| There is a new conversation breaking out between Israelis and Palestinians thanks to a new, toll-free telephone service. Large numbers of Arabs and Jews are picking up the phone and talking to people “on the other side” about reconciliation, tolerance and peace. Over 48,000 calls were placed in less than three months.
Sammy Waed, a Palestinian, never thought he would become friends with an Israeli soldier, especially one who had occupied his hometown of Ramallah. But using the new hotline, the 20-year-old ended up speaking to Arik, a 23-year-old from Tel Aviv. “Arik told me how much he hated his army service, because he was in the middle of a civilian population, policing children and causing harm to innocent people,” Waed told New York Daily News special correspondent, Deborah Blachor. “Before, I thought Israelis didn’t care at all when innocent Palestinians suffer and are killed,” he said. “But now I know they do care and I have hope that there can be peace.” Hello, Peace! (Hello Shalom-Hello Salaam!) was launched in October 2002 by the Parents Circle -Families Forum, a joint group of over 400 bereaved Israeli and Palestinian parents who believe peace is still possible despite having lost a child or loved one in the conflict. ...Callers will hear a voice message: Hello, you have reached Hello, Shalom, Hello Salaam. If you wish to talk to an Israeli about reconciliation, tolerance and peace, dial 1; if you wish to talk to a Palestinian about reconciliation, tolerance and peace, dial 2. They can listen to the hundreds of voice messages and decide whom they want to contact, and remain anonymous. They can call as often as they want. From Israel, Gaza or the West Bank, just dial *6364 from any Bezeq or mobile phone and listen to the instructions. “It's time to stop the killing and start talking again.” www.hellopeace.net |
"I like to believe that people in the long run are going to do more to promote peace than our governments. Indeed, I think that people want peace so much that one of these days governments had better get out of the way and let them have it!" -Dwight D. Eisenhower
How about Dennis Kucinich's plan for a U.S. Department of Peace? I haven't really checked it out. But you can. Here.
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