my name is nitzan regev-sanders.li and i have served 21 years in the israeli defense forces. as my father was an air navigator in the israeli air force, i was born and raised in the israeli army bases. as the bases were always surrounded by guards, i grew up with a sense of security. therefore i was allowed to be very independent from a very young age. however, the experience of growing up in army bases was also speckled with fear. as fathers of friends around me died and were injured, i had a terrifying feeling that something horrible might happen to my own father. as a young girl, i remember looking out the window of my small house and every officer that used to pass by filled me with terror that he might take the right turn and go on the pathway leading to my house, not on the door and give me horrible news. luckily, that never came. however, it did make me realize that the only way that i could save my dad was by creating peace. i used to think to myself if only i had the chance to explain that we are actually go