|
|
 |
|
MIDDLE EAST HEROES |
| |
Laila Najjar and Adi Frish
An Urgent Memo
To: All political leaders attempting to find the solution to the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.
From: Global Heroes Magazine.
CC: Individuals
looking for a model of conflict resolution and those interested in
reading about a story of hope from the Middle East.
Re: "Roadmap to Peace" exemplified through the friendship of two young girls in the following story:
|
It
is a typical scene. Two friends in their early twenties are sitting at
a coffee shop, drinking beverages while talking and laughing over
inside jokes and events from the previous night. No bystander would
have the slightest notion that Laila Najjar, a Palestinian Muslim, and
Adi Frish, an Israeli Jew, should be mortal enemies. As they
effortlessly speak to each other in both Arabic and Hebrew, one would
think that the two girls are oblivious to the fact that their two
people groups are involved in one of the most deep-rooted and
complicated conflicts in our world’s history.
Most
Israelis see Palestinians not as friends but rather potential human
bombs preparing to kill innocent civilians. This certainly is not the
case based on Adi’s behavior towards Laila. And despite the Palestinian
sentiment that their people are victims of oppression inflicted by
Israelis, Laila shows no signs of animosity towards Adi. As the
pictures of hatred and violence fill media news time slots around the
world on a daily basis and as politicians spend countless hours and
money seeking solutions to the crisis, these two young girls offer an
image and an example representing hope and peace.
"We
have a very special friendship,” Laila says. “We are like sisters. I
know everything about Adi and she knows everything about me.”
Our friendship does not depend on politics, but rather on mutual respect for each other,” explains Adi.
One of the driving forces behind this friendship is the Oasis of Peace
(Neve Shalom in Hebrew, Wahat al-Salam in Arabic), a small village
situated midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The Oasis of Peace was
jointly established by Palestinians and Israelis, including the two
girls’ parents, in the 1970s as a place where the two groups could
live, work and raise their children together. Over 50 families reside
in the village, which has been nominated five times for the Nobel Peace
Prize.
“We are one of a kind,” explains Adi. “We are not segregated. We live
and cooperate with each other. We treat everyone as an equal.”
Laila and Adi were among the first children born in the community and
developed a close friendship when they started kindergarten at the
integrated primary school. It is the only bilingual and bicultural
school recognized by Israel’s Ministry of Education.
“We learn about each others histories, cultures and languages,” states Adi. “We understand each others identities.”
The best example of this can be seen in the way that holidays are
celebrated. Although fundamentally and devoutly different in beliefs,
Adi’s family invites Laila over for Jewish holidays and Laila’s family
will in turn reciprocate for Arabic holidays.
As the political conflict has intensified, the friendship between Laila
and Adi has grown closer, partly due to the encounter workshops that
are offered as part of the educational system at the Oasis of Peace.
Students, both Israeli and Palestinian, are encouraged by trained
facilitators to examine each other’s opinions and emotions and thus
develop tools to manage conflict.
"Of course we have disagreements,” says Laila. “But the best way to deal with problems is to speak about them not with aggression but with openness and respect.”
|
|
 |
|
|
The integrated primary school at Neve-Shalom, Wahat al-Salam, Oasis of Peace.
|
Treaties and political negotiations have produced little results since the outset of the conflict.
With the recent failure of the 1993 Oslo Accords, the collapse of the
2000 Camp David Summit and the stalling of the current roadmap to peace
designed by the United States, European Union, United Nations and
Russia, perhaps it is the ideas of two young girls who have not yet
completed their university studies that truly offer us the framework to
peaceful coexistence.
For Laila, the way to peace is best exemplified in the village by living, learning and dealing with problems together.
“To truly have peace, both sides have to learn to relate to each other,” she says.
“We all are human beings,” Adi states. “We have to know the other side better. We need to communicate and listen.”
Adi currently works at a fitness club and has plans of attending
university in the near future. Her choice of study would be
communication between people, a subject that would be useful for many
in the region.
Laila studies jewelry design in Jerusalem and hopes to return back to
the Oasis of Peace to raise a family while also promoting the ideals of
the village.
“Everyone has dreams and we have accomplished our dream of living in
peace,” Laila says. “It is important to spread the idea of the village
to as many people as possible.”
One can only imagine what the situation would be like if Laila’s wish
is fulfilled and the ideals of the Oasis of Peace are prevalent
throughout the entire region. If this message is communicated, how many
other young Israeli Jews and Palestinian Muslims could be laughing
together over a drink instead of resting in graves?
|
ADI FRISH PERSONAL PROFILE:
DATE & PLACE OF BIRTH: October 1, 1982 - Neve Shalom, Wahat al-Salam, Oasis of Peace, Israel
BEST MOMENT IN LIFE: When my parents built an apartment for me
FAVORITE BOOK: Someone to Run With
FAVORITE FILM: Fifth Element
|
 |
:
LAILA NAJJAR PERSONAL PROFILE:
DATE & PLACE OF BIRTH: September 24, 1983 - Neve Shalom, Wahat al-Salam, Oasis of Peace, Israel
BEST MOMENT IN LIFE: The day I was accepted into the university I am currently attending in Jerusalem
FAVORITE BOOK: Crazy About Laila
FAVORITE FILM: Love Actually
|
 |
:
 |
|
 |
|
 |
Israel
|
| |
Capital: |
|
Jerusalem |
| |
Population: |
|
6,116,533 |
| |
Language: |
|
Hebrew |
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
