A small group of a dozen Israelis have, since 2002, stayed in touch with the residents of two Palestinian villages in the Nablus area, Salem and Deir El Hatab, in what they feel could be seen as a model for other similar partnerships between Israelis and Palestinians.

The Villages Group's visits began in 2002 in answer to calls for life-saving help from people of the two villages, located just east of Nablus between its refugee camps and the Israeli settlement of Elon More, which were isolated by curfews and closures. Then they began supplying medicines to village clinics, and linked seriously ill residents with Israel's Physicians for Human Rights, in order to arrange treatment within Israel. Once the closure eased, the group expanded its circle of relationships through "mending" – consoling victims of army or settler violence and their families.

The group, which is not a formal organization but rather an alliance of individuals who feel compelled to act, works where they feel they can be most effective – in the human sphere. "The reality of ongoing conflict between our two national communities, presents to each and every one of us the daily dilemma: how far do we let the national hostility disrupt our joint material and human interest in maintaining work, trade, cultural and friendship relationships between us."

The Village Group, believing that improved human, cultural and economic relations between individuals and grassroots groups can send a strong signal to political leaders, chooses to do its work in this little-noticed, bottom-up process, "patiently creating and maintaining an infrastructure for such relationships on the local and personal level" which may, one day, make peace possible between the two nations. This task is complicated by the separation between Palestinians and Israelis that has accelerated since 2000, leaving many seeing each other stereotypically rather than in a multi-dimensional way. Given that Palestinians cannot enter Israel, the Village Group now goes to them where this is possible, while recognizing the challenges mutuality faces when external realities are so asymmetric.

The Village Group has two goals – to renew the interaction between Palestinians and Israelis of the open passage generation (when Palestinians were able to work in Israel), and to allow young Palestinians who grew up during the separation phase to meet Israelis in an open, human and mutually respectful contact. The group's activities encompass healthcare, welfare, support of personal and community self-empowerment, legal support, and agricultural support. They also deliver stories about events in the villages to the outside world.

They help with the olive harvest, the main source of village income as the Palestinian economy deteriorates, and since 2005, have been part of an ongoing multi-organization nationwide effort to rehabilitate olive orchards. A one-time grant from the New Israel Fund helped rehabilitate over 1,000 trees belonging to Salem farmers that had been destroyed by settlers.

They also help the families of men who are killed by soldiers or settlers, especially in areas such as supporting college education for children. Some group members work with the cave dwellers of South Hebron hills, helping to fund transportation so children in Sussia village can attend the school in Tuwani village; they hope to extend this to other villages if they can obtain funding.

"The essence of our project is partnership, and the strengthening of partnership with time," the group says. "As the situation worsens, our partnership deepens, and the Palestinians' need for financial assistance increases. This financial assistance is crucially important, yet it is a result of the relationship, not its cause. As Abed of Salem once said: "Even if you bring nothing, we will be so happy to see you. You don't understand what it means for us when you arrive…"

The group believes this partnership "could be (and is) seen as a model. Many Palestinians in other villages, and many Israelis we know, are ready to experience a similar future of joint action, with help and coaching from us and from other experienced activists. Perhaps we cannot bring about a general peace, but we can perform deeds of peace."

This story is adapted from information on the Villages Group blog, which also contains specific stories of their work. Also see A Few Good Men, by Seth Freedman, published in the Guardian July 8, 2008.

 

UPDATE: Since August, 2007, the Villages Group has been a registered non-profit company. They kindly provided this update on their recent activities:

School Transportation Project: For the 2007-08 school year, 22 children were transported to and from Schools in the villages of Tuwani and Kramil in the South Hebron Hills area. Next year we want to be able to transport an additional 15 children to schools. Total cost will be $21,250.

University Tuition Sponsorship: The Villages Group sponsors nine university students from the South Hebron area, and another three students from Deir-al Hattab and Salem villages in the Nablus region. Tuition and expenses cost about $750/student, of which we cover $500 per semester.  Next year we hope to be able to support more university students as well as students on a vocational track such as electricity, secretarial and cosmetology.

Susya Alternative Energy Project: Working with other Israeli, Palestinian and international groups, this collaborative effort has successfully installed two wind turbine and solar power cells that are capable of powering lights and other small electrical appliances. Families can now take comfort from some modern amenities and a sense of solidarity from people living far away. Each energy system costs about $6,500 and our plan is to eventually provide electricity to 13 families who are living in near primitive conditions.

Agricultural Education Station: Plans are now being drawn up to develop an agricultural and environmental educational station to serve the needs of Deir-al Hattab and Salem. A vacant plot of land between an elementary and secondary school would serve as a site to develop and renew agricultural skills among the young people. Composting, animal husbandry, greenhouse cultivation and water recycling are some of the envisioned projects.

 


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