( CNN ) -- If you 've spent any time at all following the Israeli-Palestinian conflict these past few years , you 've probably run into a lot of bad news . But what if there were another type of story about Palestinians and Israelis that you were n't being told ? What if beyond the bloodshed , hostility and extremism , there were also hopeful examples of Palestinian and Israeli civilians leading effective nonviolent movements to end the occupation and build peace ? The fact is that plenty of these inspiring examples exist , but the world , and specifically the major media outlets covering the conflict , have yet to give them proper attention . This is problematic on two counts : First , it gives anyone following the conflict a false and dangerous impression that there is no hope , and that extremists on both sides far outnumber moderates who are willing to work toward a peaceful solution . Second , and more important , it deprives those courageous individuals who choose nonviolence of the attention they so urgently need in order to grow and spread their message . Violence and nonviolence are , after all , two different forms of theater . They both depend and thrive on the response of an audience . TED.com : Jeremy Gilley 's plan for `` One day of peace '' If we , as a global audience , focus solely on violence and militarism , we reinforce the notion that they are the most effective form of action . On the other hand , if we pay more attention to nonviolent or unarmed efforts , we strengthen the legitimacy and influence of those choosing to use these means . This is why at Just Vision , our mission is to create and distribute media , including documentary films , that tell the stories of Israelis and Palestinians working nonviolently to resolve the conflict and end the occupation . We also provide in-depth introductions to these visionaries by publishing new interviews with them on our website every few days . By providing these resources to millions worldwide , we ensure that those who promote nonviolence have an effective platform through which they can share their accomplishments and ideas with their own societies and others around the globe . Our latest documentary film , `` Budrus , '' tells the story of a Palestinian community organizer who successfully unites Palestinians of all political factions together with Israeli supporters in an unarmed movement to save his village from destruction by Israel 's Separation Barrier . The film shows how , for 10 months , the residents of Budrus and their supporters engaged in unarmed protest , and how they ultimately triumphed by convincing the Israeli army to shift the course of the barrier and saving their village . Since its release , `` Budrus '' has been seen by hundreds of thousands around the world , and it will be made available to millions more on September 21 , the International Day of Peace , when it will be broadcast online for free . Many of the Palestinians and Israelis who have seen `` Budrus '' have come away both surprised and hopeful : surprised to learn that a nonviolent movement they had never heard of existed on their doorstep , and hopeful that this might be a model that could inspire others in their community to take similar action . TED.com : Jody Williams ' realistic vision for peace . Though it is just one film , `` Budrus '' has already begun to change the conversation on the role and impact of nonviolence in Palestinian and Israeli society . The lessons of Budrus and the dozens of other nonviolent initiatives we follow resonate even more loudly when considering recent historical examples . Looking back at some of the great influential social movements of the past few decades , whether it 's the civil rights movement in the United States , the global feminist movement or the recent Arab Spring , some of the biggest positive changes to our societies have come from grassroots nonviolent activism , not the actions of governments or armed campaigns . Given the proper stage , these movements proved that civil disobedience and peaceful protest could be more moving , more captivating and ultimately more influential than the use of lethal force . Yet , if no one had paid attention to those first students sitting in at the lunch counters in North Carolina , or to the desperate plea of a young Tunisian vegetable salesman , who can say where those movements would be today ? Where we choose to direct our attention matters . And in the case of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict , this decision can save numerous Israeli and Palestinian lives and help finally bring an end to the bloodshed . Rather than endlessly waiting for new leaders to emerge or conditions to change , it 's time we realized that the solutions to the conflict are being played out every day right in front of us . It 's up to us to notice . The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Julia Bacha .
Julia Bacha : Why do n't we hear the stories of nonviolence from the Israel-Palestinian conflict ? Noam Chomsky She says they persuaded Israeli army to shift Separation Barrier 's course , save Budrus village . Bacha : People must recognize : Nonviolent protest can be more influential than lethal force .