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Israel. Palestine. Generation 2.0
Common Ground News Service asked two social activists -- an Israeli woman in Jerusalem, a Palestinian woman in Hebron -- to respond to the same question: "Specifically what needs to be done to make 'Generation 2.0' a reality among Israeli and Palestinian youth?
By Reem Al-Shareef (Palestinian)
Use your mind to hold yourself together. Express your anger in a sensible way. Think.
These are phrases that Qurtuba school staff in Hebron, a city in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, repeatedly tell our Palestinian students.
Especially after the recent war in Gaza, non-violent face-to-face interactions can be a difficult task. But working with students in Qurtuba School, I believe I can help create a safe and peaceful future for the next generation of Palestinians and Israelis alike, from the ground up.
Walking around Hebron, especially Al-Shuhada Street where the Israeli settlement of Bait Hadassah is located, is like stepping in a minefield.
Do the Arab children going to school here really know how to handle themselves in these surroundings, where settlers might throw stones at children who step into the wrong area? Not always. So, we teach our students that responding with violence will only result in more violence. It is a never-ending cycle. It is because of this belief that I implemented the school's non-violence policy.
First, the children are taught their civil rights. They now know that if settlers attack them they should call the Israeli police for help. Our school is in the H2 area of Hebron, which is under Israeli control (the H1 area of Hebron falls under the Palestinian Authority). In H2, it is the responsibility of the Israeli government to provide security for the civilians.
When an incident happens we call the Israeli police while the children are watching. This shows them that it is better to get the authorities involved than responding with violence. The police usually respond quickly, and if there is a delay then we call organizations such as the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) or the Temporary International Presence in the City of Hebron (TIPH) and then the media.
The children monitor our actions and learn.
Second, teenagers are given the chance to express their anger on paper or through play. These are successful way of helping them understand and focus their feelings.
Third, we are careful never to use our students as pawns in the conflict. Our school believes that children shouldn't take part in demonstrations against the occupation since they are easy targets. They should enjoy their childhood and chose their political beliefs themselves when the time is right.
I hope that these approaches will teach this next generation of Palestinian leaders to use their minds and stand up for their rights non-violently, creating a peaceful future for themselves and their neighbors.
**********************************************************************************************************
By Nira Lamay (Israeli)
The present generations should spare future generations the scourge of war. To that end, they should avoid exposing future generations to the harmful consequences of armed conflicts as well as all other forms of aggression and use of weapons, contrary to humanitarian principles.
These words of UNESCO's 1997 declaration on the responsibilities we have to future generations are simple and clear. They formed the basis for the Israeli Parliament's own Commission for Future Generations, a professional, non-political organ of the Knesset that advised parliament on the impact of legislation on future generations.
I worked on this Commission, which existed from 2001 until 2006. My time there was inspirational, and today these words shape my own work to promote a future of peace for Israelis and Palestinians.
The commission's mandate did not cover political issues, foreign affairs, military or defense Issues. We focused on preserving resources for future generations. Our motto was that while the political world was busy with issues of defense and war, we would prepare for the "day after" peace, when future generations would have clean water to drink and clean air to breathe.
Sometimes I wonder if there will be a "day after". The recent war in Gaza made me realize that we still don't have the luxuries that most nations enjoy - where preserving resources and the environment are a primary task. We are still stuck at the more basic stage of simply surviving in terms of our security and the preservation of our identity.
It also made me realize that professional employees of the political system should use the knowledge they have gained to try and affect it. So, while we have our work on the ground cut out for us, we cannot give up on politics.
The political mission of promoting peace is much too precious to leave to politicians. Let us - Israelis and Palestinians alike - reclaim the right to change and to create our own future.
I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to work on building peace at the ground level through a magical project called 60 Years, 60 Voices, organized by the non-profit organization Peace x Peace, which connects women around the world for the purpose of dialogue, understanding and collaboration. The project brought together 30 Israeli and 30 Palestinian women to highlight their beliefs for a better future for Israelis and Palestinians. I was fortunate to be one of these women.
We still have a long way to go at the "ground level". We need to work to turn fear and paranoia into trust between two peoples, rather than between the two governments.
Nira Lamay is a legal advisor to parliamentary committees on the rights of children, and science and technology. Reem Al Shareef is the principal of the Qurtuba School in Hebron. Both authors contributed to the women's NGO Peace x Peace's book, "60 Years, 60 Voices," which considers the possibilities for peace in the Middle East.
This article was written for the Common Ground News Service (CGNews).
By Reem Al-Shareef and Nira Lamay |
March 19, 2009; 2:27 PM ET
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Posted by: CCNL | March 23, 2009 5:14 AM
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CCNL (Church of Clancy, Nusbaum, and Luigi)
We hear again from our representative from the Church of Clancy, Nusbaum, and Luigi (CCNL).
The impending demise of his fellow embryonic stem cells has all but frazzled
CCNL's potential brain (cell). And we though of a different biostratum, extend our heartfelt condolences.
I see you have either not seen the Sainted Archbishop Luigi of the Lasagna for pastoral counseling or that you have, but need to go again.
As you now know, he has returned from his visit with the Holy Sauce.
You should not be embarrassed to return to him for guidance. These are perilous times for you and all your fellow embryonic stem cells.
Until you see him, ask yourself WWLD (What would Luigi do?). You can then ask him directly, but do not ask, WWLD, since you are no longer speaking to yourself. Say instead, WSID (What should I do?). If you wish, you can later compare answers (yours with his).
Until you see him, why not say the famous Luigian chant, with which you were wont to begin your posts: "Hmmm"
May you have peace in the name of the Pasta, the Meatballs, and the Lasagna.
Hmmm
Posted by: ivri5768 | March 22, 2009 10:08 PM
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Most of us skip anything written by Farnaz, the Jewish atheist, since she continues to lie about who she is by using at least five aliases i.e. Farnaz2 aka Observer12 aka Observer31 aka Yael1 aka ivri5678 aka Billy8.
Her lying 24/7 is a constant embarrassment to her Jewish heritage!!!
Posted by: CCNL | March 22, 2009 9:58 PM
Report Offensive Comment
CCNL (Church of Clancy, Nusbaum, and Luigi)
We hear again from our representative from the Church of Clancy, Nusbaum, and Luigi (CCNL).
The impending demise of his fellow embryonic stem cells has all but frazzled
CCNL's potential brain (cell). And we though of a different biostratum, extend our heartfelt condolences.
I see you have either not seen the Sainted Archbishop Luigi of the Lasagna for pastoral counseling or that you have, but need to go again.
As you now know, he has returned from his visit with the Holy Sauce.
You should not be embarrassed about seeking guidance. These are perilous times for you and your fellow embryonic stem cells.
Until you see him, ask yourself WWLD (What would Luigi do?). You can then ask him directly, but do not ask, WWLD, since you are no longer speaking to yourself. Say instead, WSID (What should I do?). If you wish, you can later compare answers (yours with his).
Until you see him, why not say the famous Luigian chant, with which you were wont to begin your posts: "Hmmm"
May you have peace in the name of the Pasta, the Meatballs, and the Lasagna.
Hmmm
Posted by: ivri5768 | March 22, 2009 11:02 AM
Report Offensive Comment
Most of us skip anything written by Farnaz, the Jewish atheist, since she continues to lie about who she is by using at least five aliases i.e. Farnaz2 aka Observer12 aka Observer31 aka Yael1 aka ivri5678 aka Billy8.
Her lying 24/7 is a daily embarrassment to her Jewish heritage!!!
Posted by: CCNL | March 22, 2009 9:39 AM
Report Offensive Comment
CCNL (Church of Clancy, Nusbaum, and Luigi)
We hear again from our representative from the Church of Clancy, Nusbaum, and Luigi (CCNL).
The impending demise of his fellow embryonic stem cells has all but frazzled
CCNL's potential brain (cell). And we though of a different biostratum, extend our heartfelt condolences.
I see you have either not seen the Sainted Archbishop Luigi of the Lasagna for pastoral counseling or that you have, but need to go again.
As you now know, he has returned from his visit with the Holy Sauce.
You should not be embarrassed to go again to him for guidance. These are perilous times for you and all your fellow embryonic stem cells.
Until you see him, ask yourself WWLD (What would Luigi do?). You can then ask him directly, but do not ask, WWLD, since you are no longer speaking to yourself. Say instead, WSID (What should I do?). If you wish, you can later compare answers (yours with his).
Until you see him, why not say the famous Luigian chant, with which you were wont to begin your posts: "Hmmm"
May you have peace in the name of the Pasta, the Meatballs, and the Lasagna.
Hmmm
Posted by: ivri5768 | March 21, 2009 6:31 PM
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No, no, no, the suggestions are completely flawed!!! What is needed is for the Truth to be told about Judaism and Islam!!!
To wit: (for those eyes that have not seen)
Abraham founder/father of three major religions was either the embellishment of the lives of three different men or a
mythical character as was mythical Moses, the "Tablet-Man" who talked to burning bushes and made much magic in Egypt.
Many of the 1.5 million Conservative Jews and many of their rabbis have relegated Abraham to the myth pile along with most if not all the OT.
Current crisis:
Realization that the Jews are not god's chosen people.
www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/ConservativeTorah.htm
Mohammed was an illiterate, womanizing, lust and greed-driven, warmongering, hallucinating Arab, who also had embellishing/hallucinating/plagiarizing scribal biographers who not only added "angels" and flying chariots to the koran but also a militaristic agenda to support the plundering and looting of the lands of non-believers.
This agenda continues as shown by the massacre in Mumbai, the assassinations of Bhutto and Theo Van Gogh, the conduct of the seven Muslim doctors in the UK, the 9/11 terrorists, the 24/7 Sunni suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the 24/7 Shiite suicide/roadside/market/mosque bombers, the Islamic bombers of the trains in the UK and Spain, the Bali crazies, the Kenya crazies, the Pakistani “koranics”, the Palestine suicide bombers/rocketeers, the Lebanese nutcases, the Taliban nut jobs, and the Filipino “koranics”.
And who funds this muck and stench of terror? The warmongering, Islamic, Shiite terror and torture theocracy of Iran aka the Third Axis of Evil and also the Sunni "Wannabees" of Saudi Arabia.
Current crises:
The Sunni-Shiite blood feud and the warmongering, womanizing (11 wives), hallucinating founder.
Posted by: CCNL | March 20, 2009 3:25 PM
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The comments to this entry are closed.
Obviously Farnaz is not going to apologize for her lies so:
Skip anything written by Farnaz, the Jewish atheist, since she continues to lie about who she is by using at least five aliases i.e. Farnaz2 aka Observer12 aka Observer31 aka Yael1 aka ivri5678 aka Billy8.
Her lying 24/7 is a constant embarrassment to her Jewish heritage.