Ruth Coffee
Ruth Coffee, from the San Francisco Bay Area, went to Palestine summer 2003; during this time she traveled to Bethlehem and Jerusalem but spent most of her time in Jenin. “I went there to witness what was happening and support occupied Palestinians in whatever way I could,†Coffee states. Mostly that involved listening to, talking to and being with people for whom life under military occupation is an inescapable part of their lives. “I wished to somewhat decrease the intense isolation that such living conditions create,†Coffee adds. Upon her return, she has become increasingly compelled to break the “veil of silence†that covers honest, open discussion about Israel’s military occupation and the critical role played by the U.S. government.