Myron is an Israeli settler and activist who lives in the West Bank. His compassion for his Palestinian neighbors might surprise you. We hope you will enjoy this interview. Myron’s life is a lesson in compassion and activism.
Myron Joshua has lived on Kibbutz Kfar Etzion for fifty years. Does Kfar Etzion sound familiar to you? Myron’s life has been a veritable history lesson of Israel from his family evading Nazi Germany before World War II, living today in Kibbutz Kfar Etzion, the site of the infamous 1948 Jewish massacre the day before the declaration of the state of Israel, to him being in the thick of the 1967 6-Day war which produced the heated term, “Occupied territory.”
Although I didn’t know Myron until recently, his life’s history has even intertwined with mine, during our family’s harrowing trip to Israel that changed my life, resulting in me wanting to work on Peace.
As Myron became more aware of the limitations placed on his Palestinian neighbors in Gush Etzion, he got involved in broadening and deepening the connection between the Palestinian and Israeli residents of the West Bank. In his work with Roots-Shorashim-Judur, an organization striving to improve relationships between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank, Myron acts as a Roots’ liaison to the Civil Administration—Israel’s governing body in the West Bank.
Myron certainly took my blinders off, as he will for all of us, telling true stories of this complicated situation and sharing pictures of some of the Palestinian realities like asking for permission from the military for appointments, licenses and permits. What was this kind-heartened, fair Israeli settler to do? He’s been a mensch helping his Palestinian neighbors the best he can.
https://vimeo.com/517917190