Thursday, 15^th November 2007, Lavi Forest, the Lower Galilee

In Honor of Tolerance and Coexistence Month a “Children Marching for Peace” parade was held with the participation of more than 3,000 Jewish and Arab youths.  The parade, held on Thursday, November 15^th, started at 9am in Lavi Forest, in the Lower Galilee, and ended at about 14:00.  This was the 3^rd March for Peace named after the founder, Mr. Richard Goodwin, Chair of the Middle East Peace Dialogue Network, who encouraged the holding of this event and other events engaging thousands of Jewish and Arab children every year. 

The “Children Marching for Peace” parade included pupils from 3^rd – 6^th grades from a record 28 Jewish and Arab schools in the Lower Galilee.  The number of registered participants exceeded 5,000, but was reduced to 3,000 due to the high cost of transportation. 

Over the course of the March the children participated in a variety of activities which aimed to advance Jewish-Arab interaction and coexistence, such as Arabic and Hebrew drawing and graffiti stations, a Jewish-Arab theatrical play, musical and dancing activities (Darbukas and Salsa) and many non-competitive sports activities which allowed the pupils to be in joint teams.  The forest bubbled with laughs, songs and music. 

The youth exchanged pre-prepared personal business cards which they shared with 10 pupils from a neighboring Jewish school if they were Arab, and with a neighboring Arab school if they were Jewish.  This was meant to encourage the participating youth to continue interacting after the event on a social basis. 

180 teachers and staff maintained the wonderful spirit of cooperation and joy, and made sure that all pupils participated in the events and met others from the other culture participating.  To the majority of these pupils this was the first time to interact with the “other,” with this combating negative stereotypes fed by the reality of separation and negative media.  This first time positive experience allows the pupils to start developing some hope that peace is possible, and that the other side is a fellow human being, and that they took part in peace making, and have a responsibility to work on making it happen. 

The highlight of the parade was in its final ceremony which included a unique and exciting performance by famous artist, Miriam Tukan, who sang in both Hebrew and Arabic.  Her appearance was a great thrill for the children who danced and took pictures with her.  A few short speeches were made by some mayors and community leaders; including Motti Dotan, the Mayor of the host regional municipal council lower Galilee. 

Mohammad Darawshe, chair of the Steering Committee for the March read from the pamphlet distributed to the participants: “I bring you the greetings of the board of the Middle East Peace Dialogue Network, who believe that the future of the Middle East is in your hands.  This gathering is a show of force of the good people.  It is your right to dream of peace and coexistence, but it is your duty to take the first steps towards it.  Today you walked 10,000 such steps, but the road is still long.  Tell your parents, friends, and family that you were here, and ask them to contribute their part to make peace happen.  We should all pray that the leaders negotiating peace will reach an agreement, and will actually implement it, for your sake.” 

The organization of the event was of the highest professional quality.  Well organized walking path, good security, well spread medical teams, water and snacks, shaded areas for activities, and a cleaning team which kept the site in good shape for future use.  An environmental protection station was also placed on the path to bring the kids awareness to the environment which both nations and communities share. 

The ADL, Anti-Defamation League, sent a team of Arab and Jewish counselors who staffed a station against racism.  They handed stickers to all participating kids saying, “Racist – That is not me.”  The counselors engaged the kids in discussions about their responsibility to keep an open and tolerant mind and combat racism, a danger to Jewish Arab relations. 

The “Children March for Peace” parade, in honor of Richard Goodwin, is held in cooperation with The Ministry for Science, Culture and Sport, The Abraham Fund Initiatives, The Coexistence Network and the Regional Council of the Lower Galilee, and sponsored by The Middle East Peace Dialogue Network.

Middle East Peace Dialogue Network, Inc.

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