Dialog between Israelis and Palestinian on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem

Mount of Olives, Jerusalem. The house of the wellknown Arab peacemaker Ibrahim Abu el Hawa is being used again and again as a place of encounter and dialog. There people of different religious and cultural as well as political backgrounds meet each other.

On Wednesday, 24th January 2006 I participated the first time at a meeting of about 50-70 people - mainly pre-army israelis, a few Palestinian and some Internationals that do their part in contributing to peace.

I would say the dialogue with the group was quite a success. If I understood it right none (!!) of the Israelis had ever spoken with an Arab before or entered the area of the Mount of Olives -an arab area - of Jerusalem. The purpose of the meeting was to get to know each other, to learn from and share with each other.

I saw that there were many emotions involved in the talk. When the question was asked if any of them would come again on the mount of Olives and if so, alone. Some of them answered: yes, I would maybe come again, with some friends but not alone. Or: yes, I would bring my family. What I liked was the idea of one Israeli who said: I want to bring two people that have never heard of this place before and they should bring two that have never heard of it before and so forth… to spread the word, to get more into contact with each other. To learn more about each others cultures, beliefs etc.

Anyhow, when asked if the Israelis would also – after this contact, after knowing some Arabs – disobey an order of their boss as a soldier, several replied: I will go to the army and I will be happy about it and I will of course follow the orders of my boss.

Another guy said: I will follow the orders of my boss, to soon become the boss and then be able to change things.

I for instance told them, it is maybe not so much the question right now, if they would follow an order of their boss to kill someone (that question was raised before). But what they can really do (both sides) is to treat each other with respect and honor. For instance while passing checkpoints, soldiers could let arabs pass as they let tourists pass, without humiliating them etc. That in my eyes is a good start.

TO BE CONTINUED below the picture.