All of the 2000 Israeli and Palestinian students participating in the program engage in multi-day encounters between during the school year. The teachers, as well, participate in workshops, training seminars and experiential encounters, such as the day visit to Ramallah. The visit to Ramallah was the first for the Israeli teachers. After meeting with Palestinian Legislative Council Member Qadura Faris and PA Official Sufian Abu Zaydeh, the teachers wandered through the streets of Ramallah. The Israeli teachers said that they were amazed by "how normal life seemed" in Ramallah. They were impressed by the new art gallery-coffee houses, the latest fashion in both Ramallah and in Tel Aviv.

The Palestinian public personalities, Qadura Faris and Sufian Abu Zaydeh spoke to the teachers about the fact that the Palestinian decision for peace is sincere and is based Palestinians strategic understanding of the national interests of the Palestinian people. Both Mr. Faris and Mr. Abu Zaydeh were active members of Fatah for many years. Mr. Faris spent 14 years in Israeli prisons for his resistance activities against the Israeli occupation and Mr. Abu Zaydeh spent 12 years for the same reasons. These two heros of Palestine came to address to teachers to support peace education and to advocate peace based on equality, dignity and security for both peoples. Both speakers also raised the importance of the release of other Palestinians from Israeli prisons, particularly those imprisoned since before September 1993.

The teachers feasted on traditional Palestinian cuisine at the Taboun Restaurant run by a collective of Palestinian women. Following the lunch, the group went for a political and historical tour of Ramallah and the surrounding areas. The group was taken to see the settlements encircling Ramallah, the new industrial zones in the Ramallah area, the massive building of housing in the city as well as the historical archeological sites in the city.

There is no doubt that this kind of visit strengthens the bonds of friendship between the Israeli and Palestinian teachers. Teachers from both sides commented that this kind of meeting provides them with the "juice" they need to continue teaching peace to their students.

For more information about IPCRI's Peace Education Program, please contact the project director, Dr. Marwan darweish at: peace2@netvision.net.il

Gershon Baskin, Ph.D., Zakaria al Qaq, Ph.D., Directors