Nomika Zion (right) was presented with the 2009 Niarchos Prize for Survivorship for her courageous voice during the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Nomika lives in Sderot, an Israeli border town that has been the frequent target of missiles fired from Gaza. She uses information technology to foster dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.

"Ladies & gentlemen, dear honorees! I'm honored to stand here today and I would like to thank Survivor Corps, for finding me deserving of the Niarchos prize.

At this very moment, Israel is celebrating its 61st Independence Day. I always feel proud and privileged to be living in my own country. I always feel distressed while a few miles away from my home, more than 1.5 million people are captured in the largest prison in the world, fighting for their survival. Our independence will never be complete until our Palestinian neighbors are able to celebrate their own freedom.

I have been living in Sderot for 22 years. Eight years under Kassams. Over 7000 rockets were launched on Sderot and it's region. Hundreds of buildings were destroyed. Thousands of people left the city with a broken heart. 12 residents were killed. Hundreds were injured physicaly. Thousands were wounded emotionally. We call them victims of shock & anxiety.  I'm one of them.

In January 2008, during one of the most difficult times in Sderot, we founded Other Voice - a group of citizens who live in Sderot and the region – and opened a human channel of communication with the people in Gaza, showing empathy, sharing their pain, creating a dialogue. People to people, who are not allowed to meet, nor look in the eyes, nor shake hands – only listen to each other's voices over the telephone.

In December 2008, the Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip started. A week later I wrote an article against this war – a lonely voice in the dark. Two weeks later I was invited to share my thoughts with the Jewish community in Pittsburg, via Skype. They also invited a man from Gaza to speak. His name was Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish. This is how I first 'met' the doctor from Gaza.

Our second 'meeting' was on the following day on Friday evening, while I was watching in real time on TV the tragedy of Dr. Abuelaish.

Suddenly, the Palestinian pain, which the majority of Israeli society doesn't want to see - had a voice, had a face. The invisible became visible. For one moment it wasn't just 'the enemy' – an anonymous dark demon who is so easy and convenient to hate. There was one man, one story, one tragedy and so much pain.

On Sunday evening we went to visit you [Dr. Izzeldin] and your daughter in the hospital. In the worst time of your life, which I will never be able to comprehend, you found words of peace in your heart. We were astounded. It was one of those true, rare and precious moments, when all of a sudden you get the essence of the word: humanity. We didn't speak Arabic on that night, nor Hebrew or English. We spoke 'Human', the 'Human language...'

We arrived devastated and left stronger. I haven't seen you since then, until this week. Why does the only place where the people of Sderot and people of Gaza have any chance to meet – if at all – is in hospitals?

You said that you were armed with love, but love doesn't live here anymore – not in Gaza, nor in Sderot. Sanity and normalcy don't live in our war zone anymore, not in Sderot, ten times more not in Gaza.

You and me are the symbol of this insane ongoing conflict.

It is therefore our civil responsibility to speak out clearly and loudly - sometimes against the mainstream, sometimes against our friends who look for another round of revenge – not as victims, but as proud civilians who have gotten so very tired of hurting each other. It's our obligation to make our leaders talk, to compel them to tell us, for a change, a different story.

Maybe one day our voice will be heard."

WATCH Nomika's speech [youtube]

See acceptance speeches from other 2009 Niarchos Prize honorees:

Dr. Izzeldin Abuelaish - Palestine

Albert Gasake - Rwanda