Encounter with the Sulha Family, Al-Tariq family and other activists at Neve Shalom (pictures on the bottom)

On Thursday 23^rd July at 5p.m. approximately thirty Jewish and Arab peace activists gathered for five and a half hours. We are all passionate activists with great faith in the ability of the public to create significant change in society.

Some of the participants are active in organizing Sulha gatherings, some organize other encounters for peace and others are active in the NGO, Al-Tariq, but we are all united by a profound desire to create an encounter that is real, straightforward and demonstrates an awareness of the current reality in which we live.

We met with true respect, which each participant brought from home.

The encounter began by opening our hearts. We simply moved together to the rousing sound of Arabic music under the guidance of Dafna Schwartz. As the body moves, thoughts flow more easily; when we move on the same wavelength we create an atmosphere for shared thinking.

After a song for the soul led by Gavriel Meyer, Hanan Jaffaly provided the opportunity for us to gain a more intimate acquaintance in pairs, reminding us of our thirst for personal connection and true sharing, and preparing us to approach our chief task of re-thinking:

In three groups, we considered two questions:

1. What motivates you to attend and participate in peace encounters?
2. What elements are needed to comprise a satisfying encounter that will enable you to tell your friends that it is a true and real?

Addressing these questions helped us focus on essential points sometimes forgotten in the heat of the moment.

Main responses to the second question included:

·        Total cooperation in planning

·        Great attention at the planning stage

·        A comfortable atmosphere – comfort in a natural space outdoors

·        Providing tools to continue the process within local communities

·        To aspire to be a model for daily life

·        More action as well as spirituality

·        Developing close, personal, long-term relationships

·        To develop youth and student leadership

·        To create a language that will produce an awareness of non-violence

·        To grow big enough to become an influential voice

·        Depth and continuity

·        An equal number of Israelis and Palestinians, Arabs and Jews, men and women

·        Encounters with minimal expenses

Next, Ali Abu-Awwad spoke with us about our deep desires and the importance of distinguishing between our vision, goals, objectives and tools when undertaking a task. Hetalked about a non-violent movement of people on a spiritual and creative path who can act to influence large numbers of people and governments to create freedom and security for all of us and work toward a situation in which there is no need to be occupiers or occupied.

Finally, we discussed our next encounter and planned a two day meeting in a charming place in the West Bank called Tent of Nations. Important principles for this encounter include:

·        Speaking from the heart – circles

·        Clarification of the needs of the two sides

·        Time to plan activities on the ground

·        Getting to know the place, the land

·        Joint planning of the encounter by Israelis and Palestinians

·        Remaining with the same people for two days - continuity and flow promises more depth

·        Being together

·        Inter-religious spirit

·        A single track of activities, in which everyone participates from the beginning until the end

·        A balance in the number of Israelis and Palestinians – a closed workshop

·        Holding a workshop on successful civil movements

·        Thinking about fundraising

·        Planning the next encounter

·        Inviting youth representatives

·        Shared cooking and work – a period of voluntary work for each participant

·        The encounter is planned for Thursday 13.8.09 – Friday 14.8.09 (overnight)