“Maya, she’s infectious.  I think she’s genuine in terms of her desire to see her own country well.  I think if Israel is well, I think Palestinians will also be well, I think America will be well,’ said Michael Bitar, a Palestinian-American who attended the talk.” -The Indypendent

“If enough Israeli youth, like Wind and Mishly, refuse to fight, kill or die for the vulgar cause of occupation, and continue speaking out despite immense opposition, a clearer picture of what sanity really is may be achieved.” -Gabe Schivone, the Arizona Wildcat

“Sometimes revolution ignites when individuals ask themselves one simple question: ‘Why?’ These two Israeli teens, Maya Wind and Netta Mishly, asked themselves ‘Why terrorism?’ ‘Why hostility?’ ‘Why crisis?’. When they discovered the answers, they decided not to perform their mandatory military service.  Thank you both for your work!” – Laura Flanders, GritTV

Read more news stories here.

Here is what listeners are saying about their talks:

“They have inspired many, not only to engage in the conversation civilly, but to actually enact change.” – Whitney, Los Angeles

“They were passionate and persuasive in sharing their perspective about their path to peace and got high marks from everyone for their stimulating and informative remarks.” – Maria, NYC

“Thank you for restoring my faith in my fellow man. Fear and contempt is all I hear these days.  Hearing a young Israeli speak such simple heart felt truths was a breath of fresh air.” – Bill, NY

“These young women, more than any of the numerous speakers we have co-hosted, really seemed to speak to the Jews of various persuasions in the audience.  I saw Jewish acquaintances in the audience who have never come to anything we have offered on Palestine/Israel, including talks by Jewish or Israeli speakers.  There’s something very non-threatening about being lectured to by a couple of brilliant and sincere 19 year olds who have risked so much.  Even one of our acquaintances who is on the AIPAC board had said he was impressed with Maya and Netta’s presentation.   Their events in Hawaii were very well received, brought some significant new blood into the movement for justice and peace in Palestine/Israel, and brought back some folks who had been very frustrated, burned out, or lone-rangering.” – Margaret, HI

“I can’t begin to describe how moved I was by attending the events in San Francisco. The space they created for real dialogue to happen, in the face of opposing views, was just magic. I feel that witnessing their energy, their articulate presentations, the courage of their convictions, has deeply inspired me to keep on speaking out.” – Anon audience member, CA

“It is extremely powerful that war resisters in Israel are connecting with war resisters in the US.  Given the close relationship between the so-called ‘War on Terror’ and the Israeli occupation, it is vital for resisters in these two countries to join forces, in order to build a movement strong enough to take on the forces we’re up against… This is a powerful step towards stopping US and Israeli-led occupations.” – Sarah Lazare, with Courage to Resist, who is co-organizing a delegation of US conscientious objectors to go to Israel in November, quoted in the Electronic Intifada.

“As a retired US Army Reserve Colonel and a former US diplomat who resigned in March 2003 in opposition to the war on Iraq, I was deeply impressed with the courage of these women to make such decisions so early in their lives and their willingness to go to jail on these principles.  When I heard they were coming to the US, I immediately connected them with Hawaiian organizers so that they could come to Honolulu and provide a dramatic counterpoint to one of Israel’s war architects, former Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni, who was in town speaking at the International Women’s Conference.  The sagas of these young women being willing to go to jail to challenge their government’s policies toward the Palestinians is transformative.”  – Ret. Col. Ann Wright

Read more trip blogs here.