Crossing Borders issue 29

VOLUME 6 NO. 29- JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006

A Bi-monthly Regional Youth Magazine VOLUME 6 NO. 29 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006

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VOLUME 6 NO. 29- JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006

VOLUME 6 NO. 29 - JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006

Who Are We

CONTENTS

A Bi-monthly Regional Youth Magazine

What is Crossing Borders Crossing Borders is a non profit, non governmental organisation that is based at the International People’s College in Elsinore, Denmark. The vision of Crossing Borders is to see a dynamic and multi-track cross border meetings and learning to live together on equal terms. CB mission is to facilitate meaningful dialogue among youth and educators across conflict divides.

The aim of CB is to increase the possibilities for world peace with special focus on the Middle East. To achieve this, CB provides Arab, Israeli and European youth and educators a neutral dialogue space and skills training in communication, conflict management and media to empower them to fully participate in the development processes of their societies. The visible face of Crossing Borders is the bimonthly youth magazine by and for Arab and Israeli youth of Crossing Borders.

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Two Sides of the Conflict ○

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Potter Mania ○

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Peace Through Art ○

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A Unique Wepon of Coexistance ○

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A Visit to the Seperation Wall ○

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Crossing Borders Advisory Board Chairperson Prof. Munther Dajani, Mr. Herbert Pundik, Ms. Else Hammerich, Ms. Lotte Lund, Mr. Hanna Siniora, Mr. Mossi Raz, Mr. Jakob Erle, Dr. Boaz Tamir, Mr. Greg Newbold, Prof. Najeeb Nabwani, Prof. Eric Markusen, Mr. Saman Khoury and Mr. Yochnan Eshchar Parliamentary Support members Mr. Jeppe Kofod, Ms. Anne Grethe Holmsgaard, Mr. Kamal Qureshi, Ms. Gitte Seeberg, Mr. Svend Auken, Ms. Margreth Auken, Ms. Ellen Trane Norby, and Ms. Helga Moos Executive Board Mr. Martin Selsøe Soerensen, Chairperson, Ms. Anja Gustavsen, Mr. Jorn Faurschou, Ms. Britha Mikkelsen, Ms. Trine Pertou Mach, Ms. Anne Gyrithe Bonne, Ms. Christine Binzel, Mr. Peter Andreas Bredsdorff and Mette Juel Mdsen Contact CB Executive Secretariat Mr. Garba Diallo, Director Mr. Peter Fritzböger, Chief Financial Officer, Ms. Nina Maria Klok, Assistant Director, Ms. Rosa Dich, Intern and Ms. Maja Gildin Montebello Alle 1, 3000 Elsinore, Denmark Tel. +45 49213371, cellph +45 21639432 Email: cb@crossingborder.org Palestinian Coordinator Suheir Hashimeh Tel: +972 2 6286257 suheir@crossingborder.org Israeli Coordinator Olga Paz tel: +972 547299344 opazim@013.net.il Israeli assistant Coordinator Liat Margalit, Tel. +972 525424089 liat@crossingborder.org Jordanian Coordinator Khaled Shorman Tel: +962 6 5858748 kshorman@nets.com.jo Arab Israeli Program Director Andre Kaldawy Tel: +972-54-5299146 Fax: +972-4-8120380 Arab Israeli Coordinator Angham Sakar Tel: +972 (0)506897689, angham@crossingborder.org

ISSN: 1563-28365 www.crossingborder.org Annual Subscription Rates (6 editions per year) Individuals living in the Middle East: 30 Euro (40 USD) Individuals living outside of the region: 60 Euro (75USD) Institutions in the Middle East: 60 Euro (75 USD) Institutions outside of the region: 100 Euro (125 USD)

Editor in chief CB 29: Olga Paz Language Editor: Nava Berger Front & Back Cover: Shiran Zehavi Layout & Press Production Orientation Ltd. Tel: +972-2-5818183 Fax: +972-2-5818203 E-mail: office@orientation.co.il

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EDITORIAL By: John Bartholomew English Teacher, Jerusalem American School- Shu’fat Jerusalem

As the Crossing Boarder Project enters into its 7th year of existence, it is time not only to reflect and study the progress that was made in the last six years but also to brain storm and readjust our compass in order to go forward in a new direction.

As we reflect and analyze the advancements we have made thus far, it is clear to see that achievements were in the areas of constructive dialogue, understanding, compassion, and appreciation which were the foundation to friendships. It is now fair to say that with the dedication and determination shown by the leaders, teachers and the students involved, that we have successfully maneuvered through stage one of our three stage dreams.

With this success behind us, we can now go forward using our compass filled with the building blocks we have already built and plot a course for the future. Although stage two will be tougher than the first stage, its value goes beyond expression.

Until we maneuver through the stage of sympathy, empathy and forgiveness, we will never achieve our over-all goal of genuine co-existence as we live and respect our fellow human being as God intended. Should I be so bold as to say that this is what we all dream of and what we really desire? My proof of this is the fact that we are all here working together to accomplish what better men before us have been attempting to do for decades. I believe we can do it. Do you? Welcome to stage two of our dream.

EDITORIAL

VOLUME 6 NO. 29- JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006

Crossing Borders Thanks for 2005 and Wishes for 2006 Crossing Borders looks back at a fruitful 2005, a year filled with activities, seminars for teachers and students, and the celebration of CB‘s sixth anniversary. The First edition of CB magazine for the year 2006 comes at a particularly festive moment imbued with the spirit of Christmas, Hanukka, Eid al-Adha and finally New Year‘s Day. Each holiday conveys its unique message to all of humankind: Christmas with its message of peace, goodwill, forgiveness, compassion, love and hope that can never be destroyed; Hanukka, meaning “dedication“, with its miracle of light and victory of the ‘few‘ over the ‘many‘, commemorating the rededication of the Second Temple after a period of enemy occupation; Eid al-Adha symbolizing a willingness to make sacrifices - to give up some of our bounties in order to strengthen ties of friendship, open our hearts and share with those in need.

Let us bundle those messages up in our satchel of New Year‘s resolutions as we cross over to 2006.

And may we carry that satchel to replenish us and everyone we encounter wherever new paths take us.

Crossing Borders wishes to warmly thanks all its friends and wish them a peaceful, prosperous and happy New Year and beyond.

For Crossing Borders Garba Diallo

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VOLUME 6 NO. 29- JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006

On the Occasion of CB’s Sixth Anniversary A Speech Given by Asaad Malshy at the Willey Brandt Center in Abu Tur, Jerusalem in September, 2005.

CB Moments...

Welcome Dear Readers. Welcome.

I welcome you, not to CB, but I welcome you to my world, the world of understanding and love. I welcome you to my heart and to my thoughts.

As for today, not even one of the CB participants has failed to impress me with a unique personality, a personal talent or has failed to earn my friendship. It has been six years since the Crossing Borders dream materialized and turned into reality, and today, when the project is six years old, I can only describe a CB meeting or seminar as a sweet, pink, tasty dream. Being active for a bit over a year made me understand something -and I quote“Crossing Borders is a lot more than a word or a magazine or a seminar; CB is a way of life, a way that says: ‘Be open, never pass up a

chance to see new sights and try new things.’ “ Let me ,with your permission, share a couple of moments with Crossing Borders. I will start with the most recent, the seminar to Denmark. We were to present a project proposal to the IPC students as a way to prepare for the main exhibit. My team, as I am sure like the rest, was most anxious, most

“ In one word, I can sum up all CB: CHOCOLATE. CB is just like chocolate. IT’S PERFECT, with only one side effect: it makes you full - full of love...” nervous. How are we -a group of teenagers- to succeed in such a mission, to be able to address over 50 people, to make them listen and to keep them listening. The tension was at its peek. When the feared moment finally came, then it all fell to place: the hours spent listening to Greg while suffering either

scorching heat or freezing cold, the days sitting on the uncomfortable chairs trying to find a softer spot while fighting to follow Garba’s lecture, suddenly all that came to use.

From the other side of the hall I heard Ya’alon’s voice booming “COME HERE, TO OUR PROJECT. WE HAVE DRINKS, WE HAVE FOOD! COME AND LISTEN TO US! “. A second after, I followed with my calls, and a minute later the IPC lot crystallized in groups around each of the CB’ers looking and listening with awe to our words.

Or the dreadful experience with the Austrian Airlines: the bags arrived a day late, we were all smelly and sticky, but that would surely not prevent Garba from making us all hug each other in his ICE BREAKING. And nothing would stop Nina from having us all take our shoes off and lean down 38 times to write the answers to her silly questions, even today after 2 months the heavenly odors still fill my lungs with every thought of the words “feet” and “paper”.

Apart from spending a great time,

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Congratulations Crossing Borders! there was work and by the tons, as follows: Breakfast at eight, eight-thirty: workshop, ten o’clock: break, ten fifteen: end of break and then a lecture... and so on and so on, till we have not a single cell in our body that doesn’t scream or just pass out.

But surely one thing I must admit: if it wasn’t for those backbreaking hours, I would be half the person I am today. Frankly, I would just be too undereducated to sit here and write to all of you great people.

In one word, I can sum up all CB: chocolate. CB is just like chocolate.

IT’S PERFECT, with only one side effect: it makes you fat - fat with love.

To finish, I want to share a saying with you. A wise person once said -and I quote- “CB for me is like growing up, in CB I grow up mentally, socially and emotionally. And I only hope to keep growing up with CB” I can’t think of a better way to put it. I want to keep growing with CB, and I am going to do everything in my power to make CB grow bigger for my and all of our sake. (By the way - I quote myself).

Mira & Minra Ansari, Palestine Overlooking the most extraordinary views in Jerusalem, the Old City and Aqsa Mosque, and situated between East and West Jerusalem in Abu-Tur lies the Centre for Encounters and Communication, honoring the heritage of Willy Brandt, a former Chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Germany who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1971. The idea of this centre was previously a trilateral project agreed upon by the German Young Socialists, the Palestinian Young Fateh and the Israeli Young Labor Leadership. It officially became a centre in October 2003, opening its doors to different means and methods of non-violent communication and encounters for Palestinian, German and Israeli youth.

The director of this institute is Ms. Heike Kratt who has generously agreed for the centre to be the host of our new CB club for all sectors.

The center’s unique location gives an open and safe space for our Palestinian, Israeli, Arab-Israeli and Jordanian members to meet for our seminars and reunion meetings.

On the 30th of September 2005, we celebrated Crossing Borders’sixth

anniversary. This event was hosted by the Willy Brandt Centre. The celebration started with words and welcomes by Ms. Heike Kratt, Director of WBC and Mr.Garba Diallo our CB Director. Joining our celebrations were many important guests with remarks of their own such as Mr. Saman Khoury, Palestinian National Council and General Manager of PDF in Jerusalem; Mr. Ran Cohen, Knesset Member, Mr. Hanna Siniora, Jerusalem Times Publisher and on the CB Advisory Board; Mr. Mossi Raz, Deputy Director of Givat Haviva and on the CB Advisory Board and many of the CB teachers. Also, a youth representative of each sector gave his own words of greeting. All this was followed by an incredibly delicious lunch which everybody, quite frankly, enjoyed. Then we had group workshops to think of activities and ways to run our latest CB idea: The CB Clubs. Many suggestions were presented and discussed and written to be applied later on.

The day ended with blowing out the birthday candles on our CB cake and chatting with one another while eating the scrumptious cake until one after the other people started leaving. It was an exciting day.

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Political Issues

VOLUME 6 NO. 29- JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006

The Israeli Evacuation By: Nasser Barakat, Palestine The Palestinian people could at last celebrate their victory after the long-term resistance. At last they could feel the freedom in the Gaza strip and northern West Bank by watching the evacuation of the Israeli settlers and Israeli forces from part of the occupied lands.

The Israeli disengagement plan, which was unveiled by the Israeli Prime Minister in December 2003, is a unilateral two-part plan. The first part was the evacuation of twenty-one Israeli settlements, which were the illegal home for 7,300 settlers, and the Israeli military that presided over the area, from the Gaza stripThe first part also called for the dismantling of

four small settlements in northern West Bank with a total settler population of 475. The second part is the ongoing settling of the West Bank and the construction of the apartheid wall.

These settlements in Gaza were built thirty eight years ago on the Palestinian territories and on the remains of Palestinians’ homes and fields. They reduced the size of the Gaza strip leaving forty percent to the Palestinians and making the 1.3 million Palestinian live on 55 square kilometers thus becoming the most densely populated place on earth.

Over the years these few settlers controlled the lives of the Palestinians. The settlers were the main reason that the Palestinians were

denied their freedoms. Freedom of movement, for example, was denied by dividing the strip into three parts, by controlling all access in and out of the occupied Gaza strip for people and goods, by prohibiting us to have our own airport, sea port or even fishing in a wide space in the sea. And all this was called “Innocent Settlers’ Security”.

Even after the Israeli withdrawal, Gaza will not be totally free; it will be turned into the largest prison in the world. We have no control over sea space, air space, borders, or anything of the sort. Moreover, the Israeli government approved to reserve the right to invade Gaza at anytime! What do they expect us to do? Are generations after generations supposed to be grateful to the

Two Sides of the Conflict By: Yiftah Kolnik, Israel It is very obvious to most of the people in Israel that the IsraeliPalestinian conflict bears guilt on both sides. Most Israelis understand that it is not possible to control another people. They understand that suicide bombers are the result of the long years of hatred toward Israel as well as stemming from hardship and poverty. Among Israelis there is a perception that the only solution is a Palestinian state.

I am not sure, however, whether the other side of the conflict, the Palestinians, also think that both sides are to blame. Rather, it seems most Palestinians think that the blame lies only on the Israeli side. It appears that those

Palestinians who place the blame for the conflict solely on the Israelis, believe that the Israelis want to fulfill their dream of occupying the lands between the Jordan and Nile Rivers - a dream that even the extremists gave up on a long time ago.

Some Palestinians do not understand that the real dream of the Israelis is to live a peaceful and quiet life. I can understand that it is hard to see the suffering of the other side when you live in horrible conditions.

Compromising is not easy for both sides. In Israel, for instance, the country came very near a civil war prior to and during the disengagement from Gaza. Yet, Prime Minister Ariel Sharon went through with it knowing he was risking his life and despite the fact that the disen-

gagement plan conflicted with his past ideas. I feel that Israel should be the side to make the most compromises such as giving back the occupied territories (maybe part of Jerusalem), dismantling and evacuating settlements and giving power to the “enemy” by letting him establish a state and an army. The only compromise I ask of the Palestinian side is to try to understand the Israeli side a bit more and to stop for a moment to reflect on the Israelis’ suffering too.

Only when both sides are able to see that this situation does not do any good for the simple person on the street (benefiting only politicians), can the Palestinians and Israelis reach an agreement acceptable to both sides.

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VOLUME 6 NO. 29- JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 thieving settlers for Palestinians’ being allowed to live in their little bubble with no control over their lives? The Israelis want us to stop our resistance after the withdrawal.

Nonetheless, we will never stop until they withdraw from all the Palestinian occupied territories.

We all watched the news which kept bringing all these pictures of settlers crying (even though it’s all an act to get more compensation money from the United States), and saying the Palestinians are insensitive because they are celebrating.

They don’t know that we’re totally screwed when Israel leaves! This is all a political nose job that Israel has portrayed to the world as a sacrifice.

Unlike the images of the settlers, the whole world should remember the pictures of millions of Palestinians who leave their homes each year without getting new villas or thousands of dollars in compensation, and should remember the massacres that were inflicted by Israeli gangs with the aim of wiping out Palestinian cities they claim don’t belong to anyone. The world should also remember the refugees who were forced to leave their homes in 1948 and 1967 in order to settle Jewish immigrants and those refugees who left their homes to live elsewhere inside UN humble tents, without being able to take their furniture, belongings and

without receiving any compensation. These refugees’ only compensation was some wheat, rice, and oil, so they could survive and so no one would be accused of genocide. They still live in refugee camps as they have been for the past fifty-seven years without any identity or civil services inside these camps.

Nonetheless, we will keep rebuilding our cities in the Gaza strip, which will be the beginning of the liberation and not as Israelis said “the beginning and the end”. We will prove that Netanyahu was completely wrong when he said that “Palestinians aren’t going to seize the opportunity of freedom because there is a lack of government in Palestine, and the Palestinian authority itself is a couple of armed bands who haven’t lifted a finger to stop terrorism”. Despite this, our government has been trying to keep the public’s temperature under control for the past year, while Israel has taken advantage of that and ordered a few guys to shoot Palestinians every couple of days so the Palestinian Authority can lose control and retaliate, giving the Israelis an excuse to occupy Gaza and perhaps a little more.

Netanyahu also compared Gaza’s having its own sea port to AlQaeda’s having a port in the American Hudson Bay. What does that have anything to do with Gaza! The people of Gaza are not terrorists

whatsoever!

The youth of Gaza are the most optimistic regarding this evacuation. They are very enthusiastic to start building their own future in their homeland. They are so enthusiastic because such a day for them was impossible until the present time. During the Israeli occupation a lot of them couldn’t continue their education abroad or even in the local colleges because of the difficulties of movement between cities as a consequence of the existence of settlements which obstructed access to the routes connecting cities in Gaza.

However, after being free from the inside and with all the promises and plans that our government will implement on the evacuated lands, such as revitalizing economy of the Gaza strip by encouraging investment and hence creating jobs, the youth have much to look forward to. Accordingly, we are promised to have a brilliant future in Gaza, which gives all the youth the ability to reclaim the situation and look for the best, because they have the physical power to create, but they still need the intellectual power.

Yet, when these needs are achieved for the Palestinian youth, and the Israeli military occupation of the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and the Gaza strip is completely ended, they’ll agree to start the peace process.

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Political Issues

VOLUME 6 NO. 29- JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006

A visit to the Separation Wall By: Nadeen Nashef, Palestine It was Thursday morning, August 4, 2005. I was at summer camp visiting Silwan, a neighborhood near Abus Dis, and Ezarieh, where I used to live.

We visited a neighborhood in Silwan where some guy told us about a house that was going to be demolished = a whole neighborhood of eighty houses which included God knows how many residents. I talked to four kids in Silwan, each of whom told me that their home was going to be demolished. They said there was nothing they could do and smiled sadly. Nothing could change the government’s decision they explained. Only one boy of the four kids was going to be moved to a new house because his family has insurance. The others said they would soon move into tents and they were smiling.

In the evening we arrived to Abu Dis. I saw the wall. It was horrible: it stood eight meters high

looming over everyone who stood beside it, making them feel helpless next to it. The wall was built in the middle of the street of a completely Arab neighborhood, making it completely unnecessary. Though from a very positive point of view (the government’s), building very close to the houses there on purpose, just to make the people uncomfortable, is a very good thing to nobody of course. In Abu Dis there are no Jewish people, except for one house which soon will be a settlement and the soldiers that pass there in military cars.

If you look up at the wall (you’re brave if you do), it stares back, forcing you to move your eyes to some-

thing more pleasant (which I doubt exists in this part of the neighborhood). It separates families and friends. Once people used to cross the street just to visit each other; now they have to go all around the wall to the gate, stand and wait for hours in line, in cold and hot weather, at checkpoints, and if the soldiers are in bad mood, maybe be harassed mocked and embarrassed.

In most homes, you look outside the window and see green grass, sky, birds, flower and trees. In Abu Dis you can see the grayness of the hideous wall staring back at you, and of course enjoy it.

On my first look at the wall through the bus window, it was obvious from the graffiti on the wall that many people were there before me. They were thinking the same thoughts, hoping the same hope: the wall must come down. The second look still hurts my eyes and pierces my heart, it seems, when I think about it, because of the ugliness of that wall.

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VOLUME 6 NO. 29- JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006

Rabin’s Legacy

Yitzhak Rabin, Leader of War or Leader of Peace?

By: Yaalon Ravid Israel Yitzhak Rabin fought to build Israel before it was even established.

Rabin was a commander in the IDF (Israeli Defense Army) and was even the IDF Chief of Staff from 1964 to 1968. In 1968, he was posted in the US as the Israeli Ambassador for 5 years and he returned after the 1973 Yom Kippur War. In 1974, Rabin became the Prime Minister of Israel for the first time. Rabin resigned from this position in 1977, returning to politics in 1984 when he was appointed the Minister of Defense.

Fifteen years after his first term as Prime Minister, Rabin gained massive popular support which led to his re-election as Prime Minister of Israel. In spite of Rabin’s reservations regarding Yasser Arafat’s and the Palestinians’ intentions, he agreed to the negotiations which brought forth a declaration of principles - the Oslo “A” Accords -in September 1993, guaranteeing Palestinian autonomy within 5 years.

In 1994 Rabin, Arafat and Peres were awarded the Novel Peace Prize. On May 4, 1994 Rabin signed the Gaza-Jericho agreement - the Oslo “B” Accords - which enabled the implementation of the first step of Oslo “A”. On September 28, 1995 Israel and the PLO signed the Oslo “B” Accords which expanded the newly established Palestinian Authority’s control over the West Bank.

On the night of Saturday, November 4, 1995, Rabin delivered a speech in Tel Aviv’s Kings’ Square, where tens of thousands of peace supporters shouted “Yes to Peace; No to Violence”. After his speech, Yitzhak Rabin was escorted to his car, when a Jewish student, Yigal Amir, came from behind and murdered Yitzhak Rabin.

In his last speech at Kings’ Square, Yitzhak Rabin told the nation:” I was a military man for twentyseven years. I fought as long as there were no prospects for peace.

Today I believe that there are prospects for peace, great prospects.

We must take advantage of them

for the sake of those standing here, and for the sake of those who do not stand here”.

I believe that Rabin’s path was extremely hard, risky and seemed impossible. Nevertheless, Rabin’s path of peace is being followed by Ariel Sharon, positioned all the way on the other side of the political map. I guess they both realized this is the right way, in spite of all the difficulties and concessions that we might have to face along the way.

Rambling on Stones By: Nadia Amad, Jordan A small handful of them, that’s all that is needed to start with, to build with. They are hard and hurtful. “Sticks and stones may hurt my bones...”

They are smooth. It is as if they have molded themselves this way in order to deceive all who hold them. Smooth things shouldn’t hurt, but these will. They are heavy as well. Again, it as if they have molded themselves this way to deceive. Heavy things are stable and reassuringly solid. But stones that build a wall are anything but reassuring or stable.

I wanted them thrown. I want them thrown. I want them thrown at you, because you deserve this pain. I want them to tear into your skin which is also smooth and your body which is also heavy, and I want them to rip you apart.

And this might be wrong, and it may brand me crazy, but this is what I want.

And I have been a man. I have heard them speak. It has never been so dead as it was in that moment. There was a certain virtue, it has vanished. It has become all that we are not. Now I too have vanished; for ten years, a decade, an epoch, a time, a moment, a death.

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Political Issues

VOLUME 6 NO. 29- JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006

Me Say War

October 200

By: Nasuh Majali, Jordan Having been called “The First Third World Superstar”, “Visionary”, “Revolutionary Artist”, “The King of Reggae’s Music”; Bob Marley gave the world brilliant, evocative music of which the lyrics still bite with truth. Although its sole source is the street culture of Jamaica, his music does speak the truth of every human. Bob had insights about a free world with no political repression - a world where everyone comes together, good wins over evil, and eventually the dream of lasting peace is fulfilled.

War carries different meanings, memories and fears for different people. A child living in a region affected by a political conflict might picture the war as blood shedding scenes full of soldiers, machine guns and war horns, and a time for the loss of beloved ones. An authority figure may see the war as an opportunity to gain more power and more benefits. All the communities fight different wars against different social ills: against crime, against poverty, against drugs, and the list goes on. Bob Marley had a bigger picture of war, and better still, he had more solutions. In his song ‘War’ he wrote: Until the philosophy which hold one race superior and another inferior is finally and permanently discredited and abandoned everywhere is war, me say war Until the color of a man’s skin is of no more significance than the color of his eyes me say war That until the basic human rights are equally guaranteed to all, without regard to race this a war That until that day the dream of lasting peace, world citizenship Rule of international morality will remain in but a fleeting illusion to be pursued, but never attained now everywhere is war, war This song came out in 1976. Have things changed since then? Bob Marley didn’t live long - he died of cancer at the age of 36. He didn’t see his dream of peace come true. I don’t even think that he expected to see it anytime in his lifetime. However, I am very sure he didn’t think peace was impossible either. If only his inspirational music is to be believed and carried out, then these next few lines could make wonders for this humanity: One Love, One Heart let’s get together and feel all right as it was in the beginning; One Love so shall it be in the end; One Heart Sources: http://www.bobmarley.com/life/story/ http://www.bobmarleyforever.com/bio.html http://www.bobmarleyforever.com/lyrics.htm

By: Amjad Shoughry, Arab Israeli It wasn’t another 1948, or even 1967. It was a new reality on the political street, especially for the Palestinians who live inside Israel.

This reality was full of blood, discrimination and pursuit.

The events began in September 2000, when Knesset Member Ariel Sharon planned to visit the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. Sharon’s visit was permitted by Prime Minister Ehud Barak. On the 28th of September, 2000, Ariel Sharon barged into Al-Aqsa Mosque guarded by more than 2,500 military police.

The worshippers inside the mosque felt that this act was the precursor to Sharon’s intentions of expanding the occupation. In response, worshippers wanted to restore their sovereignty. They tried to stop Sharon’s visit while police forces responded indignantly. As a result, many of the worshippers were injured and other victims become known as “Shohadaa”.

On the first of October, news of Sharon’s trespass with huge military forces spread around Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza and other occupied lands. Demonstrations spread and the Israeli police force wielded live ammunition against the demonstrators, killing a number of them. To protest the brutal treatment of Palestinians, the leadership of the High Follow-Up Committee of Arab Citizens declared a general strike. Demonstrations were held throughout Arab locations in Israel and the Occupied Territories. Israeli forces attacked the demonstrators without giving them the opportunity to express themselves.

Northern District Police Com-

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2000.. Remembering mander, Alik Ron, authorized the use of live ammunition against the Palestinian civilian demonstrators under the permission of Barak.

Demonstrations were organized in different Arab locations inside Israel. In some locations, police forces did not interfere with the demonstrations, and the demonstrators dispersed quietly. However, the majority of demonstrations were confronted by the Israeli police, and escalated into violent clashes.

Additionally, Jewish mobs who intervened by burning regional mosques and attacking Arab villages, beating Arabs in different Jewish areas, further escalated the situation. Military police refused to

give assistance to Arabs being attacked, which means that they allowed these behaviors. To make things worse, approximately 300 Jewish Israelis from Nazareth Elite surrounded Nazareth (a city in northern Israel and childhood town of Jesus). They were shouting “Death to the Arabs” and shot live ammunition at Nazareth. As a result, two Arab citizens were murdered by those mobs who were attacking their village. Israeli snipers, who protected the Jewish mobs, shot the Arabs in sensitive bodily organs. While police forces fired live ammunition, rubber bullets and tear gas at Arab protestors, they did not use any munitions against the Jewish rioters.

Police forces broke Israeli codes of

conduct by using live ammunition against the demonstrators. This inordinate and inappropriate use of force by the Israeli police forces led to the injury of over 900 Arab citizens of Israel, and the deaths of thirteen Arab citizens of Israel.

The following Arab citizens of Israel were killed between the first of October and the eighth of October, 2003: 1. Mohammed Ahmed Jabareen, 23 years old.

Shot in the abdomen with a live bullet on October 1st, Mohammad died before reaching the hospital. He lived in Um el-Fahem and worked in TelAviv.

2. Ahmed Ibrahim Siyyam Jabareen, 19 years old.

During the October 1st Um elFahem demonstrations, a soldier shot Ahmed in the head with a rubber bullet. Ahmed died the next day. Raised in Mu’awiya, he was registered to begin Commu-

‘’Wherever There is Injustice That is my HomeLand’’ By: Dima Razzouk, Palestine ‘’Wherever we find injustice in this world, I call my land. ‘’ This quote was said by the greatest Native Guevara who was born in 1928 and lived his whole life only to see his land free of occupation and injustice like in America and Britain. He was nicknamed “Che”, meaning “friend”, because he was loved by most people. He had so many great thoughts which made him a hero to a lot of people, especially those who live in injustice and darkness like us (the Palestinians). He faced so many difficulties such as being imprisoned countless times but this great native never gave up. He kept trying until he reached his aim

which was to free Cuba from the dictator Batista, who treated Cuba’s people very badly. After attaining his goals and toward the end of his life, he was put in prison and also murdered on the 8th of October 1967. Che Guevara was buried in a secret place. Three years after his burial, his body was taken to Cuba and buried there.

Many of you may think that the story of this great Native stopped here, but that is untrue! Although he was murdered, he is still alive in our hearts even today. So many people around the world, including many Palestinians, still believe in Guevara’s great ideas which irritated many dictators. from him. We have many native people like Guevara who really

love their country more than their blood and would rather die than see the occupation destroying everything! So we fight only for one reason, we live only for one reason, we smile only for one reason, and we dream hoping that one day this reason will come true: to see our great county, Palestine, free of occupation, injustice, and all the things that really suck! “ wMÞË u¼ „«c ÆÆ rKE « błË ULM¹√ ”

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nication studies at Rupin College.

3. Rami Khatem Ghara, 21 years old.

Shot in the eye on the 1st of October from close range with a rubber bullet, Rami died from his injuries the next day. He lived in Jatt and was the eldest of three children.

4. Iyad Subhi Lawabneh, 25 years old.

Iyad was shot in the chest with live ammunition on October 1st and died the same day. He lived in Arab Nazareth and worked at a construction company with his brother in the Jewish town of Rehovot.

5. Ala’a Khaled Nassar, 22 years old.

On October 2nd, in Arabeh, Ala’a was chased into an olive grove “center” and beaten by police with the butt of a gun. He was then shot with a live bullet, in the head.

6. Asel Hassan Asleh, 17 years old.

Like Ala’a, Asel was beaten and shot in the head in an Arabeh olive grove while fleeing police violence. Asel was active in a peace movement for youth called “Seeds of Peace” and an honors student at a high school founded by peace activist Elias Chacur, based on the theme of coexistence and peace.

7. Emad Farraj Ghanayem, 25 years old.

Emad was shot in the head with a live bullet on October 2nd while trying to help an injured person in Sakhnin. Before his death, Emad worked with his brother repairing window blinds.

8. Walid Abdul-Menem Abu Saleh, 21 years old.

Shot with a live bullet in the abdomen on October 2nd, Walid had just completed his studies at Tal Khai College and was working as an electrician in Sakhnin and neighboring villages.

9. Mosleh Hussein Abu Jarad, 20 years old.

Killed by a rubber bullet on October 2nd, Mosleh was from Dir El-Baleh in Gaza and lived and worked in Um al-Fahem.

10. Ramez Abbas Bushnaq, 24 years old. . Ramez was shot in the head, leg and chest, on October 3rd in Kufr Manda.

11. Mohammad Khamayseh, 20 years old.

Mohammed was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet on October 3rd and died the next day in Kufr Kanna.

12. Omar Mohammad A’kkawi, 42

years old.

When hundreds of Jewish residents from Nazareth Elite attacked Arab Nazareth on Sunday, October 8th, a rioter shot and killed Omar with live ammunition.

13. Wissam Yazbak, 25 years old.

Wissam died on October 9th from live bullet wounds sustained the night before when mobs of Jewish residents from Nazareth Elite attacked the eastern neighborhood of Nazareth.

On this 5th anniversary, I walked in my school watching the different activities commemorating the anniversary. I met some students, and asked them about their thoughts and feelings on this day.

Shaden, who is 17 years old, said, “It is very important to commemorate this anniversary by preparing different activities which instruct the youth and teach them to show awareness and to relate significantly to the Palestinian-Israeli conflict”.

Shaden also added, “This date is very important for us as youths because we faced this bad day (the

“It is the same as someone who wrangled with his parents, and enters his room in order to shout because politeness forbids him to shout in front of them”

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VOLUME 6 NO. 29- JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 October 2000 events) and we are witness to the event, unlike any other commemorations we’ve heard about”.

“Living the event is more distinctive than narrating” Shaden told me that on that day, the Palestinians who live inside Israel tried to express their wrath towards the discrimination in the Israeli government’s attitude toward them.

She said, “They demonstrated by using their right to live, which in-

cludes the right of expression. On this date, the Israeli government infringed their rights and attacked them which resulted in 13 victims”.

Contrary to Shaden, Yaser, who is almost 18 years old, told me that he doesn’t think that commemorating this anniversary by demonstrating is going to influence the Israeli government. He explained, “I think that in this way, we are wasting time and collecting sadness, which isn’t going to give any results. By demonstrating, we are escaping the

truth, which is facing the authorities”.

“It is the same as some one who wrangled with his parents, and enters his room in order to shout because politeness forbids him to shout in front of them” At that moment, Yaser closed his eyes and said, “The Palestinians who live inside Israel should demonstrate by doing social work and organizing a united association in order to attack discrimination and to help ourselves”.

Bethlehem Peace Center By: Joseph Hodali, Bethlehem Consider these two simple words: “ Peace Center”. It is common to think that this is purely a political center. But in my viewpoint, as well as in other Palestinian youth’s different viewpoints, this isn’t just a political center; it is also an important cultural center that is located in the city of Bethlehem. Its board consists of members from the Bethl e h e m Municipality, a representative f r o m Bethlehem University and a representative from the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This center enhances peace, democracy, religious tolerance and diversity among Palestinians. In addition, it demonstrates some of the Palestinian culture in its decoration and reflects the culture through the programs and activities of-

fered at the center. These programs and activities are offered first and foremost to the Palestinian youth but are also shared with people from different places. In my opinion, it is great to have such a center in Bethlehem to reflect our culture to the outside world in such a good way. This will definitely help in understanding the recent situation in the region and affect the peace process between the Israelis and the Palestinians. It also plays an

important role in introducing the Palestinian cause and the conflict between the two sides to the outer world by introducing it to the tourists visiting Palestine for the first time.

This center is also considered one of the most important centers that reflect the Palestinian heritage and

culture. It also assists other cultural centers in Palestine.

Imagine what would happen if such a center were opened inside the Israelis areas? I think it would be a great thing to do such a thing, because it would make the peace process advance much more easily. Furthermore, it would provide an important opportunity for youth from both sides to meet and share ideas about the situation, to learn how to listen to other people’s viewpoints, to exchange experiences with each other and listen to different stories from both sides about the situation. All these activities should be enough to break the ice between the youth from both sides. If this were done for real, I’m certain the situation in the region would be 180 degrees different than it is nowadays. By having the chance to break the ice wall between both sides, we might have the chance to break the segregation wall too.

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A Unique Weapon for Coexistence A Visit to the Joint Arab- Jewish School in Kfar Qara By: Firuz Abadi & Sahar Samara, Arab Israeli Each one of us carries in his heart an unlimited amount of hatred regarding the daily instability which lives and breathes in the depths of the Middle East region. We are living through continual Israeli and Palestinian clashes that reflect a lack of cooperation , a lack of coexistence , and a lack of love on the one hand, and result in more bloodshed, discrimination, injustices and killing on the other.

Fortunately, there are still optimistic and open-minded citizens on both sides who deal with the roots of the word peace. These citizens try to renew their extra efforts for changing the attitudes of both sides for the better. One year ago, these peace fighters established a joint school, which integrates both Arabs and Jews, in the Arab village of Kfar Qara. The joint Arab-Jewish school, which we visited recently, is considered a new weapon that defends and upholds coexistence between both sides in

Israel . For us it was a great experience to visit the school. This is a place where everyone is equal and no differences are made between both groups. We noticed a place which is filled with love offered and received by teachers, students and even parents. Children play together and sit together; they are simply “mixed�.

This educational bridge can cancel the discriminations which always were practiced against Arab Israeli citizens. In this school classes are taught by Arab and Jew-

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VOLUME 6 NO. 29- JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 ish teachers, each in teaching his pupils in his language. In addition, in this school, you can notice that the Jewish pupils speak the Arabic language. That step invites the word “equality” to enter into Arab Israeli life; since we usually see that the Jewish nation doesn’t know our language.

Spending a whole day in the school, we had the opportunity to talk to the two principals, Yohanan (a Jewish-Israeli) and Noha (an Arab-Israeli). We asked them about the aim of the school, about the whole idea of a joint school, and the way it can affect the future.

“Indeed it started when some parents decided to do their best in order to bring their sons a better future, and they thought that the hatred, fear and misunderstanding between Arabs and Jews are out of learning disparately, and not together. Due to the fact that the circle of hatred is getting bigger and

bigger every day, they had to find a solution to bring about change.

Then, they created this school, where the children will learn together and know each other before becoming adults; they will learn the two traditions, languages, and the history of the two nations.

We celebrate both sides’ feasts together. The aim is not only to learn about the other but to learn together.”, explained the principals.

“We searched many places and there were some options. But when the head of Kfar-Qara’ s council came and suggested that we should build the school there, we thought that it would be the right thing and it would really be something special and new because it would be the first joint school in an Arab village. After this decision, many Jewish parents said they would never agree to send their children to an Arab village they were frightened. However, we didn’t give up. We held meetings

in the village for the parents of both sides, which led to understanding and accepting the idea on both sides. This is already a change.

Parents and adults are learning from children. For example, parents visited the Arab villages for the first time and were hosted there because they had to drive their children to see their friends and it’s a change.”

The future will be different because they know how to respect each other. This respect doesn’t come from the teachers; it comes from their daily lives and their living together. These kinds of schools improve the social relationships between Arabs and Jews, and then we do expect that the future will be full of peace and love because those pupils are our future leaders. We do believe that this joint school is the soul of cooperation and co-existence between the two nations in one country”.

What Can We Learn from Haifa?

By: Kfir Aberman, Israel A month ago, during the Sukkot holiday (Feast of Tabernacles) I visited my grandmother in Haifa.

Haifa is one of the largest cities in Israel, populated by a wide range of ethnic and religious diversity. We can see the diversity of the Haifa population in the Carmel area. The two main groups living there are the Jews and the Arabs. These two groups have coexisted for many years, together and apart.

In CB we have participants from Haifa from both the Arab and Jewish sectors. There is a separation of the two sectors in Haifa which you can see in various aspects of life in Haifa. The school system is one of the aspects that

reflect the separation. Each sector has its own school and usually the sectors do not mix in this field.

Another aspect where Jews and Arabs often diverge is in their place of residence. There are areas where the Jews live and areas where the Arabs live and they rarely live in the same area because of the difference in culture, language, holidays and beliefs. Even the night life is affected because of this issue. For example, Arabs and Jews have their own restaurants and night clubs. Although the two do meet a lot in these kinds of places, the outcome is not always peaceful. Unfortunately, fights do take place sometimes because of the differences in the two life styles, and of course, prejudices.

Yet more often than not the Arab

and Jewish sectors coexist in a natural way at work, stores and daily life in general. Even though the trivial fights take place in Haifa, sometimes I think that we can learn a lot from this city. I wish that this “tiny model” would give us the inspiration and the tools to create “new ideal” in our country. I hope that one day when the next generation comes along they will be able to learn from our mistakes and coexist in the best way they can so that our country will look better and be better. There are so many things that we can learn from one another that I feel it’s a waste that we don’t try to be one unit instead of two or at least to live alongside each other without concerns.

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Works Like a Charm!

By: Eliran Luzon, Israel Far, far away, from all the noise and the big cities, lies the quiet, peaceful and unique port city of Acco.

The story begins 25 years ago when several ambitious people decided that we should look for new ways for artistic expression and had an extraordinary wish: to create a magical event which would take different people from different backgrounds and eventually, bring them together as one. They made this wish come true and initiated the idea of the “Acco Festival”.

The Acco Alternative Theatre Festival takes place each year without any breaks, going far beyond imagination and creating a space for artists and creators. It’s supported by the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Acco Municipality and the EU. This unique festival encourages all forms of theatrical production and allows the spectators to identify with any artistic language: visual, musical or otherwise. Anything goes!

“Acco, a historic city that many nations fought to conquer and rule, offers its historic buildings in order to create handicrafts and original art inspired by a long-living authentic culture”, explains Albert BenShlush, the festival manager and primary producer. “Acco, the city of co-existence, welcomes the visitors with a warm greeting and offers a variety of pleasure and enjoyment possibilities”.

Indeed, Acco’s uniqueness is expressed in its history looking out from each stone and in its colorful human texture. Jews and Arabs, new immigrants and native born, thousands of tourists from within and without the country - all these, combined with its smells, spices and special dishes create an amazing multicolored celebration.

The festival is also a central bridge for co-existence between Jews and Arabs. Art unites and this is actually one of the festival’s purposes.

This four day festival includes activities for finding a common ground and peace, such as: a workshop for Jewish-Arab Street Theater, Jewish and Arab artists performing together, a common language

workshop and many more.

After 25 years, it still works like a charm and as the Mayor of Acco states: “The creative and enriching dialogue of each sector and religion, make the festival experience unforgettable. From here, from Acco, we call out loud, ‘co-existence is possible and viable.’”

Let’s Make a Difference!

By: Wadie Sayegh, Jordan It was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had: to travel to Germany and interact with all those young people from different places and open my eyes to deeper issues and new horizons.

The experience made me realize a very important thing: most young people and teenagers here (in Jordan) are very sheltered.

They are not encouraged to hold strong opinions of their own on issues nor to explore the different existing points of view.

the media, ‘the system’, etc. Well, perhaps some of it is justified, but looking for blame is not going to change things! So I’m not going to blabber about the spoon-feeding methods of teaching or about the lack of a truly liberal education in history, literature, and social stud-

Let us take initiative and focus our efforts on our little circle of influence. That circle will expand and will make the positive difference we are looking for.

One thing passed on to us from our culture is to always blame things on something else: society,

ies/civics issues nor even about the tendency to marginalize young people and teenagers as immature or superficial.

What I want to say is that we, as young people, should turn to ourselves and decide what it is that we

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Peace through Art By: Firas Mattar, Arab Israeli A story of a little place, in the north of Israel, shows a great coexistence between Arabs and Jews. “Bet Ha’Omanuyot” ,”The House of Arts”, is located on Kibbutz Mizraa.

It’s a place to study music and dancing.

can do to make a difference. I think we need to work harder to learn more than the regular onesided information handed down to us. We should find out what we love to do and develop it, and we should look for opportunities to interact with other young people in other parts of the world and expand our minds.

Student-exchange opportunities are a great way to discover ourselves, what we personally think and how we can wean away from our everyday sheltered environment. Such opportunities also teach us to listen and respect others’ ideas and accept them as people regardless of whether or not we agree.

Let us take initiative and focus our efforts in our little circle of influence. That circle will expand and will make the positive difference we are looking for.

During my stay at “Beit Ha’Omanuyot” I felt for the first time that I was being treated like a “human being”, just like others.

Ordinarily, in a Jewish community, I am always looked upon differently and called different names, only for the “stupid” reason of being an Arab.

In my first few days there, I had a strange feeling. I was in a Jewish school and I was getting the same treatment that others were by teachers and by students alike.

So, I felt that I had no choice but to change my point of view about Jews. Suddenly, I found myself getting closer and closer to Jewish students and eventually we ended up becoming real good friends, Jewish and Arabs as one. I felt no difference between my Arab friends and Jewish ones. For the first time I felt that we can live together as a peaceful and loving community and that these two sides can live in great harmony.

the contrary, I felt a great coexistence, thanks to the teachers who simply made us feel like students.

There we were neither Arabs nor Jews. All of us were nothing more than simple students who were trying to study under the same roof.

However, as you know too well, nothing is perfect in this world.

There are always things which prevent everything from being perfect.

When you look at the whole picture you find yourself looking at an

Perfection doesn’t come all at once. But for starters in this new page of coexistence between the two sides, it’s simply great!

My Jewish teachers there were the best. They had no old stigmas, they believed in every student, regardless of her/his nationality, and they treated every student just the same.

I didn’t feel any difference between me and my Jewish classmates. On

ideal coexistence, a kind of a dream. But things aren’t so. There are always these nagging things which makes this coexistence imperfect . The school is run by Jews and almost 85% of its students are Jews. So the only spoken language in the classrooms is Hebrew, all our books are in Hebrew, our entire library is in Hebrew, and though we don’t have school on Jewish holy days, on Christian and Muslim ones we do.

Anyways, perfection doesn’t come all at once. But for starters in this new page of coexistence between the two sides, it’s simply great!

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Eilat’s Youth Center By: Shalev Goldfarb, Israel Violence is being dealt with in many ways. There are for Instance, organizations that help violent people deal with their aggressive tendencies to make them more peaceful and also television commercials that discourage the use of verbal and physical violence and explain the obvious disadvantages of violence as a problem-solving tool.

Eilat’s Youth Center was build by the Municipality of the city of Eilat, Israel in order to get the attention of those violent or potential violent youngsters and encourage them to come to the center to have fun. The center offers video games, a ping pong table, board games, different classes and a respectable amount of volunteers whose “job description” is just to be there for the kids.

“We are open from the afternoon to 10:00 pm, just for the children because some of them have no place to spend their day apart from our youth center”, says 27 years old center Director, Avi Zohar. “Our main goal is to reach those children in a way that talks to them, and by gaining their trust we can teach them important values and teach them what appropriate behavior is in society and to help them identify the behavior patterns that will lead them to violence and slowly ruin their lives.”

I asked Mr. Zohar what the biggest problem they have in the Youth Center is, and he replied that it is when some kids have self-esteem problems, and believe that this is the way they are and that changing their ways is not an option for them. “Anyone can

“The children are the adults of tomorrow, and if we want to see a better world, a more peaceful one, we must help the unfortunate .” change with loving surroundings and supporting friends to motivate and help them to understand and to cope with their problems.

Most of the children who come here are children with problems at home”, says Avi Zohar, and explains that research on the subject shows that 98% of violent

kids are caused by home issues though not necessarily violence at home.

“The children are the adults of tomorrow, and if we want to see a better world, a more peaceful one, we must help those unfortunate.”

Coexistence By: Serene Najdi and Ayman Sanduka, Palestine Coexistence can be defined in many ways. The hard part is not the definition but the way to implement such an idea. It simply means that both groups live together without trying to shoot one another. Many treaties have been signed to create such a change in our lives here, but none have worked. Why? Because coexistence has to start with the people; not with the government. A step was taken in this direction when the Tourjeman Museum was built in Jerusalem.

The Tourjeman House is a museum that exhibits our reality, which is full of violence and presents itself in the language of daily life. This house was built in 1932 by an Arab Christian architect. At first it was used as a military outpost between Jordan and Israel. The idea of changing it into a museum in 1999 was to make it a symbol of coexistence and tolerance.

The exhibitions are very realistic.

One example is the movie we saw about two characters when we visited the museum. At first one of them would raise a problem while the other character would obtain a

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Pinwheels for Peace By: Kfir Aberman, Israel Last night as I was looking for material for my literature exam on the Internet, I suddenly spotted the word “Peace” in a tiny advertisement on the front of the screen window. Naturally, I decided to click the ad, when to my surprise I discovered yet another nice peace project whose aim it is to ‘fix’ our fathers’ mistakes. This project, called Pinwheels for Peace, is about helping students make a public visual statement about their feel-

right solution suitable for both sides. Afterwards, however, the situation changed : each character would give a solution that was suitable for himself but not for the other side. This led to a huge conflict between both of them. We also saw another example of the want of coexistence. It was a portrait that read: “ no black without white: black and white are not opposites, black and white complement one another each highlighting the oth-

er’s existence.”

It was very interesting because the museum guide explained everything in a way that anyone could understand - in a way that describes the situation with no prejudices. Coexistence does not have to start in society; it can start by doing simple things such as visiting the Tourjeman (On the Seam) Museum in Jerusalem. A baby step can lead to a revolution.

ings regarding war, peace, tolerance, cooperation, harmony and unity so as to somehow, maybe awaken the public and let it know what the next generation is thinking.

Contrary to CB, this project is not political. Peace doesn’t necessarily have to be associated with the conflict of war; it can be related to violence/intolerance in our daily lives as well as to peace of mind. Although peace can take on different meanings for each of us, in the final analysis it all boils down to a simple definition: a state of calmness and serenity among people or groups of people.

Pinwheels for Peace is an art installation project establish in 2005 providing a platform for students to express their feelings about what’s going on in the world and in their lives. A pinwheel is a childhood symbol. It reminds us of a time when things were simple, joyful, and peaceful. A pinwheel is easily made using just about any type of material. Students create pinwheels of all shapes and sizes. As part of the creative process, the students write their thoughts about war, peace, tolerance and living in harmony with others on one side of the pinwheel and on the other side they draw, paint, collage, etc. to visually express their feelings. They assemble these pinwheels and on International World Peace Day, on Sept. 21, 2006, everyone plants their pinwheels outdoors. The spinning of the pinwheels in the wind spread thoughts and feelings about peace throughout the country, and the world! I recommend taking part in this symbolic project so as to advance one more step toward our biggest wish: peace.

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My Goddess of Light By: Alexander Barghouti, Palestine Hold me tight this is a lonely night And in my heart of darkness You’ve been my only light Shine my lovely one In front of my eyes so bright Then kiss my lips tenderly As you, silently fade into the night Fear nothing my blessed one For I will protect you with all my might

God is Our Only Hope By: Lena Najdi, Palestine Over the past few years lots of bad things have happened in the world. One catastrophe followed another, disasters occurring in almost every region.

But no one seems to have stopped - at least for a minute - to wonder why we are being cursed and why dreadful things happen to people all over the world without anyone caring.

The answer is so simple, yet lots of people decide they want to forget about it. The only reason why humanity is

existed, there would be neither suffering nor pain. I can’t think of loving a God who permits all of these awful things”, insisted the barber.

The customer didn’t respond, he did not want to start an argument.

The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Just after he had left, he saw a man in the street with long hair and a beard. His hair was very long. A long time passed since he had had his hair cut so he looked dirty and unkempt.

The customer entered the barber shop again and he said to the barber, “You know what? Barbers do

Till my last drop of blood I will be your divine knight I will always watch you From the height of a falcon’s flight Forgive all my sins I beg you Take pity on me my goddess of light

The customer didn’t respond, he didn’t want to start an argument. The barber finished his job and the customer left the shop. Right after he had left, he saw a ...

Kiss me with your lips of ambrosia And fill my heart and soul with heavenly delight Every vile fiend of the night for you I shall fight Your heavenly smile would be my blessing in my last sight Give me your last embrace Before I am engulfed with an endless night Let me hear your heart beat before I dissolve in the mist time As the blazing sun shines in the heavens above so bright I slip away and I remember your smile with delight Now my soul drifts with the turbulent winds Seeking reunion with you my goddess of light

going from bad to worse is that people have abandoned their religion; they have parted from the ways God created for us, following their greed instead.

There’s a story about a man who once entered a barber shop, to have his hair cut. He began to have a good conversation with the barber. They talked about so many things but when they started talking about God, the barber said, “Look, man, I don’t believe that God exists.”

“Why do you say that?” asked the customer.

“Well, it’s so plain to see. You just have to go out in the street to realize that God does not exist. Oh, tell me, if God existed, would there be so many sick people? Would there be abandoned children? If God

not exist.”

“How can you say they don’t exist?” asked the barber. “I am here and I am a barber. Why, I just worked on you!”

“No!” the customer exclaimed.

“Barbers don’t exist because if they did, there would be no people with long hair and long beards like that man who is outside.”

“Ah!” replied the barber. “Barbers do exist! What happens is that people do not come to me.”

“Exactly!” affirmed the customer.

“That’s the point! God does exist.

What happens is people don’t go to Him and do not look for Him. That’s why there’s so much pain and suffering in the world.”

God exists, and that’s a fact, we only have to ask for his mercy, and obey him. God is our only hope to make this world a better place to live in.

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What is That?!

By: Qamar Daher, Arab Israeli Few say it’s happiness Others say it’s sadness some say it’s soul healing And we all agree that ... it’s a feeling It’s like a trap It turns the heart into a map Many ways to get to the same place And the heart is the common base

Potter-Mania By: Dean Solomon, Israel Panic on the streets, kids screaming everywhere, people are not eating, not sleeping - no, it’s not a scene taken from a Hollywood film.

That’s what happens every time a new Harry Potter book is published. Since the first book in the Harry Potter series, “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone”, was published in the year 1997, the whole series has become a phenomenon. Since 1997, five more books have been published, four movies based on the books, made and lots of Harry Potter merchandise has been sold. Fan clubs and websites were established all over the world in honor of this famous wizard. But somewhere along the road people forgot the fact that Harry Potter is a book.

When J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter books, thought of writing a book about wizards, spells and dragons in 1990, she probably didn’t imagine the amount of success and respect that she would receive. Almost every person in the western world has

heard about this series, not to mention the number of people that have read it. Then, in 2001, the first book was transformed into a movie, which turned out to be a big success in itself, and the book was forgotten.

Unfortunately, this is what happens with most of the books that are commercialized. Like the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy before it, Harry Potter became everything but a book. If you asked people on the street if they knew what Harry Potter was, they would probably say that it’s a movie or a video game.

With all the commotion around the movies and merchandise, the books have lost their magic.

A lot of people say that Rowling’s enchanted world encourages children and teenagers to do something that only few of them do willingly: read. But, in my opinion, it encourages them to do what they do without hesitation, watch movies, play video games and to keep away from books. It encourages them to do the exact opposite.

This feeling might be the main But it sometimes causes pain Although we think it’s like a dream and we don’t want to be awoken We might find ourselves sometimes heartbroken It can be between brothers or sisters Maybe between strangers It can be from first sight Or in a time of a flight As much as it’s hard to find it As much as it’s easy to lose it That’s why when we have it We try our best to hold to it God is the doctor This feeling is the medicine We are the ones who need this prescription We must follow the doctor’s orders So we can all have the right and wanted connection !

It’s a gift from up above Did you figure out what it is ?

Yes it’s love !!

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The Complete Manual to Becoming a Rock Star By: Yaalon Ravid, Israel Shiny bright lights, smell of cigarettes, cold microphone in your sweaty hand, heart beating faster, silence... drum stick; 1,2,3,4!!

Doesn’t it sound amazing to take part in a show like this?

Wait a minute, before going there you need to know a few things.

Before everything begins, you need to be either a drummer, guitar or bass player, pianist, violinist, singer

and list goes on and on to all the musical instruments you can think of. But, above all, you need to really want to live Rock, smell Rock, eat Rock for breakfast, and you must commit yourself completely to Rock.

After taking the first step, you have successfully reached the second and most important step: building the band. The minimum requirements for a band are a drummer, bass player and a guitar player. Of

course, if you wish to include lyrics, you should have a lead singer and even one of the band members can do it.

The band should decide about the band’s major features and its musical course. This means deciding on music type, lyric type, name of the band, and its goals and targets (whether it’s going pro or staying amateur). But always remember that your ultimate target is to create music; to have fun.

What’s Happening with the World By: Nabil Shalabi, Jordan “Breaking News,” how many times have you heard that on T.V this week? It seems like everyday there’s some new violence generated all over the world. What’s going on?

Mass murder is turning into a hobby. Bombs today are as easily accessible as candy - you can get them whenever you want. What’s wrong with people? Bombing places is not the solution to anything. Actually, it complicates a problem rather than solving it.

There’s the London bombings,

Lebanon bombings, Egypt bombing. They are so many, you can’t even count them. It’s sad!

It all started when Alfred Nobel invented dynamite to open up mines.

Look how far it has come now?

Weapons of mass destruction and bombs of all sorts abound. Today, you can go on the Internet and type the keywords “how to make a bomb” in any search engine. See how many links you would get. It’s shocking. You’d think that technology is here to help us but one disturbed mind can ruin the whole concept.

Why is this all this happening? Is any reason worth blowing up innocent people? If political influence is the aim, then you can plainly see it’s not working. Ordinary people are suffering because others wish to prove a point. I am not saying that there is no good reason for a bomber, at least in his own mind, to blow himself up. However, the casualties resulting from these bombings are far too outrageous for any reason whatsoever. I can’t believe the world has come to the point where anyone holding a grudge can simply blow his problems away. It’s scary!

The world is going downhill and fast. As long as there’s oppression and occupation and power struggles or in simpler words, financial struggles, in the world, this will not stop. I hope time will prove me wrong and the world will change.

It may take generations to come.

Will our greed destroy us or will our love unite us in peace? Keep your fingers crossed. In the meantime, I just hope that I don’t turn into a statistic, a number in the casualty count.

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VOLUME 6 NO. 29- JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 If you’ve made it this far, here are a few tips on how to make your life easier: * Make sure you have a place where you can play - either the drummer’s basement or maybe a rehearsal room (they’re getting cheaper every year). * Try not to upset the neighbors (they’re not so nice when it comes to bands interrupting them). * Make sure you have at least one rehearsal a week and always try to improve, think ahead, reach higher, better.

Now, you can finally live your dream. After playing together for a while, go lo a local club. Ask them if they can give you some stage time (always seek more stage time).

You’ll get to know people, develop your connections and make appearances. Before you know it, it’s you up there, on stage, living the moment, giving your best, trying your hardest, seeing little faces looking up at you, admiring looks

I’m in the middle with the microphone. Effy is the one on the left.

in their eyes, craving for your attention - the attention of a STAR! I made my dream come true: being on stage, performing, pushing my ability to the edge, coming as close as I could to a Rock star. Believe me, it’s definitely possible! As my fellow band member, Effy Fisher said; “When I finally did it, it felt like the warmest feeling I’ve ever known”.

Finally, don’t ever forget you are a band and your fellow band members are your biggest asset. So love each other and enjoy together.

Rock your world and Rock & Roll!

Google Earth

By: Shalev Goldfarb, Israel While wandering through the unlimited space of the internet, I happened to come upon a digital geographical tool (software if you will), that gives you access to satellite photos of our entire planet.

Meaning what? Via “Google Earth” you can look at Earth from outer space, and zoom in actually so close and with such high quality photos that you can see buildings, cars, and even people!

“Google Earth” is a freeware (free software) that lets you “travel” the world, from your desktop. You can visit places all over the world, research and identify famous places or just places you’ve been to on your last family trip (or CB seminar).

The software has a very nice and friendly interface, easy accessed navigation buttons, and useful features. For example, if there is a place you really liked, you can save its coordinates in the software for easier access so the next time you want to get there you’ll just have to double click the location from the “Saved Locations” tab. There is also a list of layers that can appear in the picture

(such as hospitals, sports stadiums, cafes and even ATMs) which you can check to select.

Anywhere you zoom in the picture, the software will indicate what you see in the picture.

“Google Earth” comes with prelocated famous sites from all over the world like the Reichstag in Berlin, Germany and St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The best and most useful feature of this program is its search engine.

There you can just type in a location in the world (for example, if you want to see Jerusalem, you just type “Jerusalem, Israel”), and it will take you flying, and will dive in right above the Holy Land.

Unfortunately, you can’t see all places very clearly and in fine details. For example, if you zoom in on Israel you will get a very blurry picture and you’ll only be able to spot outlines of cities and maybe neighborhoods.

“Google Earth” is a great program to see the wonders of our planet, arrange a trip or even if just to pass the time. It can be found at http://earth.google.com/ . ENJOY!

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Abortion By: Muna H., Jordan Abortion: Induced termination of pregnancy before the fetus is capable of survival as an individual.

(The Grolier International Dictionary) Sounds horrible, doesn’t it? Makes you think why would anybody do that to their baby. Even worse, why would anybody do that to themselves? Abortion is one of the most controversial and sensitive issues in our world today. Most people,

A One Day Dream..

An Actual Change in Our Lives By: Yazan Madanat, Jordan “Graduation is our dream: now that it has become a reality, let’s make it a remarkable memory.”

These meaningful words are written on my prom ticket.

Graduation is a very important occasion to many of people, but it means different things to every person. I am graduating this year - actually in a month! This year has been very hectic and exhausting for me and most of my fellow graduates. We started the year by preparing for college examinations. Finding a suitable university was another burden. We spent most of the first semester filling out applications, getting the documents from the school, and now we are still anxious about the results.

All of these events were happened swiftly and time was run-

ning out. We needed more time to spend with each other. The thought of leaving our school, friends and then, finally, each of us setting off on a different path made us all cry. We got used to having our parents’ support at all times, but next year everything is going to change.

Graduation is more or less like a transitional period celebration. It comes once in a lifetime. Its joy and exhilaration will prepare us for the next stages in life. We are very excited about it, but at the same time our feelings are mixed.

None of us wants these easygoing school years to come to an end.

But guess what? It’s time to face the real world - to fly out of our parents’ nests. In this new world the word “dependency” will be thrown out of our lexicon. Now there is a real question to ask: ARE YOU READY?!

usually the religiously strict, condemn abortion and believe that women who practice it are coldhearted and blasphemous. Other people, who are more openminded, believe that a woman should be free to do as she wishes with her body, and since the embryo hasn’t actually developed into a fetus, then she is not committing any form of murder.

Our world has changed drastically in the past few decades. Engaging in sex is not uncommon and teenagers are getting pregnant more often. This is why more people are growing more comfortable with abortion and accepting its practice. Although these people are highly criticized, their beliefs are supported by very strong ideas.

Their strongest argument is that women are absolutely free to do as they please with their own bodies, and since they are not hurting any one, they are not doing anything wrong. Another argument, which the latter is based on, argues that since the cells in the embryo have not differentiated into a fetus, the women are actually just

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VOLUME 6 NO. 29- JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 killing a bunch of cells and not a baby. Most people who have an abortion claim that they are just not ready to raise a child. They are either emotionally or financially unstable. Pro-choice does not justify the irresponsibility of couples getting pregnant without considering the consequences on themselves and their children. Prochoice advocates maintain that the children of unwanted pregnancies should not be expected to pay for their parents mistakes. This includes possibly not receiving a proper education, being physically or mentally abused or having to live rough on the streets.

Now, on the other hand, a majority of the people believe in prolife, which means they forbid abortion under any circumstance. They believe that a fetus is formed instantly upon fertilization, so women are actually murdering their babies not just eliminating a group of undifferentiated cells.

Pro-life also believes that irresponsible couples should not be given an easy way out: abortion. Couples should be able to live up to their responsibilities. If they think they are mature enough to have sex, then they are mature enough to handle its consequences. Arguing a different case, some pro-lifers think that the chemicals which a mother takes to abort her pregnancy are harmful to the mother and may have long-term effects on her body. Finally, some people believe that their religion condemns abortion and that is why they must condemn it too.

I am sure now you see why abortion is such a controversial issue.

It clearly manifests the old saying “there are two sides to every story”.

Special thanks to my friend Zeid H. for his help.

A Message to the Israeli People By: Nadeen Abu Tayeh, Palestine In every language words are the vehicle which enable us to convey our feelings. Two simple words that show whether we are for or against something are “yes” and “no”.

We use those two words about hundred times a day. In responding with a yes or a no, you are rewarded for any agreement or compliance you make and punished for any disagreement. The following is a simple illustration of this: if your mum tells you to do something and you refuse, she will punish you. For example, she might tell you that you are not allowed to hang out with your friends. Conversely, if you say yes and agree, you might be rewarded You guys (Israelis) claim that you have a country full of d e m o c r a c y.

But, sorry to tell you guys that I do not think so. Ok, well I might be lying if I say that I believe that you don’t have democracy at all you have the right to vote without being cheated and you have so many other rights. Having said that, I can see that you have no right to decide what you want to do in the future, no right to say yes or no.

We all can agree that America is now the most powerful country.

Have you ever asked yourself

how it became so? How did America become what it is today? Well, I’ll be glad to tell you that the answer is education.

Most Americans are educated.

America’s primary aim is to build a country whose every citizen is educated because education brings technology, education brings knowledge, education brings everything. So, sorry to tell you guys that there are not enough educated people in your country to make it almost everything America is today.

Guys, you don’t have the right to decide what you want to do after graduating high school.

Both your dreams and immediate future have already been decided for you.

You serve in the Israeli D e f e n s e Forces - girls for two years; boys for three - after which I bet that you do not think of continuing your studies.

I’m not telling you not to serve in the Israeli Defense Forces but I’m showing you that your government is wrong and that you do not have enough democracy to express yourself and your needs.

So let’s all study and face all the tough stuff so that we can build a country full of knowledge and democracy. Because with knowledge we are everything but without it we are nothing.

Best wishes to you all.

So let’s all gain knowledge and face all the tough stuff, so that we can build a country full of knowledge and democracy. Because with knowledge we are everything, but without it we are nothing.

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Air Pollution By: Nadeen Batarseh, Jordan There are many kinds of pollution in our world such as water and noise pollution, which must be treated and for which a solution must be found. But I think that air pollution is the most important kind of pollution because of its effects on humans and the whole environment.

When people think about air pollution they usually think about smog, and other forms of air pollution. But did you know that air pollution can also exist inside homes and buildings? It can, and every year many people’s health is affected by chemical substances present in the air.

Air is the ocean we breathe. Air supplies us with the oxygen, which

is essential for our bodies to live.

Human activities can affect the air by releasing harmful substances into the air, some of which can

cause problems for humans, plants and animals. There are a few main types of air pollution.

These include smog, the green

Why Drugs When You Can Laugh?

By: Eliran Luzon, Israel If you have ever thought twice before laughing too much, think again.

And if the thought of taking drugs has ever crossed your mind, it will surely look unnecessary now. Because you know what?

Laughing is just like taking drugsonly better. It’s been scientifically proved.

“Laughter is the best medicine”, people say. It’s true that the doctor isn’t actually prescribing you two jokes a day, but laughter has so many advantages besides fun and enjoyment. According to mental health professionals, humor is a great way to relieve stress, and research proves that a good laugh loosens the muscles

and may lower hormone levels that weaken our body. There’s a reason for feeling so good when laughing: when you laugh, your blood flows to your heart and lungs, boosting up your energy and making you feel better instantly.

Recently, researchers found out that when people laugh, a part of the brain’s reward system is triggered, causing a person a feeling of pleasure and he wants to feel it over and over again. These areas triggered in the reward system by humor are the same ones triggered by drugs like cocaine. Laughing has the same impact on the brain as drugs (releasing endorphins), but drugs cause you to lose touch with reality. Thus, laughing is like taking opium or morphine without the adverse side effects.

According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse, one reason that young people use drugs is to simply feel good. They seek for new thrills and excitements.

Those who simply want to feel good, according to the statistics, have the best chances of being successfully taught that there are other ways of having fun.

While on average, children laugh 400 times a day, adults only laugh 15 times.

Laughing brings people together and improves their physical health. It’s time we realized that we are happy because we laugh and not that we laugh because we’re happy. So I ask why use drugs when you can laugh?

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VOLUME 6 NO. 29- JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 house effect and “holes” in the ozone layer. Each of these problems has a serious implication for our health as well as for the whole environment.

What causes air pollution may vary from city to city depending on the location, temperature, and weather factors. I think even cities surrounded by mountains and those in deserts also experience the trapping of pollution.

Pollution also needs to be considered inside our homes, offices, and schools. Some of these pollutants can be created by indoor activities such as smoking and cooking. In many countries people spend most their time inside homes and buildings. Therefore, we are exposed to harmful indoor pollutants which can be serious. It is therefore necessary to consider both indoor and outdoor air pollution.

We spend most of our time inside homes and buildings for working, studying, eating, drinking and sleeping in enclosed environments where the air circulation is limited.

Due to this, more people suffer from the effects of indoor air pollution than the effects of outdoor air pollution.

Air pollution can affect our health in many ways. Different people are affected by air pollution in different ways. Some people are more sensitive to pollutants than others.

People with health problems such as asthma, heart and lung diseases, for instance, may also suffer more when the air is polluted. Examples of the effects of air pollution include irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, and sometimes headaches.

These are not life-threatening effects. But there are dangerous and serious effects such as lung cancer, heart disease, and even damage to the brain.

We can prevent air pollution in a number of ways. One way is to reduce the number of cars per family. I often see queues of cars in the

morning with only one person in each! Recycling can also help. It is easy to recycle glass , plastic, paper and batteries. In addition, one of the most common air pollutants is cigarette smoke. It seems if we gave up smoking or even reduced it, it could be an important key to a healthier environ-

ment.

I think if we work together, we can make our environment and our earth cleaner by reducing the use of cars, not smoking and resorting to recycling instead of throwing things in the rubbish. This challenge will exist for our children and us because our life is in our hands.

Parents of CB By: Yiftah Kolnik, Israel I wanted to figure out what the parents of the participants in the Crossing Borders project think about it, so I interviewed my mother, Rachel Kolnik, about her experience as a parent of a Crossing Borders participant.

Q: Let’s go back a year and half ago. What did you know about the project?

A: I knew that it is a group of teenagers who go abroad with Palestinians and that you have to write articles.

Q: Weren’t you scared to send your son abroad with an organization that you didn’t know and with Palestinians?

A: Sure I was scared but after I talked with the Israeli coordinator and heard about teachers who are involved my fears almost disappeared. About the Palestinians, I was not so scared because I knew that they are teenagers just like my son and this would be an opportunity of

his life which he should not miss.

Q: What do you know about the project today?

A: I know a lot about Crossing Borders: I read the magazines, I have seen pictures and I talk with my son very often about his experience there.

Q: What do you think is going to stay with your son after he finishes with the CB project?

A: First of all I wish he would stay in the project even after completing school. I am sure he will keep in touch with his great friends and always remember the faces of the youth from Palestine so that even if we are at war between the two nations, he will remember that it doesn’t mean that there are no human beings on the other side.

I want to thank you mom for letting me participate in the Crossing Borders project and for this enjoyable interview.

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Another Summer at Camp Rising Sun By: Ashira Ramadan, Palestine When I was 16 years old, I was selected to go to Camp Rising Sun, an international leadership camp in America. It was a very interesting experience for me to meet people from all around the world and to live with them for two months working, cleaning, sleeping and sometimes crying with them. That experience changed me forever. It gave me self-confidence and inner strength. It also opened my eyes to the world around me.

“ After five years away from camp, I went back.

This time as a journalist, I was very excited,. I felt like I was going back home but at the same time I was scared...”

This summer, after five years away from camp, I went back again but this time as a journalism councilor.

I was very excited when I knew I got the job. I felt like I was going back home but at the same time I was scared. I didn’t know if I could handle taking care of teenagers and

Abused By Religion Jordan Without God everything is permitted. For this reason religion was founded in the beginning.

But, in some cases, people explain religion in their own way and according to their situation.

Religion is the reason why Muslim teenagers and women are forced by their families to cover their head (the hijab) and live all their life with their hair covered.

Religion is also the reason why Christians have to fast for a long period of time each year. Moreover, it’s the reason why Jews are not allowed to do any work on Saturdays.

However, what causes people to use religion to justify terrorist acts is the most important question.

It is important to know how wrong thinking can replace right thinking in relation to religious principles and why those who engage in terrorist activities might believe God is asking this of them.

In my opinion, beneath violent actions committed as a result of rage, there is a feeling of intolerable helplessness. Profound helplessness is what fuels rage and

gives it its power over the individual. We see this in the case of terrorists who commit suicide bombings. The feeling of helplessness makes them rely on God in everything including their life.

They are made to believe that He wants them to kill themselves in order to help their people and live eternally in heaven.

Even countries can commit acts of terror in the name of religion.

Israelis think that God promised them the land of Palestine and it’s their right to get their land back in any possible way.

It’s a shame that religion is being used to achieve goals that are very far from what it is supposed to achieve and I wish that religion could be something just between an individual and his God.

if I could teach them anything .

When I got there, I met the other staff members I was going to work with and it was great. We blended perfectly.

Once the campers arrived, it was non stop work till the end of the summer. I met a group of the smartest girls in the world who had so much energy, I felt they could take over the world (who knows maybe one day they will). At first, they were skeptical about what they could do and how strong they were. Yet, they faced every challenge that came their way.

They had to sleep in tents and work in teams to maintain the camp.

Each day one of them had to be the leader of the day and take care of running the whole camp. They also led projects like building a gazebo, painting buildings and making picture boards and all kinds of things.

They were instructed about nature, politics, collages, leadership, and art. They also taught about things they liked and each camper had something to teach all of us. They hiked up and down two mountains, which was a very hard task even for me but they did it. They did everything they thought that they couldn’t do. They challenged themselves by stepping out of their comfort zones to try new things every day. I challenged them to write a newspaper every week and they rose to the challenge. Even though it took them many sleepless nights to complete and it was very hard work, nothing stopped them. I thought that I was going to teach these girls something but they taught me so much about courage, strength and will power.

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One of a Kind By: Nabil Shalabi, Jordan

Seeking experience, she roamed the world for all sort of different causes like peace and journalism and a lot more. I can only speak of her in the context I have known her in the Model United Nations.

a challenge in choosing such a country to represent and defend, and I can confidently say she rose up to this challenge! She demonstrated all the skills I have learned from my Crossing Borders experience in this conference: how to report and how to be able to see things from another point of view without prejudice. Her contribution to the MUN was a learning experience for all. It was my first conference of such sort and I couldn’t have done it without absorbing her.

Her words could sting but convince as well. She knew what she was doing. Her technique was flawless and she always said the right thing at the right time. Her confidence and limitless knowledge in politics makes her what she is today: powerful.

Nadia is a Palestinian girl with the greatest values. However, in spite of her dedication to her country she chose to represent Israel in the Cairo MUN conference. She found

I recall this specific incident in the MUN Conference where she switched positions to the Palestinian delegate (PNA) and started finding flaws in her flawless work as

This essay is dedicated to Nadia ElAmad Most opinionated - that’s the reputation that Nadia El-Amad has earned among the long list of accomplishments she has attained in her life. She is 17 years old, but in spite of her young age she has achieved things people work for years to accomplish. It’s about time someone recognized this girl for what she is: a great human being!

the Israeli delegate. She wanted to spice up a debate about a resolution she submitted as the delegate of Israel, a move considered not to be smart by some. However, it is a move that should be admired. Only the most secure and mature person could have attempted such a shift.

Nadia is a girl whom you will most definitely learn from and remember if you are fortunate enough to cross paths with her.

On another note, Nadia has the looks of an angel. Nonetheless, she is a girl of substance. Her character radiates, making her an idol to look up to. Outside formal events, you can’t help falling in love with Nadia for she is fun to be around, and straightforward (a quality lots of people lack). She will tell you if your breath stinks or she will ask questions like “Why are you so uptight?” So, be on the lookout whenever you meet her! Always remember her name: Nadia ElAmad. Someday it will turn up in one of your history books!

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Hope for our kids thanks to folks like Liat and John By: LYDIA AISENBERG, Journalist and a Givat Haviva Staff Member JOHN Bartholomew is a British-born educator and presentday resident of Jerusalem. He is also Jewish, black and the principal of an Arab highschool in East Jerusalem.

Bartholomew’s mother, an Ethiopian Jewess, met his Caribbean Christian father in London where he was born. A remarkable and charismatic character, John Bartholomew smiles a great deal although one wonders how he has so much to smile about.

He faces and fights discrimination on an almost daily basis.

When he leaves his house on the western side of Jerusalem he never knows whether he is going to be late for school - or even get there at all, much the same as many Palestinian pupils.

On top of the many complications and difficult roles Bartholomew faces in daily life, he is also the stepfather of a French-born Israeli soldier and heavily involved in a project called Crossing Borders (CB) involving Jewish and Arab youth in the Middle East. And he is still smiling, although he admits that he has had to make some concessions along the way.

“I have been both a teacher and principal for nine years, and have been a keen observer of the triumphs and struggles

of the students under my care,” Bartholomew said last week.

He was speaking at the sixth anniversary gathering of Crossing Borders, a not-for-profit organisation that publishes an English language magazine written by Israeli Arab and Jewish, Palestinian and Jordanian youth and funded by the European Union and Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Being Jewish while teaching Arab students in an Arab part of Jerusalem has caused me to have a unique perspective on the daily life of both Arabs and Jews,” he said.

“I have been ‘crossing borders’ for quite some time and this experience has been bitter-sweet for the most part.”

The pressure on Bartholomew to switch jobs and work for the “other side” has been great, but he says he has always loved his job and loves the children with whom he interacts and educates on a daily basis.

Bartholomew was also instrumental in the writing of the recentlypublished Crossing Borders teachers’ manual for peace education.

Since the Crossing Borders regional magazine first got up and running on a printers’ press hundreds of English teachers in Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian schools have introduced the magazine to their classes.

The September 2000 intifada was thought to be a death notice for thethen fledgling project, but against all odds it not only continued but developed to include teachers.

The prohibitive travel restrictions enforced after the intifada was an-

other major hurdle conquered by having participants meet for long weekends in Turkey after which a new issue of the bimonthly magazine saw fruition.

In an emotional speech at the sixth anniversary in Jerusalem, 21-year-old Jerusalem-born Liat Margalit said being part of CB was an important component in her life and had maintained her CB ties project during her military service.

Just before donning an IDF uniform, Liat had penned an article for the magazine entitled Soldier of Peace. She said she was often quizzed about belonging to a joint Jewish-Arab project.

“They don’t understand how we can create a dialogue with those who are portrayed as ‘the enemy’ or ‘the other side’,” she said. But she didn’t feel she owed anyone an explanation.

“I believe that those who spend their lives hating for no reason are the ones that need to give the explanation,” said Liat. “I have committed to making CB a way of life, a part of who I am, so that the next generation will not grow up in hatred.”

She went on, gesturing with both hands to all those sitting in front of her: “I am asking you to look around you. What you see is the future. My hope is that my kids will grow up side by side realising that every person is an entire world.”

With people like Liat Margalit and John Bartholomew, maybe there is a chance after all.

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CB News CB Palestine Coordinator on Danish TV 2 The national Danish TV 2S has made a reportage on Suheir Hashimeh, the Palestinian Coordinator of CB. They filmed her daily crossing borders between her office at the Damascus Gate in Jerusalem and Abu Dis on the other side of the wall. The film crew also followed Suheir to the editorial meeting of CB at the Orientation Press in Jerusalem on 11 November. For details, please contact: suheir@crossingborder.org

CB Participates in Willy Brandt Youth Conference Crossing Borders has been invited to send six youth to the annual conference entitled: “It’s the Youth, Stupid! The Role of Youth in Conflict Resolution” organised by the Willy Brand Centre for Encounters and Communication in Jerusalem from 2nd to 3rd of December 2005.

CB Lectures CB Director Garba Diallo gave lectures and workshops on CB and its facilitation methods for the Danish Centre for Conflict Resolution on 27 October at Maribo southern Denmark, the Danida Fellowship conflict management course for project managers from Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, Uganda and Bolivia for two full days on 1011 November 2005.

CB Club Opens in Haifa The second CB club was inaugurated in Haifa by CB Arab Israeli coordinator, Angham Sakar on 1st October 2005. CB youth, Arab Israeli programme director, CB director and assistant director and some teachers attended the opening party of the club.

For more info please contact: angham@crossingborder.org

CB Intern visit the region CB Intern researcher Rosa Dich will pay a research visit to the

region from 25 November to mid December. The purpose of her visit is to meet the CB teachers and see to what extent and how the new CB teacher’s manual has been used in teaching. This research trip is part of Rosa MA thesis for the University of Roskild, Denmark.

CB volunteer on Danish Radio CB Maja Gildin was on P1 national Danish radio on 29 October for one hour. The radio made a programme about Maja’s quest for her Jewish identity, as a young Dane with close contact with Palestinian and keen dedication for peaceful coexistence between Jews and Arabs. The radio followed her to the Israel/Palestine. Some of the interviews were made at Palestinian CB house, in Ramallah, Tel Aviv and other places of importance. For details please contact Maja at: maja@crossingborder.org

CB PARTICIPATES IN CRYSTAL NIGHT Mozhdeh Ghasemiyani of CB Denmark represented Crossing Borders at the annual commemoration of Crystal Night in Denmark on 9th November. Crystal Night is a world wide commemoration of 9th November 1938 when the Nazis in Germany launched their campaign of pogroms and mass killing and rounding up of Jews in Germany.

The slogan of this year’s event was: Yes to equal right - No to discrimination, Yes to integration - No to marginalisation, No to racism, anti-Semitism and Nazism. Never again “Crystal Night”. In addition to Crossing Borders, there were many other human rights and trade union organisations.

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