Past-president Dick Carlson was chair of the day, and introduced our guest and speaker Dr. James L. Bailey who presented the Palestinian story of life under Israeli occupation. “Listening compassionately to the narrative of others begins a journey towards understanding and justice.” Dr. Bailey began with this quote, and then launched into a shortened history of the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians, showing how it has evolved and worsened to the place we now know. Of note is that after the 4th Geneva Convention, it has been recognized that the Israeli occupation of Palestine goes against international law, but Dr. Bailey noted that perhaps the largest challenge to a two-state solution or perhaps any peace between the two sides is in fact the Israeli settlements that continue to spread across the West Bank and other hotly contested areas. He also highlighted that while everyone is subject to living within the reality of navigating military checkpoints and blockades, it is really the religious extremists on both sides who are furthering the conflict and jeopardizing peace. Disputes over land, the imbalance of power, the biased involvement of the U.S. and its aid money, and the clashes between the religious zealots from both sides, he said, all continue the status quo of war. To have the opportunity for peace, he shared that it will require external pressure and the realization that occupying Palestine has become too costly, which he noted it very may be already without the military aid money that comes from the U.S. Dr. Bailey then answered questions from our members, and suggested “The Occupation of the American Mind” (2016) for further reading, which I suspect some of us may in fact seek out after being given such a fantastic sliver of the story from the other side.