A Sumrner of Fun: International Camp in Maine and Summer @ the Center in Jerusalem Pakistani Seeds Visit their Neighbors in India Reactions to the Death of Yasser Arafat Studying Abroad: Is it the Right Thing to Do? Fall-Winter 2004 Volume 8 Issue 3 The Olive Blanch is u'rittcn and edrtcci b,v 1'outh liom Af-rhanistan. Albarra. Bosnia. Bulgaril. Cloatia. C1'plus" contents Indie. Iraq. Isrlel. Jotclan. Kosovo. Ktrwatt. E91'pt. Greecc. N,laccdonir. N{orocco. Palestine. Pakistan. Qltar. Romanta. Features Saudr Arrbia. Selbia. Tunisia. Turkel'. Yemen rncl Lhe Untted Statcs. u'ho rre part of the Sccds of Peacc proglan. All A Tlagic Loss opinions cxpi'essed in thc rnrgazine arc so1el1' those of the Seeds grieve for their friend Ashley Abron u'ritcrs ancl uo1 of Seeds ol'Pclce. The Olire Bt'anch or its sLafL The End of an Era at the Center Staft, fiends and Seeds bid farewell to Ned Lazarus and Jen Marlowe, program mrinstays rt the THE OLIYE BITANCH Staff Center for Coexistence in Jerusalem Seth Wikas. Editor.in-Chief Summer @ the Center 2004: Spreading the Woril. Wiilening Horizons Dana Naor & \,{anlr Al Natsha. Assistant Edrtots Summer @ the Center bLings Middle East Seeds together for work and plry Arlon Resnick. Jenifet Vtug.htn. Copl Eclttots 10 Jerusaelm Through the Camera Lens Regional Editors Seeds speak through their cameras at the Summer @ the Center photographY workshoP MiL Akhgar and Khabir Sallah. AfghanisLan Gent Salihu atrd Sneska Vaveska. Balkans t2 Oh Otisfieldl Camp 2004 SLrlevman Gelener. C1'prus Seeds lrom thirty countries enjoy the magic of Internalional Camp in Maine Siddhanh Shah and Rrdhika Lalia. Indir Tommi \'lacN{ilLLn lnd Adticnne Yoe. USA 1.4 Beyond Borders Sarni Arnmous. Jordan In its inaugural summer, the Beyond Borders program brings Americrn rnd Arab teens togethel fbr Aneeta Naghi. Pakistan dialogue I Contributing \{riters & Artists Regional Nassef}'. Shabnarn SahaL 16 Staying Connected in the US and Morocco Alghanistan: N{iL AkhgaL. N{Lrstafa An American and a Moroccan Seed talk about the effect of the camp experience and staying in Ilalkans: Ereblrnr Elezaj. Cent Salihu Alp Kutlualp. touch with Seeds in their communities Cyprus, Greece,'lurkel': ParlinaAnt0ni0u. Alcxender l\'latthiessett l7 Afghans Look Toward the Future India/Pakistan: Ardil lfltkhar" \\'ardrh Khan. Redhika Lalh. Following a historic democratic election, Afghans are hopelul but aware of the mrny baniets thel fi1'1,1 N{oorjaney. Anecta Naghi. Sana Shah. Sicitiarth Shah face toward imploving the conditions ln their country N'Iiddle liast: Su'ah Fakhraldeen. Saja Abu Highleh. Srrni Anrnous. Tareq Atorv. Sau'san Badt. lbrahinl Drkliak. Zachi 18 India and Pakistan: Learning from our Neighbors David. Noa Epstein. Rancla Firrid. Loai al-Hadclad. Muna Paktstani Seeds visir rheir Inilian fnends arrd discu.s the steps needed to improre bilateral relation' Hadid. N{arjrm Ilaj-Yehra. Irarah rl-Khaved. Alia Lahlou. Charaf al N'lansouli. Danr Naor. ?rmara QaraqLre. Klulcd 20 Egypt and Jordan: Looking Beyond Camp Rlsrn.v. Gal Sasson. Suhr Tazrmi. Avrtll Zajac Programs in Fgypt and Jordan flourish as seeds work together in the communtty USA: Gal Ben-Josci. Devon Cohett. Krte Curlei'. \4alisa Golovitz. R1'rn lnglalt. Slrah Pelletier. Zach Ruchman. Focus Sanmic Sevilla 22 Palestinian Leader Yasser Arafat Passes On Seeds ot lteacc. anti nlay be The man who led the Palestinian people for forty years passed away in November: Palestinian, Anb All subrnissions afe propertt of st1'1e. SencL collesp0ndence 10: Iyaeli and Jewish Israeli Seeds discuss the man and his legacy editcd flx length. contcnt or THE OI,IVE BRANCH the Olympic SPirit 24 Catching P.O. Box 25045, Jerusalem 97300 A Greek and Turkish Seed recount their experiences volunteeling at rhe 2004 Grmes in Athens Tef . 972-2-582-0222 I ax. 97 2-2-582"222 Email: ulivebranch Cn seedsulpeace.org 25 Elections, Democracy and Representative Government: Reality on the Ground Kosovar. Afghin and American Seeds write about elections and democracy in their home countries The Olive Blanch is printed b1'Kol Ha'rr and designed b1' Paul Segal 26 Education under Intifada. l-tlucation under Occupation Israeli and Pale,tinian Seeds talk about hor the Ilst four yeat: have affected their education :l t ::' I Should I Stay or Shoultl I Go: Studying Abroatl 2& John Wallach. Fottnclcr Large numbers of Seeds receive their educations abroad - i\ it thc rieht thing to do? Aalon N{iller. Presiclent llobbic Cottschalk. Erecutive Vice Prc\ident an Ancient StorY 29 Re-enacting Janct Wallach. Senior Vice Prcsident Children of Abraham Project. a modern rwist to rn oJd story Gal Ben-Josef writes about the Tim Wilson. Vicc Presidcnt. Canrp rnd Clcnter Dilectol' Barbala Zaslofl'. Vice Presitlent 30 From Seeil to Staff Christinc Ciovel'. Vrce Ptcsiclent Jordanian Sami Ammous discusses why he's stil1 with SOP after seven years Center for Coexistence StatT, Jr:a'usalem Issa Abcd Rabbo. Cennl' Atlcl. hillzin lli-Junt1i. Sarri Al DePortments Juncli. Reur,cn Bruncs. Walid ;\bed Elhadi. Aliel Hulcl. Lel lers 3 Rcem Nlustafli. T..tqlotrb Said. Setlt Wikns. Jaretl Willis. + ri.t in. Editor, from the Director Tin Wilson. L.certlt Yahilt 8 Seeds Tokinq the Leod 31 PoetrY Seeds of Percc is l non-profit. non-political ol-gallizatjon thut helps tccnagcts lrotn regions oicont'lict learn the skills of nraking pcace. Sct ilt otlr o$ll canrp in NIline. a safi Front Credit: Egyption seeds ploy with children ot the Nosr city Oryhonoge in c<riro (Credit; enviLorrttertt is crcated n'hcre )'ounqslels can lil their lieivs Genny Adel) luncl learn the leadership and conflict rcsoltlticltl techniques Bock Credit: Avitol Zoioc (Hoifo) lecluir-cd to end tlte cvcles of *ar. tters -* The israeli Steering Committee, pictured here in Tel Aviv, are responsible fbr planning on-going programs fbr Israeli Seeds Thank You to Camp Dear Seeds of Peace, PS, she was my lavorite person at camp. She was everything one would look for in a friend. When I was selected to come to camp for the Since my first encounter with Seeds of Peace Though we've been brought up very differently, first time, I was having the worst time as a camper in 1998 I have had very little contact it didn't take us much time to get to know each academically, my confidence was shattered and with others from the camp, except some friends other, and we became best friends. She was one some people had discouraged me so much that from Palestine. I live in war now, my people are person to whom I could pour out my heart's I began to think I would never be able to give being killed. I lost friends, lamily members and contents. my best to my studies as I had been doing in security. Deep down inside me I still act as a past. But getting selected for the camp, and Seed, but I am waiting for this storm to go away, Cecily accepted me for who I was and didn't coming to it changed me inside out. I had a new and to become the tree I want to be, to spread try to change me in the slightest way . she contidence built up inside me and the loads of peace. I wish that things around me could be was extremely sensitive and knew that I thought love I got here was enough to iast me for life. better, because I seeing my people being killed. the world of her, so without me even asking, I am so happy how beautifully camp helped me, I'll keep on trying and I'll keep on praying. The she was in the front row in the big hall for the whenever I was down or sad, I just told myself, experience I went through that summer is Hindu services. It was these little gestures of "It's OK; there are people still in this world who remembered everyday. I never thought that I kindness that really touched me. really care about me and think that I can do would keep remembering those precious camp everything." Thank you Bobbie, Tim and the memories. I never did regret my participation "To love someone deeply gives you strength; counselors for making camp so special. I don't in Seeds of Peace. Being loved by someone gives you courage." have words to thank John (Wallach) tbr the big Nazaqat Lal (Mumbai) thing he has done for us all. God bless you for your great work. Keep on Saba Mumtaz (Lahore) respecting and having endless understanding for individuals, and listen to everybody. What you Letters to the Editor have made is what you are, which is a blessing from God. Correction Ayah Al-Rozzi (Jenin) In the Summer 2004 Edition of The Read something you would like to Olive Branch, Sami Ammous was respond to? Please send an email to [email protected]. AII A Tribute to a Great Counselor incorrectly identified as being from submissions are property of Seeds of Cairo. He is from Amman. Sorry Cecily Barber was the American PS in Session Peace, and may be edited for length, Sami! | 2004, and was in the best bunk-the one and content or style. The Olive Branch Staff only BUNK 3!l!l Along with being an awesome | , t.:. J{ I i. /l'tll ,., -" ,. | 3 F rom the Editor During my first experience working on The Olive Branch two years ago, I and Jordan have been involved in numerous community service and social was made aware of an important ritual that occured during the editing and action projects, spreading the ideals of peace, tolerance and community layout process: thinking of the front cover title.