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Promoting Multicultural Coexistence

Hearing – Feeling – Sharing KKL-JNF Moving Forward Together Welcome! Our trip will focus on the , the heart of multiculturalism in . Many of the sites 2 3 exemplify KKL-JNF's activities in the 1 communities of Israel's minority groups, 4 Haifa including Druze, Muslims and Christians.

We will visit a variety of KKL-JNF change- making projects that improve quality of life for the people of the Galilee. You will have the opportunity to meet the people who live in the area, see their Tel-Aviv faces, hear their stories, take pictures Jerusalem and interview them – feel the ground and understand the importance of continued support for people living in the Galilee. Be’er Sheva Some of the projects we visit are still open for donation and it will be our challenge to match them with suitable donors.

Use this opportunity to collect resources for creating exciting, stimulating, inspiring marketing materials that will arouse interest and motivate donors to become partners in KKL-JNF's significant work. Other materials are available on your "credit card" disk on key and on the Partnership site: Eilat http://hanof.kkl.org.il/partnership

1. Akko Bon Voyage! 2. 3.Dalton- Trail 4.Korazim Promoting Multicultural Coexistence

Group no.1 Akko Akko, one of the three cities in the Western Galilee, is located on Israel's Mediterranean coast. It is one of Israel's most ancient cities and historically served as a major port in the north. Akko has a mixed population of 50,000 Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze and Baha'is. As part of its policy to support peripheral communities and improve their residents' quality of life KKL-JNF has developed a number of projects in and around Akko, a leading tourism city.

KKL-JNF created the Tel Napoleon Scenic Lookout at Napoleon Park, the Lily Sharon Park at the city's entrance and was responsible for the landscape development of the city's Hesder Yeshiva, all three projects made possible by KKL France. KKL-JNF, with the help of JNF Canada, is currently creating a Mediterranean Botanical Garden in the new neighborhoods of Akko. Projects also include educational initiatives such as "MAOF", the Hebrew word for both flight and vision, designed for olim/new immigrant students in peripheral communities. Julis KKL-JNF is a partner in the "Kfar Yarok" [Green Village] initiative at Julis, in which the village residents, high school students and the unite to brain storm and work together to transform Julis into a sustainable, green village. KKL-JNF's Education and Youth Department engage grade school pupils in educational activities within the classroom, instilling environmental values and fostering care for their surroundings. In the Ahihud Forest, adjacent to Julis, KKL-JNF has dedicated a picnic and leisure area in memory of Sheikh Amin Tarif, the qadi or spiritual leader of the Druze community. For the past two years, important community celebrations and events led by KKL-JNF have taken place at the site. Dalton-Jish – KKL-JNF Coexistence Trail KKL-JNF, with help from its friends in Chile, created this 2.5 km trail in the Upper Galilee, co n n e c t i n g t h e t wo n e i g h b o r i n g communities of Moshav Dalton and Jish (known in Hebrew as Gush Halav). The trail, with fitness facilities and benches for rest, is shared by and benefits both communities. It provides pedestrians with a safe alternative to that of walking along the noisy and dangerous highway, while promoting neighborly relations. Annual events take place along the trail such as Tu Bishvat plantings and the Merom Hagalil – KKL-JNF Race, held during the Passover holiday week.

Korazim - Mount of Beatitudes - John Paul II Park. Domus Galilae, located at the summit of the Mount of Beatitudes, is a centre for study and retreat established by an organization within the Catholic Church, the Neocatechumenal Way. Adjacent to the site KKL-JNF, in cooperation with the Israel Government Tourist Corporation, is developing a unique tourist complex. Visitors will be able to relax there under shady trees and pergolas overlooking Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee), where the late Pope John Paul II celebrated mass in the year 2000. The park will be a departure point for walks along trails with signage to the various Christian sites nearby, and a beautiful lakeside promenade. Olive trees will be planted at the site, contributed by churches around the world. A central gathering place will be created in the complex where prayer services can be held. Note Notes Notes Notes Promoting Multicultural Coexistence General background Group no.1

Introduction The citizens of Israel include a wide range of ethnicities, nationalities and religions. According to the Israel Central Bureau of Statistics (2014), the country's total population of 8.180 million comprises Jews: 6.135 million (75%); Arabs: 1.694 million (20.7%); and others: family members of Jewish immigrants who are not registered at the Ministry of Interior as Jews, non-Arab Christians, and residents who do not have an ethnic or religious classification: 351,000 (4.3%).

The Arabs of Israel Arab Muslims, who form the largest minority group in Israel, are geographically concentrated in the Galilee, the Triangle (between the Meditarranean coast and the Samarian foothills/West Bank), and East Jerusalem, inhabiting Arab villages, towns and cities as well as mixed cities.

In recent years Israeli Arab society has been undergoing considerable change, demographically and in terms of family status and the status of women. These changes have been influenced by trends of modernization, including those of Israeli society and are expressed in an increase in living standards and life expectancy, a reduction in births per family, and a decrease in infant mortality. Today, the centrality of the hamula (the kinship group) and the extended family are arguably less prominent than that of the nuclear family, coinciding with the rise of education levels and more Arab women in the labor market. Concomitantly, Arab populations are undergoing urbanization.

The Christians of Israel Some 80 percent of Israel's Christians are Arab, mostly Arab Orthodox, living mainly in the urban communities of Haifa and . Possibly every denomination and church of world Christianity is represented to some extent by Israel's Christians. For Israel's Christian citizens, as well the millions of Christian tourist who visit every year, the landscapes of the Holy Land have captivated the hearts and minds of believers and have strengthened their faith since ancient times. The holy sites commemorate the events described in the Old and New Testaments and breathe the spirit of fellowship, hope, and peace.

The Bedouin of Israel The Bedouin, Muslim by religion, comprise nomadic tribes mainly of Arabian origin, who reached Israel around the 7th century. Today they predominantly inhabit the Negev (some 220,000 people as per 2013). They are semi-nomadic and reside in unrecognized villages and towns.

A much smaller population of Bedouin live in villages and towns in the Galilee (about 60,000 people), in addition to a small percentage who reside in the mixed cities of Lod, Ramle and Haifa. With the transition to government supported permanent communities, most of the Galilee Bedouin have acclimated into the majority society and many serve in the IDF.

Since the 1960s the Bedouin population of the Negev has been going through a sedentarization process, both voluntarily and involuntarily. Through sequential negotiations with the Bedouins over the last two generations, Israeli Governments have managed to settle about 60 percent of the Bedouin in recognized, semi-urban townships, with the intention to put a stop to their dispersal over state lands and illegal building and in order to equal their health, educational, and employment status by supplying them with conventional public services and facilities.

Israeli governments have been re-enacting and ratifying a multi-year plan, and the objective for 2012-2016 is to keep promoting the economical development and growth of the Bedouin populations in the Negev while better integrating Bedouin citizens into the Israeli economy and society and simultaneously improving women's status and employment.

The Druze of Israel The Druze, a monotheistic religious sect that broke away from Islam in Egypt in the 11th century, emigrated at different periods of time from Lebanon, Syria and Lebanon to Israel, settling in the Galilee and the Golan Heights. Upon their request, the Druze were officially recognized as a religious community by Israel in 1957. Since then, and out of an allegiance to Israel, Druze men have been enlisted to serve in the IDF, with a high proportion of officers and excelling soldiers. Today, some 86 percent of Druze men serve in the IDF. The Druze religion is shrouded in secrecy; privy to the few men and women who have proved themselves worthy as initiates or ?uqqāl (the wise). It is widely known that the Druze adhere to the non-Islam belief in the transmigration of souls, which is why headstones on their graves bear no name. The warm Druze hospitality is an expression of generosity and respect for guests. Some of the villages, such as Isfiya and Daliyat Al-Karmel have developed ethnic tourism, combining a Druze dining experience with overnight stays in guest houses and visits to colorful open markets.

The of Israel Circassians are a small minority of some 7,000 people, who populate the two villages of Kfar Kama and Rehaniya in the Galilee. With the Russian conquest of the northwestern in the 19th century, the Circassians, or , were exiled to countries of the . Historically, they were adherents of the monistic Habzist theology; today they are Sunni Muslims. With that, they transmit the Circassia/Adyghe culture, stories and folk dances to their children. Although modernized, the Circassians of Israel have succeeded in preserving their culture more than any other Circassian community in the diaspora. Like the Druze, the ethos of hospitality is deeply embedded in their culture and they also serve in the IDF.

The Galilee Israel's beautiful northern region is full of natural and cultural landscapes; historical sites reflecting a rich human tapestry. Demographically, the region is heterogeneous, including Jews, Muslims, Christians, Druze, Bedouin and Circassians; rural and urban, religious and secular populations, with communities living together in harmony, as exemplified by the cities of Akko, Haifa, and Ma'alot-Tarshiha. KKL-JNF is committed to ensuring the sustainable development of this peripheral region. KKL-JNF Promoting Multicultural Coexistence The ability to live side by side and create a harmonious and productive life together is one of the significant challenges facing Israel. Good will, mutual interest in and knowledge about each other's cultures creates a bridge for dialogue, serving as the basis for coexistence. Throughout Israel, many formal and informal educational programs have been initiated to encourage mutual respect, breaking through stereotypes and exploring the possibilities of creating a shared future. KKL-JNF is involved in this dialogue through innovative projects that encourage interaction and engagement in environmental education and shared public spaces.

KKL-JNF's work in supporting coexistence and cultural diversity includes many aspects. As part of its educational activities, KKL-JNF leads Israel in the annual International Clean Up the World Day, promoting environmental awareness among all the country's children and youth. It is a wonderful, cooperative experience for primary and high school students from cities and villages, who adopt and care for KKL-JNF forests adjacent to their respective communities.

West of Jerusalem at Sataf, Jewish and Arab children learn environmental values and cooperation through hands-on work in the context of the "Peace Garden" project. In the same vein, KKL-JNF has erected and continues to create "Green Leadership Classrooms" in school yards throughout various communities, with instruction provided by the KKL-JNF Education and Youth Department. At Misgav's Sustainability Education Center and KKL-JNF's ecological garden, Jewish and Arab children and youth from the region engage in environmental studies together. The Environmental Center at is an initiative by Israel's first regional environmental unit in the Arab sector that promises to serve as a model for environmental education. The center provides activities for all ages, from kindergarten to university students. KKL- JNF is a partner in the center's constructed wetland research.

KKL-JNF's forest and urban parks benefit the entire population of Israel. In addition to providing picnic, leisure and hiking opportunities for each individual, they provide essential social, economic and environmental services. Parks can serve as "cultural cushions"; conducive and neutral spaces for social interaction between people of different cultures and religions.

Examples of parks and open spaces that KKL-JNF creates and develops in mixed cities include Tel Napoleon and the Botanical Gardens in Akko, the Be'er Sheva River Park, the urban parks in Lod and Ramle, the park at the Peres Center for Peace in Jaffa, and the KKL-JNF Jerusalem parks. To strengthen and enhance the daily meeting between different populations, KKL-JNF has created projects such as the Dalton-Gush Halav (Jish) Coexistence Trail for Arab and Jewish communities in the Upper Galilee. The Stone Trail Park at the local council of Kisra-Sumei is a site which, besides serving the local Arab population, attracts tourists from all over the country. KKL-JNF is also a partner in the Galilee Olive Festival, an annual event that includes all sectors of society and an example of the tours and events that KKL-JNF organizes for everyone.

With an appreciation for the unique mosaic of populations, KKL-JNF invests in projects for specific sectors, such as community parks within villages and their adjacent forests. These include the picnic and leisure area in the Ahihud Forest in memory of Sheikh Amin Tarif, the Druze spiritual leader; the active recreation area at Isfiya in the north; and the parks at Rahat and Segev Shalom in the Negev. KKL-JNF is a partner in establishing the Wadi Attir project, an occupational-tourist center at the Negev village of Hura. The agri-tourism site will serve to preserve Bedouin farming traditions, while providing employment for Hura's residents. In the context of its work on behalf of the Bedouin in the Negev, KKL-JNF develops infrastructure for leisure and recreation areas in their communities, constructs reservoirs and sewage treatment plants, rehabilitates streams, provides educational activities for children and youth, and allocates forest grazing areas for herders, among other projects. During Operation Protective Edge (2014), KKL-JNF, with the support of its friends throughout the world, provided portable bomb shelters for the Bedouin in the Negev region. KKL-JNF in the Holy Land KKL-JNF consistently promotes new projects to ensure the conservation of the sites that are part of Biblical Israel, enjoyed by many Christian delegations and dignitaries, including popes and cardinals. KKL-JNF's administration maintains contact with the Vatican in preparation of reciprocal visits.

In January 2009, an important event in Catholic-Jewish dialogue took place in the presence of Pope Benedict XVI, with the consecration of the Catholic- Jewish Reconciliation Forest. KKL-JNF created an amphitheater at Mount Precipice in anticipation of the pope's visit, where the pope held a Mass of Remembrance. The site can contain the tens of thousands of Christian pilgrims, who visit Mount Precipice annually, whether on tour or for special events. As well, Pope Francis I was honored in 2013 with the planting of an olive tree on Mount Precipice near Nazareth.

Further in the northern region, KKL-JNF has invested in developing the Gospel Trail and Christian sites around the Kinneret. The Gospel Trail, which begins at Mount Precipice, near Nazareth, is a complex of paths, sites and natural attractions developed by KKL-JNF for Christian pilgrims wishing to follow in Jesus' footsteps in the cradle of Christianity in the Galilee.

KKL-JNF is currently establishing a park and visitor complex at the Mount of Beatitudes on the Korazim ridge overlooking the Kinneret in honor of Pope John Paul II, who was instrumental in fighting anti-Semitism and promoting Jewish-Christian dialogue.

Since its founding, KKL-JNF has been working to nurture and preserve the landscapes of the Promised Land, ensuring that they continue to inspire people of all faiths and from all walks of life. As part of its efforts, KKL-JNF has enabled not only Jews but also thousands of Christians to plant trees in the Land of the Bible, in honor and in memory of their loved ones. According to data from the Ministry of Tourism, more than 50 percent of all annual incoming tourism to Israel (some 4 million visitors) is Christian.

Selected Projects for Donation throughout Israel: 7676 – Pope John Paul II Galilee Forest – Visitor Complex KKL-JNF is developing a unique tourist complex in an area replete with significant Christian sites. 8477 – Jordan Park – Tel Bethsaida – The Gospel Scenic Lookout KKL-JNF together with the Israel Government Tourist Corporation developed a scenic lookout at the head of the Tel Bethsaida, overlooking the Bethsaida Valley and the Sea of Galilee. 5478 – – Gospel Trail KKL-JNF developed a 2.5 km path that links Mount Precipice to the Gospel Trail – a complex of paths, sites and scenic attractions especially developed for Christian pilgrims. 10014 – Isfiya and Daliyat Al Kamel – Firebreaks KKL-JNF is developing fire buffers between the Carmel Forest and nearby communities, one of the most effective methods of preventing wildfire spread. 10127 – KKL-JNF Green Open Classrooms KKL-JNF is constructing green open classrooms in schoolyards throughout Israel. These structures, will become venues where peer-educators will lead experiential ecological-education sessions. 12240 – International Clean Up the World Day International Clean Up the World Day, held every September, is led by KKL-JNF in Israel, with the participation of elementary through high school students, new olim, soldiers, Bedouin, and Druze, all working together to clean up forests and open spaces. 11535 – The Negev – Arara Village – Nahal Taleh, Stage I KKL-JNF is planning to rehabilitate and develop Nahal Taleh, which crosses the Negev's Bedouin village of Arara. 8498 – Rahat – Nahal Gerar Park KKL-JNF plans to develop a four-kilometer linear park along Nahal Gerar by the Bedouin city of Rahat in the northern Negev. 10953 – Giv'at Haviva – Educators' Kibbutz KKL-JNF has developed a residential compound for Giv'at Haviva's 'Educators Kibbutz, where a group of dedicated young people are involved in helping to promote multicultural coexistence in the northern periphery's Menashe Regional Council. For more information and materials: Visit the Partnership Site/Project Pool

Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael-Jewish National Fund

KKL Resources, Development & Public Affairs Division cles Projects & Marketing Department Jerusalem 2015 ecy Photos: KKL Photo Archive, Jerusalem www.kkl.org.il KKL r