Angela Godfrey-Goldstein is an Israeli working with ICAHD and Machsom Watch. She guided our tour of the wall and the settlements today and explained many components of Israeli control over Palestinians.

Of all the issues within the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, why choose to oppose house demolition?

It’s an issue that highlights the cruelty. It’s an operation that has been ongoing for some time to tell the Palestinians that this is not your home.

Why do you and other Israelis feel it is important to speak up about this issue?

Because I value life. Nobody should be dying, not on either side. Between the people there is no problem. It’s the stupid politicians. And the crazies. But I can understand, having lived in South Africa, the resistance to occupation gets violent. But I believe Israel is more violent.

I think that also, as someone with spiritual values, it’s a morality issue - truth, peace, justice – for we all have to live in this world together. You can’t get rid of four million people. Not unless you’re Hitler.

As a civil society, we have to ask ourselves what we tolerate. Most Israelis are very good people, they just choose to believe fiction – self-serving fiction.

Do you feel alienated as an Israeli protesting your government’s policies?

Yes, very. Totally. I mean, we deal with a lot of anger. I feel very alienated. I have several groups on the left that I identify with very strongly, more so because of my alienation.

Stupidity drives me crazy. Maybe it is my intellectual snobbery, but it drives me crazy. Everyone - the right, the middle, the left - has always known that the settlers were doing something wrong, and no one did anything about it.

Israel has killed three times as many children as they’ve had killed. Don’t tell me they’re the victims. Having said that, it’s scary getting on a bus. You should try it.

Where do you find hope in this conflict?

International civil society. Diplomats who understand what’s happening. I’m praying for miracles.

I have hope in human rationality. They have to finally get the message. The question is how many have to die before they get it.