The Epoch Times
June 19 2009

Civilian Cooperation Helps Make Peace Possible

An Israeli-Palestinian orchestra provides example of building ties in
midst of conflict

by Dr. César Chelala

Politicians make war. Peoples make peace. One can say that war is the
defeat of people by politicians. I have been to many countries at war
and witnessed its tragic consequences not to believe this historical
truth. And to believe, also, that creating an atmosphere of
cooperation and trust among people is the best way to achieve peace.

The confusing political situation following elections in Iran makes a
rapprochement between Americans and Iranians more necessary than
ever. And the same can be said about relations between Israelis and
Palestinians. A series of peace initiatives between civilian groups
from those countries should replace the present atmosphere of
antagonism and distrust. Civilian cooperation has already taken place
in the arts, health and social sectors of various countries. They
provide powerful examples for improving relations among them.

Music has been a messenger for peace between Israelis and
Palestinians. One initiative was developed by noted Israeli conductor
Daniel Barenboim and the late Palestinian scholar Edward
Said. Together they created the West-Eastern Divan orchestra (named
after an anthology of poems by Goethe), composed of both Israeli and
Arab musicians from different countries. As fire was raging in Gaza,
the orchestra was playing in Berlin, to wide acclaim.

Following the same principle, an inter-religious orchestra of Jewish,
Muslim and Catholic musicians was formed in Argentina, the first of
its kind in the country. The orchestra is the result of joint efforts
of a Catholic priest, Fernando Giannetti, Rabbi Sergio Bergman and the
president of the Argentine Islamic Center, Sumir Noufouri. Its
conductor is Sergio Gorelik, an Argentine musician with a
distinguished international career.

The potential of music is also shown by Noa, a Jewish Israeli singer
and Mira Awad, an Israeli Arab Christian, who are eager to show the
possibility of coexistence and collaboration between Jews and
Christian Arabs by singing together. Their moving rendition of the
Beatles hit `We can work it out’ exemplifies the possibilities of
collaboration between people of different religious background.

Health has also been a powerful vehicle for collaboration between
antagonistic parties. Several projects are presently being carried out
between Palestinian and Israeli doctors that make it possible to serve
sick people who cannot afford medical attention. These initiatives are
an addition to several Israeli and Palestinian human rights groups and
grassroots organizations working to improve the health and well being
of Palestinians.

A recent report by Susan J. Blumenthal and Stephanie Safdi entitled
`Peace Through Health’ from the Center for the Study of the Presidency
Project identified ongoing health projects in the region. It also
contributed to the development of a cooperative network of Palestinian
and Israeli health experts and provided recommendations for improving
health in the area. The Palestine/Israel Health Initiative (PIHI) is a
central component of the Center for the Study of the Presidency’s
USAID-supported program `Advancing Trust and Reconciliation in Israel
and Palestine.’

`It may at first seem unrealistic to speak about healing across the
Israeli-Palestinian divide,’ said Dr. Norbert Goldfield, Executive
Director of Healing across the Divides, a charitable organization that
began operations in 2005. Healing Across the Divides (HATD) adapts the
`peace building through health’ ideology by funding community-based
health improvement projects for both Israelis and Palestinians. As
Dr. Goldfield stated, `We aim to contribute to peace building with a
small `p’ by encouraging groups of Americans to listen and learn from
the conflict-related challenges faced in improving health.’

It can be rightfully argued that these initiatives, by themselves,
will not produce peace. They will create, however, the groundwork for
make peace a lasting state.

Peace will not be achieved overnight. It is only through incremental
steps that reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians will take
place. `As a Jewish-American health professional, I have a moral and
political obligation to help improve the health of these two peoples
in a manner that can contribute to peace-building,’ said
Dr. Goldfield.

Similarly, in the long history of animosity between Turks and
Armenians summer camps between Armenian and Turkish children are
contributing to eliminate that powerful dynamic of distrust between
both peoples. On a visit to Armenia I was able to see how eager
children and adolescents are for further similar exchanges with their
Turkish counterparts.

President Obama has insisted on allowing diplomacy to dictate the
future course of action with Iran. But for diplomacy to be truly
effective, knowledge and understanding among Americans and Iranians
must be simultaneously fostered through civilian exchanges and
cooperation.

Iran is a proud nation with a rich cultural history. Once the turmoil
of recent elections is over, exchanges should be promoted between
Iranian and American doctors, scientists, artists and sports role
models to cement that climate of understanding. It is now time to
change the empty words of politicians for the peaceful actions of the
people.

Dr. César Chelala is a co-winner of an Overseas Press Club of
America award.

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