Middle East Update, April 20, 2006Dear Friends,
Greetings from Jerusalem and an apology for the length of this update. It just seems that Israel has been too complex and rich of an experience to keep any shorter.
Day 59 of our mission and here we are (at 3:30 AM) at the beautiful new Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv, Israel. We are met by our host, Hagit Ra’anan, country representative for the World Peace Prayer Society and founder of Bridges for Peace. Meeting us at 3:30 AM should tell you something about the dedication and human traits of this wonderful woman. Over and over again, she will prove throughout the week to be a constant beacon of hope and love!
We immediately headed for Jerusalem and our home for the week, the Three Arches YMCA, located across from the famous King David hotel, and two blocks from the Old City. After a quick shower, we headed to the Mount of Olives in the Arab section of Jerusalem to meet with Hagit’s good friend, Ibrahim Abu-El-Hawa (sometimes referred to as the Mount of Olives’ Gandhi). A Palestinian deeply committed to peace.
During our time here, we would constantly reinforce an important fact that we had seen validated again and again, that there are two sides to every story, and that people are beautiful on both sides of the issues.
Much of the conversation with Ibrahim was focused on a recent sale of three apartment buildings on the Mount of Olives that were purchased by Israeli settlers. The story had caused quite a stir because the Palestinians felt that this was yet the beginning of another Jewish settlement in the middle of an Arab section. We drove by the complex to check it out for ourselves, and indeed there was quite a crowd and stones from the Palestinian kids had already started flying. Another flash point in the making, we’re afraid. (Postscript: Hagit informed us that Abrahim’s nephew, who sold the buildings to the settlers, was killed by Palestinians last week…they found his body in Jericho).
That evening, we met with members of the Interfaith Encounter Association and its Executive Director, Yehuda Stolov. The group has observed the Vigils in the past, and was planning to do so again this year. This is a dedicated group open to the idea of interfaith cooperation and peace. We then met with Eliyahu MacLean, an Israeli peacemaker and a leader in the grassroots interfaith movement in Jerusalem. We would go with him and Hagit to meet with Sheikh Abdul Aziz Bukhari, Head of the Uzbek Community in Jerusalem, and well respected interfaith advocate in the Muslim community.
Unfortunately, we could not gain entry into the old city by car as the streets were cut off in anticipation of a demonstration, which was being staged partially to honor the new moon and also to oppose the Israeli election results that would diminish the power of the political right. Regardless of the reason, the event ended in a boisterous rampage through the Muslim quarter of the old town, causing Sheikh a delay in returning to his home.
We eventually entered through the Lions gate, and made our way along the Via Delarosa (Jesus’ way of the cross) to the Sheikh’s home. We were treated to wonderful hospitality by the Sheikh and his lovely family. The Sheikh had spent several years in the United States before returning to take up the mantle of a spiritual leader in the tradition of four hundred years of his family’s presence in the Holy Land. He expressed strong support for the Vigil, and was willing to serve on the planning committee.
The following day, we met with an old friend from Assisi, Amy Kronish, who was interested in involving her programs at the YMCA in IDP activities. Amy provided a better understanding of peace organizations in Israel.
We then set out for the city of Haifa to meet with Guri, principal of the Re’aly senior high school system. This is a very exclusive primary school system that funnels into a single high school. It is open to all children regardless of ethnic or religious background. We believe that Hagit will be able to assist the school in conducting a large IDP event in cooperation with other schools and groups in the Haifa area.
That evening, we drove to the Druze village of Dalyat El Carmel, with an invitation to address a major gathering of Arab Druze, Muslim, Christian and Jewish women. However, once we arrived, we found that men were not able to participate in the event. Our message, however, was carried by Hagit. We later spent the night at Zivi’s home,(Hagit’s sister) in the all-Jewish village of Zichron Ya’akov. We were fortunate to hear a side of the Israeli story that gave differing viewpoints on the problems surrounding the Jewish settlers and the Palestinian right of return issue.
The following morning, we headed for Nazareth to meet with Kamel Barghouti, an Israeli Arab teacher who runs Arab/Israeli youth programs, and brings Jewish youth to Nazareth to do internships for a better understanding of Arab youth. He is an individual dedicated to peace and bi-communal relationships.
We then headed for the Arab town of Shefar’Am to meet with Elias Jabbour, director of The House of Hope, International Peace Center, the first Arab initiated peace center in the Galilee. Elias is a Roman Catholic Arab, who along with his lovely wife, Heyam, runs the Center which is to bring better understanding between Christians, Jews and Muslims. He is a lecturer at an area university, and provided insight to many of the problems in the area, also offering opinions on US policy in the Middle East. Their hospitality was overwhelming…including the superb five-course lunch that would make anyone eager to receive a return invitation.
That night, we dined with George’s old friend from his UN days, Henniette, who was now serving in the political section of the UN’s Special Coordinator. It was good to see a former colleague and to hear her unique perspective on the situation.
Saturday was our moment of truth, as we headed for Bethlehem on the West Bank to meet with Mr. Ibrahim Issa, a Palestinian Arab and co-director of the Hope Flowers School and Center. Although Hagit knew the area quite well, she had not been at the school for six years. Feeling that Americans might be a tantalizing target for Hamas radicals, we were somewhat uneasy that we were not in the proper meeting location. In due time, however, Mr. Issa appeared and we felt much more at ease.
The School is set in a well constructed, well maintained building, and is open to children of all faiths from 1st through 8th grades. There are about 250 students, Arabs and Christian. Attendance has been down drastically, including closure of the high school since the 2nd Intifada began in 2000. The school was founded to provide a bi-communal curriculum, and stresses coexistence, cooperation and friendship among Arab, Jews and Christians. Mr. Issa pointed out that in addition to academic qualifications, all teachers must demonstrate a commitment to peace.
The school is situated about 200 yards from the planned position of the Israeli built Security Wall. The school’s cafeteria is designated to be razed, along with several Palestinian homes and farmland, to allow for an expansion of the Jewish settlement of Efrat. (photos on our web-blog at http://www.xanga.com/idpvigil2006). The destruction had already begun, and we understand there will be no compensation given. We found this very disturbing and contrary to an eventual just solution to the intractable conflict and we wondered how this could not cause resentment.
Mr. Issa, nevertheless, was quite optimistic about the fate of the school. He is also hopeful for the eventual solution of the conflict, and seriously committed to its peaceful settlement.
It is unfortunate that so many people (perhaps mostly in America) see Israeli and Palestinian Arabs as committed to a culture of war or as suicide bombers. From what we have seen, this could not be further from the truth. Both the Arab and Jewish people we have met have been very dedicated, and actively working for peace. We left with a deep feeling of sadness that so many good people are caught in such an untenable situation.
Sunday, a week-day in Israel, took us to the Nir elementary school in Kiryat Ono, a distant suburb of Tel Aviv. The school sits across the street from Hagit’s house, and serves as a living laboratory for her Bridges of Peace children’s programs (see http://www.bridgesofpeace.org) where she also gives weekly “peace classes’. Here, children from 1st through 6th learn about Arab children. Last year, on the International Day of Peace, they had a joint program with Arab schools. That was the first time that most of the children met an Arab child and vise versa…for the most part, their mutual fears turned to a better sense of the others’ sameness. Is it any wonder that, from the messages that children hear from parents and the media, that they are inclined toward fear and hate?
That night, Anat Daylan, drove from the Dead Sea region to meet us at the YMCA. Anat has for the past two years, engaged the Union of Light Network to conduct consciousness raising events and assemblages throughout Israel and will continue her support of the Vigil.
Next we drove to the Peres Center for Peace in Tel Aviv for and a discussion with its Director General, Ron Pundak and his deputy Dr. Aliza Savir. The Center is dedicated to bringing Palestinians and Jews together in bi-communal projects that foster understanding, coexistence and friendship. One project includes the administering of medical assistance to Palestinian children and the training of Palestinian doctors in Israel. The Center does great work but is in need of funding for its many projects and was hoping that we could provide some funds for an IDP Vigil event.
Next we visited the Parents’ Circle-Families Forum, “Bereaved Families Supporting Peace, Reconciliation & Tolerance”. These are people that lost family members in the Middle East conflicts and are seeking contact, understanding and peace. Aaron Barnea, a longtime peace activist recanted the lost of his son in Southern Lebanon. His story was deeply moving and stressed the pain felt on both sides. The group provides a 24-hour hotline between Israeli and Palestinian families to talk and understand each others’ grief. At the heart of their deep personal loss is a profound commitment to peace. We were told over and over again that the people want peace, if only the governments would stay out of it.
We made the long drive back to Jerusalem in time to meet with Eliyahu MacLean and the Jerusalem Peacemaker’s group. Here, a group of thirty peacemakers listened to us explain the IDP Vigil and the potential opportunities it presents in the Middle East situation. Additionally, we listened as Eliyahu, Jewish Rabbis and Muslim Imams discussed and showed slides of the recent meeting of Rabbis and Imams held a couple weeks prior in Seville Spain. There seems to be much good that come from these joint meetings as well as providing many contacts for future IDP Vigil interfaith observations.
Monday morning we met with Rabbi David Rosen, President of the International Jewish Committee for Inter-religious Consultations who was referred to us by the Peres Peace Center. It was quickly evident that Rabbi Rosen is an insightful observer of the entire Middle East scene and keen on promoting any effort that would help solve the long standing problem.
He was optimistic on the value of the IDP Vigil in the region. We asked, “Could the IDP Vigil provide an impetus for a joint Jewish/Palestinian religious observation; and, is it possible to arrange such an opportunity?” He expressed optimism for the possibility of both and we spent the reminder of the time on the particular requirements needed to make such an event happen. Indeed a lot of work, but if successful, perhaps a lot of good could come from the effort. If this course is taken, we will need a lot of support for the undertaking. This gives us a lot to think about!
Our last official meeting was with the United Nations Special Co-ordinator for the Middle East Peace Process, Mr. Alvaro de Soto. George had known Mr. de Soto from his days at the UN and felt it important to give him a courtesy call and inform him of our efforts in the area. Spokesperson, Chris Gunness, was extremely helpful on detailing the agenda of the UNSCO. The task is overwhelming.
Our last visit over, we spent the remainder of the day touring the most holy of cities, Jerusalem. And what a wonderful and history soaked city to be a tourist! The old city, even without its rich history, is a delight to see. The market streets that wind through the Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian quarters offer an endless kaleidoscope of sights, sounds and smells. The Wailing Wall and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, (the, site of Christ’s crucifixion, anointment with oils and placement in the tome), are the two holiest of places for the Jews and Christians. Here too is the Muslims’ sacred Dome on the Rock. What a shame that such a holy place is steeped in so many centuries of conflict.
Mission complete, we left Jerusalem for the drive back to Hagit’s apartment to catch a few hours of sleep before driving to the Tel Aviv airport for our 7 AM flight to Cyprus.
Israel gave us much to think about as to our future activities in promoting and engaging the IDP Vigil in conflict situations. Our host Hagit could not have been more helpful, accommodating or instructive in our quest to better understand the situation and to promote the IDP Vigil in the Middle East.
Again, thank you for your continued interest and support.
In peace and friendship,
George and Jack
| 
