Allen

After reading Allen's work and understanding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict it was easy to be consumed by the role of the human rights activist. The role that these men and women play is the basis for life in their world. Allen talks about not being able to be political in Chapter 1 but then later in the book write of the shift in time and belief, "It distances them from the grassroots, while at the same time expanded career paths into NGO work. A refugee activist and human rights worker criticized Al-Haq specifically for the way the organization's efforts at being "objective" had led them to give up on national principles after Oslo" (75). Allen is writing of the shift from the work of NGOs shifting from work of the people to work for the people. While the work of Al-Haq cannot be associated with political parties or alliances, the work of Al-Haq Palestinian's.

Palestinian's stood behind the work of Al-Haq, "NGOs were appreciated not only for the services they provided, but also for the particular model of democracy they expressed and practices, and for the democratic independent state they augured, for which many Palestinians hoped" (Allen 65). The work of the NGO's was admired and looked to by the people as a way out and a way to be helped but through politics and the personal gain of individuals, their hope is crushed by the gain of money.

A lot of the support for the NGO's was expressed by women, Allen writes of organizations that would come to support rally's for a cause. She writes of the International Red Crescent organization that supported the Palestinian cause. While Allen's focus is not necessarily the sole role of Women in the conflict, her notation of their support made me think. It seems that every great movement has had the support of women, Civil Rights is just one example. I mean their first black SGA president on campus was elected because of the sorority women refusing to be cast aside in the political sphere on campus.  Trivial as it may seem to some, it shows the power of women to support something they believe in.