
"The issue of peace and justice is complex, overwhelming, and discouraging for many of us. But many of the causes of war and injustice are also within ourselves. For those of us who are lucky, we have three meals a day. We have our jobs, our positions, and our titles. We do not want to be disturbed. We talk about peace. We even have conferences where we listen to many speeches. But, if we are not inwardly transformed, if we still seek power and position, if we are motivated by greed, if we are nationalistic, if we are bound by dogmas and beliefs for which we are willing to die and to destroy others, we cannot have peace in the world. These affirmations are a way of beginning where each of us lives and speaks to the ways of thinking and living that will promote peace."
"Future generations may look back at these serial tragedies one after the other and see them differently, but those of us who have lived through the past decades of despair, empty promises, shattered dreams, loss of land, water, and resources and denial of basic human rights find it often difficult to keep faith in the struggle against seemingly overwhelming odds. I believe that what we call the Catastrophe will be, for future generations, the critical issue that deserved the sustained attention of the world and yet did not get it. It continues to have political implications for the whole world and emotional resonance for people far beyond Palestine. It is our fear this untreated Catastrophe will be a future Catastrophe for many other people."
I identified with this book to the point of smiling, because even though I am not sure I ever met Jean Zaru in person, she nevertheless seems very familiar; like a new friend, of perhaps a neighbor, from Ramallah. Her voice is that of a person who knows the meaning of inner peace, and it stays simple and loving, despite the harshness of reality.
While Jean Zaru's book may target a foreign audience in the sense that she explains the dispossession of the people of Palestine, her witness to the reality of refugees, her struggle of living not just in a highly-tense place politically but also socially within a patriarchal system that may choose to undermine her voice as a woman, as well as her clarification, perhaps with emphasis to a Western audience, of her gradual understanding of Islam from a Christian perspective, and her sharing that some of her closest friends and neighbors have been Muslim. She addresses the reality of displacement, inequality, injustice, and some of the personal atrocities she has had to endure (like the disappearance of her brother who they had never heard back from).
Her book, however, does speak to the local context and is relevant to Palestinians as well. She manages to describe, in a way that may seem simple, how she feels as a Palestinian woman, but describing this is by no means an easy task. There are bits and pieces she shares that have deep connotations and that shed light to the state of loss and dilemma that most Palestinians feel but that have not been documented to full extent. Great examples can be found in this book, such as the sense of loss that Palestinians feel due to the changing geography and history: "My home in Ramallah is ten miles north of Jerusalem and I used to go to the city two or three times a week for meetings or lectures. [In fact all her children and grandchildren were born in Jerusalem]. Today, I cannot go to Jerusalem for any reason, including worship, work, education, or medical treatment. I cannot drive my car there. If I do manage to get a permit to enter Jerusalem, I feel like a stranger in my own country. I don't recognize the new roads. I don't recognize the Hebrew names that have replaced all the traditional names."
Moreover, she shares nuances that are very pertinent to Palestinian society, and those are also quite reflective:
"Year after year, facing the challenges of land and water, political freedom and freedom even to move from place to place, some of my people have opted to withdraw. They either withdraw internally from the conflict or they physically leave Palestine and withdraw externally. Many have responded in this manner because they truly perceive their situation as intolerable and hopeless. Regardless of the motivation, withdrawal cushions us from feeling the full impact of our situation. But it also cuts us off from the information and the observations vital to our survival as a people. When we withdraw, our gifts and our perceptions get buried. The realities of domination go unchallenged, leading neither to inner nor outer transformation."
"Some people, of course, have chosen to accommodate, comply, or manipulate. When we manipulate, we have the illusion of being in control. We can reap some rewards, but in doing so we are accepting the system's terms, its unspoken rules and values, including the often negative values it accords to us. Manipulation does not challenge the low value the system places on us as individuals and as a people. In order to manipulate the system of Israeli power, we cannot be ourselves, express our true feelings, or share our real perspectives; we literally mask ourselves. Manipulation may get us some of the system's rewards, but it neither liberates us individually or transforms the structures of domination."
"The alternative is to resist."
By resisting, she suggests different ways for nonviolent resistance. Zaru sometimes presents solutions in a didactic manner, and perhaps that is the 'teacher' in her that comes off in some parts of the book, but the fact that she keeps her superiority in check and stays true to her message of inner peace make us not only forgive the instruction, whether or not we entirely agree, but also deeply appreciate the wisdom she shares:
"Nonviolence should not, however, instill feelings of moral superiority, because we know how soon we may stumble when we are put to the test. We may talk about peace, but if we are not transformed inwardly, if we still are motivated by greed, if we are nationalistic, if we are bound by beliefs and dogmas for which we are willing to destroy others, we cannot have peace in the world."
It is refreshing to read these honest takes from a person who admits to being the product of society, and respects the society in all its different elements, but who nevertheless does have her own voice, knows the value of her own voice, and makes use of her voice:
"As Palestinian women, we have a special burden and service. We are constantly being told to be peaceful. But the inner peace of which I speak is not simply being nice, or being passive, or permitting oneself to be trampled upon without protest. It is not passive nonviolence, but the nonviolence of courageous action."
And she is not shy to point out to some of the deep issues and problems that come with religion. Her notes on Jerusalem are especially interesting in this respect, my own city which I refer to as the city of lunatics:
She quotes Lucas, who writes, "it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem" (13:33). And Matthew: "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" (Matt. 23:37)
While Jean Zaru admits that religion may well be a problem, seeing that this is a highly-religious context as is, she stresses that religion could actually be seen as the solution. "We need prophets of justice rather than the prophets of judgement!" Her understanding of religion is not one that limits, rather that it opens up horizons, and in that sense she is respectful of all religions. "I cannot feel superior and assume that our light is the only light. The light did not come from ourselves. When we make ourselves the judge and master, we fall into the great illusion we call sin. This is what is happening in all of us. Each becomes centered on herself or himself, in conflict with the neighbor, forgetting the light we share with all humanity, with all creatures. Sin is the failure of love - a failure to respond to the movement of grace that is ever drawing us out of ourselves into the divine life, into the light."
This book is an easy-to-read and quick-to-finish book, and is recommended for those who wish to understand more about Palestine and what has become of it from a personal point of view.
Additional paragraphs to reflect on and appreciate:
"The issue of peace and justice is complex, overwhelming, and discouraging for many of us. But many of the causes of war and injustice are also within ourselves. For those of us who are lucky, we have three meals a day. We have our jobs, our positions, and our titles. We do not want to be disturbed. We talk about peace. We even have conferences where we listen to many speeches. But, if we are not inwardly transformed, if we still seek power and position, if we are motivated by greed, if we are nationalistic, if we are bound by dogmas and beliefs for which we are willing to die and to destroy others, we cannot have peace in the world. These affirmations are a way of beginning where each of us lives and speaks to the ways of thinking and living that will promote peace."
"Future generations may look back at these serial tragedies one after the other and see them differently, but those of us who have lived through the past decades of despair, empty promises, shattered dreams, loss of land, water, and resources and denial of basic human rights find it often difficult to keep faith in the struggle against seemingly overwhelming odds. I believe that what we call the Catastrophe will be, for future generations, the critical issue that deserved the sustained attention of the world and yet did not get it. It continues to have political implications for the whole world and emotional resonance for people far beyond Palestine. It is our fear this untreated Catastrophe will be a future Catastrophe for many other people."
October 3, 2025
I enjoyed reading these insights from a Palestinian Christian woman who has lived her whole life in Palestine. As the title of the book suggests, she has allowed the peace and justice of God to occupy her mind, rather than a spirit of revenge, retaliation or hate. We need to be hearing and acknowledging the many voices like hers because she is not alone in her desire for a nonviolent path to peace.
"There is such a great need to tell the truth. For there is no plan, no deal, and no imposed peace process-no matter how powerful-that can succeed without addressing the underlying issues of justice. They are people on all sides-Palestinians, Israelis, internationals-who are trying to tell the truth and are working together to expose the structures of violence, the structures and systems of injustice, which are the very foundation of the conflict."
"There is such a great need to tell the truth. For there is no plan, no deal, and no imposed peace process-no matter how powerful-that can succeed without addressing the underlying issues of justice. They are people on all sides-Palestinians, Israelis, internationals-who are trying to tell the truth and are working together to expose the structures of violence, the structures and systems of injustice, which are the very foundation of the conflict."
June 17, 2023
This book blew me away. Zaru has such a deep commitment to pacifism (nonviolence), and sensitivity to the cultures, needs and aspirations of all of her neighbours. I commented to a friend, after finishing the book, that I felt that she had given the best example of what it means to be Christian in this 21st century.
September 26, 2019
An excellent book from the Perspective of a Christian Palestinian woman. Very good introductory to the Palestinian struggle and Palestinian liberation theology, but also to the Quaker faith and their non-violent principles.
Want to read
December 25, 2022January 14, 2020
Beautiful thoughts from a Quaker Christian living under Israeli occupation in Palestine.
December 10, 2021
This is a terrific, straightforward account of what life as an Arab Palestinian Christian woman has become under the oppressive weight of the Israeli occupation. Zaru is an impassioned, clear writer who cuts through the "fake symmetry" (a term she coins) to lay out the ongoing plight of Palestinians not just from a political birds-eye-view, but also from the intimate perspective of a lifelong resident. I was most excited to check this book out after discovering that Zaru is a Quaker, as someone who has been exploring Quakerism for about a year now. "Neighbors" is the chapter that most directly connects to how that part of her faith shapes her outlook and life, and it was one of the true highlights for me. Put simply, it was incredibly moving to read about someone in the throes of occupation who is still endeavoring to see "that of God" in every person, and to love their enemies as their neighbors. Obviously, as the title suggests, the Quaker anti-war/peace/nonviolence tradition is also central to the book, with numerous chapters discussing that from different angles. Again, I was moved to hear her testimony of this aspect of the faith, as someone with every reason to give in to the despair that leads to violence and amassing the fortitude not to. The chapter "Nonviolence" was the other highlight of the book for me, and includes some powerful arguments for nonviolence not just at an ideological but also a practical level. I believe the book is a compilation of different speeches Zaru has given, which lends itself to some redundancy, covering ground in one chapter that was tread earlier. That said, it makes for an excellent primer on the too-often ignored or obscured situation regarding the occupation of Palestine, the very real ways it has affected the life of one woman, and the inspiring ways she has remained committed to nonviolently resistance.
April 18, 2012
Quaker Palestinian Christian and all that goes along with that. It is a collection gathered from her speaches so it can make it a bit disjointed at times but it's great for reading a chapter at a time with a group for discussion.
September 3, 2008
Great insight from a Palestinian Quaker. Lacks critical reflection on Israel, but gives a very different perspective from the US Media on Palestinians.
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