Statement of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment re. Israel Trauma Coalition

Members of Watertown Citizens met with members of the School District Administration in early June to discuss our concerns about the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC), as outlined in our statement below. We were very pleased by their positive response and by their concern for the Watertown parents, children and residents who were disturbed by the invitation to the ITC. We were invited to help administrative staff address issues of diversity and we look forward to this opportunity.

 Statement of Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment re. Israel Trauma Coalition

 Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice and the Environment (Watertown Citizens) has a long and proud history of providing generations of Watertown residents opportunities to expand awareness, increase knowledge and engage in citizen advocacy.  Our programs are driven by our belief that each of us can affect local, regional and national policies regarding the interrelated issues of peace, justice and the environment.  Our members share an appreciation and respect for the cultural diversity of Watertown, which is echoed by individuals and organizations throughout Watertown, from our neighbors to civic leaders to elected officials.  It is Watertown Citizens’ respect for cultural diversity and social justice that has generated the following statement on the presence of the Israel Trauma Coalition in Watertown.

 Following the bombings at the Boston Marathon and the subsequent events in Cambridge and Watertown, many organizations offered counseling services, including the Red Cross, Children’s Hospital and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.  One offer came from the Israel Trauma Coalition (ITC) through a grant from Combined Jewish Philanthropies.  In addition to a presentation by Children's Hospital Center for Refugee Trauma and Resilience, the Watertown School District engaged the ITC to provide workshops for students, parents, teachers and other staff.  We applaud the School District for recognizing the need for services for those who were distressed by the events that occurred in Watertown.

 However, Watertown Citizens believes that the sponsorship of the ITC in Watertown demonstrates a lack of awareness, or insensitivity, albeit unintentional, about the impact of ITC's presence on many Watertown residents, those of Palestinian, Arab and Muslim descent, as well as their allies in the peace movement.  Many of us are deeply troubled by the policies and practices of the Israeli government and army, which have inflicted significant trauma, injury and death on thousands of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, while generating outrage throughout the Muslim world.  (visit the website, If Americans Knew).  Others in our community have been directly affected by that violence and trauma.  We know parents who did not attend the ITC sessions because they felt excluded because of the Israeli team.  

We do not question the expertise of the presenters.  Rather, we object to an Israeli group being invited to our community without, we believe, appropriate vetting and also by their selected use of examples of trauma.

While we understand there was a vetting process, we believe it was inadequate.  Were Watertown residents of Middle Eastern heritage involved in the review process?  Was any peace organization, local or Boston-area, contacted for their input?  Watertown Citizens has many members who have traveled to Israel-Palestine, who have had extensive stays in the region, who teach the issue in universities, who could have been consulted.  We believe it necessary to include in any vetting process individuals who are familiar with the issues involved.

With respect to the ITC presentation, the team was composed of experienced professionals and their material was of high quality.  However, ITC's presentation focused on experiences of Israeli residents in southern Israel (near Gaza).  We realize that the ITC team was speaking from their own experience, but we were struck by the omission of any mention of the violence and trauma experienced by Palestinian residents of the West Bank and Gaza.  

In essence, the ITC presentation contributed to promoting a positive image of Israel while ignoring Israel’s responsibility for the trauma they have caused to hundreds of thousands of Palestinians.  We find ourselves wondering what reception the Gaza Community Mental Health Program would have received if they had offered their excellent trauma care services to the Watertown community. 

In the spirit of collaboration, we would like to offer these recommendations should there be a need for counseling services in the future:

a)      Employ more in-depth vetting of organizations and sponsors to ensure that their presentations demonstrate an awareness of, and respect for, Watertown's diverse communities.

b)      Utilize the services of organizations, preferably U.S. based, such as the Red Cross and the many  excellent Boston-based counseling and training centers, whose agenda is less likely to be perceived as politically motivated.

c)      Offer students and school personnel programs designed to increase awareness about the cultural diversity in Watertown.

As Watertown continues to move forward, let us create events and activities that enhance our reputation as a diverse and accepting community.  To that end, Watertown Citizens is exploring collaborative possibilities with other organizations, houses of worship, and cultural centers to create a “Celebrate Watertown’s Diversity” event.  If you are interested in participating in this effort, please email us at watertowncitizens@gmail.com.

Steering Committee

Watertown Citizens for Peace, Justice, and the Environment