The establishment of a "Pilot of a Israeli-Palestinian Interactive Peace Source in the Internet".

IPS will serve as a basis for an active coordinating and functioning in real time – "source-site" for all people who wish to act, or learn about, the Peace front in our Middle East area

A list of the links to maximum existing Peace and dialogue activities in the Middle East, as they appear in the Internet and other addresses., including Peace organizations and institutions.

Maximum amount of “useable tools” for promoting Peace, such as:

Peace Education. various programs and workshops including: Non-violent Communication, an "active" and selective bibliography of the major cultural expressions of yearning for Peace in: Literature, Art, Photography and Film, and Music.

At first, only for those who have access to the Internet and who are interested in learning about and hopefully, doing something about Peace, here in the Middle East.

Later, it should be, "published" on the WWW and TV progressive channels.

We can not estimate at this stage, how many people will use this source. However if it will really supply the "sources" mentioned above, it may be very popular. With the present growth rate use of the internet, there is no doubt that many more will join.

The major problem, after convincing people of the need and feasibility of this project, is of course finding the appropriate funds.

Robert Rosenberg assessed the cost of the first year "trial pilot period".

To convince potential donors, we must answer the following questions:

Why invest time, thought and in the final stage, money, in a VIRTUAL Internet project, when there is so much to be done IN THE REAL WORLD?

Why not accept the present situations where there are all kinds of "dispersed" Peace sites and addresses?

To understand the positive potential of this project, see:

Also: see Eric Lee's book: "The Internet and the labor movement". He is actually using the internet today as a potent tool to advance the causes of the world trade unions.

Who will plan the final program for this Pilot IPS?

Obviously from the very beginning it should be a joint venture of a Palestinian-Israeli team and The Shimon Peres Peace Center would be the right place.

Guide To Israeli CyberSpace by Ami Issaroff

"Ariga" is a very positive example of using the Internet as a potential tool for Peace.

Following some of the Peace sites which appear and are relatively active in Ariga:

Netivot Shalom - Oz Ve Shalom Religious, nationalist and pro-peace

Gush Shalom's weekly message

A Directory of Israeli-Palestinian Human Rights Groups

Peace Now,Gush Shalom and other Peace Organization and Newsletters

The existence of an "Interactive Peace Source" will prove that there thousands of people in our area (and millions, in the world") who are contributing their very best for the cause of Peace: so that there will be "No more War - No more Bloodshed" -

So that we shall finally live in a world where never again parents will have to burry their children who were killed because of wars and violence.

Because I believe IPS is one more way to encourage and activate people for the cause of Peace in our area, I ask you to help promote and materialize this project in every way you can.

I will gladly respond to any remarks and questions.

Following are additional remarks about IPS

Although this will be a local- Middle East program, it will have references to various excellent international Peace sites in order to learn from all that has and is going on in this field. Hopefully, the quality of IPS in action will attract others and there will be fertile, positive interactive dialogue.

There may be other means of enabling people to get in touch and act for Peace. IPS is suggested as "one more" potential and ever growing alternative.

How do we overcome the language barrier? Since English will limit the number of participants ? Can this be overcome by finding the funds to do everything from the very beginning in three languages – open to all?

Is there a Lingual program for Arabic? If so, perhaps that would be the solution

How much would this cost?

What is our definition of Peace?

Can Peace ever be achieved in a wold ravished by endless wars and violence?

Is it not possible to accept Peace as an ideal, towards which we strive, trying to do our best to come closer, by learning to live in peace with ourselves, our family friends and neighbors. Accepting and trying to live by the following words:

"Wars are carried out by large organizations: Peace is brought one by one"

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." - Margaret Mead

"Walk towards the light and the shadows will fall behind you"

Assuming that we will succeed in establishing IPS, what will be the criteria by which we will be able to evaluate the success of the project?

Will it be: The number of surfers? The quantity and quality of the reactions via dialogue and Email?

Or perhaps it is sufficient that we will be doing the best we can and hope it will be more then nothing done.

South Africa is, an excellent example of the victory of dialogue over violence and blood shed. We should enable people to learn all that we can from the process by which this metamorphosis was accomplished. And if only possible learn how they reached the present stage of "forgiveness".

The Oslo Agreement enabled Israeli Jews and Palestinians to speak with each other and draw the first agreed Peace plan. Much can be learned by reading the story and contacting the people via the internet.

One use of a selective list of films that deal with and show the tragedy of War and the advantages of Peace: we could propose to the Teachers and educators a list of films that deal with the problems of peace and co-existence in Israel, today. There is no such list, although I know of many films and some centers that have made up partial lists.

Because of the ongoing struggle here in Israel and the fact that we continue to rule the Palestinians, it is extremely difficult to bring together, especially young Israelis and Palestinians in order to try listen to each other and find common grounds for honorable decent co-existence. This is all the more difficult so long as our occupation continues. Yet in all events there are and will be Arabs living in Israel, and there is a great need for this mutual attempt to learn to coexist in none-violent communication.

We know there is a great deal of experience in this direction, some of it , successful.

Our project would list all known attempt that have been and are on going today, including the addresses and phone and if possible Email address and URL. Also a brief resume of each group's experience.

There are many advantages of such information, aside from the immediate possibility of learning from other's experience.

By listing all these attempts, we are making a very important and encouraging statement: That many people here are searching for ways of living in peace.

Because of the pertinence of, and the need for, encouraging and promoting Peace and Peace activitie, here in Israel and in the Middle East, I propose to begin at home and work on the above, with a team of Israeli Jews and Palestinians.

Who will plan the final program for this Pilot IPS? Obviously from the very beginning it should be a joint venture of a Palestinian-Israeli team. We should consult past and present ”co –productions” such as: “Palestine-Israel Dialogue” Editors,

Ziad Abu-Zayyad, Victor Cygielman, Dauod Kuttab and Dan Leon.

This project can only be accomplished by a devoted and capable team.