Building bridges, not walls

Samuel Barhoun

"Building bridges is more important than building walls." That's what we heard today from the Rev. Samuel Barhoun,  a Palestinian Israeli who is Arch Deacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and rector of the Holy Family Episcopal Church in Rene, a town near Nazareth in northern Israel. He told us about the Kids for Peace program, in which a dozen 12-year-olds (four Jews, four Christians, and four Muslims) meet weekly for a year in Rene, then go to the United  States for a week together. A similar group in Jerusalem goes to Canada. The emphasis is on human rights and cultural activities. What a great program! May it be expanded and replicated.

Susan Barhoum

Samuel's wife Susan, from Ramallah in the West Bank, is also a bridge builder, active in human rights issues. In fact, she completed the Building Bridges MBA program at Haifa University. She says that the 1.5 million Palestinians in Israel (20% of the country's population) face invisible walls of discrimination that must be broken down. She showed a video from the Abdalah human rights group about discrimination in employment, education, land, housing, development, even marriage. Children are afraid their mothers will be deported under the amendment to the citizenship law that bars non-Israeli Arab spouses from living in the country. Susan told us, "my children are afraid to dream, but I want them to dream."

Sima

"We always dream" said Sima, a chemistry student at the new Nazareth Academic Institute who met with us in Nazareth.  She said, "it's nice to have an Arab college here; it gives us confidence." The small college is now private, but charges low fees, and hopes to get funding from the central government agency. Most of the students are women.

Dov Avital

Typical home in Metzer Kibbutz

Earlier today we met another bridge builder, Uruguay-born Dov Avital, a leader of the Metzer Kibbutz, which was started from scratch in 1973 by young Argentines. How I wish that all Israelis and Palestinians could adopt the model of cooperation developed between Metzer and its neighboring Palestinian village, Mesa. Dov says despite differences in ideology, language, and culture, the two communities miraculously decided to look at each other as human   beings, not as stereotypes. They are united in a desire to  build a better future for their children. They share water, which is such a bone of contention in this region. They also share roads and a sewer system. They go to visit each others' homes at times of joy and sadness, even after a terrorist killed five people in Metzer in 2002. Dov says that despite the gate that was put up after the attack, Mesa residents are still welcome in Mesa, and many come in every day to work or shop in the kibbutz. Unfortunately we did not visit Mesa to hear their story.

Mosque in nearby Mesa village, as seen from Metzger

Dov says offers for closer ties with another Arab village on the other side of Metzer were rebuffed. He thinks it was a mistake to put the separation wall where it prevents them from getting to their fields or jobs. "If they cannot feed their children, they will fight," he says.

I had time after lunch to pray for peace in the magnificent Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, and to thank God for the people who are building  bridges instead of walls. It's true that flagrant human rights violations will  persist until Israel ends the occupation and accepts the Palestinians' right of return , but as I see it, every little bridge helps.

Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth