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Interview Questions for Shlomi Daskal

Where are you from and how did you start doing this work?

Was this the first time you were involved in joint work?

You said that you don’t know what sparked your interest in Arabic, what do you think in retrospect?

Please explain the project and your work.

Do you also participate in gathering signatures?

What’s the most difficult part of this project?

How can you convince people that “there is a partner” on the other side?

Do Palestinian Israelis also sign the agreement?

How come Arab Israelis sign on the Israeli side?

Getting back to the 160,000 signatures-that’s still only signatures, what do you think the impact can be?

Why is it risky for Palestinians to divulge that information-their ID number and phone number?

I noticed that people can sign the petition via your website, even people from abroad. How does that work?

Why would Israelis be reluctant to give out their identity card numbers?

Who are the people that collect signatures?

What is the effect of the head of the Israeli side being the former director of the GSS? Is it important?

Sari Nusseibeh comes from academia, how is that effective?

What have you learned from working with your colleagues?

What’s the most difficult thing for your group to agree on?

And does everyone who signs know that the agreement gives up or limits the right of return for Palestinians?

What’s the larger dream that must be given up in order to compromise?

You said "everybody agrees on the '67 borders." Who agrees--are you referring to the people who sign your statement, or to the two societies in general?

How far do you think this can go? What are your hopes for this stage, and this project?

Are you personally satisfied with the agreement?

You are also involved with the Movement for Realistic Religious Zionism. What is that?

When did you get involved in this Movement?

Why did you want to link the Movement for Realistic Religious Zionism to the People's Voice?

What’s the most important thing for you, as a religious person, to move forward? Is leaving the settlements the focus? Is that enough?

How does that connect to the People’s Voice?

Regarding the name Realistic Religious Zionism, what do you mean by realistic?

What do you personally gain from being involved in this kind of work, in both projects?

What does your family think about your work?

Are you hurt by people rejecting your ideas and opposing your work?

How do the Israeli and Palestinian authorities approach the People's Voice?

The Geneva Initiative was criticized for undermining the government.

Do Ami Ayalon’s connections help?

Do you see the disengagement as being an important issue? How do you regard it?

As a religious person, can you justify evacuating the Territories? Can you justify it according to halacha [Jewish religious law] or do you feel the need to?

Do you think that the National Religious community needs to confront these questions?

Does either the Ayalon-Nusseibeh initiative or the Movement address the issue of the Temple Mount?

What is the percentage of religious people who sign on the Israeli side?

How has the conflict affected your life?

Do you still do reserve service?

Do you not do reserve service in the Territories because you refuse to?

What is most important for you to achieve?

What does "a democratic homeland for the Jewish people" mean?

Do you think that is contradictory - a democratic Jewish homeland?

Which external agents from abroad can influence the region in a positive manner?

Can you talk a little about previous peace processes and where you think they failed?

Do you see any signs that it will be different next time around?

What are the roots of this conflict?

Does religion play an important role? Is it your classic conflict among nations?

What does the word peace mean for you?

Is there anything you’d like to add?

In terms of peace processes and peace organizations’ failures, are there any successes to mention? Are there any people or movements that you appreciate, that you consider role models or have made any breakthrough progress?

You mentioned the conscientious objectors. What do you think their effect is?