Een Palestijns-Israëlisch vredesinitiatief

Steun het dorp in deze lastige tijd. Alle bedragen die wij tijdens deze crisistijd binnenkrijgen worden ingezet voor noodhulp in Gaza, via een arts uit het dorp die dit al jaren regelmatig doet. Het is nu meer dan ooit nodig. Vermeld bij uw donatie: Noodhulp.
Rekeningnummer van de Nederlandse Vriendenstichting
NL30 INGB 0001432655

Bericht uit Neve Shalom Wahat al Salam van 22 november

Dear Friends,

A month and a half into this war, with thousands of deaths, hundreds still in captivity as of this writing, a growing humanitarian crisis and no end in sight, it would be easy for us in the Oasis of Peace, to despair.

If anything, our resolve has strenghtened. This terrible war is a reminder to us all that when there is no peace process and fences are erected between people, the result is bloody conflict.

As the war rages, we are working within the community and within our educational institutions to support our people and to help them support one another. Dialogue sessions led by School for Peace facilitators — offered to village members, parents of school children and teaching staff — are crucial to this goal. We are returing to a “new normal” where nothing is normal, and we work together to explain to our children why we are fighting a war, as we work to keep them safe.

We are working through our differences because we know that together, we will make a difference.

Bericht uit Neve Shalom Wahat al Salam van 19 oktober:

Dear friends,

I hope this message finds you and your loved ones safe and in good health.

We are currently navigating an incredibly challenging period, deeply pained by the loss of lives and dreams and apprehensive about the future of the entire region. Despite these trying times, the WASNS community remains committed to coping, staying united and resilient.

To prioritize the safety of our families in these turbulent times, we’ve established a community guard. Both Jewish and Palestinian residents collaboratively take turns safeguarding our village. We’ve also launched conversation circles for all our residents, aiming to create safe spaces for emotional expression and bridging divides. Additionally, circles with the participation of mental health professionals and parents have been organized to better address the emotional traumas faced by many of our children and us.

Furthermore, we’ve relocated the nursery to a sheltered room to ensure our children’s safety. Even though the space isn’t ideally suited for this purpose, it brings us greater peace of mind.

The SFP has transitioned to its new building and continues its activities from there. However, given the current situation, the celebration marking the building’s opening will be postponed until further notice.

Even in these dark times, we struggle to remain hopeful for a future marked by true and just peace, where no innocent lives are lost to this avoidable conflict.

Take care and stay safe,

Warmest regards,

Samah

Bericht uit Neve Shalom/ Wahat al Salam van 8 oktober:

To all our dear friends around the world,

We awoke, yesterday morning, to a very grim day – one filled with fear, shock and uncertainty. We discovered we were entering into a complicated, tension-filled period in which our camp – the peace, shared society camp; the camp of reason and reasonableness – was under attack from all sides.

Despite this, we remain steadfast in our belief that the way we have chosen is the only way to sanity and peace.

Hundreds of victims – most of them innocent civilians – have already paid a terrible price, and the bloodshed continues.

We mourn all the dead on both sides of the border and feel for the families who have lost their loved ones. We worry for those who have been take hostage and hope for their safe return. We hear the sound of falling rockets that shake our floors and our children alike.

Social media videos calling for acts of revenge on Arab citizens or for Arab citizens to join the battle for Gaza raise our already high anxiety levels and we fear right-wing Jewish activists who are already planning lynches.

To cope with this new, unexpected and unhinged reality, we have decided to increase security measures within the village, in addition to that provided by the outside security firm. Young people in the village have formed readiness groups, the shelters have all been opened, and the emergency personnel are prepared in hopes they will not be needed. The school staff is receiving support from the Ministry of Education (schools are closed for now), and the institutions are receiving support from the local authorities and the Association teams so as to deal with any possible events.

Once again, an unfathomable reality in our regions brings us to the same conclusion: There is no real solution without real peace.

There are no shortcuts; we can’t live in tranquility and safety without recognizing the full rights of every single human being, Palestinian, Israeli, Jewish, Arab, living between the river and the sea. We all need to live with security, freedomand complete democracy.

Dear friends: Especially now, when the storm around us is gathering strength and we are all in a state of emotional alarm, this is the time for us in Wahat al-Salam – Neve Shalom, members and educational institutions, the School for Peace, binational primary school, Pluralistic Spiritual Center and everyone who believes in shared society, to continue to be a compass point, to light our torches in the darkness around us, and to be a model of peace, equality and justice.

We feel blessed to know that we have so many friends around the world who support our cause and stand with us, no matter what the situation. We will keep you updated.

Yours in hope that we’ll come to know peace,

Samah Salaime

Neve Shalom Wahat Al Salam

‘Wie zegt dat vrede niet mogelijk is moet misschien eens deze website rustig doorlezen.’

T.Kolster, oud-bestuurslid Nederlandse Vrienden NS/WaS.

Welkom op de website van de Nederlandse vrienden van Neve Shalom ~ Wahat al-Salam

Neve Shalom ~ Wahat al-Salam is een dorp van Palestijnse en Joodse burgers van Israël, toegewijd aan het bouwen aan rechtvaardigheid, vrede en gelijkheid in het land en in de regio.

Het dorp, gelegen tussen Jeruzalem en Tel Aviv, is in 1970 gesticht door broeder Bruno Hussar. Hij had destijds de droom dat er een andere weg naar vrede mogelijk moest zijn: Joden en Palestijnen in Israël zouden met wederzijds respect voor elkaar in vrede samen moeten kunnen leven. Zo stichtte hij zijn Oase van Vrede ofwel ‘Neve Shalom’ in het Hebreeuws, ‘Wahat al-Salam’ in het Arabisch. De bewoners van het dorp leven samen in een democratisch systeem en de kinderen gaan naar een tweetalige school. Als woonplek voor zo’n 75 gezinnen draagt het dorp haar filosofie uit naar de rest van het land en de regio.

De Nederlandse Vriendenstichting ondersteunt de educatieve instelling die dit mogelijk maakt: de School for Peace ofwel Vredeschool. Door Joodse en Palestijnse sleutelfiguren uit de samenleving in dialoog te laten gaan, werken zij aan wederzijdsbegrip én aan initiatieven die dit gedachtegoed voorzetten.

Een simpel ideaal vormt de basis voor het samenleven:

# Leven vanuit respect en begrip

# Gelijkwaardigheid tussen Joden en Arabieren

# Vrede stichten vanaf en vanuit de basis

# Onderwijs en bewustzijn stimuleren

Hoe doen we dat?

# Tweetalig (Hebreeuws/Arabisch) onderwijs in een systeem dat inmiddels bestaat uit een peuterspeelzaal, kleuter- en lagere school.

# De School voor de Vrede (‘School for Peace’) – een centrum voor Joods Arabische ontmoetingen

# Het spiritueel centrum Doumia ~ Sakina. Opgericht ter nagedachtenis aan Bruno Hussar.

# Het Guesthouse met 40 kamers voor bezoekers en talloze conferentiefaciliteiten.

Lever ook een bijdrage aan het vredesinitiatief!

Lees hier hoe jij kunt helpen