(Jerusalem Post) Marissa Young - On a field trip to Palestinian villages as part of the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs Israel-Arab conflict program, I had the opportunity to meet leaders of a small Palestinian village near Bethlehem, sit in their living rooms, and discuss their relationships with the Jews in the settlement next door. I was moved by the story of how these Palestinians formed their own small school so that their children would not be indoctrinated in the hostile environment of the school in a nearby town. I have seen how Israeli Jews have worked with the military authorities to ease building restrictions for the village. Recently, three men from this village were arrested by the Palestinian Authority for the crime of forming friendships with their neighbors. While the PA makes motions towards negotiating, it is cultivating an environment in Palestinian society that does not promote the peaceful coexistence any solution must include.
2013-12-20 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive