This past weekend, a Palestinian youth organizer named Hisham Jabi spoke on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He drew an audience of about 65 to hear his views on the life of Palestinians.

Jabi works as a contractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development on programs for Palestinian youth in the West Bank.

Jabi said the only way to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is through mutual respect and direct human interaction, not war.

“Our approach should be a human, grassroots, people-to-people approach,” he said. “We can’t just keep focusing on negatives. We have to stand up and talk with each other. All we are asking for is justice - justice for Jews and for Palestinians.”

Norm Assed, a Palestinian man in the audience, said the future of the West Bank and the Gaza Strip is uncertain.

Assed said there is a way to improve the situation.

“I’m 60 years old, and I don’t want to die without seeing an independent Palestine,” he said. “We need to speak to not only the American people, but also to the progressive Jewish community to seek partnerships constantly.”

Stephanie Hiller, a Jewish woman in the audience, said the situation will be worked out when people realize aggression doesn’t benefit anyone.

“Violent oppression reproduces violence,” she said. “If we recognize that, then we can rise to a nonviolent and humane approach. Our hearts will come to a different place, and we will find new solutions to this deeply entrenched problem.”