The Definitive Proposition to End the Inter – Semitic Centuries Old Conflict of the Middle East.

As per a Private Facebook created for the purpose of ,,,,,,

This is very, very, very, Private Sector participation towards conciliation which is needed within the Jewish / Israeli and Arab populations within the West Bank of what later will be Judea and Samaria the Jewish State of Israel, Thus to promote the nullification of Inter -Semitic centuries old Sectarian Conflicts initiated between the Mizrachi and Arab Peoples. Moreover, to identify those who promote such Inter – Semitic conflicts as singularly being Sectarianist as a unified definitive of being Anti – Semitic by their promotion of arm conflicting struggles – whether such conflicts are Inter – Ethnic, or Inter – Semitic.

• 

Therefore two outstanding issues:

One.

Thus to resolve such conflicts is a matter of revolution to throw off the chains of sectarianism by the sole proposition is the individual personal rights of both property – thus the house and lands thereof – and personal ownership of family developed business assets, and the establishment of reciprocity and reparations to both the Mizrachi, and Arabs who became – thus were or are now refugees.

That status as refugees is based on the conditions of being refugees – meaning both Mizrachi Jewish Members , and Arabs – during the era of their population transits between 1940 to 1967. Such sub-issues as pertaining to reciprocity and reparations to be decided between those who were in transit during the era defined only, and to be discussed through established meetings and social media contacts.

Two.

Private Sector meaning setting up business correlation ‘ ships necessary to created corporate partnerships, and trades, This also involves co community development in as much each has the ability to communicate to their respected communities what is needed to successfully complete a corporate development contract, It is in the development of Business Contracts which is far more advantageous than any Peace agreement within this tough neighborhood known as the Middle East.

Private Sector includes established friendships, and joint family invitational celebration events only.It is in the experiences and the additional economic codependency which leads to what any Peace accord is to entail, and by which the political process becomes the end of the process and not its origins; thus stabilized behavior is already established and thereby the ratified agreements will have optimal political success on both peoples, Such agreements in relationships to equal status within Erez Yisroel, and equal access to opportunities as well, 

How to join this group will e defined in the following posts.

Middle East Education Through Technology (MEET) [ wikipedia source ]

Middle East Education Through Technology (MEET) is an innovative educational initiative aimed at creating a common professional language between Israeli and Palestinian youth. Working together with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), MEET enables its participants to acquire advanced technological and leadership tools while empowering them to create positive social change within their own communities.

Program founders Yaron Binur, Anat Binur, and Assaf Harlap became aware that many Israelis and Palestinians never get a chance to interact with one another on a personal level, even though they grow up and live a few short miles from one another. Inspired by their experiences of multicultural cooperation in international educational institutions, the founders decided that a fast-paced, intensive program in technology would be an ideal medium to bridge the divide. With this vision, they created MEET in the summer of 2004.

MEET seeks excelling Palestinian and Israeli high school students; admission into the program is very competitive. Once admitted, students meet continuously for three years. Their first summer includes instruction in basic Java programming; this extends into the first yearlong segment of the program. The second summer includes more advanced topics in computer science and introduces a business and entrepreneurship curriculum. The program is capped by a long-term project beginning in the second yearlong segment and extending into a final summer term. Alumni activities maintain the student network after graduation.

MEET graduates have been accepted into top universities in the region and abroad, including the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.^[33] The skills and bonds of friendship forged by MEET students, combined with the students’ natural talents, prepare them for a successful future of leadership, achievement, innovation, and cooperation.

Aside from its partnership with MIT, MEET has been supported by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (which has donated lab space for the summer sessions since MEET’s inception), Al-Quds University, Sun Microsystems, Hewlett-Packard, and other national and international organizations,^[34] as well as many individual volunteers from around the world. MEET’s Website

A Kind of Community — Jews, Arabs, Palestine, Israel

jewish philosophy place

Community is a group with people you despise, defined by a common center of concern and care. Between the leftwing Israel-always-wrong crowd to the genocide wing of the Jewish right, the beautiful souls and the ugly Jews. But no matter where we are on the map, all of us are in this together, those of us who are obsessed about Israel and Palestine. Historically, politically, and morally, I do not see any way to separate contemporary Jewishness from Israel. But here’s the rub. There’s no way either to separate or modern Israel from Palestine and the modern Middle East. There are too many competing investments in that place, which operates as a moral and affective center of collective consciousness. Also obsessed about Gaza and Israel, many Arabs and Muslims, from the political moderates to the #HitlerWasRight crowd, share the same center of gravity. Like it or not, “we are very…

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Formula: Child Rearing Focus

Today a child rearing centered focus contained in the overall formula “For “ reconciliation, in part, is influenced from the pages of Emile written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau [ See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Jacques_Rousseau ], and the Arab and Israeli emerging traditions against a backdrop of conflicts. None the less, it is the real emotions which are expressed when each nation talks and then reflects on the future of ones children.

Unanswered though, in the meantime, in our times and era of today are, for example:

What are the real expectations and then national aspirations of the children right now, and especially of those who are the critical stages in their respected human [ Piaget ] development. Will there be consequences which could trigger internal future conflicts within ones own society; the key factor in present day internal crisis causing de-stablization; both political and reflecting at the same time growing militant religious conflict centered schism – i.e. cause by the emotional imprint of the Iraqi regime of Sadam Husine’s tyrant centered violence to enforce internal political controls.

What are the social, cultural, and career expectations of the children of Israel when compared with Arab children. Are the emotional mine sets of each is on the positive aspirations results of their conscious awareness of the events of today, or are there traces of emotional anxieties which later could trigger personal unrests to the extent of later creating the dependence on violent action to solve emotional crises.

Thus: Why a the inclusion of a child rearing comparison for commonalities as per:

It is the regional focus on such comparisons which forces the bests in ones own social and cultural customs to set the lead which will be found most dramatically in their out look of real commonalities; their intercultural communications significance to establish national goals of child rearing.

Arab, Jewish Israelis making friends online

JAFFA, Israel (Press Release)–Khouloud Ayouti has been working at the Peres Center for Peace for two and a half years in the Peace Education department. Since joining the team, Khouloud has been instrumental in maintaining and growing programs in the fields of technology and IT, while enhancing Peace Education through Technology programs.

She truly believes that there is tremendous potential to connect Jews and Arabs and Israeli and Palestinian youth through the integration of traditional and social peace-dialogue programs, including both face-to-face interactions and virtual ones.

Khouloud currently manages the “Bridges for Peace” technological project, which is held in conjunction with Google Israel and the ORT Educational Network. Through the Google+ Hangout technology, this unique project brings Jewish and Arab Israeli youth together, where they can overcome stereotypes, find common ground and promote coexistence.

“These programs connects Jewish and Arab teens through virtual media, creating the opportunity for cross-border relationships in a safe and secure environment that would otherwise be impossible,” says Khouloud.

According to Khouloud, “The project began as a pilot in December 2012 with 112 participants and was called ‘Hanging Out for Peace.’ This year, the name was upgraded to the ‘Bridges for Peace’ project, which is now comprised of 250 participants from 10 different high schools, all members of the ORT Educational Network. Once the students are chosen, circles of 4 Jewish students and 4 Arab students are formed, with one Hebrew-speaking facilitator and one Arabic-speaking facilitator leading each meeting based of an online curriculum specially developed for the project.”

Both groups of students are able to get to know one another in a safe environment through a series of virtual dialogue sessions using the Google + Hangout platform. The circles interact three times through Google+ Hangout before having a physical face-to-face meeting at the Peres Peace House. Following the in-person meeting, they have four additional online sessions, where they work together in their groups on the final project, which they aim to present at the final in-person physical meeting.
“Last year,” Khouloud describes, “The final project task was creating a film. However, this year the participants have the choice to create whatever they desire. For instance, the group from Acre has decided that they would like to tour and explore each other’s neighborhoods, in a method where they can be exposed to their peers’ hometown through their own eyes. Another circle will be creating a multicultural restaurant. Both Jewish and Arab participants of different ethnicities are creating a menu consisting of their own respective foods and recipes, and bringing their friends and families to the final meeting so they can all try new dishes.”

While the program is a great starting point in breaking down stereotypes, Khouloud stresses, “These official meetings are the first early steps in the process of peace. Yes, the program’s main goal is to allow the participants to meet each other in a safe environment, find similarities among them and remove misconceptions. Nevertheless, eight meetings have made a lot of progress and impact – It’s incredible!”
The Hangout+ platform generates a change in the participant’s lives and turns the idea of coexistence into something logical. “It breaks down barriers between young people, both physically and mentally. With Google+, Facebook and other forms of social media, the participants discover a real bond that is strengthened even after the program ends.”
The Bridges for Peace project is particularly important for Khouloud, since she was around the participants’ age when she began considering issues such as peace and coexistence herself. “All my life, I was suffering from an identity crisis, since my family has been living in Jaffa for hundreds of years. When I was 16, I realized that one of my biggest dreams was to work for an organization that promotes coexistence between Jews and Arabs; it’s my passion, and for that I am lucky to work at the Peres Center for Peace. I hope to continue contributing to our society and improving the lives of those around me.”

Thanks to passionate project managers like Khouloud, who work hard, and put lots of efforts in creating a sustainable peace, Jews and Arab youth can understand that coexistence is possible and real and lasting friendships can be formed.

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Preceding provided by the Peres Center for Peace in Jaffa
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Shared vital ” water” resources: A Milestone of Cooperation

Press Release

WASHINGTON, December 9, 2013 – A milestone regional cooperation agreement was signed today at the World Bank Headquarters by senior Israeli, Jordanian and Palestinian representatives. This agreement will support the management of scarce water resources and the joint development and use of new water resources through sea water desalination. The agreement, in the form of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), was signed by the ministers responsible for water in the three cooperating governments: H.E. Minister Silvan Shalom for Israel, H.E. Minister Hazim El-Naser for Jordan and H.E. Minister Shaddad Attili for the Palestinian Authority.

The MoU outlines in broad language three major regional water sharing initiatives that will be pursued over the coming months by the cooperating parties. These initiatives include the development of a desalination plant in Aqaba at the head of the Red Sea, where the water produced will be shared between Israel and Jordan; increased releases of water by Israel from Lake Tiberias for use in Jordan; and the sale of about 20-30 million m3/year of desalinated water from Mekorot (the Israeli water utility) to the Palestinian Water Authority for use in the West Bank. In addition, a pipeline from the desalination plant at Aqaba would convey brine to the Dead Sea to study the effects of mixing the brine with Dead Sea water. In order to proceed with these actions, especially the desalination plant at Aqaba, technical work and studies will need to be undertaken.

The MoU is an outcome of the cooperation since 2005 between Israel, Jordan, and the Palestinian Authority on the Red Sea-Dead Sea Water Conveyance Study Program. This MoU also represents a new initiative arising from the Study Program. This phase is limited in scale and designed to accomplish two objectives: to provide new water to a critically water short region; and the opportunity, under scientific supervision, to better understand the consequences of mixing Red Sea and Dead Sea waters. At this time, the specific role of the World Bank is to assist the three governments in moving forward with the activities covered in the MoU.

“I am pleased that the long term engagement of the World Bank has facilitated this next step by the three governments, which will enhance water availability and facilitate the development of new water through desalination,” said Inger Andersen, Regional Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa, on behalf of the World Bank at the signing ceremony.

Rabbis for Human Rights

PRESS RELEASE | 29 January, 2014

Rabbis for Human Rights presented a position paper to the Elaluf Committee summarizing the key reasons that people living in poverty do not receive the benefits they deserve, such that their situations worsens.

Last Sunday, Rabbis for Human Rights presented a position paper to the anti-poverty committee headed by Elie Elaluf on the phenomenon of unclaimed social rights among people living in poverty. The presentation of the paper is part of the organization’s advocacy effort to put the topic on the committee’s agenda, and to demonstrate that this little-discussed issue is a signification reason why escaping poverty can be very difficult , and why the situation sometimes worsens.

More on Elaluf here

The document (attached to this press release) was written by Rabbis for Human Rights’  Sigal Asher,  director of the Rights Center in Hadera,  based on her wealth of experience in the field. The document examines the main reasons for the failure of people living in poverty to claim the social rights, such as allowances and grants,  they are entitled. The reasons include cumbersome and confusing bureaucracy, inaccessible information, making one benefit conditional upon another, language barriers, negative social stigmas, personal desperation and more.

At a meeting of the Anti-Poverty Committee led by Elie Elaluf, Professor Johnny Gal noted that an estimated ten percent of people entitled to income support do not receive it.

Rabbi Idit Lev, Head of the Rabbis for Human Rights Social Justice Department:

“When you’re talking about people who live in dire poverty and are still unable to receive that which they are entitled to from the state, you find that this causes many people to despair and turns small problems, sometimes temporary and solvable ones, into a spiraling of emotional and financial crises which have no solution. Income support, for instance, is an allowance intended for people who have almost nothing.”

Rabbi Sigal Asher, author of the document and Director of the Rabbis for Human Rights Rights Center in Hadera:

“We see people every day at the Rights Center who live in poverty for whom, in addition to other hardships, the difficulty in claiming their benefits from the state and other bodies can make their lives impossible, and occasionally this is the factor which drags them down further into poverty. As a society we must look after people before they descend into poverty, and it is our obligation to help and assist those who live in poverty.”

As was published recently in a study by Professor Eldar Shapir [link in Hebrew], “poverty does not harm people with limited abilities; rather people’s abilities become limited as a result of living in poverty. The inability to claim benefits infringes on the most basic needs of life.”

If your brother becomes destitute and his hand falters beside you,” – Do not allow him to fall down. To what can this be compared? To a load on a donkey. While it is still on the donkey – one person can grasp it and hold it in place. Once it falls to the ground – [even] five people cannot pick it up.- Sifra (Malbim) Parashat Behar (Leviticus 25:35)

Rabbis for Human Rights has run the Rights Center in Hadera for people living in poverty since 2005. We assist the residents of Hadera, Wadi Ara and the surrounding areas in claiming the benefits they are entitled  to from state institutions (the National Insurance Institute, Ministry of Welfare, schools, etc.) and also from private organizations (such as communications companies). In that time we have accumulated extensive information about the difficulties people who live in poverty face in claiming their social rights.

US programs to promote Reconciliations

The single largest supporter of the Jewish State of Israel is the United States.  Being that, and notwithstanding the US Pro – Israel Alliances have its massive innovations to assist the Israeli peoples efforts in reconciliations with its Arab Neighbors and Palestinians. These programs are by far the largest in the word,

Program Overview 

Conflict Management and Mitigation (CMM) grants are part of a congressionally mandated effort to support people-to-people reconciliation activities that bring together individuals of different ethnic, religious or political backgrounds from areas of conflict to address the root causes of tension and instability.  Since the program’s inception in 2004, USAID West Bank and Gaza Mission and U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv have supported 55 Conflict Management and Mitigation (CMM) grants for Israel, the West Bank and Gaza.  Below is a list of the current CMM awards that are being implemented by U.S., Israeli and Palestinian organizations. 

Goals

• Promote peaceful coexistence among Israelis and Palestinians.
• Improve mutual understanding and dialogue on issues of common concern.

Programs managed by U.S. Embassy Tel Aviv

1. The Abraham Fund Initiatives (TAFI) (9/2009-9/2013; $1,061,550):  The Abraham Fund Initiatives is an Israeli organization that has been working since 1989 to promote coexistence and equality among Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens.  The “Arab Society – Police Relations “ grant covers three major areas:  Policy Change – working with senior-level police, together with local officials and national government ministers, to encourage  community policing by Israel’s national police.  Police Training and Practice – introducing democracy, human rights and knowledge of the Arab community into police training.   The concept of policing within the community will be integrated into police policy.  This will involve learning from models around the world about best practices that integrate policing and community involvement.  Community Empowerment and Reconciliation – facilitated seminars with Arab community leadership, local representatives and police station staff, building local capacity to work with the police to solve community problems.
2. The Abraham Fund Initiatives (TAFI) (9/2010-9/2013; $999,715):  The Abraham Fund Initiatives is an Israeli organization that has been working since 1989 to promote coexistence and equality among Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens.  The “Language as a Cultural Bridge” program organizes encounters between Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish fifth-and-sixth graders who participate in language and cultural classes.   The Israeli-Arab students participate in Jewish cultural seminars and Hebrew language classes, and the Israeli-Jewish students participate in Arab cultural seminars and courses in spoken and literary Arabic.   Both groups come together in ongoing encounters for the students, parents and teachers throughout their two-year participation.   The Israeli Ministry of Education is a major partner in this program, having approved all course materials, and is accrediting enrichment hours to participating teachers.  The Jewish Agency is also a sponsor of this initiative.  Approximately 1,600 students participate in the activities funded under this grant.
3. Center for Educational Technology (CET) (9/2010-9/2013; $559,000):   CET is an Israeli NGO dedicated to the advancement of education.  The “Shared Life: Learning Together for Mutual Understanding” program develops a bilingual website to build bridges among Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish high school students.  The activity-rich website includes an eight-episode television series and classroom activities to reinforce the coexistence theme.   Approximately 150 teachers throughout Israel receive training in using the website to teach civics education to approximately 2,000 Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish students.  These students interact with each other and with their teachers through the website and participate in two face-to-face meetings during their participation in the program.  The website is expected to reach a further 18,000 students through a robust advertising campaign.  The Ministry of Education is a partner in this program and is providing enrichment hours for the participating teachers.
4. Merchavim (9/2010-9/2013; $750,000):  Merchavim is an Israeli organization that works to equip young Israelis of all backgrounds to build a shared future by learning about their fellow citizens and appreciating the diversity of Israeli society.  The “Shared Citizenship on Sesame Street” program develops teacher training materials featuring characters on the Israeli version of Sesame Street (“Rechov Sumsum”) to teach the concept of shared citizenship.  Approximately 1,200 Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish kindergarten teachers receive training in using these course materials, and 36,000 of their kindergarten students participate directly in related classroom activities.  Video content relating to the program will also be showcased nationally on the leading Israeli children’s television channel (“Hop!”), which carries Rechov Sumsum.   Sesame Street’s global content directors in New York vet all content developed for this program.  The Israeli Ministry of Education is a major partner in this program, approved all course materials, and is accrediting enrichment hours to participating teachers.
5. <a-c_3rvb0mh2shqozhw><a-c_3rvb0mh2shqozhw><a-c_3rvb0mh2shqozhw><a-c_3rvb0mh2shqozhw>Arab-Jewish Community Center (2/2012–7/2013, $100,000):  The Center, located in the heart of multi-cultural Jaffa, acts as a unique gathering point in Israel for Islam, Christianity and Judaism.  The ”Class Exchange” Program brings separate Jaffa youth communities together during the school year for artistic meetings and dialogue.  Over 1,200 11-13 year olds are participating in the program led by experienced facilitators (ten class pairings of 60 Israeli-Jewish youth and 60 Israeli-Arab youth).  There will be 14 professionally facilitated meetings during the first school year, and 45 during the second year; half the meetings will be at the Arab-Jewish Community Center and half held at the schools themselves.
6. Arava Institute for Environmental Studies  ( 9/2010-6/2013; $243,333):  The Arava Institute is an Israeli organization that generates capacity for conciliation and cooperation in the Middle East, transcending political boundaries in order to achieve environmental change.  The “Youth Environmental Education Peace Initiative” project uses environmental education as a vehicle for bringing together Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish students.  During the first year of this project, 20 Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish graduates of the Arava Institute participate in a “train-the-trainers” course to learn how to facilitate cross-cultural encounters, which will take place during the second phase.  In the second year of the program, these trained leaders implement an environmental education program in partnered Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish high schools, bringing together approximately 300 high school students to learn about their shared responsibility to protect the environment.  

Programs managed by USAID West Bank/Gaza

1. American Friends of Neve Shalom Wahat Al Salam (AFNSWAS) (06/2010‐06/2013; $1,000,000):  Sub-awards: School for Peace $557,818 and Tawasol $362,182:  AFNSWAS is a U.S. NGO that supports a genuine and durable peace between Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish citizens, and between Palestinians and Israelis, through dialogue, cooperation and education.  AFNSWAS’s project “Creating Change Agents:  Palestinian and Israeli Professionals in Dialogue and Action” provides participants with the knowledge and tools to create institutional change through a series of dialogues around issues such as equality, security and identity.

2. Keshev (05/2010‐05/2013; $1,000,000):  Sub-awards:  International Peace Cooperation Center (IPCC), $297,300:  The Center for the Protection of Democracy in Israel (Keshev) was established by a group of academics, lawyers and civil society actors to protect and advance democratic values in Israel.  Keshev’s project “Press for Peace:  Improving the Israeli and Palestinian Media and Public Discourse” seeks to raise awareness among Israeli and Palestinian journalism professionals and students of how media coverage and editing practices affect peace and conflict.
3. Peace Players International (PPI) (07/2011‐06/2013; $877,493):  Since 2001 PPI, a U.S.-based organization, has used the game of basketball to bridge divides, change perceptions and develop young leaders.  PPI’s project “Support for Peace Players International – Middle East: Cross‐Border Activities” engages nearly 1,000 Palestinian and Israeli children per year to participate in Twinned Basketball Clubs.
4. Windows (05/2010‐05/2013; $750,000):  Windows is a joint Israeli-Palestinian organization that strives for a future based on human rights, liberty, dignity, equality and democracy.  The “Youth Media Program” uses media as a tool for Israeli and Palestinian participants to learn about each other and to communicate with each other about the conflict.
5. Friends of the Earth Middle East (FoEME) (09/2010-09/2013; $1,200,000):  Sub-awards:  Water and Environmental Development Organization, $921,721:  FoEME is an Israeli organization that brings together Jordanian, Palestinian and Israeli environmentalists. FoEME’s main objective is the promotion of cooperative efforts to protect our shared environmental heritage.  The “Good Water Neighbors” and “Promoting Water Conservation and Environmental Education in Jerusalem” projects build on inter-dependence between Palestinians and Israelis resulting from their shared water resources with a focus on cross-border community relations.  The goal is to advance community reconciliation within eleven Palestinian and nine Israeli communities by supporting community dialogue on water and environmental issues.
6. Israel/Palestine Center for Research and Information (IPCRI) (02/2012-01/2014; $1,000,000):  IPCRI is a leading Israeli organization in the field of peace education working with educators and youth.   The project “Jewish and Arab Israeli Youth Defining Shared Citizenship Through Collaborative Community Programs” targets youth living together in mixed cities in Israel, and aims to redefine the nature and quality of their citizenship, promoting shared citizenship and responsibilities.
7. Hand in Hand (03/2012-02/2015; $1,080,000):  Hand in Hand, Center for Jewish-Arab Education in Israel, is an Israeli organization building peace, coexistence and equality through a network of integrated, bilingual schools for Israeli-Jewish and Israeli-Arab children.  The project “Shared Community/School Integration” seeks to establish eight Israeli-Jewish and Israeli-Arab shared communities; five of these will be built around existing integrated schools, and an additional three in regions without existing schools.
8. Citizens’ Accord Forum (09/2011-09/2014; $612,414):  The Citizens’ Accord Forum between Jews and Arabs in Israel (CAF) is an Israeli organization established with the vision of building a just and equal relationship of accord and stability among Israel’s Jewish and Arab citizens.  The project “Youth Parliaments of the Mixed Towns of Israel” aims to create youth parliaments in Israeli cities with large Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish populations to encourage moderated discussions, dialogue and outreach.
9. Givat Haviva (9/2011-9/2013; $874,144): Sub-award: Keshev- $403,873:  The Givat Haviva Institute is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting mutual understanding, cooperation and equality between divided groups in Israel as the foundation for building a shared future and shared society.  The project “Communicating Peace” aims to improve critical media consumption skills of professionals, educators and youth.  The program approach focuses on media monitoring, curriculum development, training on critical media and in-depth dialogue between Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish youth.
10. Economic Cooperation Foundation (ECF) (1/2012 – 1/2014; $1,000,000):  ECF is an Israeli organization that aims to maintain and support Israeli-Palestinian and Arab-Israeli cooperation in the political, economic and civil society spheres.  The “Promoting Neighborly Relations” program aims to promote economic cooperation and policy changes in tourism, trade and infrastructure planning in the northern Palestinian and Israeli regions of Jenin, Gilboa and Haifa.  The program will benefit the thousands of citizens living in this northern region by widening economic opportunities for tourism entrepreneurs, farmers and small industrialists. 
11. Catholic Relief Services (CRS) (09/2011-12/2013; $1,000,000):  Sub-awards:  Reut Sadaka-$600,876:   The “Gemini” project implemented by CRS in partnership with Sadaka Reut, a youth partnership organization, focuses on bringing together Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish youth aged 18 to 25 for an extended period of dialogue, skill-building, mentoring and activism.  
12. The Adam Institute for Democracy and Peace (9/2011- 9/2014; $1,193,002):  Sub-award:  Center for Democracy and Community Development – $407,148:  The Adam Institute, an Israeli NGO, works with civil society organizations to enhance their commitment to non-violence and build their capacities to better serve their constituencies.  The “Return to the Public Sphere” project conducts a series of workshops for a total of 200 young Israeli and Palestinian civil society leaders aged 21 to 35 to build capacity for effective, democratic and peace-oriented leadership on both sides.
13. Ben-Gurion University (9/2011-9/2014; $760,160):  Sub-award: Center for Applied Research in Education – $120,750:  Ben-Gurion University has a program that works with educators in Israel and the West Bank dealing with victims of political violence.  The “Human Service Professionals and Educators in Israel and Palestine: Building Knowledge and Peace” project aims to identify, implement and evaluate the most promising, culturally appropriate models of intervention to be used with children, families and communities coping with trauma and bereavement associated with the ongoing conflict.  The project will form and train a cadre of 15 Israeli-Jewish, 5 Israeli-Arab, and 20 Palestinian human service providers, primarily mental health practitioners and educators who specialize in conflict mitigation.  The 40 participants will lead four workshops for 200 Israeli and Palestinian professionals.
14. Near East Foundation (NEF) (9/2011-9/2014; $1,209,502):  NEF is a U.S. organization based in Nablus working to build relationships and cooperation amongst Israeli and Palestinian olive producers in six clusters of villages in Israel and the West Bank.  The “Olive Oil without Borders” project will provide economic and social impact through increased income profitability and cross-border trade, higher levels of trust, and increased cooperation to stimulate cross-border economic cooperation.
15. Sikkuy:  The Association for the Advancement of Civic Equality (9/2011-12/2014; $1,061,275):   Sikkuy is an Israeli NGO engaging Israeli-Jewish and Israeli-Arab local officials and civil society leaders to produce joint frameworks for increased economic opportunity.  The “Equality Zones: Jewish-Arab Regional Forums for Cooperation” project promotes inclusion of Arab municipalities in statutory government frameworks, develops small business opportunities, and increases employment for Arab women.
16. Mercy Corps: (9/2011-3/2013; $1,190,000):  Sub-award: Peres Center for Peace – $40,000:   Mercy Corps is a U.S organization that has implemented more than 95 peace-building programs in over 30 countries.  This project brings Palestinian and Israeli youth and companies together around a shared interest in information and communication technology (ICT).  The “Impact through Technology” project aims to promote peace activism through the enhanced use of social media and economic cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians in the ICT sector.  Palestinian youth will be trained in digital literacy, critical thinking, problem solving and collaborative work methods through Intel Learn training courses. 
17. The State University of New York (SUNY) New Paltz Disaster Institute for Disaster Mental Health:   (1/2012-1/2013; $96,917):  The Institute for Disaster Mental Health at SUNY New Paltz facilitates partnerships between groups active in disaster preparedness, response and recovery by organizing and hosting trainings, conferences and multi-agency meetings.  The “Families First:  A Palestinian-Israeli People to People Approach to Assist Children and Caregivers as a Means of Conflict Mitigation And Reconciliation” program engages Palestinian and Israeli health and social service professionals to prevent long-term conflict by addressing short-term mental health needs of children and families.  Fifteen mental health and social providers from the West Bank, Gaza and Israel as well as six trauma experts from the United States will work to develop psycho-educational materials to educate parents about the common impact of trauma and how they can assist their children in coping with exposure to conflict in a manner that minimizes psychological harm.
18. The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies – AIES (05/2012-04/2015; $561,438):  Sub-awards: House of Water and Environment – $159,525:   The Arava Institute is an Israeli organization that generates capacity for conciliation and cooperation in the Middle East, transcending political boundaries in order to achieve environmental change.  The project “Mitigating Trans-boundary Waste-Water Conflicts” aims to help reduce and prevent further wastewater conflicts and disputes between Israel and the West Bank.  AIES works with Palestinian and Israeli master level students, 30 Palestinian and Israeli high-school students, technicians and decision makers including mayors, city council members, local authorities and other government officials from both sides to engage Palestinians and Israelis on the shared interest of environmental protection through wastewater treatment.
19. Parents Circle Family Forum (PCFF) (09/2011-09/2013; $800,000):  PCFF is an organization made up of approximately 600 families who engage in peace-building efforts following the loss of their loved ones due to the conflict.  The “’Where Parallel Lines Meet” project aims at mitigating conflict among more than 1,000 youth and hundreds of adults through the use of the personal narrative experience methodology.  The program targets women in particular to strengthen their role in conflict mitigation processes.
20. Education and Society Enterprises Ltd/Mifalot (02/2012-06/2015; $900,000):  Mifalot is an Israeli organization that uses sports to bring together Israeli-Arab and Israeli-Jewish children and at-risk youth.  “United Soccer for Peace” uses soccer to teach marginalized youth values, leadership and conflict mitigation skills.
21. H.L. Education for Peace (05/2010‐12/2012; $553,594):  H.L. Education for Peace is an Israeli organization that works to educate decision makers and key segments of the Israeli public on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.  The “Advancing Public Support for a Negotiated Agreement” program aims to mitigate identified causes of conflict by highlighting pragmatic voices to the Israeli public at large through media and encounters between Palestinians and Israelis that improve mutual understanding and foster more favorable attitudes towards reconciliation.
22. Kids Creating Peace (06/2012-05/2013; $92,998):  Kids Creating Peace is an Israeli organization that aims to educate diverse children and youth in Israel and the West Bank, providing them with tools and knowledge on how to resolve conflicts and become responsible members of their community.  The “Youth Creating Peace” program aims at mitigating conflict among 25 Israeli youth and 25 Palestinian youth through people-to-people activities that will expose them to each other’s experience and narratives.  The youth will participate in a joint 4-day camp, 12 separate and joint activities and will implement civic involvement projects reaching at least 200 additional family members.
23. Peres Center for Peace (09/2011-09/2013; $1,094,708); Sub-awards:  Organization for the Advancement of Women Sports in Kiryat Gat- $83,459:  The Peres Center for Peace is an Israeli organization that seeks to build relationships of trust and co-existence between Israelis, both Jewish and Arab, and Palestinians through sports, health and education initiatives. The Peres Center is implementing a project entitled “Twinned Peace Sport Schools.”  The project seeks to enable Israeli and Palestinian girls aged 6 to 14 to transcend the barriers of hostility and internalize the concepts of teamwork, fair play and mutual respect through healthy and enjoyable activities and cross-border encounters.  The project seeks to maximize impact and sustain results by engaging participants’ families and communities, ensuring participation of women and girls, cultivating young leaders on both sides, and promoting long-term, cooperative relationships.  The project aims to provide 320 children and youth from four underprivileged communities from the West Bank and southern Israel, with athletic training, peace and inter-language education, and joint sports and social events.  Training will also be provided to Israeli and Palestinian adult coaches and peace education facilitators.
24. Seeds of Peace (8/2012-2/2015; $1,150,966):  Seeds of Peace is a U.S. organization that aims to empower young people from regions of conflict with the leadership skills and interpersonal networks necessary to advance reconciliation and coexistence.  The “On Common Ground” project is designed to provide Palestinian and Israeli youth between the ages of 14 and 32, as well as local educators, with experiences, opportunities, skill sets and resources needed to find common ground on the core issues within and between their societies that are perpetuating conflict and preventing peace.  “On Common Ground” has three primary components: A) Community and Cross Border Dialogues; B) Building Capacities for Peace; C) Needed Leaders.  Activities focus on the unique role women play in peace-building, capacity building workshops for educators, summer camps for youth in the West Bank and Gaza, and a set of resources for teachers.

Jerusalem: The Central Ethnological Common Futures.

The central spiritual commonalities which exist within the Middle East regions is in fact a physical place with real peoples living and making a living as well.  It is Jerusalem.

Beneath the ever evolving Jewish – Israeli State, there are key factors, Jerusalem being its center,  of connectiveness which has allowed the Moslem – Israeli societies ( I.E. Sunni / Shiite ) and , the Christian – Israeli societies to likewise co-developed with the Jewish – Israeli societies.  The examination of this modern development is focused in the Israel Information Center Ithaca Educational Blog, and you should examine it as well.  Furthermore, an Arab Information Center Ithaca is likewise being developed.

What should be pointed out first and foremost is that the real strength in reaching an ethnological comprehension which exist within the evolving societies within the entire Middle East region is likewise Jerusalem.  That commonality is visable in the actual urban landscape of the city. None the less, and beyond the emotional realities which Jerusalem inspires,  its practical applicable cohesion actual exists within the Modern Jewish State of Israel, and this means its Moslem / Islamic, whether ethnically Arab, or Greeco Roman, and the Christians, whether they themselves Arab, Greeco Roman, European or American.  Jerusalem is equaly as important to their own hearts, and more importantly to their own self – dependent developments both socioculturally, or socioeconomic, along with the abilities to fulfill the normal and at times brillant expectations / aspirations of their own youth from within the very private and at times sacred covenants of their individual  families.

Thus what beats within the hearts of the Jewish – Israeli, remarkable, and what no one should be surprised about beats just as strong within the Moslem / Islamic Israeli, and the Christian – Israeli.  It is further understood, once the present and past internal developments of the Jewish – Israeli State where one, whether previous an enemy or friend alike, is able to see how the single issue of self-dependency is of prime importance for the entire ethnological makeup of the Modern Jewish – Israeli State.  What lurks within the imgination of the people who are striving for connecitveness are the actual central avenues of reconciliation for the greater Middle East World outside the Modern Jewish – Israeli State and its institutional realization is a United Jerusalem.

What this means – in actual notes from various field resources collected by both the Israeli and Arab researchers, as well as other on a global stage is very, very simply this:

Jewish – Israeli <———————————— > World Jewry and Jewish Arabs

Arab – Israeli <————————————– > The Modern Arab Peoples

Christian – Israeli < ——————————– > World Christians and Arab Christians

These are the peoples issues of a central ethnological continuity of commonalities in which the regional populations have direct relationships.  The dependency of mutually applied development whether it is economic, cultural, or spiritual must have an assurance of equal status in order for critical leaderships can emerge out from under the inhuman consequences of battle, bombs, and conflicts.

What this means, lets say from an Arab view within Syria to cut – off Jerusalem from the Jewish – Israeli State would be a deliberate attack upon the Moslem /Islamic – Israeli?  What would be the social consequencess, as well as their economic aspirations when access and personal aspirations to create a personal future to Jerusalem are cut – off, and thus lossing a valued means to assist in their own social self-dependent developments?  Then by asking these very, very direct  points one is able to see into the maze of the conflicts themselves and note the reality – necessities towards reconciliation from an Arab – Syrian point of view.  Jerusalem is just as important for the Moslem / Islamic – Israeli whose ethnicity is largely Arab as it is just as important to the Jewish – Israeli; and thereby justified as important to the Arab Syrian.  Cuting off Jerusalem means the connectiveness between the Arabs themselves will forever be in mutual internal sociocultural future conflicts as the Moslem/Islamic – Israeli will become its first victim.

Both Jewish and Islamic communities have one additional aspect in mutual commonalities and it is here where the significance of a united Jerusalem emerges as singularly important for the Arab world.  Infra – faith sectarian conflicts have always occured both within the Jewish world and the Arab world as well [ especially among the Arabs of who is to control Jerusalem,]

What the Arab World has never fully realized is that it was their own militant behavior for the distruction of the Modern Jewish – Israeli State which became such a prime personal emergency issue that any thought of infra – sectarian conflicts could not find an emotional base within the various Jewish ethnic groups themselves. That the continuation of conflicts promoted and even possibly maintained the central unity of the Modern Jewish – Israeli State during its first years of development.

Thus once the central factor of the importance of  a united Jerusalem is to the Arab – Israeli in their future developments to be self – dependent then it is likewise important to the Arab – Syrian to assure the Arab – Israeli their rights to a future.  It is for that reason once the populations in the West Bank are likewise applied, then the ability to remain united with their Moslem / Islamic – Israeli far more promotes their own aspirations as well.  This is not a simple insert, but fully realizes that Jerusalem is an actual portal to the entire Arab World and its abilities to maintain a challenging presence for human benefit under a real region wide peace with the Jewish – Israeli State has then been likewise achived. Singlulary once Jerusalem is magnified within its present convenants as central to the Moslem / Islamic – Israeli Society then, and only then, that society becomes the Arab World’s, including what ever emerges on the West Bank, lense into the Modern  Jewish – Israeli State.  A lense with which an assured continuity is achived between the Jewish – Israeli Society, the Moslem – Israeli Society, and the Christian – Israeli Society in the resulting dramatic development for full self-dependencies within each. 

This is just one point in a field of other concerns which are dramatically inherited within the region itself concerning Jerusalem.  What must be pointed out at all times, there are  real living human being who are attempting to form connectiveness, and its their efforts which are the living well springs of  hope.  For what they have already accomblished is the actual realistic means in forging a real regional peace based upon their own developing behaviors in a united Jerusalem.  The facts of those behaviors is the center of peace itself, and nothing less.  None the less, once this  comprehensive acknowledgement is achived then the future of the Moslem / Islamic – Israeli, along with the Christian – Israeli within the Modern Jewish – Israeli State becomes all the more important for the future of the Arab World.

Roger M. Christian, February 8, 2010., Ithaca, New York 14850

Basic Commonalities: Relationships.

Beyond the present basic cultural similarities this photo essay of a sorts is presented within a more constructive visual objective to increase ones interests while at the same time fostering a basic natural human grid of what is meant by commonalities.  The desired affect are the emotional consequences  as they are then become more positive as a result.

This is to provide a visual platform to initiate behavior which to produce an environment for sociocultural personal evaluations, sociocultural exchanges,  and then,  personal discoveries.

The first priority are the children.

A Child is most precious.

How this photo is taken into view – as noted in the mother applying a seat belt –  and how one is able to understand that similar attitudes are likewise expressed by other peoples within the Middle East region the more important all additional comparison identity becomes.  How one feels and then subsequently cares and innate sense and values of  infant protection after the birth of ones child places the burden of direct responsibility upon both parents. Not some political entity-which is still being persummed by the radicals.

Then there are the various efforts to form lasting basic human relationships which is the basis of how a civilization is actually constructed.

Find that one love in ones life is to secure a future of happiness.

How does a boy meets girls and visa versa reflect the real course of society of both traditions and change.  Whether one is either Israeli, Palestinian or Arab.  Both the circumstance and the relativeness of its ends, meaning dating,  are pertty much the same.

Then comes ones ability to find a real great career.

Jobs and Career are central immediate concern within the Middle East region.

Once one is secure, meaning one is anchored to a positive career path, then the basis in creating a family becomes that more possible.  Marriage Vows are then pledged and confirm within ones sociospiritual domain as well.

Happiness is thus celebrated.

As these basic human conditions are once witnessed, or even participated by the other which actually sets the tone for further interest and trust and nothing much else.  Human relations are as they are, those which are mostly private, are none the less a central strength in which each society has to offer in relationship to eachs future security.  They are all – within their various sociocultural dynamics certainly comprehended by the majority within ones own society or culture.

Here is where the private sector is directly involve  as it is here, during a marriage, where the more real the focus and thus the fuller expectations  are the lasting  consequences  in celebrating this one moment of real magic – as the photo above.  Whether it is the lighting up of her eyes upon seeing the one love she has just pledged herself to is self – assuring as a woman, while he acknowledges the real sense of his comming manhood as well by his love and affections he had just honored by the full value of  his own life.

Once these four elements are seen and when one meets with others in the region the more personal connections are then made.  Once they are explored the more positive the environment becomes.  It is, none the less, the personal discovery in which one undergoes in which the ethnocentric behaviorisms are likewise modified.

Here conflict is total displaced within ones view and for a while in ones immediate psyche, and a set of real human exchanges are thusly manisfested for what one is acquiring is that through the eyes of others the real value of  ones own personal behavior of fuller human relations becomes all that more important.