Wednesday, January 21, 2009

let us write

I will be grateful for the English reader who will correct my English in this post.
Let us write about the war
The last war was especially hard for me, I and my family were victim to war aggression, and the views from the television screen from Gaza were difficult.
I want to start from the end. Today Monday The first day of a cease-fire towards evening, I opened the newspaper, Suddenly fell on the floor a sticker I lifted it up in which it was written " It won't stop until we talk" the Palestinian and Israeli members of the bereaved families forum for peace.
(
http://www.theparentscircle.com/about.asp )


Last night my friend sent to me the blog of Dr. Tamar Hagar from Tel Haye College in which she tells about the Arab Jewish dialogue going at the college. On the one hand, the dialogue flood the disagreements while on the other hand, it cause positive and constructive Jewish Arabic activities.( blog address:
http://jadialogue.blogspot.com/2008/12/blog-post_27.html )
Two days earlier we followed with great sorrow after the tragedy of Dr. Abu El Esh that bereaved his three daughters when Tank fired on the house. It was very impressive to see even though the Bereavement he remains believes in peace.




And before that I participated at Jaffa 2nd meeting and I listened to Jewish and Arab personalities from all political colors, right and left, Speaking in a cultural
way, show their positions with courage, understanding that we must agree how to disagree. The atmosphere was respected.
The participants were respected despite the difficulty of reporting news released.



And before, Captain Omar Rubinovitz was killed. He was Rina son. She is a teacher; I worked with Rina in Kaye College. This is sadness that has no end.



Earlier Qassam fell 20 meters from my house, hard experience, the windows glasses smashed; it was miracle that no one was hard wounded.

And before, my living region fired Kassam missiles and it was very unpleasant.
And before was cease-fire agreement and was peace in our region and we enjoyed our wonderful weather.
And before I participated in JITLI summer trip, three weeks of intense acquaintance between teenagers Israeli Jews and Bedouin youth from the Negev and Jewish teenagers from San Diego U.S.
In that summer trip we had noticed the advantages of shared experience and direct speech.

I think that I had a lot luck to be part in such experience. I now understand the importance of meeting together, the common daily speech, some time anger feeling, empathy, sympathy.
We must continue to talk, We must continue respect one another, know our friends, let us make the most broad based as possible to life in peace and without fear, we are all lovers of life.

Let us write about what we think on Jitli project following the war what this project contributed to us? In what way it help us? Who is not able to respond to the blog can send me his comments and I'll put them there.

Itzik Koren

Monday, January 12, 2009

We must agree how to disagree!

Israel summer 2006 – The Second Lebanon War
Jewish - Arab relations in Israel in deep crisis
Israel winter 2009 – War in Gaza
Jewish - Arab relations in Israel in deep crisis
How shall we come out of it? Is there a chance for “shared life”?
What is acceptable and what isn’t in times of war? What are the limits of protest?
And why bring it up now – when things are boiling over?
Because this time, it seems, that the crisis is deeper. And if we don’t talk - it can only get
worse We must agree how to disagree!
Please enter in your diary our invitation to an encounter and open discussion of
these crucial and painful issues
On the agenda:
• A glance at Arab society in Israel in times of war – an inside glance
• War, oncoming elections, Jews and Arabs – what next? – A political discussion
• And what if women were at the helm of power?
• A spotlight on Turkey – Moslems and Jews
• A spotlight on Hamas, PLO, and Arab-Jewish relations in Israel
• War, Arab –Jewish relations from the Jabotinsy school of thought
Participants:
*MK Rabbi Michael Melchior, Green Movement - Meimad * MK Zeev Elkin, Likud *
Salman Natour, author and co-editor of Du-Et * MK Dr. Hana Swaid, Hadash * Aida
Touma-Sliman, director,Women Against Violence * Dr. Mari Totry, Oranim College *
Salem Joubran, poet, former editor of “Al-Ittihad” * Ebtissam Mar’ana, film director *
Samih al-Qasim, poet and honorary editor of “ Kul al-Arab” * Ilan Gilon, The New Movement-
Meretz * Dr. Alon Liel, former director of the Foreign Ministry and Charge d’Affaires
of Israel in Turkey * Yochanan Tzoref, Jerusalem Institute for Israel Studies * Dr.
Sarah Ozacky-Lazar, The Citizens’ Accord Forum * Dr. Yossi Achimeir, Jabotinsky Institute
* Dr. Yunas Abu-Rabia, Soroka Hospital * Daniel Ben-Simon, Labor candidate for
the Knesset * Lior Sagi, Amnon Beeri- Sulitzeanu and Mohammad Darawshe, Abraham
Fund Initiatives * Udi Cohen and Ibrahim Abu-Shindi, Citizens’ Accord Forum
For details and registration at the Citizens’ Accord Forum offices – tel: 02-6731118
The discussions will be conducted in Hebrew
Israel 2009: Jews, Arabs – unavoidable conflict?
the meeting will be 15.1.09 between 16:00-20:30 kedem st. 109 Jaffa