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Constructing the defenses of peace
By Richard Jones
Tags: Peace process

The American poet and public figure Archibald MacLeish once wrote that "since wars begin in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defenses of peace must be constructed." These words, subsequently incorporated into the preamble of UNESCO's 1945 constitution, remain as relevant today as they were when they were penned during the waning days of World War II.

As Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and their respective teams, begin negotiations toward the establishment of a Palestinian state and the achievement of Israeli-Palestinian peace, it is time to think seriously about how to construct "defenses of peace" in the minds of Israelis and Palestinians. Tel Aviv University's most recent Peace Index shows that while a majority of Israelis believe that the leaders of Israel and the Palestinian Authority truly want peace, only a minority feel that a peace agreement would be durable. Polls show that Palestinians are equally skeptical. Without support from civil society on both sides, it will be difficult for their leaders to achieve President Bush's vision of two states, one Jewish and one Palestinian, living side by side in peace and security.

Even as progress is being made along the political track, it is clear that more needs to be done to expand and strengthen support from civil society for an ultimate resolution of the conflict. I believe that peace education must be a key element of this effort, before, during and even long after an agreement is reached.
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Peace education will encompass many activities. At home and in sporting activities it can mean practicing taking turns, sharing and fair play. In the classroom it can mean teaching civics, studying the history and beliefs of other cultures and learning foreign languages. Civic groups and religious leaders can encourage their communities to practice techniques for peaceful conflict resolution, to tolerate other points of view and to value diversity.

The fundamental goal of all such activities should be to teach people, from childhood, how to get along with others in order to overcome the innate fear of those different from themselves. With peace education, it will be harder to demonize and dehumanize groups we don't know and harder for them to do the same to us. With peace education, pessimism about future peace will no longer have the upper hand. Of course, it would be nice if peace education were offered in every educational system in both societies, but I don't think we can afford to wait that long in this conflict. For now, an effort that is mutual and involves both Palestinians and Israelis would be a huge step forward.

Fortunately, there are many elements of Israeli civil society that recognize the importance of peace education, and are working to create the conditions that will make it possible to build a durable peace. Operating in a wide range of fields, they are developing educational curricula and methods for conflict resolution, and are helping to strengthen the principles of democracy in Israel's evolving society. One Israeli organization is conducting what could best be described as a peace game, in which Arab and Jewish students take part in mock peace negotiations. Other organizations are developing bridges between Israel's Arab and Jewish communities and between Israelis and Palestinians. In other words, many Israelis and Palestinians are already engaged in the hard work of constructing the defenses of peace.

For our part, the U.S. Embassy in Israel has been partnering with many Israeli grassroots organizations and schools to conduct peace education programs. We work closely with groups and institutions that teach respect for democratic values and diversity, provide students with solid citizenship skills, tackle conflict resolution, develop language skills and foster knowledge of and respect for others.

Currently, the U.S. government is working with a well-known U.S. management training company to offer a course in leadership development skills for young professional Israelis and Palestinians. We have also provided support to the Hand in Hand Arabic-Hebrew bilingual schools to help open a new school in Be'er Sheva. This comes on top of a previous grant to Hand in Hand to prepare a bilingual curriculum for use in their schools and other institutions interested in their model.

These are just a few examples of our long-term commitment to peace education. More people and institutions need to be involved. Such efforts need to reach all levels of Israeli society. The goal is not simply to understand and respect each other, although that would certainly be significant. We must do everything possible to learn and appreciate each other's traditions and history and to integrate this knowledge into our understanding of a shared humanity. Our ultimate goal, of course, is not merely to "construct the defenses of peace," but to build a durable peace. However, only by strengthening the perception that peace is, in fact, possible will we succeed. It is time to get started!

Richard Jones is the U.S. ambassador to Israel.
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  1.   What a Load ! 10:29  |  Tod Zuckerman 21/12/07
  2.   more bonheaded twaddle with no respect for history 10:29  |  victor hardman 21/12/07
  3.   Bull: Total Military Victory Is The Only Way 11:22  |  Yishai Kohen 21/12/07
  4.   #2 yeah just look at how far victor littlepuz got 11:32  |  educated 21/12/07
  5.   Shockingly CONDESCENDING 11:45  |  Klaudia 21/12/07
  6.   Nice Sentiment - not enough 11:58  |  Mary P 21/12/07
  7.   #1-5 prove he has a piont 12:04  |  Outsider 21/12/07
  8.   The int`l professional/managerial class may not always be the sam 12:06  |  DJStahl 21/12/07
  9.   URGENT : Crisis in Iraq... USA residents required.... 12:36  |  Klaudia 21/12/07
  10.   #4 another lamebrain joins the throng ! educattion? 13:10  |  victor hardman 21/12/07
  11.   Klaudia, the problems in Iraq were created by us... 13:16  |  Teresa-Maria (Tess) 21/12/07
  12.   Exactly.... 13:20  |  Teresa-Maria (Tess) 21/12/07
  13.   To the differers 13:23  |  S 21/12/07
  14.   BUSH`S WHAAATTT??? 13:24  |  indrajaya 21/12/07
  15.   Peace Re-Education Camps For Palestinian Civil Society 13:27  |  Klaudia 21/12/07
  16.   Peace will come eventually 13:35  |  Natallie Durson 21/12/07
  17.   AND THE PROFESSOR WILL BE YOU, RIGHT? 13:37  |  indrajaya 21/12/07
  18.   Mary P 6 has it exactly right 13:37  |  Michael 21/12/07
  19.   Peace education? But zionists are ANTI peace 13:56  |  TrippleJump 21/12/07
  20.   LEFTIST SECULAR HUMANISTIC G-D HATING MADNESS ?? 14:18  |  Bill 21/12/07
  21.   The Nature of Education 14:20  |  Mark Lincoln 21/12/07
  22.   3`s outlook is a danger to Israel. 14:29  |  Michael 21/12/07
  23.   Peace education 14:34  |  Hastaroth 21/12/07
  24.   #21 Mark Lincoln isn`t as wise as his Abraham counterpart was 15:06  |  Hastaroth 21/12/07
  25.   To Tess # 11 Re : USA created Iraqi mess 15:08  |  Klaudia 21/12/07
  26.   That`s A Big Part Of It Ambassador Jones 15:34  |  Yosemite 21/12/07
  27.   michael;advice on yishai cohen, pseudonym 15:42  |  officious bystander 21/12/07
  28.   Durson 16, again thinking not in reality. 15:42  |  The Equalizer 21/12/07
  29.   Peace is fundamentally different for Arabs and Jews 15:42  |  Sam 21/12/07
  30.   Michael- the Arab world doesn`t give a damn 15:55  |  JD 21/12/07
  31.   #19 yes to peace ! NO peace at any price 16:18  |  victor hardman 21/12/07
  32.   We agree but u have to do this first 16:37  |  Sharif Hafez 21/12/07
  33.   Natallie Durson 16:38  |  Sarah 21/12/07
  34.   An alternative Christmas message for peace 17:04  |  Tosefta 21/12/07
  35.   Klaudia #25... 17:05  |  Teresa-Maria (Tess) 21/12/07
  36.   Merry Christmas Israel and joy to the gentiles. 17:22  |  Simon 21/12/07
  37.   The Problem: peace-education contradicts the Qu´ran 17:46  |  Alicia 21/12/07
  38.   Yeah nice plan, but.... 17:49  |  Steven 21/12/07
  39.   Yeah Yeah yeah 18:04  |  Danite 21/12/07
  40.   # 34 Tosefta 18:10  |  Nick Ferriman 21/12/07
  41.   Addendum to the alternative Christmas message #34 18:11  |  Tosefta 21/12/07
  42.   Peace begine with educating Israelis to abndon Zionism 18:16  |  Mike the American 21/12/07
  43.   JD 30 You misunderstand 18:19  |  Michael 21/12/07
  44.   To Tess # 25 re- Jewish influence on democracy 19:01  |  Klaudia 21/12/07
  45.   34 Tosefta, what`s the proof Jesus was British? 19:10  |  Michael 21/12/07
  46.   Tosefta, clever posts there... 19:16  |  Smadar 21/12/07
  47.   42, Mike the american 19:19  |  Mike the Canadian 21/12/07
  48.   Mike the American 19:19  |  danite 21/12/07
  49.   Merry Christmas to all my non-Jewish friends (#40) 19:22  |  Tosefta 21/12/07
  50.   48, Danite and Indians 19:41  |  Mike C 21/12/07
  51.   Jesus the Brit (Michael the Brit #45) 20:07  |  Tosefta 21/12/07
  52.   # 34 Your post is real nice 20:09  |  Sharif Hafez 21/12/07
  53.   What a good idea 20:17  |  The Arab Hammer 21/12/07
  54.   I disagree 20:19  |  Bandar Michaels 21/12/07
  55.   There is no peace... 20:25  |  Webster 21/12/07
  56.   Humanism galore! 20:32  |  Blogowitz 21/12/07
  57.   Grow Up 20:40  |  Mark Katzman 21/12/07
  58.   #53 thanks Arab Hammer: your letter proves my words true! 20:50  |  Alicia 21/12/07
  59.   Concentration Camps 20:56  |  Sage 21/12/07
  60.   To Mark Katzman # 57 Right. Hardly Anybody`s Buying this BS 21:08  |  Klaudia 21/12/07
  61.   making peace with understanding 22:24  |  montgomery rosen 21/12/07
  62.   # 34 Tosefta What About the Alternative Ramadan Message .. 22:30  |  Klaudia 21/12/07
  63.   #53 your words have touched my heart and promise to change 22:31  |  Alicia 21/12/07
  64.   What would be Marx`s response? 22:37  |  Gene 21/12/07
  65.   Its not peace education on both side - its when the Arab media 22:39  |  Marwan مروان خوري 21/12/07
  66.   An ambassador that can`t read history... 22:48  |  Nicolas from Paris 21/12/07
  67.   The only way to peace is a shift in Muslim thought 22:55  |  Steve 21/12/07
  68.   # 8 DJStahl @ HP / USA 00:03  |  Joseph E . 22/12/07
  69.   # 5 Klaudia / Canada 00:24  |  Joseph E . 22/12/07
  70.   TOSEFTA #41 00:46  |  JOJO 22/12/07
  71.   MIKE THE AMERICAN #41 00:53  |  JOJO 22/12/07
  72.   THE PEACE THESIS 01:02  |  JOJO 22/12/07
  73.   There is no moral equivalency - peace will happen when Arabs stop 01:27  |  Marwan مروان خوري 22/12/07
  74.   WHO IS PAYING FOR EDUCATION 01:28  |  TOBIA 22/12/07
  75.   No Peace in Israel, India, Serbia, Russia, Ethiopia, Sudan... 06:07  |  Efox 22/12/07
  76.   To Joseph E. # 69 06:53  |  Klaudia 22/12/07
  77.   Damn, Arab Shammer 09:48  |  Israeli 22/12/07
  78.   Tosefta #34 11:00  |  S 22/12/07
  79.   To the Writer of #63; I love the name may I keep it? 13:00  |  AliciaYasmeen 22/12/07
  80.   PLEASE IGNORE MY RECENT POSTS 15:24  |  indrajaya 22/12/07
  81.   Correction and Addendum to #34 (S #78; Cipora) 15:38  |  Tosefta 22/12/07
  82.   UN-Teaching Israeli Terrorism/Zionism 16:16  |  POP 22/12/07
  83.   Yes, education 16:24  |  William 22/12/07
  84.   Excellent beginning on which to build on both sides 16:34  |  Ivar 22/12/07
  85.   Spread the Money round 16:36  |  FOX 22/12/07
  86.   Mark Lincoln, THE CULT SPEAKETH 16:55  |  FOX 22/12/07
  87.   nataline Durston #16, and that weapon is? 17:01  |  FOX 22/12/07
  88.   My oh My Tossi, how politically incorrect #34 17:12  |  FOX 22/12/07
  89.   to 54 Michael and 73 Marvan 17:56  |  Tina 22/12/07
  90.   To FOX # 85- 88 18:09  |  Klaudia 22/12/07
  91.   #88 Fox 18:18  |  Smadar 22/12/07
  92.   # 76 Klaudia @ Canada 18:47  |  Joseph E . post 1 22/12/07
  93.   # 76 Klaudia @ Canada 18:51  |  Joseph E . post 2 22/12/07
  94.   To Yishai Cohen 18:53  |  Raanan 22/12/07
  95.   Smadar, Season`s Greetings 19:36  |  FOX 22/12/07
  96.   #92 & #93 Joseph E. 20:07  |  Smadar 22/12/07
  97.   To Tosefta in Xmas spirit; have a joyous Xmas! 20:16  |  AliciaYasmeen 22/12/07
  98.   To Joseph E # 92/93 20:35  |  Klaudia 22/12/07
  99.   Pals need it more then Israeli`s 21:05  |  Mark B. 22/12/07
  100.   Have a cheerful Christmas (Alicia and the other 9) 21:16  |  Tosefta 22/12/07
  101.   To Joseph E ( part 2 )( personal) 21:49  |  Klaudia 22/12/07
  102.   Happy New Year to Smadar 22:02  |  Tosefta 22/12/07
  103.   # 98 Klaudia / Canada 22:37  |  Joseph E . 22/12/07
  104.   Peaceniks 22:38  |  Joseph 22/12/07
  105.   radio free israel 23:54  |  oleh chadash 22/12/07
  106.   To Joseph E # 103 00:34  |  Klaudia 23/12/07
  107.   # 106 Klaudia / Canada 01:21  |  Joseph E . 23/12/07
  108.   He was neither, just a rebel 01:22  |  sweis Melbourne 23/12/07
  109.   He was neither, just a rebel 01:22  |  sweis Melbourne 23/12/07
  110.   # 106 Klaudia / Canada 01:38  |  Joseph E . 23/12/07
  111.   To Yishai Cohen 01:53  |  Otto Rand 23/12/07
  112.   TO ALL MY PEOPLE HERE.I AM NOT AN EMOTIONAL TYPE BUT! READ ON 01:58  |  Kathy 23/12/07
  113.   Good article 02:20  |  Rick 23/12/07
  114.   #`s 1-10: #1-wrong; #2-stupid; #3-wrong; #4-right... 02:24  |  eric 23/12/07
  115.   Klaudia and Joseph E 02:54  |  Gina 23/12/07
  116.   # 112 Kathy 03:12  |  Joseph E . 23/12/07
  117.   To Kathy " For you, a thousand times over" 03:39  |  Klaudia 23/12/07
  118.   #102 Tosefta, Happy New Year to you! 04:29  |  Smadar 23/12/07
  119.   # 116 Joseph E...YOU ARE RIGHT OF COURSE. 04:31  |  Kathy 23/12/07
  120.   CURRENT OFFICIAL Islamic Hate mongerings NOT Just "anti zionist" 04:31  |  PETER SM 23/12/07
  121.   #112 Kathy, it`s okay sometimes to be an emotional type... 04:34  |  Smadar 23/12/07
  122.   This forum is a good example that peace education is needed. 10:59  |  Butros Dahu 23/12/07
  123.   and you FAIL to see the value in this? (2nd try) 23:53  |  eric 23/12/07
  124.   Demonized for war 00:23  |  James Hovland 24/12/07
  125.   # 124 to james hovland in california 02:13  |  eric 24/12/07
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