Amid The Ongoing Hatred And Violence In Israel, Residents Of One Village Know Only Peace

Thursday was another day of violence, as the Israeli military continues its week-long assault on the Palestinian territories. Eight civilians were killed Thursday, but a controversy arose as to exactly what killed them.

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The Israeli incursion was on a Palestinian refugee camp near Gaza City. Tanks and helicopters shoot atthe camp. A building caught fire. Something inside started exploding. The Israelis say it is bullets from the ammunition that is stored inside.

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One hundreds to the north, in Haifa, funerals were held Thursday for some of the 15 people killed in Wednesday's suicide bombing on a crowded bus. The victims were not only Jews, but also Arabs living in Haifa. Bomb blasts know no ethnic boundaries.

Amidst all the violence it's sometimes difficult to find a silver lining. But we discovered one in a small village outside Jerusalem, it's called Newe Shalom: Oasis of peace.

Palestinians and Jews in the village live and work and go to school together. We met two 11 year-olds who are best friends. Tali Sonnenschein is Jewish and Nadine Nashef is Palestinian.

Bill Ritter, Eyewitness News: "When you see Palestinians and Jews fighting, how does that make you feel? You guys are best friends..."
Tali Sonnenschein: "Really, really horrible."
Nadine Nashef: "Terrible."
Sonnenschein: "We really want to tell them that, "Look, there is no difference between us. We're all the same. Why can't you live together."
Nashef: "If they want to be friends, they have to stop hurting each other."

It is something of a desperately needed time out in a violence-plagued region, but the founders of Newe Shalom (That's the Hebrew, What hat al salam is the Arabic), believe it’s more than that. They say the 25 year-old village is a model of the way things can be.

Abdessalam Najjar and Dorit Shippin help run the village.

Ritter: "Abdessalam you're Palestinian. Dorit, you're Jewish. How do you make it work?"
Dorit Shippin: "When there's conflict in the community, we discuss it, we talk we compromise."
Ritter: "But with all due respect, you've been here for 25 years, you're work hasn't really translated to the outside world. There's still a lot of violence and conflict out there."
Abdessalam Najjar: "I am a Palestinian, she's a Jew, with all of our feeling and emotion, with all of our contact to our people, we are trying to do alternative things."

Sonnenschein: "If I had one wish, I would make it that there would be peace here and in all the world."

At least someone in the region is trying.

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Last Updated: Mar 10, 2003